==============

=Mapping Help=
==============

While I can't help you make a map, I can help you get it listed in the menu and
working in the maplist. :p The central object is the .mapinfo file, but
there's much more available.

Table of Contents
-----------------
I Map Settings
(get your map listed and working)

II Map Image

III Domination

IV CTF

V Race/CTS

VI Nexball

Appendix A - Advanced mapinfo

Appendix B - Helpful extras

i. Team Colors
ii. Text Colors

Appendix C - Advanced Darkplaces shaders

=================
=I. Map Settings=
=================

All map specific settings goes in a single file:

mapname.mapinfo

The mapinfo file is basically what gets your map listed in the menu, and sets
up the options needed to change to it. If no mapinfo file exists, the menu
will automatically generate a rough draft for you on game startup. It will get
stored into data/data/mapname.mapinfo.

As an example, let's say I make a map called "wazat1.bsp". As long as I'm

fantasizing, I might as well say this map is so well done I'm actually willing
to release it for friends, neighbors, fellow forum visitors and other people
who like me to judge me by. Let's also assume that I want domination,
deathmatch/team deathmatch to all be playable on my map.

This is very easy. First, I start the game and exit it again so the game writes
data/data/wazat1.mapinfo for me. The file may look like:

title Wazat's Great Map

description Bleh.
author Unknown
_diameter 1966.839355
_spawnpoints 5
has weapons
 cdtrack 5
gametype dm // defaults: timelimit=20 pointlimit=30 leadlimit=0
gametype dom // defaults: timelimit=20 pointlimit=200 teams=2 leadlimit=0
gametype lms // defaults: timelimit=20 lives=9 leadlimit=0

As I see, the menu autodetected that my map may be suitable for deathmatch,
domination, last man standing and keepaway. But I want the map to be played in
domination, deathmatch, team deathmatch only, and I also want different
timelimits/fraglimits, so I will change the "gametype" lines to:

gametype dom pointlimit=100 timelimit=15

gametype dm pointlimit=40 timelimit=15
gametype tdm pointlimit=50 timelimit=0 teams=2

Also, while I am at it, I should fix the placeholders in the map description lines:

title Wibble
description A large multi level arena map
author Wazat

Although not entirely necessary, I will now move the .mapinfo file from
data/data/maps/wazat1.mapinfo to data/maps/wazat1.mapinfo, so it is at the same
place as my map. Next time I start the game, my map will be shown supporting
the right game modes and with the right description in the menu.

Also, note the "has weapons" line. If this line is not there (which happens if
the map contains no weapon entities other than the Nex), the map will run in
InstaGib only and not be shown in the menu normally. So if you look for your
map and don't find it, add "has weapons" to the mapinfo file, and make sure you
have weapon entities placed.

There's much more power in a mapinfo file. See Appendix A for more details.

Gametype | Syntax
| Notes
----------------
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------
Deathmatch | gametype dm [timelimit=...] [pointlimit=...] [leadlimit=...]
|
Team Deathmatch | gametype tdm [timelimit=...] [pointlimit=...] [teams=...]
[leadlimit=...] | 2, 3, or 4 teams
Domination | gametype dom [timelimit=...] [pointlimit=...] [teams=...]
[leadlimit=...] | 2, 3, or 4 teams, only if map has
no dom_team ents
CTF | gametype ctf [timelimit=...] [caplimit=...] [leadlimit=...]
|
LMS | gametype lms [timelimit=...] [lives=...] [leadlimit=...]
|
Key Hunt | gametype kh [timelimit=...] [pointlimit=...] [teams=...]
[leadlimit=...] | 2, 3, or 4 teams
Assault | gametype as [timelimit=...]
| never uses points
Onslaught | gametype ons [timelimit=...]
| never uses points
Race | gametype rc [timelimit=...] [qualifying_timelimit=...]
[laplimit=...] [teamlaplimit=...] [leadlimit=...] | g_race_teams: teamlaplimit is
used instead of laplimit
CTS | gametype cts [timelimit=...] [skill=...]
| never uses points
CA | gametype ca [timelimit=...] [pointlimit=...] [teams=...]
[leadlimit=...] | 2, 3, or 4 teams
Nexball | gametype nb [timelimit=...] [pointlimit=...] [leadlimit=...]
|
Freeze Tag | gametype ft [timelimit=...] [pointlimit=...] [teams=...]
[leadlimit=...] | 2, 3, or 4 teams
Keepaway | gametype ka [timelimit=...] [pointlimit=...]
|

===============
=II. Map Image=
===============

So, you've got your map listed in the menu and it plays properly, but the menu
isn't showing your picture! Or the picture is scaled badly! What manner of man
would create such an accursed abomination?!

Well... That sounds like something I'd do. :D

And it is really easy: just make a screenshot of the map in action (preferably
with crosshair and HUD switched off), and place it next to the map as
mapname.jpg. For best rendering and file size, make the image in 4:3 aspect
ratio, but scale it to the resolution 256x256 or possibly 512x512. It will look
skewed in your image editing app, but the menu will show it right, and your
graphics card LOVES images of such dimension.

=================
=III. Domination=
=================

In order to get Domination working well in your map, you need to place dom_team
and dom_controlpoint entites. You *must* have at least 3 dom_team entities - 2
minimum teams and one blank one (empty netname and no team). You can have up to
4 teams (5 dom_team entities), and remember: if you set 3 teams, the third team
must be the yellow one, according to the team order.

Dom Team
--------
classname dom_team
netname name of team (Red Team). Set to "" or don't define for the required
blank team.
cnt color of the team. See the "Helpful Extras" section for info.
model When this team captures control points, the points turn to this
model. If this is the neutral team, points start out as this model.
noise Sound to be played on the control point when it's captured. Only
players nearby will hear it.
noise1 Sound to be played to all players when the control point is
captured. Also good for an annoncer voice ("Red Team has captured a
control point")

Control Points
--------------
classname dom_controlpoint
message message to be displayed to all players when this point is captured,
preceded by the team's name. This defaults to " has captured a control
point".
 You can specify different names for each point, for example " has
captured the
Lava Room".
origin where in the map this point is
wait How often this point gives its controlling team frags.
frags How many frags this point gives each wait cycle.

Here is an example entry in a .ent file that includes colored text and 3 teams:

{
"classname" "dom_team"
"netname" ""
"model" "models/domination/dom_unclaimed.md3"
}
{
"classname" "dom_team"
"netname" "^4Blue Team"
"cnt" "13"
"noise" ""
"noise1" "domination/claim.wav"
"model" "models/domination/dom_blue.md3"
}
{
"classname" "dom_team"
"netname" "^1Red Team"
"cnt" "4"
"noise" ""
"noise1" "domination/claim.wav"
"model" "models/domination/dom_red.md3"
}
{
"classname" "dom_team"
"netname" "^3Yellow Team"
"cnt" "12"
"noise" ""
"noise1" "domination/claim.wav"
"model" "models/domination/dom_yellow.md3"
}
{
"classname" "dom_team"
"netname" "^6Pink Team"
"cnt" "9"
"noise" ""
"noise1" "domination/claim.wav"
"model" "models/domination/dom_pink.md3"
}
{
"classname" "dom_controlpoint"
"message" " ^3has captured the ^1Hallways"
"origin" "-206.0 -488.8 -150.0"
"frags" "3"
"wait" "5"
"scale" "1.3"
}
{
"classname" "dom_controlpoint"
"message" " ^3has captured the ^1Lavaroom"
"origin" "1457.1 19.9 -110.0"
"frags" "1"
"wait" "5"
}
{
"classname" "dom_controlpoint"
"message" " ^3controls the ^1Nex & Strength"
"origin" "-259.8 299.3 5"
"frags" "1"
"wait" "5"
}
{
"classname" "dom_controlpoint"
"message" " ^3has captured the ^1Upper Platform"
"origin" "539.7 1206.0 182.0"
"frags" "1"
"wait" "5"
}
{
"classname" "dom_controlpoint"
"message" " ^3has captured the ^1Teleport Room"
"origin" "-1000.0 636.2 -16.0"
"frags" "1"
"wait" "5"
}

As you can see in the example, there are 5 dom_team ents: one blank, Red, Blue,
Yellow and Pink. Each control point has a different message (giving it a
special name), and the one in the hallways gives 3 frags every 5 seconds
instead of just one, making it more valuable.

If your map contains the required entities for Domination, the menu will
automatically detect it for supporting Domination. To force the map to get
re-detected after you add such entities, delete the data/data/mapname.mapinfo
file - or simply edit it to add the "gametype dom" line.

=========
=IV. CTF=
=========

Capture the flag needs at least 1 CTF flag per team, and can also make use of
team spawnpoints.

CTF Flags
---------
classname item_flag_team1 or item_flag_team2
angle direction the flag will point
model model of the flag (default: models/ctf/flag_red.md3 or
models/ctf/flag_blue.md3)
noise sound played when flag is stolen (default: "ctf/take.wav")
noise1 sound played when flag is returned by a teammate (default:
"ctf/return.wav")
noise2 sound played when flag is captured (default: "ctf/capture.wav")
noise3 sound played when flag returns itself (default: "ctf/respawn.wav")

Team Spawnpoints
----------------
classname info_player_team1 or info_player_team2
*note: These function just like info_player_deathmatch, but for one team only.
If you don't make team spawnpoints, info_player_deathmatch is used instead.

If your map contains the required entities for CTF, the menu will automatically
detect it for supporting CTF. To force the map to get re-detected after you add
such entities, delete the data/data/mapname.mapinfo file - or simply edit it to
add the "gametype ctf" line.

=============
=V. Race/CTS=
=============

Making a race map is not hard: you need some special spawnpoints, and some
checkpoints.

Spawnpoints
-----------
classname info_player_race
target targetname of the checkpoint
race_place for finish line checkpoints, the place of the point, or -1 to make it
qualifying/CTS-only, or unset to let all the other players spawn

Checkpoints
-----------
classname trigger_race_checkpoint
targetname some name to target the checkpoint with
cnt number of the checkpoint (or 0 for finish line)

Note that checkpoints are brush entities, and they should be somewhat thick and
cover the full volume the player could use to get past them.

Example of entity placement:

###
---------------------###---
/ 9999 7 5 3 1>### \
/ 9999 8 6 4 2 >### \
| ------------------### |
%%%%%%%% ###| |
%%%%%%%% $$$| |
| ^ ^ ------------------$$$ |
\ $$$ < /
\ $$$ < /
----------------------$$$---
$$$

###: classname = trigger_race_checkpoint, cnt = 0, targetname = finish

$$$: classname = trigger_race_checkpoint, cnt = 1, targetname = cp1
%%%: classname = trigger_race_checkpoint, cnt = 2, targetname = cp2
>: classname = info_player_race, target = finish, angle = 0
1: classname = info_player_race, target = finish, angle = 0,
race_place = 1
2: classname = info_player_race, target = finish, angle = 0,
race_place = 2
....
8: classname = info_player_race, target = finish, angle = 0,
race_place = 8
9: classname = info_player_race, target = finish, angle = 0,
race_place = 9
<: classname = info_player_race, target = cp1, angle = 180
^: classname = info_player_race, target = cp2, angle = 90

If your map contains the required entities for Race, the menu will automatically
detect it for supporting Race. To force the map to get re-detected after you add
such entities, delete the data/data/mapname.mapinfo file - or simply edit it to
add the "gametype rc" line.

CTS maps do not use checkpoints with race_place set, so you can leave them out
for CTS maps.

The skill parameter in the mapinfo entry for CTS shall be in the range from 0
(easy) to 10 (impossible).

=============
=VI. Nexball=
=============

There are three required entities: nexball_redgoal, nexball_bluegoal, and one of

nexball_basketball
or nexball_football. There are also optional nexball_yellowgoal and
nexball_pinkgoal entities (don't
add a pink goal when there is no yellow goal on the map, it will crash)

Goals are made just like any other regular triggers. You can use multiple brushes
for one trigger,
but avoid this if possible.

There are also two other goal-like entities, nexball_fault and nexball_bound, the
first taking a point
from the team that hits the trigger with the ball, the second simply returning it.
You can spawn the
ball inside a goal-like trigger, this can be useful for basketball maps with
separate teams and a
common ball spawn.
The different keys for the entities are documented in entities.def.

The ball is affected by trigger_impulse, but not by trigger_push or teleporters.

You should better avoid patches on the field, as collisions can sometimes get buggy
on these.

===============================
=Appendix A - Advanced mapinfo=
===============================

You now know how to make a basic, bare-bones mapinfo to set up a couple options
and load your map. However, there's much more you can do! Consider these
senarios:

1. The laser has too high of a force for laser jumps and ruins CTF
2. I don't want players to start out with the shotgun, but with the machinegun
instead
3. The map takes so much server CPU performance that the anti-wallhack can't be
made active

Each of these situations can be resolved with ease with a little work in the
mapinfo file.
To do this, I can add the following lines to my mapinfo file:

settemp_for_type ctf g_balance_blaster_primary_force 200

settemp_for_type all g_balance_shotgun_weaponstart 0
settemp_for_type all g_balance_machinegun_weaponstart 1
settemp_for_type all sv_cullentities_trace 0

These "settemp" settings are automatically removed when the map is left and
another is loaded. As you can see, it is possible to make per-mode temporary
settings, and global ones.

Similar settings are also possible for the client:

clientsettemp_for_type all r_shadow_glossexponent 96

Another possibility is to specify fog settings in the mapinfo, for convenience

in case you set sv_foginterval by it too (to force the fog on the clients):

fog 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.3 1 1500

settemp_for_type all sv_foginterval 5

=============================
=Appendix B - Helpful Extras=
=============================

----------------
-i. Team Colors-
----------------
When you need to set an entity's color or team, use these values:

Red
---
Team: 5
Color: 4

Blue
----
Team: 14
Color: 13

Yellow
------
Team: 13
Color: 12

Pink
-----
Team: 10
Color: 9

----------------
-i. Text Colors-
----------------
Occasionally you may want to print text in color, such as team names. Here are your
options:

1 Red
2 Green
3 Yellow
4 Blue
5 Cyan
6 Magenta
7 White
8 Grey (transparent)
9 Grey (solid)
0 Black

==========================================
=Appendix C - Advanced Darkplaces shaders=
==========================================

Shader parameters for DP's own features:

- dp_reflect <distort> <r> <g> <b> <a>
Makes surfaces of this shader reflective with r_water. The reflection is
alpha blended on the texture with the given alpha, and modulated by the given
color. distort is used in conjunction with the normalmap to simulate a
nonplanar water surface.
- dp_refract <distort> <r> <g> <b>
Makes surfaces of this shader refractive with r_water. The refraction
replaces the transparency of the texture. distort is used in conjunction with
the normalmap to simulate a nonplanar water surface.
- dp_water <reflectmin> <reflectmax> <refractdistort> <reflectdistort> <refractr>
<refractg> <refractb> <reflectr> <reflectg> <reflectb> <alpha>
This combines the effects of dp_reflect and dp_refract to simulate a water
surface. However, the refraction and the reflection are mixed using a Fresnel
equation that makes the amount of reflection slide from reflectmin when
looking parallel to the water to reflectmax when looking directly into the
water. The result of this reflection/refraction mix is then layered BELOW the
texture of the shader, so basically, it "fills up" the alpha values of the
water. The alpha value is a multiplicator for the alpha value on the texture
- set this to a small value like 0.1 to emphasize the reflection and make
the water transparent; but if r_water is 0, alpha isn't used, so the water can
be very visible then too.