Level Design

Name / Description			Site/Author
In-Depth: Getting started in Mapping Mapping for Half-Life
Weather Effects In Day of Defeat Weather Effects In Day of Defeat
Some tips on styling your maps Box rooms are boring. Spice them up!!!
Security Cards Get the card - without it the door won't open. Another look at Globals and Multisources
Rotating Light Effect How to make a Rotating Light Effect in HL
Making rotating doors This is a simple tutorial on making rotating doors.
R_Speeds R_Speeds
How to Make a Rotating Door Before you can make a rotating door, you should know how to make a rotating object. Therefore, I'll cover this first.
Detailing Maps How to keep even the simplest architecture looking good.
Making an as map Just select the info_vip_start entity from the entity tool and place it next to the counter-terrorist.
Creating a simple camera Creating a simple camera
Add water you can see through Making look-through able water
Understanding Leafs Leafs are something that all mappers should understand as they are an important factor in making a map without problems
Setting Up Valve Hammer Editor It took me a lot of time searching through the internet how to set up Hammer 3.5 and make it work flawlessly, and I never found a tutorial that had everything...
Newbie's Guide to Doors Part 1 Newbie's Guide to Doors Part 1
Making .mat files Making .mat files
Connectivity Connectivity can make or break a map.
In the Beginning Part 2 Walls and Halls: life after the cube. Make another one and connect them with a corridor.
How to call in an air strike This tutorial will lead you through the creation of an air strike table. What's an air strike table? you ask? It will allow you to target a specific point in your level and send an airstrike raining down on the targetted position.
Random Event Generator Random Event Generator
Collapsing Walkway I will demonstrate one of the possible ways to create a Collapsing Walkway.
Rising water Rising water
creating basic doors This tutorial will explain to you how to create basic doors which can slide or rotate.
Making and Dealing with Sky Making and Dealing with Sky
Creating a func_tank on valve hammer editor in this video i will cover up how to make a func_tank for the one who you can manually controll it and the one who will be controlled by the engine.
Putting Sound Into Your Map Putting Sound Into Your Map
Setting up QERadiant and the HL plug-in This is the one and only solution i found to get the plugin to work. It may sound a little exotic but it works!
Capture The Flag Tutorial Capture The Flag Tutorial
Making water Making water
Rotating Light Effect Rotating Light Effect
How to Make a Sphere in Worldcraft Well there are several techniques to make one, but by far the easiest method in Worldcraft is called the 'cone slicing' method.
Mitered Corners: The Undying Myth All too often, new mappers are told that mitering (or angling) the corners of brushes together will help to reduce r_speeds and is a general sign of good construction.
Keys Making Keys, and getting them to open doors
Realistic Shadows Technique to create realistic and precise looking shadows
Making Glass An often asked question is How do I make glass?
Making domination-style maps This 'tutorial' (more of a list of entities) shows you how to create your very own domination map (as seen in Unreal Tournament).
The X-Ray Effect This tutorial explains how the X-Ray machine effect was accomplished in Half-Life: Opposing Force.
ITEM BALANCE ITEM BALANCE
How to make a surf map Here I'll write how to make an surf map....
To new mappers - Tips To new mappers - Tips
Creating Proximity Doors Creating Proximity Doors
GAMEFLOW A map with good flow keeps the action going and the players moving.
Spicing up your architecture Get rid of those boring
How to loop sounds How to loop sounds
How to setup hammer for cs mapping This guide is going to show you how to setup hammer for making cs 1.6 maps
Player Sizes In this tutorial I'm going to run through the player sizes and dimensions for CS
Get Learned! Step 7 - Finish Line Get Learned! Step 7 - Finish Line
Glass A quick and simple guide on how to make glass for your maps.
Compiling tips Compiling tips (note the text and bg are White ^^)
Creating Keen Arches Want to make arches in your map? Stuck on that pesky old vertex tool?
The Grate Tutorial Partial texture transparency via the 'Render Mode' key.
Sky Tutorial: Skies/Environment maps in Half-Life Sky Tutorial: Skies/Environment maps in Half-Life
Counter-Strike Mapping This mod offers such variety, its hard not to want to map for it. cs has many entities for its special objects as well as the normal hl ones.
Vis Groups A guide to using Vis Groups
Multi-textured surface Multi-textured surface
Adding and Removing stuff using .BSP only This article will explain how to edit a .BSP file to add or remove items from the map, without needing the .VMT or .MAP file.
Total Map Optimisation This tutorial helps you understand how the engine renders your map and how to improve the performance
Long compile times and tips to improve them This tutorial is made to give a starting mapper some information about compile times and ideas how to improve them.
The Advanced Compile Dialogue A brief description of the commands and uses of the advanced compiling screen in Hammer.
Complex Door This tutorial will show you how to do a more complex door -- a multi-polygon door with a glass pane in it.
Mapping tips and tricks #1 This list shows tricks which can boost your mapping workflow.
Sewers Sewers are quite easy to put together and can be explained fairly quickly.
Bringing Your Map To Life This is the part of mapping that seperates the good mappers from the amazing mappers - The ability to make your map breathe.
Netvis Tired of long compile times?
Creating Backpacks Backpacks are one of the most common things you'll be putting into a TFC map
Tank busting through a wall effect The effect I will demonstrate is, a tank smashes through a wall then starts shooting at you
One Way Glass This is actually easier to make than you may think.
Tetrahedron Rock Formations How to make realistic terrain using tetrahedron-shaped brushes
Worldcraft Tools I The basics of worldcraft. This tutorial is broken up in to sections based on what tool its showing how to use.
Setup Guide: CS This tutorial takes you through the process of setting up Worldcraft so it works with Counter-Strike.
Creating 2D Fog This lets you create either low-lying fog or a steamy haze floating just below the ceiling. It is an interesting application of the special sprites discussed in the other tutorial.
Overviews für Counter-Strike (German) Overviews für Counter-Strike (German)
Half-Life Rain This tutorial file explains how you can easily add rain in your levels.
Advanced Monstermaker Effect I made my beams work, so I figure I'd share the way to make a very unique and interesting monstermaker effect.
Level Transitions in Half-Life An issue constantly surrounded in questions is that of level changes. They remain a mystery to many designers, and for no real reason as their concept is rather simple.
10 most common Counter-Strike mapping pitfalls 10 most common Counter-Strike mapping pitfalls
Func_button Func_button
Compile Options The compile tools contain a number of features that are accessible through command line parameters. Below are the available parameters for each tool
Tutorial 2: Your first room and Worldcraft basics Tutorial 2: Your first room and Worldcraft basics
How to reduce r_speeds How to reduce r_speeds
Rendering Properties Most brush-based and model-based (monsters, etc) point entities allow you to set their rendering properties
How to make rotating doors with glass How to make rotating doors with glass
Making an Arch You will need the ambient_generic and the trigger_multiple entities for this tutorial.
Creating Siege-like Cliffs Want to have that look of the famous cliffs and outdoor rocks in Siege and Docks? Check out this tutorial from the map's author.
Atmosphere & Ambience Two crucial elements in making highly engaging and good looking maps. In this article I will give tips on how to maximise their effect.
'Glowing' Texture Lights 'Glowing' Texture Lights
How to make a mirror floor How to make a mirror floor
Entities: All types of triggers You have already used the trigger_multiple in the previous tutorial. Now, we will try out different kinds of triggers.
How to give Teams different names How to give Teams different names
How to curve,bend,arc almost everything How to curve,bend,arc almost everything
Cheating in Half-Life Cheating provides the mapper with some useful tools to test and debug levels
Moving doors with transparent glass Moving doors with transparent glass
Creating Environment Maps With Terragen Creating Environment Maps With Terragen
Laser and Beam Effects Explains how to set up the moving laser trick, as well as some things that can be done with circular beams.
Embedding Textures into a Map This article discusses the use of the wadinclude and nowadtextures CSG parameters which allow you to embed textures directly into the compiled map file.
R_SPEEDS R_SPEEDS
How to configure Valve Hammer Editor for Counter-Strike 1.6 mapping How to configure Valve Hammer Editor for Counter-Strike 1.6 mapping
Multisource Concept of the multisource entity explained, along with two applications of it.
How to make a beach How to make a beach
QERadiant - Creating A Basic Rock-Wall This tutorials shows how to create a simple rock wall by using different kinds of vertex manipulation
How To Make A Map With WorldPad (aka: WordPad) How To Make A Map With WorldPad (aka: WordPad)
Making Your First Bomb Defusion Map With Hammer Making Your First Bomb Defusion Map With Hammer AKA WorldCraft
Making A Curved Corridor - Part 2 Making A Curved Corridor - Part 2
Manipulating light in GoldSRC Lighting can be tricky sometimes, but there's usually a way out
Ladders how to use them in your map
Creating Switchable Texture Lights Creating switchable texture lights is now possible and very simple to do.
TFC Entity Reference TFC Entity Reference
Creating Ladders How to make your average ladder.
NULL Texturing and boosting performance NULL Texturing and boosting performance
Creating Atmosphere Goes without saying this is important, it can make or break a map in some cases. How to obtain the right atmosphere for a map is very difficult.
Osprey Putting the Osprey (the aircraft that drops off rapelling grunts) in your level is more complicated than regular monsters. Read this to find out how to do this.
Volumetric Fog This tutorial assumes you are well versed in Worldcraft editing and have some basic knowledge about entities - especially func_illusionary and func_conveyor.
func_door_rotating This page explains how to create a rotating door in a Counter-Strike map with Hammer.
QERadiant - Overview Of Rock Styles This Overview shows some examples of realistic rocks
Decals: All You Need To Know The easy way to place Decals
How to Install Valve Hammer Editor 3.5 for Counter-Strike mapping This tutorial will explain in the even least details about how to install Valve Hammer Editor.
Polygon Reduction Methods Polygon Reduction Methods: A quick and dirty guide
Onscreen Messages Learn how to make text appear on the screen during your levels.
How To Create An Airstrike This tutorial demonstrates how to create an interactive airstrike.
Understanding the 'Clip Tool' This tutorial first goes over how to use the clip tool, then goes on to describe the many uses and abilities of this powerful tool.
Func_Wall, Func_Illusionary and Func_Wall_Toggle How and when to use these three entities.
valve hammer scripted sequence i show you ho to make scripted sequence
Multisource Tutorial The multisource entity is very useful in map-making.
Angular Velocity and Rotating func_trains Angular Velocity and Rotating func_trains
Making New Buttons for Your MOD Allows you to add custom buttons to your MOD
Multi_manager Looping Made Easy Looping a sequence using multi managers without the fear of a map crash. Also with an example on how to loop with multiple multi managers.
How to reduce r_speeds with rafters How to reduce r_speeds with rafters
Water, lava, acid Water, lava, acid, raising water, waterfalls. Some useful information about complex water.
Security Scanner Security Scanner
How to use keyvalues Keyvalues are little pieces of information about the entities in your map
A beginners guide to mapping: Part 2 A beginners guide to mapping: Part 2
Perfect Timing with Doors This tutorial shows how to get any doors , how awkward they may be , to close and open at the same time as each other.
How to make a CTF map How to make a CTF map
The Glass Tutorial Whole texture transparency via the 'Render Mode' key
Tetrahedron Terrain A more low-poly solution for triangle terrain
Deathmatch Deathmatch can be found in many games so its important to understand the issues involved with this gamestyle. In this article I cover such issues as weapon placement and gameflow.
Counter-Strike 1.6 Mapping Counter-Strike 1.6 Mapping Tutorial
Rope, Water and Waterfalls Rope, Water and Waterfalls
Blurry shadows trick (used in cloudy maps) How to simulate cloudy weather, that is, how to make the shadows blurry
Changing Levels Simple guide to level changes, Including One Way.
A Brief Look at R-Speeds A Brief Look at R-Speeds
Half-Life Dimensions a list of important Half-Life dimensions
Obscure R_Speed Tweaks MaxNodeSize, NULL, etc.
Triangle Terrain 2: Switching Direction How to link terrain facing different directions
An alternative way to find map leaks easily An alternative way to find map leaks easily
Making { Textures Invisible In this tutorial, you will be taught how to make the blue areas on textures e.g. fences, air-ducts and so on, and so fourth, invisible.
The Hallway how to connect two rooms with a hallway
Map Compiling Theory Many people simply do not know or understand how and why a Half-Life map needs to be compiled.
Making glass brushes Making glass brushes
General editing stuff General editing stuff (note text and bg is white ^^)
Map Layout Theory for Counter Strike How to layout your level for Counter Strike
Skewing textures in Hammer A trick that allows you to skew textures in Hammer instead of just rotating them
21 Golden Tips for mapping with Half-Life 21 Golden Tips for mapping with Half-Life
FUNC_NOBUILD The func_nobuild is a brush based entity which prevents engineers from building anywhere in the area where this brush exists.
Compiling Terms You Should Know Compiling Terms You Should Know
All about Levels and Speed All about Levels and Speed
DoD Advancing Spawns DoD Advancing Spawns
Compiling in Quark Compiling in Quark
How to make Rain/Snow How to make Rain/Snow
Texture and Lighting Now that you've created a couple of rooms, it's time to think about textures.
TFC - Hunted Map This tutorial will show you how to make a map where there are a team of assassins trying to kill an important person
Half-Life Animations Turn those demos into avi, gif, or other movie formats
One-way - two-way mirror tutorial This is a mapping tutorial that will guide you through how to create a one way mirror in your map
Hammer Editor Tutorial #1 - How to start the Hammer Editor This is our first tutorial. We'll show everyone who wants to do a Map for HL2 or a different Mod, how to start the Hammer Editor.
Tutorial 1: A basic intro. to levels Tutorial 1: A basic intro. to levels
Light All you ever needed to know.
Setup Guide: Hammer A pictorial look at the configuration of the editor
Make a Ladder Believe it or not, you make ladders with the func_ladder entity
Using Half-Life Skys in Worldcraft Below are the valid sky names and their corresponding lateral textures
Dropping the Flag in an Area for Points This tutorial explains how to drop a flag only in a certain area to score points.
Entities in Quark Entities in Quark
Making a ladder Putting a ladder in your map is actually quite easy.
Func_rotating Have you ever wondered how to make a rotating propel on an airplane or simply a fan in a ventilation system?
Moving Controllable Train, Rail cart ... etc Moving Controllable Train, Rail cart ... etc
Mind that Fan Looking out for the your head as you make a spiny fan
Trigger_teleport Tutorial Simple tut. for create teleportations
Trigger Events Between Levels Learn how to trigger events between levels using the logic_auto and env_global entities.
Team vs Team Balancing Tutorial This is quite advanced tutorial
valve hammer level transition (halflife1) so in this video ill show you guys how to make it correctly and place the landmark and the trigger
How to export RMFs in Jackhammer I've always hated that problem when Jackhammer would export the RMF incorrectly. This mostly applies for porting to VHE, and maybe other things?
HL Monsters A brief overview of the HL enemies to give mappers an idea of how they should be used.
HLT's 'func_detail' HLT's 'func_detail'
Making Popular Maps You may make the greatest map in the world but if nobody plays it, its not much good to anybody? Find out what is required to make sure your map gets lots of downloads.
func_teleport func_teleport
Vertex Manipulation - Taming The Beast Vertex Manipulation - Taming The Beast
How to make a ladder A ladder in Half-Life is a combination of two things: the physical ladder which you see, and the invisible field which you can climb.
Bringing your map to life Ideas and inspiration on how to change just another map into an awesome map.
Rotating Doors Third in the Mazymatic series, this time how to make a rotating door.
PUSH YOUR MAP to the limits - FPS optimization and some other stuff. Today I am going to talk about all ways of optimizing your goldsource(cs) map FPS wise (or probably just about most of them)
SETTING UP YOUR MAP FOR CS So you have crafted your map and now it's time to get it ready for playing in CS.
QERadiant - My First Elevator This tutorial shows in easy steps how to create a simple triggered elevator by using the func_door entity
The Essentials of Mapping This article is an important guide to improving your sense of style and should help you make your maps look a lot better
Importing Models and Textures How to import Models and Textures from other Mod's
Making Light Beams Making Light Beams
Dod texture list Full list of DOD textures. Only usefull for map makers and editors.
Realistic Steam When making steam, many people just pick one sprite and use that. Using the method outlined here will produce much better looking steam.
Making a one way window part #2 (breakable) Sam expands on the original 'one way glass' tutorial and shows us how to make it breakable! Woot!
How to create your map type How to create your map type
TF Map Making Tutorial The Team Fortress Map Making Tutor. v1.1
The 'vent' effect. this tutorial will demonstrate how to make a some scientist get pulled in to a vent
Tutorial 2b - Func_Train Lift, Multiple Floors + Lift Doors So want to make a Lift that travels over multiple floors?
Glass and Moving Doors Glass and Moving Doors
A comprehensive guide to func_detail A comprehensive guide to func_detail
How to make ladder How to make ladder
TFC - Rock2 Style map This tutorial will show you how to create a map like rock2
TFC - Command Point System - Canal Zone Style This tutorial will show you how to make a map like 'Canal Zone 2'
Creating a simple camera Creating a simple camera
valve hammer trigger back again guy with another video wil be making simple triger
Lasers for the masses an introduction
Door with turning handle This tutorial demonstrates how to make a door with a handle that must be turned to open.
Basic detail This is a quick tutorial teaching you to create some of the basic detail and entity functions in Half-Life mapping.
Leaks Finding a Leak
Grates Very simple to do these are.
Func_pendulum I thought I'd write a little tutorial since a lot of people tend to have trouble getting this entity to work.
Worldcraft 2.x and TFC This article outlines how to setup Worldcraft 2.x to allow you to make TFC maps.
Changing the Game play of other maps how to be a l33t hax0r and change the gameplay of other maps.
10 Most Common Counter-Strike Mapping Pitfalls Zaphod lets us in on his list of top 10 most common Counter-Strike mapping pitfals.
Player Units This information is here to help you create the right distances and heights in your levels when creating steps and jumps etc...
How to fix those leaks Have a leak in your map? Read this!
Lifts Make a lift from some solids.
Pitch Yaw Roll Demystified Pitch Yaw Roll Demystified
Concepts: Triggers and Targets Triggers and targeting are basic concepts of the mapping process. They are a part of almost every entity event so it is important to understand what they mean and how they work
Sky tweak How to keep the r_speed down? Its pretty simple... We use the same method as the weaponmodelers do. Hide the backface.
Chokepoints In this article I'll try to layout a map from how I want the chokepoints to be.
How To Make Counter-Strike Maps This is a complete guide that will get you started making maps for Counter-Strike.
valve hammer audio tutoiral guy how to make music play in hammer
creating transparent and opaque objects This tutorial will explain to you how to create objects with total transparency or partial opacity
Creating Ambient Noises How to put those ambient noises into your map, like drips, machines, and all those other WAV files in the game.
Scripting Tutorial #2, A Specific Example For this tutorial, I will be using a part of my uncompleted single-player map.
How to make a road, that dont look crappy How to make a road, that dont look crappy
WorldCraft Tutorials: Part1 This tutorial will cover the basic of getting WorldCraft started. Like how to setup your 'game configuration', 'build programs', and 'textures'. We will also recommend what programs you should use, like what compile frontend and what compile tools (build programs).
Advanced Lighting (info_textlights & light_surface & improved sky lights) In this tutorial we'll explore the depths of texture lighting.
What is vhlt If you are keeping up with the level design news for goldsrc, you may have heard of vhlt.
How to make ambient noises How to make ambient noises
creating ambient noises This tutorial will explain to you how to insert and use ambient_generic entites to put ambient sounds in your level.
How to create Awesome Lamps/Lights How to create Awesome Lamps/Lights
Reference: Sci Fi Setting This is here for reference purposes. This article is really not as good as the rest, but I've kept up because there are 1 or 2 good points to be picked up.
Door with turning handle This tutorial demonstrates how to make a door with a handle that must be turned to open.
Func_vehicle with models This tutorial shows you how to make a func_vehicle and use a model for a car!
Vertex Manipulation Part 2 Once you've mastered VM, you can create pretty much every kind of solid possible. Learn some more uses for it here.
Vertex Manipulation 3 - Creating Realistic Vertex Manipulation 3 - Creating Realistic
Useful Mapping Commands Put these commands in the console
Setting up Worldcraft Setting up Worldcraft
Firebinders - The Text Chanmer Experiments Part 3 MORE ON TEXTURE AND SCALE
Custom skies Custom skies
Basic use of the multi_manager The multi_manager is a very powerful entity and is often used in conjunction with the multisource and env_global entities
The Ladder Tutorial The Func Ladder Entity
Level Transitions Seamless level transitions are something very cool and versatile.
Xen bounce pads Xen bounce pads
Window lighting trick Making rooms look better
Style Guide #1, Lab 1 Style Guide #1, Lab 1
INFO_PLAYER_TEAMSPAWN This entity is needed to allow the players of the map to spawn.
Making a vehicle Everyone wants a car these days, personally I believe if your wanting to pop in a vehicle then make sure its not the centre of attention of the map
how to change weather in valve hammer editor how to change weather in valve hammer editor
Hunted Map Tutorial A Hunted map is basically composed of four different parts
Sky Positioning Sky Positioning
Locked Doors Locked Doors
Arches Make arches and curves the correct way
Rotating Lights This tutorial demonstrates how to create the rotating light beam effect as seen in the Half-Life: Uplink
Tutorial 6: 'I have seen the light!!' Tutorial 6: 'I have seen the light!!'
Hammer Editor Tutorial #3 - First Room In this Tutorial we will explain you how to create your first room. You will learn to place one light and a player start and something more
Using Valve Hammer Editor to Create Worlds for Sven Co-op Welcome to the Valve Hammer Editor (hammer /wc) overview and tutorial.
Making Optimized Stairs How to make professional-ish stairs...
Make a 1 Way Window Want to make a window where you can see through one side, but not the other? This tutorial shows you how.
The Sky Texture This tutorial gives you information and an overview about the different sky possibilities
How to add a sky to a map How to add a sky to a map
Textured Lighting Textured Lighting
R_SPEEDS - Part 1 R_SPEEDS - Part 1
Teleports Teleports are a fun and easy thing to make.
Making a deathrun map Making a deathrun map
Doors This one tells you how to build doors
Worldcraft 3.3 Preview This is a short preview of the upcoming Worldcraft version 3.3
The Opposing Force Opening Sequence This tutorial explains the methods and tricks used to create the opening ride sequence seen in the Opposing Force expansion pack.
func_doors func_doors
A Guide to better Framerates A Guide to better Framerates
Understanding TFC goal states Hopefully this mini-tutorial will explain how goals interact with one another and with other entities.
Mapping For TF A general guide, with a number of points to consider when mapping for Team Fortress and its variants
Leaks and how to fix them Leaks and how to fix them
Tutorial 10: Func_tank - Making a Controllable Turret Tutorial 10: Func_tank - Making a Controllable Turret
WC Sphere Making How to make a sphere in worldcraft using the 'cone slicing' method.
How to Make Rain This tutorial will explain how to use the env_rain entity for making rain in Counter-Strike like in de_aztec and de_slap
Adding Models to Counter Strike 1.6 map Adding Models to Counter Strike 1.6 map
Tutorial 7: The Func_train possibilities Tutorial 7: The Func_train possibilities
valve hammer 3.5.1 tutorial 1 how to cinfigure hammer for half life 1 or opposing force and the same thing for blueshift download hammer 3.5.1 and fdg file
Looping Multi_Managers Here is an incredibly simple and often used trick to make a multi_manager fire something over and over.
Advanced Camera Tricks Advanced Camera Tricks
Resetting Entitys At The Start Of Every Round Resetting Entitys At The Start Of Every Round
Force fields Making simple, controllable force fields
Setting up Worldcraft for Mods This article details the process that must be taken to configure Worldcraft to create, compile, and run maps for any Half-Life mod.
How to use the env_message this will instruct you how to make your own custom messages appear on the screen during the game
Adding Holes for Doors, Windows .... etc - Clipping Tool Adding Holes for Doors, Windows .... etc - Clipping Tool
Teleporter Tutorial There are two types of teleporters that can be made in Half-Life. There's a simple version and a complex version.
Scripted Basic use of scripted_sequence's
TEXTURED LIGHTS Textured lights then, many mappers swear by them and others just hate them.
The AAATrigger Texture This tutorial shows how to use the aaatrigger texture
Rotating Weapons This tutorial teaches you how to create the effect of weapons that hover and spin over the ground 'Quake 3' style.
MAP BALANCE MAP BALANCE
Creating A Locked Door This article describes the process used for creating door that can be locked and unlocked through the use of the func_button, trigger_relay, and multisource entities
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS FOR DEATHMATCH MAPPING DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS FOR DEATHMATCH MAPPING
Land Mine Effect How to simulate land mines
General level design theory General level design theory
Setting up WorldCraft 3.3 for Team Fortress First of all this tutorial is how I set up WC3.3
How to get (almost) perfect texture rotations This tutorial applies to the Hammer Editor 3.5
A little Hammer FAQ Some common FAQ based on hammer
Respawn Rooms Respawn rooms are a feature of most TF maps, if not all.
Tutorial 9: The new Game_xxxx Entities Tutorial 9: The new Game_xxxx Entities
Hints: How They Work A very advanced technical tutorial explaining how hints are used in the compilation process to reduce poly counts and why they work.
How to make a curve - the next step! How to make a curve
QERadiant - My First Window This tutorial shows in easy steps how to make a glass window
Using the Clipping tool In this tutorial, you will be taught how to clip objects, using the Clipping tool.
Half-Life Clip Hull Generation How it works, what goes wrong, and how I fixed it in question and answer format
Leaks! Everyone experiences them. Everyone hates them
Map Testing Procedure This tutorial will provide instructions on setting up Hammer to launch TFC maps correctly
TFC - Hide & Seek Maps Hide & Seek Maps
BSP to MAP \| BSPTwoMAP BSP to MAP \| BSPTwoMAP
Half Life 1.10 Entity list (Advanced) Common FGD Entitys, and how to use them
valve hammer teleport valve hammer teleport
Videomaking with HLAE Learn how to capture demos and export them to video using this powerful tool.
How to Make a Simple Door How to Make a Simple Door
Tips For Faster Compiling Just some stuff that I know about compiling, that will speed things up a little for you.
How to make a switch to turn lights on and off. How to make a switch to turn lights on and off.
Elevator No. 2 This tutorial describes the process of making an elevator that can move between more than two floors.
How to use game_player_equip How to use game_player_equip
Rotating Door Rotating Door
Condition Zero - Advanced navmesh editing guide An illustrated tutorial about bots navigation meshes
Combining Brushes with a Text Editor Ever wonder how to combine multiple brushes into 1 big brush?
Tankrockets Create your own turret-mounted weapons. In this case, a rocket-launcher.
Scripted Sequence #4, the Seesaw of Death The first thing I'd like to say is that if you haven't read our previous three scripted sequence tutorials, you should do so before attempting this one.
Dimensions These dimensions apply to levels created with most editors, as long as the code for the player entities has not been modified.
Properly Using Carve and Hollow in WorldCraft Any experienced mapper will tell you that carving and hollowing are bad ideas.
armoury_entity Tutoria A simple tutorial for the entity 'armoury_entity'
Mirror Floor (or Wet floor) This tutorial will explane how to make a mirror floor.
Capture the Flag Tutorial the game setup entities, the flags and the capture po
WorldCraft Tutorials: Part2 In this tutorial I will guide you through the layout of WorldCraft, how it is layed out and what each of the buttons do.
common mapping problems/questions common mapping problems/questions
Invisible Usable Trigger This demonstrates how to create an invisible non-solid field
Setting Up Hammer for TFC This will cover getting Hammer configured and ready to make TFC maps.
Getting Started Getting Started with Worldcraft
Clip Brush Tutorial Obtain even more control over your hapless player with this tutorial.
WorldCraft 3.3: func_plat WorldCraft 3.3: func_plat
The Rustmill Effect The Rustmill Effect refers to the effect created in the Rustmill map. In it, there was a 'map board' that consisted of an overhead view of the level.
Working with entities - general techniques and thoughts Entities are what makes a map alive. Without entities, a map is just a set of walls, between which the players can bore themselves to death.
The ladder How to make a ladder?
The X-Ray Effect One of the things people have wondered about is how Gearbox achieved the x-ray effect in the of3a6 map
The Art of Ladder Making This is a short article which describes the proccess of making a ladder in VHE, and assumes you have basic VHE knowledge.
Triangle Terrain 1: The Basics Cover any area you wish in some complex looking yet easy to make terrain
Elevators using func_train A basic elevator using a func_train and path.
Difficulty levels chosen by vote and difficulty level dependant events Implementing multiple difficulty levels in a map with a vote in your map is easier than you think.
Murderball Tutorial This tutorial shows you how to create a Murderball style gameplay
Custom Words Custom Words
Water How to make Water in HL
Using the func_wall to improve framerates The func_wall entity is often used by mappers when they want to prevent polygon subdivision and encounter leaf warnings/errors
How to use the multi_manager entity How to use the multi_manager entity
Mapping Technique Ever wonder how some mappers are able to bang out a regular stream of good quality maps, while you struggle along for months on the same thing? Its all about your technique...
QERadiant - Vertex Manipulation This tutorial shows you three different ways to manipulate brushes
Fans Build a working fan that creates wind.
A beginners guide to CS 1.6 mapping So I’m now going to try to teach you how to make your first map. There are already some tutorials out there, but for those who can’t find it or don’t understand it: here’s mine. Good luck on your first map!
Basic scripted sequences/sentences tutorial Basic scripted sequences/sentences tutorial
How To Make A Pop Machine The pop machine - not only does it dispense cans of pop, you can also smack it around with a crowbar!
Torching open a door In the Half-Life: Uplink demo, at one point you see a group of grunts cut open a steel door, presumably with an oxygene-acetylene torch. Here's how it was done.
How to Modify NAV Files Explains how to modify the paths that bot's take to navigate your map
In the Beginning Part 4 Basic Lighting: Got a textured room, so add some lights...
Room corners An alternative to boring 90 degree corners
Advanced Map Making - Random looking Cliffs There are a few ways to make random looking cliffs;the three ways are listed here
Einführung in den Hammer Editor 3.5 Introduction to hammer in German.
Understanding vhe In this tutorial I will show you how to use vhe.
Titles.txt How to modify the titles text to produce Messages
Physical Logic – Half-Life Physical Logic – Half-Life
Blocking Areas So you want an area to be visible but you dont want peeps getting there?
Making water that looks good Making water that looks good
Compiling You can't play a map without compiling. Compiling your levels is a very intricate process, and Kabaal's in-depth tutorial helps make sense of it.
Adding and Changing Sky - 2D Skybox and Global Lighting Adding and Changing Sky - 2D Skybox and Global Lighting
Making Shoot-trough-able grate Making Shoot-trough-able grate
Reflective Surfaces This is a good method to have a reflective surface in Half-Life
Using Complex brushes (Realistic Cliffs) Using more complex brushwork
creating elevator(not func_door) creating elevator(not func_door)
How to use LeafMarker When starting out making maps most new mappers soon experience having a LEAK
Cylindric texture alignment in Hammer 3.5 Short video tutorial explaining the process involved in texture alignmnet for cylinders
69th Vlatitude Tips long list of Mapping Tips
Stripping Ammo and Grenades This tutorial covers how to remove ammo and grenades from spawning players.
Map optimization part 1 Introduction to optimization.
Map optimization Part 3 In the last part, you learned how does vis work and how it influences your map design. This tutorial is divided in three parts to quickly show you how to optimize maps.
DoD Class Limits DoD Class Limits
Using the Technique In-game: Creating Killable Fish that Respawn Every Round (Part 2) Part two of Lacos' tutorial on resetting entities at the start of every round. Be sure you've read part 1 first!
Making a Ladder You can make anything into a ladder. even something slippery like a plastic fish.
Sky How to make out door sky areas for Half-life
QuArK setup tutorial for Wizard Wars QuArK setup tutorial for Wizard Wars
Basic terrain mapping in Hammer 3.5 Video Tutorial covering basic terrain mapping in hammer
Torching Open A Door (Half-Life) In the Half-Life: Uplink demo, at one point you see a group of grunts cut open a steel door
Using Sprites Describes the various uses for sprites, including halo effects and the steam trick. Also compares variousrendering modes.
How to use VisGroups The VisGroup tools is for the convinience of mappers. When a lot of brushwork makes the work complex it can become difficult to maintain the big picture.
Seamless Teleports Seamless teleports are incredibly useful for connecting two maps that would otherwise overlap with each other
Adding Models to action hl and other mods Adding Models to action hl and other mods
Glass and Transparency How do I make glass? How do I make things transparent?
Arches 101 Arches 101
Detail versus Design Detail versus Design
Setting up Worldcraft for Opposing Force editing Setting up Worldcraft for Opposing Force is just like setting it up for any other mod, but there seems to be confusion, hence this separate article.
Torching open a door In the Half-Life: Uplink demo, at one point you see a group of grunts cut open a steel door. Here's how it was done.
Batch File Compiling for Beginners Creation and use of batch files for HL compiling
Rotating door with glass pane Rotating door with glass pane
Basics of Entities - Adding and Editing Entities Basics of Entities - Adding and Editing Entities
Aiscripted Sequences Completly control monsters
Doors and windows Doors and windows
Ground reflection tutorial with a bit of imagination you can actually fake some effects
Vertex manipulation - basics, tricks and common errors Vertex manipulation - basics, tricks and common errors
How to make a Retinal Scanner this tutorial will assume you already have basic mapping skills and know what a Aiscripted_sequences entity is
func_wall - how to make {blue transparrent func_wall - how to make {blue transparrent
NPC and Item Placement Theory NPC and Item Placement Theory
Multi_managers Usage
Pipe-Works (part 2) T- and X- junctions
How to make a static rotating crane. I mostly made this for the transparent part.
first Half-Life map with Worldcraft2 - Part 2 first Half-Life map with Worldcraft2
env_rain Tutorial A tutorial for add rain in your maps!
Multi_manager The multi_manager entity replaces the aging trigger_relay entity. The multi_manager can trigger up to 16 different entities at set time lengths
Scripted events for Stock Half Life Models a CHM File for scripted events for Stock Half Life Models
Finding Coordinates Many people ask how to go about reading and finding the coordinates given when certain errors occur with ZHLT. Fortunately its not too complicated.
Advanced Terrain Creation Advanced Terrain Creation
Textured Lighting Can you turn on/off textured lights?Well you can sort of.
TEAM FORTRESS TEAM FORTRESS
How to change the sky box texture How to change the sky box texture
Making Glass Making Glass
Making a Capture the Flag Map This is a tutorial to make a map that the Allies or Axis need capture all four flags to win the round
Clipping Brushes Clipping Brushes
Airstrike a la Crossfire Brian explains how to create an airstrike like the one in Crossfire or DoubleCross deathmatch maps.
Making a destroyable active tank turret (realistic) Making an active tank turret that can be destroyed with explosive weapons.
More Doors Well this is even more door for you to build
General Level Building Tips and Suggestions General Level Building Tips and Suggestions
The 'Boulder' Method For Cliffs and Terrain.
Curve Tutorial Tutorial for making curves
Electrical Arc In this tutorial KungFuSquirrel tells us how he created the electrical arc in his map ns_eclipse.
r_speed reduction methods This tutorial will explain to you how to reduce lag caused by r_speeds (polygon counts) in a Half-Life level.
Xen lighting Another problem with Xen maps is light sources.
Creating a Pond In this tutorial I'll show you how to create an irregular depression in the ground and fill it with water to create a pond.
QuArK setup tutorial for Wizard Wars (part 2) QuArK setup tutorial for Wizard Wars (part 2)
Vertex manipulation - basics, tricks and common errors Vertex manipulation - basics, tricks and common errors
Design Considerations for HLDM Part 2 Gamedesign theory for HLDM
How to use detailtextures in a professional manner How to use detailtextures in a professional manner
func_ladder, func_illusionary - how to make a ladder Making a ladder is no big deal when you've done it once. If you havn't made your first ladder yet, this tutorial is made special for you.
Using the Clipping Tool The clipping tool can be found on the left hand side of the screen, its the brown wood style block with a yellow cut out bit on.
Team Specific Entities These entities are composed architecture, such as doors and laser, and point entites
Bubble effect How to create underwater bubbles in maps
Mapping Hints Small collection of Mapping Hints
Frequently asked Questions and Tips Frequently asked Questions and Tips
Using Complex Brushes Using Complex Brushes
valve hammer multimanager valve hammer multimanager
Using Skys There seems to be alot of confusion over how to implement skys in a level. The concept is much more simple than most people think, and perhaps this is what leads to confusion.
Elaborate Elevators, Part #2 Elaborate Elevators, Part #2
R_SPEEDS - PART 2 R_SPEEDS - PART 2
Using the Vertex Tool This is used to make blocks fit and be different shapes, all you do is click on the object you want to shape and click on the 3d wireframe style icon on the left, now lots of dots appear on the object.
Decompiling GoldSrc Maps. Showcasing Decompilation of BSP to MAP format.
The Bendy Door This article discusses how to create the effect of a door bending and bulging before it finally breaks open
Monstermaker Tutorial Even if you know nothing about the monstermaker entity, do you think you could guess what it does? What did you say? It makes monsters? Well, that's partially right.
Polygon Reduction Methods This is a quick and dirty guide for some common polygon reduction methods
Connecting Two Rooms Connecting Two Rooms
https://web.archive.org/web/20021219134831/http://valve-erc.com/resources/?page=tut_torchcut Teleporters with sprite and sound effects are quite easy to construct
Using the LIGHTS.RAD file for Texture Lighting PilPax has sent this great tutorial our way that outlines just how to use the lights.rad file for texture lighting.
Stripping the Weapons from Players A tutorial about how to strip weapons from players at the start of a round. Useful for structured PA or KA maps.
Doors Create sliding or hinged doors with this tutorial.
Common Monster Properties The majority of monster entities share a common set of properties
Hammer Beginner Tutorial 1 What the heck makes up a 'level' anyway
Mapping Mentality This article goes over the sort of attitude you should adopt if you want to enjoy mapping and become good at it.
Rotating Doors - the ORIGIN Brush Rotating Doors - the ORIGIN Brush
The BSP Process and Visibility This tutorial is written for Quake II and to some extent Quake 3 Arena. However, all Quake engine games work on a similar principle (though not all have hint brushes or detail brushes).
Using Sound You will need the ambient_generic and the trigger_multiple entities for this tutorial.
Setting up Quark Setting up Quark for Half-Life mapping
Elevator Doors that move Moving elevator doors. A complex look at path_corner interaction
Shutdown-Style Map Tutorial This tutorial shows you how to create a Shutdown style gameplay,
Creating Transparent and Opaque Objects How to make those transparent things like fences, railings, etc. plus transparent brushes like windows!
Finding & fixing leaks Finding & fixing leaks
Cool Door Well that's all the doors that I can take so that's the last door
Glass In this tutorial i will show you about glass
Low r_speed Cliff Walls In this tutorial, I'm going to try to show/explain a few of the tricks that some mappers use for cliff walls.
Custom Textures In Quark Learn howto use custom textures
Get Learned! Step 4 - Learn to Fly Get Learned! Step 4 - Learn to Fly
How to call in an airstrike This tutorial will lead you through the creation of an air strike table
Sky Tutorial Since we have a tutorial on the light_environment entity, which is used to make sunlight in outdoor levels, I figured it would be helpful if we had a sky tutorial.
Texture Application Tool Texture Application Tool inside Hammer
The Osprey How to set up an Osprey and make it fly properly.
Creating A Usable And Destructible Mortar mortars that can be used by one team to bombard a part of the map with simulated mortars
Creating a side mound You'll notice on some maps hilly areas, in certain places, the only map using it that I can currently think of is dust, and its barely noticeable, but its there.
TFC Mapping Frequently Asked Questions TFC Mapping Frequently Asked Questions
Big Block Method of Error Finding What is the BBMoEF? Basically its a method of breaking your map down into different peices to determine which part is causing your problem.
Mapping help Tutorials for Half-Life & Mods Mapping help Tutorials for Half-Life & Mods
Using The Clip Tool Using The Clip Tool
Basic Spawn Protection for Day of Defeat Maps Basic Spawn Protection for Day of Defeat Maps
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS FOR DEATHMATCH MAPPING - Part 2 DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS FOR DEATHMATCH MAPPING Part 2
Car tutorial How to make a car in CS.
The Gmdm2 tutorials Part 3 Part 3: building a better boulder
QRAD Textures and the .RAD file This article is explains the concept of QRAD (light emitting) Textures and their relation to the lights.rad file.
How to make a curve How to make a curve
r_speeds Most mappers know that the more they see from a certain angle ingame the more lag will appear. But plane is sometimes devided into smaller chunks which also causes lag.
Decompiling GoldSrc Maps Showcasing Decompilation of BSP to MAP format in GoldSrc Engine.
Pitch Yaw Roll How to set up object pitch - yaw - roll.
How to layout a map How to layout a map
Another way to create rocks how to create easy rocks...
Locks and keys Locks and keys are so boring so lets shoot the lock off!
Grunts and Gun's Grunts and Gun's
Brushing a pipe curve in Hammer 3.5 In this tutorial you learn how to create a proper looking curve for a cylindric brush object
The Retinal Scanner how to add the Retinal Scanner in Half-Life
Playtesting Playtesting is the most important part of a map's creation and typically makes or breaks it. This article gives some pointers to consider.
The 'Busy Scientist' effect OK what we are going to do is, make a scientist go around a room and check computers, in an endless loop.
The 'Grunts busting through a skylight..' effect This tutorial shows you how to create the effect of human grunts dropping through a skylight into a room.
QERadiant - Arbitrary Sided Brushes This tutorial shows you how easy it is to create arbitrary sided brushes
Doors with Glass How to add Doors with Glass in Half-Life
Elevators, Moving Platforms and Trains - Moving Level Parts Elevators, Moving Platforms and Trains - Moving Level Parts
How to do complex brushwork with no errors Learn how I do dynamic brushwork with minimal errors in VHE.
LCD Display (with custom values!) LCD Display (with custom values!)
R_speeds R_speeds
QERadiant - Gate And Glass This Tutorial shows how to make gates and transparent and breakable glass
Visual Sprite list A visual representation of 128 sprites.
How to make a Breakable lab Lab fun, computer were always fun here's how to spice things up.
Compiling Basically once you have done a bit of your map you should test it, not do the whole thing then try to compile, do it after major or even slight changes.
How to make Usable Camera How to make Usable Camera
Rocks and Cliffs Between a rock and a hard place: using vertical stacking to achieve realistic effects and low r_speeds in rocks and cliffs.
Team Fortress Team Fortress offers a unique challenge to mappers. this article will go over such pointers as respawn room placement and balance.
See-through and Shoot-through Brush - the CLIP Brush See-through and Shoot-through Brush - the CLIP Brush
Using the item_nuclearbomb Using the item_nuclearbomb
Proper ropes/cables for lifts Using a sprite for a rope instead.
Creating Buttons You can create all sorts of buttons, activated by triggers, or simply by touching or using it.
Scalable monster health / Player amount detector This tutorial covers how you can trigger certain events in your map according to the amount of players currently on the server.
Adding Atmosphere A dialogue about getting horror into your map
Worldcraft 3.3 FGD Format Changes This article outlines the changes made to the FGD file format as of Worldcraft 3.3. This will be of special interest to mod developers who want to make the most of the editing support for their mod.
Getting started with worldcraft by Wills Getting started with worldcraft by Wills
In the Beginning Really basic tutorial on building a cube and compiling it.
Water Trickle Water Trickle
A Guide to better Framerates Levels with a bad framerates are the biggest problem for mappers.A level with a poor framerate often makes such a level unplayable.
Creating Complex Brushes This tutorial aims at showing advanced level designers how they can create complex brushes easily.
Lighting Lighting your level
Setting up a teams.ini Creating a set team for you're map
Env_sprite Tutorial The env_sprite entity is used to place, yep you guessed it, sprites in your level. It's also very easy to use.
INFO_TFGOAL & i_t_g The main TF entity with which you should be familiar is INFO_TFGOAL
Adding a Skybox The Skybox is the Image around your map
Save/load keyvalues between levels Save/load keyvalues between levels
Location Files A .loc file is what allows players to use %L in messages (and get a result).
Configuring func_trains - func_tracktrains Tutorial for all those newbies out there.
Leaks Everyone experiences them. Everyone hates them. They're the frickin' level leak. Below are some causes and effects, and a number of ways you can deal with leaks.
Keypad Tutorial Keypad Tutorial
Creating Proximity Doors Creating Proximity Doors
Random entity triggering Learn how to randomly trigger events in your map, without any custom code!
DOD Setting up valve hammer for mapping This is a tutorial about setting up valve hammer so you can create maps for Day of Defeat
QERadiant - Doors With Glass This tutorial shows in easy steps how to create a moving door with a glass window
Assorted Mapping Hints This tutorial combines a lot of little things I have learned over the years as a Half-Life mapper, but which aren't quite major enough to justify their own separate tutorials.
func_vehicle complete tutorial func_vehicle complete tutorial
How to make freeroam maps that don't crash servers One of the problems with freeroam maps is that they have a tendency cause strain on the server
Trees Four different approaches to tree-making!
Teamcheck Entities Tutorial This tutorial will show you how to change the team value of different entities by using the teamcheck goals, info_tf_teamcheck & info_tf_teamset.
Two-way Trigger This tutorial shows how to make a trigger that will target different objects depending on which way the player walks through it.
How to make an Ammo pack This small tutorial explains how to make an ammo pack for a TFC map.
Making your first room Ok, I was asked to make a basic tutorial for a simple room, so here goes.
Introduction to Mapping An introduction to mapping concepts and setting up WorldCraft
Compiling Errors A list and their solutions
Env_Render A Simple Introduction This tutorial describes a simple usage of the env_render entity
Making a de map I will now show you how to make a defusal map. This is one of the most simplest tutorials here.
How to make breakable windows How to make breakable windows
Spiral Staircase Adding a Spiral Staircase for effect
Bringing your maps to life An example on how you can make your maps more interesting to look at
Poor Man's Shiny Floors A shiny floor that seems to reflect that which is above it adds an impressive touch to many Half-Life levels
The Essentials of Mapping: Immersing the Player This article is an important guide to improving your sense of style and should help you make your maps look a lot better
An Introduction to Lighting This is going to be an introduction to adding lighting effects to your level.
QERadiant - My First Ladder This tutorial shows in easy steps how to make a climbable ladder
How to make Land mines How to make Land mines
How to group objects How to group objects
Ladder tutorial How to make a basic ladder
Trigger Events Between Levels Learn how to trigger events between levels using the logic_auto and env_global entities.
Trigger_Changetarget The trigger_changetarget simply changes entities' targets and it is easily configured.
ambient_generic How to put background sound into your map
Triggering a game_text This is just a tutorial about how to make a text showing up when you fall down in a hole or walk trough someting!
Volumetric lighting Volumetric lighting is fun
Decals\Abziehbilder Making decals is easy.
Prefabs and Monsters Prefabs and Monsters
Read Me First A long winded look at mapping
How to make great looking natural terrain by using gensurf How to make great looking natural terrain by using gensurf
Top Ten N00b Problems (And Solutions) After spending over a year now in the forums, it's obvious that certain questions keep coming up over and over. Here are some I have noticed, complete with solution.
valve hammer monster in this tutorial we gonna make monster
Glass Create a breakable, translucent glasshouse.
The Half-Life .MAP Format The .MAP format for Half-Life is pretty simple to figure out, but for the sake of having an easily accessible resource, I've gathered the relevant information below.
Reusing/duplicating complex entity systems Reusing/duplicating complex entity systems
Half-Life Compilers Somewhat Detailed Explanation of Half-Life Compiling Tools And/Or Techniques
Making NPCs do things - Scripted Sequences Making NPCs do things - Scripted Sequences
Dark Outdoor Maps Put a little night in your map.
Texturing Techniques Texturing Techniques
GoldSrc Map Texture Tutorial - Part 7 SCROLLING Textures
Advanced texturing Open the texture selection tool. Noticed the different options?
Making a Rotating Door Making a rotating door isnt as hard as you might think, its just a question of doing a little bit more than your normal door.
HALOS ON LIGHTS HALOS ON LIGHTS
How to make sprites more flexible If you ever played DOOM, you probably saw that the sprites can sort of rotate, but not lean, or look like they're on the floor.
Scaleing: Why it works. Scaleing: Why it works.
Making proper arches There are many ways to create arches in the goldsrc engine. But the method which saves the most polygons wins.
WorldCraft Tutorials: Part3 This section will cover the basics of making a room. We will also look into making a hallway joining another room, and a door in the middle of the hallway.
Worldcraft Set up Worldcraft 3.x only allows for the creation of Half-Life (and Half-Life mod) levels.
Finding Leaks Well You have to start somewhere and in my opinion its best to start simple, so my first tutorial is a simple reference on how to find Leaks in your level.
Adding Glass to Doors This tutorial shows how to add translucent glass panels that move with the doors found in the Doors tutorial.
Choose A Sky For Your HL Map (With Sky Previews) Ever wonder how to change the background sky texture in your map? Read this easy tutorial! Includes a handy list of envmap previews to show you what the different skies look like.
Embedding Textures into a Map Embedding Textures into a Map
Scrolling Textures First I would like to introduce scrolling textures since they haven't been addressed very well.
Making Sewers how to make a sewer tunnel, step by step!
Worldcraft 2.0 and Half-Life Texturing This article goes over the different facets of textures and texturing as related to Worldcraft 2.0 and Half-Life
Triggers This is a guide on how to use triggers
Slippery Floors Put slippin' slidin' action into your levels. Or don't. In any case, it wouldn't hurt to know how this is done
Detpackable Walls in Team Fortress Classic Detpackable Walls in Team Fortress Classic
Get Learned! Step 6 - Sprinkles Get Learned! Step 6 - Sprinkles
How to trigger something after using a button for a period of time. How to trigger something after using a button for a period of time.
Enemy AI In this tutorial, I'm going to try and show you how to use these nodes to make a level more challenging without adding any more monsters.
DoD Object Objectives DoD Object Objectives
How to use !activator How to use !activator
The Shrinking Effect Learn how SlayerA made the shrinking machine.
Torching a Door Among the many new things the Half-Life: Opposing Force expansion pack introduces, one of the most interesting is the engineer NPC.
Using Valve Hammer Editor to Create Worlds for Counter-Strike Welcome to the Valve Hammer Editor (Hammer /WC /VHE) overview and tutorial.
Hammer Editor Tutorial #2 - Navigation In this Tutorial we'll explain you how to navigate the Hammer Editor. You'll learn more about the functions of the Tools and the handling of the Editor.
Item/Weapon Placement Item/Weapon Placement
Lights This article shows you how to switch lights on and off and what each type of light does.
From The Frame Up A guide for new mappers on adding detail to basic designs.
Lighting your map Lighting
Texture Alignment on Curves Texture Alignment on Curves
Overlays & Lighting How to create overlays, and light them
Door With Turning Handle This article covers how to make a door that has a handle that turns when it opens.
How to make it impossible for T/CT to buy How to make it impossible for T/CT to buy
How to make breakable wall How to make a breakable wall
In the Beginning Part 5 Furniture: Add some furniture prefabs to enhance realism.
INITIAL DESIGN The initial design phase of a level is very important
R_speeds: speed vs. detail This tutorial is a must-read for any serious level designer. Kabaal talks about the crucial elements of making a level run smoothly on even slower computers.
Making One Way Glass If you happen to be making a corporate building super map, then maybe you want some funky 1 way glass in it.
Antigravity lift There are 2 ways around this, one for SP maps and one for DM maps.
Realistic Steam How to make Realistic Steam in HL
Texturing your map I will now show you how to add textures to your map.
Special Effects A lot of effects can be created, fire, smokes, fog, sparks, lasers, blood. bubbles or even model shooter
Making a proper sky for your map. Making a proper sky for your map.
The Rustmill Effect The Rustmill Effect refers to the effect created in the Rustmill map
Models and how to add them in your map A map is typically composed of 2 things; brushes and entities. But there are other things which make a map. These include models, sprites, sounds, etc.
Basic Teleporter with Effects This shows the construction of a basic teleporter with sounds and sprites.
How to make a pop machine A pop machine. You've all seen 'em. You've all used 'em. How do you make 'em? Lemme tell ya.
Terrain Mountains, Hills, Lakes and Cliffs
Valve hammer scripted sentence tutorial how to make scripted squence
Level Transition Simple transition between maps.
The complete teleporter effect Hey. This tutorial will show you how to make a teleport device, using sprites, beams and sounds.
Chairs, Scientists and Barneys From the title of this tutorial you will probably assume that I'm just going to tell you how get scientists to sit in a chair.
Perfect 90 Degree Curves The cylinder method!
All scripted sequences for all models. All scripted sequences for all models.
QERadiant - Counter-Strike Basic Information This tutorial gives you basic information about CS mapping and how to use the new entities
func_tracktrain func_tracktrain
Adding custom content part 1 A map typically consists of the brushwork and entities.
How to add sound in your map How to add sound in your map
Introduction to Goals and Goal States To help you better understand the goal states
Customizing the lights.rad File Customizing the lights.rad File
Shocking the Ichthys Shocking the Ichthys
how to make rail in valve hammer how to make imple train
Realistic dynamic landscape Having trouble with flat/blocky terrain? No more!
Vertex Manipulation 4 - Realistic Cliffs Vertex Manipulation 4 - Realistic Cliffs
Creating a Working Camera System Within this tutorial, I will show how to setup the entites needed to create a working camera system for use in TFC maps.
How to make a grate/fence that you can shoot through How to make a grate/fence that you can shoot through
Finding & fixing leaks every known method of finding and fixing those pesky things
Water - how to make it func_water
How to make ammo bags in TFC How to make ammo bags in TFC
Ways to Prevent Leaks If your level doesn't compile because it has a leak, then you need to find the leak and delete. This tutorial helps define methods to find and eliminate leaks
Style Guide #2, Lab 2 Style Guide #2, Lab 2
Angled textures tutorial This is just a small tutorial explaining how to quickly and perfectly align textures at an angle.
Moving and rolling barrel tutorial This tutorial will explain how to make a rolling barrel that also moves (as seen in Blue Shift)
WorldCraft v2.0 Setup This FAQ is designed to help you get WorldCraft setup
Level Transitions An issue constantly surrounded in questions is that of level changes
func_door - How to make sliding doors func_door - How to make sliding doors
How to use the vertex editing button How to use the vertex editing button
xen healing pools healing pool as encountered in xen with full effects
Day of Defeat Mapping: Part 1 The Tools
Hammer Beginner Tutorial 5 Lifts 'n' Stuff...
Multi-level lift, call to any level from all levels I had a massive headache trying to get this working, and after two days of trying various methods, I finally figured it out.
QERadiant - My First Moving Platform This tutorial shows in easy steps how to create a simple moving platform by using the func_plat entity
Drivable objects Drivable objects
Taming the Speaker Entity Taming the Speaker Entity
How to make glass How to make glass
In the Beginning Some of the important things a SP map should include.
HINT BRUSHES Hint brushes are somewhat hard to understand.
Vending Machines Of the breakable kind
Making realistic Trees Making realistic Trees
Advanced R_speed Tweaks Although VIS blockers are the most important way to keep your r_speeds under control, there are a variety of other tweaks and tricks you can do to lower your r_speeds within each area of your map.
Changing the sky in your map Changing the sky in your map
Lifts (aka elevators) Between 2 floors
Cycler entity submodel+light additional functions When you work with models in your map usually you use cycler entity, having a fiew submodels or model that can be light incorecly can be a pain to work with
Big List of Single-Player Mapping Tips Here's a list of useful hints and tips relating to single-player mapping
Hollow spheres Vertex scaling
Simple Camera Tutorial Simple Camera Tutorial
Leaks Finding and fixing them
2-Stage Pipe the two-stage pipe, as I like to call it, looks quite nice.
Multi-destination teleporter Entity heavy, recommended to experienced mappers only
How to use the pointfile method with Valve Hammer How to use the pointfile method with Valve Hammer
Making your first map In this post I will show you hove to create your first map.
How to set up a multi_manager How to set up a multi_manager
Creating Custom Map Titles & Other Flash Things for Half-Life Welcome to the wonderful world that is Titles.txt.
How to read a Compile Log This is a very basic tutorial about how to read a compile log
R_speed Reduction Methods High R_SPEEDS got you down? Check out Mr Deth's tutorial on how to reduce them.
Adding decals to your map Worldcraft make it fairly easy to add decals to your map
Taking better screen shots This guide shows you the two ways to take screen shots and how to remove the hud
Textured Lighting Textured lighting, when used properly, is by far the best type of lighting in most situations.
Reference: Real World A reference article covering a few small pointers on creating a suitably authentic real world setting. Bear in mind its a little out of date with the release of next gen games like HL2 and Farcry.
Texture Face and world alignment Texture Face and world alignment
Entities: Making a train In this tutorial, I will show you how to make a train in cs.
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
Texture Application What I am going to discuss is the best way to avoid the error Bad Surface Extents and weird texture placement.
Blocktober - Hard Duty (Design Process Tutorial) The first blocktober for Hard Duty is now arrived. See the workflow of the developers to have a better understanding how levels are designed.
Chairs, Scientists and Barneys Getting scientist bums on seats, so to speak, is a common query among mappers new to Half-Life
Sven Manor Enitity Guide Sven Manor Enitity Guide
QERadiant - My First Room This tutorial shows in easy steps how to make a single room
Counter-Strike Entity Overview Outkast goes over the basic CS specific entities. Wahoo! We've been needing a tutorial like this for a long time!
Firebinders - The Text Chanmer Experiments Part 1 TEXTURE SCALE ON LARGE OBJECTS, TEXTURE SCALE ON SMALL OBJECTS, TEXTURE ALIGNMENT, MITERED BRUSH JOINTS, BRUSH CONTACT
Torching Open A Door (OpFor) This Half-Life: Opposing Force tutorial demonstrates how to make an engineer automatically torch open a door.
Sizes in cstrike Sizes in cstrike
WorldCraft 3.3 from the beginning This is a very basic tutorial telling you how to set-up your basic WorldCraft 3.3 options
Counter-Strike Map Types Yeah I know, most people know, however, up until minutes ago, I knew nothing, but I now know most!
Vertex Manipulation Intro Explains how the Vertex Manipulation tool can be used to create advanced solids, and the various ways in which you can modify them using it.
Using ToggleFlag Properties Some of TFC's settings are done through special fields called ToggleFlags
How to Make the Screenshot for an Overview How to Make the Screenshot for an Overview
Making See-Through Glass Making See-Through Glass
Controlling Turrets Through Cameras This article describes the simple intracacies of creating a turret which you can control through a camera.
QUAKE vs HALFLIFE MAPPING QUAKE vs HALFLIFE MAPPING
Elevator with moving button The tutorial demonstrates how to make a lift whose button (seemingly) moves along with it.
More Complex Triggers Create a series of triggers that make an interesting scenario - an explosive elevator.
Poly reduction - Tips & Tricks 01 This tutorial addresses the issue of polygon cutting, a dreaded issue that can greatly decrease the performance of your maps
A Texturing Tip Holding ALT while applying texures
Func_weldable Create a button that needs to be welded before being used
Invisible 'Use' Trigger how to setup invisible and useable triggers in Half-Life
An Absolute Newbie Guide to CS Vehicles Tayl0r's tutorial on how to put a vehicle in a CS map.
Easy Texture Alignment Just a short tutorial to help you line your textures up, faster than manually adjusting X and Y coordinates.
Attack and Defend Using Teamcheck Entities This tutorial shows you how to set up the entities for an attack-defend map where the teams swap after each round.
Sky boxes for Newbies Creating skyboxes around your map.
DoD Mapping Tutorial A video tutorial which demonstrates how to make a map for the original Day of Defeat modification using the Valve Hammer Editor
Creating a streetlight with light cone Creating a streetlight with light cone
How to make transparant (shiny) floor in VHE How to make transparant (shiny) floor in VHE
QERadiant - My First Hallway This tutorial shows in easy steps how to connect two rooms with an hallway
All light entities In this tutorial i will show you how to use advanced lighing.
Remove - give - place weapons How to remove, give and place weapons in a CS map.
In the Beginning Part 6 Monsters: Adding Barneys, grunts and aliens brings your map to life. This is a basic guide.
Rotating Objects This is a brief descriptive article on the process of setting up rotating entities.
Creating Custom Skins for Models Creating Custom Skins for Models
How to make a waterfall I have seen a lot of people asking for how to make a waterfall, however, it seems hard to find a tutorial on google. Thus this one.
How2Map - Half-Life 1 & Sven Co-op How2Map - Half-Life 1 & Sven Co-op
Size in Counter-Strike Here are some normal heights and width you should at all time be aware of.
Blur effect Blur in Half-life? Is that possible? Yes!
Shoot-through-able Grate How about a grate that a player can shoot through? Same idea applies to chain link fences, bars, etc.
How to load a map (.bsp file) in-game Basic tutorial on using the command line or console to run a map.
How to make effective lighting How to make effective lighting
Map-Making Basics - Part 2 Map-Making Basics - Part 2
glass with func_wall To make breakable glass, just make a block with a glass texture
Teleporter Tutorial Hey I think that you needed a teleport tut, so here it is
Creating Skies How to put a sky in your map.
Gensurf Explained Gensurf is a wonderful program that can generate realistic terrains for your levels.
Hint Brush Tutorial A great hint brush utility written by a friend of Relic25's
Configuring the Editor Configuring the Editor
Rotating Lights This tutorial not only shows you how to make rotating lights (like in the Uplink demo), but also how to make those 'fire doors' in the game that close when you break the glass.
How to make a door How to make a door
How VIS works This document is more like a how it might work, than how it actually works
How to make a Respawn room This tutorial will cover how to make a typical respawn/re-supply room
Theory - Connectivity and flow Connectivity and flow
func_wall optimizations Using the func_wall to improve framerates
Random Prefabs This tutorial gives you an overview of the official random object prefabs.
Curved Corners and Sloping Passages Curved Corners and Sloping Passages
R_Speeds R_Speeds
Carving responsibly Carving is never pretty. So many new mappers rely on carving which ends up shooting their r_speeds through the roof or creating nasty errors.
QERadiant - Steam This tutorial shows in easy steps how to create realistic looking steam
Chaincraft - Explanations - Part 2 Terms and tips for more succesfull mapping.
How to make an Airstrike How to make an Airstrike
How To Use Environment Maps So, you've got your spiffy new Environment Map....but what the hell do you do with it now???
How to make a rotating glass door How to make a rotating glass door
Adding your own custom textures This tutorial will teach you how to add your textures to your map.
How to compile your map - The Basics Compiling a map can sometimes be the biggest source of problems associated with Half-Life/TFC editing.
Half-Life Teamplay what to know when setting up a Half-Life Teamplay Map
Half Life Appearance Light Type List Half Life Appearance Light Type List
VERC Enityi Guide VERC Enityi Guide
Curved Tunnel Ceilings - Pipeworks Method Make a perfect curved tunnel ceiling using the arch, skewing, and clip tool.
How to make a Respawning Breakable Glass Window In this tutorial I will show you how to make a Respawning Breakable Window
How to make vehicles How to make cars, planes, etc...
Making Glass Making Glass
Making a res file Res file is very important for server admins.
Map naming conventions. There are a few basic rules on naming your map.
The Gmdm2 tutorials Part 2 Part 2: boulder basics
creating ladders This tutorial will explain to you how to create those simple HL ladders!
Half-Life Unit To Real-Life Unit Conversion Want to map something to scale and you need to know the mapping to real life unit conversion ratio?
Editing Individual Brush faces in Quark Editing Individual Brush faces in Quark
Worldcraft 2.x for Newbies Here's a complete installation/setup/getting started guide designed for people to new to Worldcraft and/or editing
Advanced Shadows Advanced Shadows
The BSP Process and Visibility The BSP Process and Visibility
How to use the HINT brush How to use the HINT brush
Comparing two keyvalues Comparing two keyvalues
Advanced func_breakable In this tutorial I will show you how to create objects with mutiple func_breakable's, which break in the way they would in real life.
Rain in Half-Life How to add Rain in Half-Life
How to make a nice terrain using the triangle method How to make a nice terrain using the triangle method
Making a cs map I will show you how to place hostage spawn points in your map now.
Climbing a wall ledge But I dont have hands...
Monster Health How to modify one monster's health without coding, directly from within the map editor.
Level Design I will cover the process of level-making itself. In short, this tutorial will tell a beginning level editor how to make cool levels instead of levels that suck.
Windows and Transparent Objects Windows and Transparent Objects
Chaincraft - Explanations - Part 3 Terms and tips for more succesfull mapping.
Basic Half-Life Values This tutorial shows some basic values and sizes of Half-Life
CHANGING LEVELS IN HALF-LIFE CHANGING LEVELS IN HALF-LIFE
Detail textures What are detail textures?
How to Control the Player Respawn Rate How to Control the Player Respawn Rate
Crate Prefabs This tutorial gives you an overview of the official crate prefabs.
LADDERS Ladders are a very essential part of any map, let alone cs maps.
Half-Life Skies Using Half-Life Skies in Worldcraf
trigger_hurt This tutorial will show you how to use the trigger_hurt entity.
Adding a model into Counter-Strike maps Adding a model into Counter-Strike maps
How to change views on join or team switch. How to change views on join or team switch.
Rotating Objects a quick guide to making them
Rotating Cameras Rotating Cameras
Laser + Multi Manager + Button Laser + Multi Manager + Button
Usable machine guns Note that this is the same ways to make gun emplacements in all mods
Set a Trap with Monster Maker This tutorial tells you how to set a trap whereby one or more monsters erupt from a wall or the ceiling to ambush the player
Tutorials - Theory - Inspiration Please note that this workshop is designed for Sven coop mod or single player based theme maps
Elevator with moving button The tutorial demonstrates how to make a lift whose button (seemingly) moves along with it
Using teamcheck entities (A&D map setup) TFC has had its Team Check entities for a while now. However their usage in custom maps thus far has been extremely limited
Using Skys in Half-Life This article discusses the use of skys in Half-Life
Sculpting prefabs Learn about sculpting prefabs out of a single brush, using textures to guide you
Creating A Retinal Scanner This tutorial covers the procedure of creating a door that can only be opened by an NPC using a retinal scanner.
Advanced Doors Tutorial Okay, considering that you've read Brian's basic doors tutorial, you should know how a door works.
Creating a streetlight with light cone Creating a streetlight with light cone
Carving What is carving in hammer and how to do it.
Lives A lives system in your maps makes it so that players can not respawn after they died.
Setting up Worldcraft Setting up Worldcraft
Adding sky to your levels To show a sky map around parts or all of your level
Leakage Leakage
QERadiant - Counter-Strike Map Types (cs/de/as) This tutorial gives you basic information about the 3 different types of Counter-Strike maps.
'Brushed' Art: Terrain A tutorial focusing on terrain and cliffs in GoldSRC
Leafs Understanding Leafs
Vending Machine Create a working vending machine
Finding Coordinates Many people ask how to go about reading and finding the coordinates given when certain errors occur with ZHLT. Fortunately its not too complicated.
Making a Useable Machine Gun Making a Useable Machine Gun
TFC - CTF map CTF map
Camera tutorial This is an advanced tutorial on how to use and setup a Trigger_camera entity
Compiling with Beaver It is a compile tool, you must compile a map before you can play it.
In Depth: Level Transitions Level transitions (using the trigger_changelevel) are an often misunderstood aspect of Half-Life editing.
How to make a thunderstorm in cs 1.6 map How to make a thunderstorm in cs 1.6 map
Fire Making a fire is actually very simple
Water Tutorial In Half-Life, water is simply brushes tied to an entity.
Grunts and Guns Turrets controlled by grunts? How about turrets controlled by grunts and players? Find out how here!
water and liquids In this tutorial I'll show you how to create all kinds of liquids
How to make Caves How to make Caves
Using Valve Hammer Editor to Create Worlds for Un-Life So you want to make a map for Un-Life. Do you have the skill, and the time to make one?
Rope, Waterfalls and Dripping Water. How to make Good looking Rope, and other useful stuff.
How to make a Teleport How to make a Teleport
R_speeds What they are and how to control them
Finding Leaks Using Pointfiles Find those annoying leaks the easy way!
Squads How to make monsters work together as a team.
INFO_TFDETECT Every TF map that you create has to have an info_tfdetect in it
How to Override Server Settings This small tutorial explains how to override the default settings running on a game server.
How To Make Stairs How To Make Stairs
Compiling 101 Learn anything and everything about compiling, from the tools themselves, to parameters, and different methods to compile.
Making Glass glass is extremly easy to make when you know how
How to make a trigger If you are new to HL level designing and want to know how to make trigger, read this!
ZHLT RAD compile flag options -and the results ZHLT RAD compile flag options -and the results
DoD Flag Objectives Most DoD maps use CTF or Control The Flags as the primary mission objective.
Pretty Effects with Spirit of Half-Life Pretty Effects with Spirit of Half-Life
Enemy AI Enemy AI
Triggering sounds and messages This tutorial will show you how to display messages and play sounds fromwithin the TF entities
Destroyable Cameras Destroyable Cameras
CS 1.6 Manually Displacement Tutorial Goldsource Engine Manually Displacement Terrain Tutorial
How to make Overviews for HLTV/HDTV How to make Overviews for HLTV/HDTV
Fences you can shoot through Here's how it's done
Trees, From Far Away.... How to make trees that line your landscape.
Your First Map - Basics and Controls Your First Map - Basics and Controls
Making breakable glass Making breakable glass
Half-Life Style Guide #1, Lab 1 This is a style guide from Dave Johnson that goes over the style and atmosphere building properties of the first lab environment.
The Clip Texture This tutorial shows how to use the clip texture
Complex geometry:part 2 I will now show how to use the vertex manipulation tool
How to make pipes - Part 2 This is part 2 of the pipes tutorial, and in this part I'll try to teach you how to make a pipe that actually bends.
Computer Prefabs This tutorial gives you an overview of the official computer prefabs.
Creating an Overview Here is a really simple guide to producing professional looking overviews for your maps.
Elevator Level Transition The level change in this tutorial is only one way. Here is the basic setup. You walk into the elevator, push the button, the doors close and the level changes.
QERadiant Editor Manual Manual for QERadiant
The Texture Application Tool Texture Application Tool What is it?Where is it?What's it do? Here a picture of it and it's location.
Multi Managers explained This is a basic tutorial on how to use and setup a Multi_Manager.
Doors Doors are moving brushes that can move into chosen direction
Lightvalues Lightvalues
Better Sprites With Env_Beam The env_beam entity enables you to do many cool effects with sprites, such as make them not always face flat at the screen, scrolling sprites, and fading the end
How to apply decals in a map (Valve Hammer) Applying decals in a map
QERadiant - My First Rotating Door This tutorial shows in easy steps how to create a simple rotating door
Map Making Basics - Part 3 Map Making Basics - Part 3
Single Player You want to make a single player map but overwhelmed by the thought of adding a plot, placing weapons and monsters and generally doing lots of hard work? Dont be.
Useable Prefabs This tutorial gives you an overview of the official useable object prefabs.
Making a Custom Console Background Making a Custom Console Background
How To Spawn NPCS In Multiplayer To Add NPC In Multiplayer (Works On Android & PC) You Must Follow my Steps
Map Sizes in Worldcraft Map Sizes in Worldcraft
Keeping Track Of, And Changing The Global State Of Entities Keeping Track Of, And Changing The Global State Of Entities
Texture alignment on curves Vertex Manip and Align to View pointers included
The 51 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Half-Life Level Editing The 51 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Half-Life Level Editing
Making a symmetrical map Making a symmetrical map
Func_train Tutorial A func_train is a brush-based entity that you can get to move around in some interesting ways.
Counterstrike Mapping Counterstrike Mapping
How to make a swinging pendulum for use in a Grandfather clock or similar object. How to make a swinging pendulum for use in a Grandfather clock or similar object.
Hint Brushes What are they?
How to make ladders How to make ladders
NPC and Item Placement Theory Non-Player Character (NPC) and item placement can influence both the gameflow and immersion of a level.
creating siege-like cliffs creating siege-like cliffs
SKIES SKIES
Fixing Fullbright and Black Void Glitches - How to fix Leaks Fixing Fullbright and Black Void Glitches - How to fix Leaks
Worldcraft2 / the interface Worldcraft2 / the interface
Glass How to make glass
Masked Textures Masked Textures can be highly useful in many aspects for making ladders, grates and so forth
The Clip Brush Tutorial Making and Using Clip Brushes
Buzzybots Mapping Tutorial Buzzybots Mapping Tutorial
Introduction To HL-CS Mapping Introduction To HL-CS Mapping
That First Room You ask any mapper and they will fondly remember their first room.
Adjust the Respawn Delay This small tutorial explains how to control the player respawn rate. Setting this will make the player wait X seconds after they die before they can respawn.
Random Event Generator This article describes the process of creating a random event generator. Idea originally by mazemaster.
using a keycard to open a door keycard must be picked up for door to be openable
QuArK setup tutorial for Wizard Wars QuArK setup tutorial for Wizard Wars
Entity Guides TWHL's great collection of Entity Guides
Rotating Billboards Create a rotating sign with a volumetric light effect.
Chaincraft - Explanations - Part 1 Terms and tips for more succesfull mapping.
Compiling If you are using Worldcraft for the first time then it is probably best until you get a feel for things just to simply stick with hitting F9 and Enter to compile your map.
Making a nuke Here, a button is pushed which triggers an alarm and eventually an air strike.
Scripting Tutorial #1, Overview Actually, this tutorial goes beyond just enemies. As you will soon see, the scripting system can be interconnected with any entity you wish.
QERadiant - The Sky Box This tutorial will give you some information about the 'sky box' and about the light_environment entity.
How to make a nice looking house! How to make a nice looking house!
Creating an Evolution of a Map Archie explains in detail his process for producing the popular 'Evolution of a Map' videos he's created in promotion of SnC's mod The Core.
HOW2MAP part1 HOW2MAP part1
Permanently locked doors Permanently locked doors
Getting Started with Hammer Getting Started with Hammer
Tutorial 2b - Func_Train Lift, Multiple Floors + Lift Doors. Lift2 - A func_train lift with attached Doors.
Climbing Climbing: slopes & ramps, jumping, stairs, cliffs, downspouts, ladders & ropes..
Sky Positioning Sky Positioning
QOOLE 99 Editor Introduction Tutorial This tutorial is meant only to teach the basics of QOOLE 99
The Bendy Door The Bendy Door
Creating Basic Doors How to make simple sliding and rotating doors.
Creating A Locked Door This article describes the process used for creating a door that can be locked and unlocked through the use of the func_button, trigger_relay, and multisource entities.
How to make a ladder How to make a ladder
Advanced env_beam This is an advanced tutorial showing how you can combine buttons, beams and a multi_manager for some interesting effects!
Train Madness About trains and how to use them
Map-Making Basics - Part 1 Map-Making Basics - Part 1
The 'Healing the engineer' effect The 'Healing the engineer' effect
Multiplayer Level design Treatise Treatise on general Multiplayer map design
The ultimate quick-guide to less clipnodes The limits of leafs and clipnodes have always been the most annoying to all mappers.
Trigger_setorigin, with a waterfall into a rising water level. Trigger_setorigin can be used to sync a waterfall that is flowing into a pool of water
Introduction to Hammer Editor and Mapping Introduction to Hammer Editor and Mapping
Spotlight Tutorial A tutorial outlining how to make a nice looking light that shines to a spot, has a faint glow about it, and a fading beam of light visible.
Doors With Glass Another common question is about making doors with transparent glass in them. This article explains how it's done.
Compiling Part 2 Compiling using batch files.
How to make scary 'ghost' monsters How to make a level scary with 'ghosts'
How to make pipes - Part 1 This time we will learn how to make pipes.
Creating a basic room Get to grips with creating a basic room
Arches simplified Step by step quick tut for making arches or arched doorways.
Useful Console Commands A nice tutorial showing and explaining special console commands that can help the mapper
Firebinders - The Text Chanmer Experiments Part 2 USE OF FUNC_WALL, EPOLY
Simple sequence of events Using a multi_manager
Design Considerations for HLDM Part 1 Gamedesign theory for HLDM
Adding and Loading Textures and Custom Textures Adding and Loading Textures and Custom Textures
The Basic's of world craft The Basic's of world craft
Rules for the Novice Mapper Rules for the Novice Mapper
Pendulum This is a tutorial to make a func_pendulum. It is similar to a func_rotating and func_rotaing_door.
Healing pools tutorial Xen maps would just look stupid if you place health chargers around.
BSP to MAP \| WinBSPC BSP to MAP \| WinBSPC
Capture The Flag Covering many points on how to implement a successful capture the flag gamemode
Magic Cargo Container This demonstrates the illusion of having a moving cargo container that has working doors and appears to be carrying a cargo of armed soldiers.
Realistic Steam Realistic steam is really quite easy to make, its a wonder its not in more levels. 🙂
trigger_teleport - Teleportation trigger_teleport - Teleportation
Detail textures in Half-Life Detail textures in Half-Life
How to make realistic water How to make realistic water
How to Add Light to Your Level In this short tutorial, you will learn to create a simple room and light entity that will demonstrate a normal white light.
How to Setup the Endround Effect In this tutorial I'll show you how to set up a round based map as well as give you some extra info on the TFC endround keys.
Combining Scripted Sequences and Sentences Combining Scripted Sequences and Sentences
Texture Lighting Learn how to use lights.rad to make your textures emit light.
Configuring Hammer 3.4 to use Steam This tutorial will teach you how to use Steam with Hammer
Waterfalls I suppose all good maps featuring rivers in them have waterfalls.
How to make an elevator with a button in it. How to make an elevator with a button in it.
TFC: Capture The Flag TFC: Capture The Flag
Adding water Water is very easy in half life.
Using the Multi_Manager Using the Multi_Manager
VHLT's 'SOLIDHINT' VHLT's 'SOLIDHINT'
Creating a Simple Respawn Room This tutorial will cover how to make a typical respawn/re-supply room.
TFC: Hunted! The Hunted style maps seem to be quite popular.
Texturing Your Room Texturing Your Room
Creating Overviews How to create those in-game overviews
The Hallway how to connect two rooms with a hallway in Half-Life
Complex cliff faces .. the easy way!
69th Vlatitude FAQ long list of 69th Vlatitude FAQs
Barney’s Wizard Counterstrike mapping guides: Part 1 'The Basics' Barney covers the basics of mapping for Counter-Strike. Newbie or experienced user, this is a must-read tutorial.
Teleporters Build a simple teleporter
Atmosphere in your map (Part 1 - Horror) Atmosphere in your map (Part 1 - Horror)
Trigger_camera This is by far one of the coolest and most difficult entities to master. With our help, you just might get a handle on it. Read on!
How to make a ladder Although confusing at first, making a ladder is actually very simple.
Textured lighting There are 2 ways to add lighting to your map- via entities, or textures.
WorldCraft 3.3 from the beginning WorldCraft 3.3 from the beginning
Underwater Currents Underwater Currents
Xen Lighting How to 'naturally' light up Xen maps
How to make a tip over pylon How to make a tip over pylon
Compiling Introduced An introduction to compiling, what it is, how it works, and the different ways it can be done.
Jargon Some mapping Jargon Explained
The fastest way to compile your maps! A tutorial on using batch files to compile your maps.
Making glass brushes Making glass brushes
Equipping Weapons in CS Controlling weapon usage in Counter-Strike
Sven Co-op: Mapping Setup This guide will prepare you for making custom maps for Sven Co-op in the current version.
Clipping Brushes Clipping Brushes
Lighting And Compiling Lighting And Compiling
QERadiant - Texture Fitting This tutorial shows you how to fit textures
How to place a decal A decal is like the spraypaint the players place. The difference is that we as mappers may set those when we create the map.
Making an oldskool de_aztec bridge This tutorial will teach you how to make an old-school de_aztec bridge. (shoot through, but walk-over)
Advanced r_speeds Control With this method, you can almost double your detail level and your r_speeds won't even blink
Advanced compile From now on, use the advance compile menu when compiling maps.To do this, just click on the expert button in the compile menu.
Changing Levels in Half-Life Phil Daniels tries to clarify the issue of making level changes in Half-Life.
Rock2-Style Map Tutorial Rock2-Style Map Tutorial
QERadiant - Basic Camera System This tutorial shows in easy steps how to make a basic camera system, with a camera and a monitor
Resetting entities at the start of every round (Counter-Strike specific method) Resetting entities at the start of every round (Counter-Strike specific method)
TFC - Dustbowl Style Map Dustbowl Style Map
Using Complex brushes Going a bit more advanced on brush/vertex manipulation
Carving/Clipping Carving/Clipping
Basic Texture Lighting It's easier and better than the light entity!
Alternative rocks/desert technique This tutorial shows how to create terrain environments by splitting your brushes into triangles and doing safe vertex manipulation.
Introduction to QERadiant Introduction to QERadiant
Ladders How to make a ladder. Clean and simple!
Get Learned! Step 3 - Buildin' Blocks Get Learned! Step 3 - Buildin' Blocks
Advanced Compilation ZHLT and Vluzacn's Compile Tools guide. Light, shadow and brush control. Clip types. Mirror.
QERadiant - Overview Of Ground Styles This Overview shows some examples of realistic grounds
Customizing the lights.rad File Customizing the lights.rad File
Hammer Beginner Tutorial 2 Your First Room
Elevator #2 This tutorial covers how to make an elevator that can move between more than two floors.
Sizes and Scaling Keeping things to size can be a problem, for instance with counter-strike the player models were lowered so this made some maps look a big large,
Half-Life Teamplay Half-Life Teamplay
Resetting Entities at the Start of Every Round (Part 1) Learn how to reset entities at the start of every round, so those lights are off again, doors shut, etc.
How to Port a Part Of a Source Map To Goldsrc How to Port a Part Of a Source Map To Goldsrc
Forcing Players to Respawn create a situation where players are forced to respawn when something happens
Blue-Shift setup and mapping guide The hows, what's, where's, when's, dos and don'ts of mapping for blue-shift!
Making a ladder Making a ladder
Security Cards Here's a really quick tutorial about getting a key to open a door (there might be an easier way to do this but I found that this method works pretty well).
The Texture Application The Texture Application in Hammer
Rounded Corners another possible method, using Hammer
How to use the Clipping tool A tutorial in using the Clipping tool
How to find leaks easily How to find leaks easily
Preset Light Appearances This article contains a quick reference for the light entity's preset appearances.
QERadiant - Additional Rock Styles This tutorial shows two additional rock styles to make your rock wall more detailed.
Team Fortress Classic Survival Guide Team Fortress Classic Survival Guide
Torching a Door Torching a Door
Complex geometry:part 1 Now I will show you how to use the clip tool and how to make doors, windows, etc.
Get Learned! - Install I want to make CS maps but don't know where to start
Basic Doors Doors are a critical part in every level. That's where this tutorial comes in, so roll up your sleeves and get ready to make some simple doors.
A little inspiration Tips on good level Design for CS
The Gmdm2 tutorials Part 1 Part 1: Doors
Spiral stairs tutorial This tutorial will show you how to make a set of perfect spiral stairs faster than the lifespan of a snark. We'll be using our friend, the arch tool, to build the stairs.
How to use Wadinclude Basicly, it is as it says, it is to include custom wads in the bsp file
Slippery Surfaces Want to make your player feel uneasy on the feet?
Multi Managers Explained This is a basic tutorial on how to use and setup a multi_manager. No advanced experience is needed to use this entity, but it is assumed you know how to place and manipulate entities.
QERadiant - Rotating Glass Door This tutorial shows in easy steps how to make a rotating door with a glass window
MAKING A SLIDING DOOR The sliding door is very complex to beginners but the more you do them the more they become amazingly simple.
Arches and Curves Tutorial This tutorial will show you how to make a Quake style archway to connect 2 rooms.
Half-Life Teamplay This tutorial demonstrates how to create team oriented levels without resorting to TFC. Half-Life's game entities open up a new world of possibilities.
Hint Brush Tutorial Hint brushes are a powerful and often misunderstood tool.
Mortar Madness How to create a mortar
How to Make Steam + Non-Steam HL1 Maps A little tutorial on how to make Half-Life 1 maps by HLCRAZY
Better looking buildings Using angles to make better looking cities and towns
Making Ladders and Glass Making Ladders and Glass
Rain Rain for Half-Life
How to create realistic looking shadows (ZERO coding!) I don't think I've ever seen a tutorial - discussion about this before, so hopefully it will be useful
Special Sprites I learned recently from a fellow mapper that there are actually different kinds of sprites one can use in Half-Life.
Cel-Shade Brushes How to add a constant black-outline to brushes!
Making a Working Camera System Within this tutorial, I will show how to setup the entites needed to create a working camera system for use in TFC maps.
Angular Velocity and Rotating func_trains This article discusses the use of angular velocity to create rotating func_trains.
Forge Game Data Files (fgd) What is an fgd?
Making A Cave In this sample tutorial I will describe one of the best ways to create a cave in Terrain Generator
Motion Blur Effect How to create a motion blur effect in half-life. Note: blur does not show if in software mode or if gl_clear 1 is set.
Vertex Manipulation 1 - The Basics and reshaping solids This tutorial will cover the basics of vertex manipulation and what shapes can do what.
Changing the map layout between rounds! A very cool and advanced idea here. How to make a map be different between rounds.
QERadiant - Prefabs This Tutorial shows how to use prefabs in QERadiant
Neil Manke's VIS Tutorial - Smoke and Mirrors! Neil Manke's VIS Tutorial - Smoke and Mirrors!
Putting monsters on paths This article demonstrates how to make a monster follow a path until it's AI kicks in
How to make Sewers How to make Sewers
Creating a Info Text File for Your Map You know how you get that little text message at the beginning of a map?
How to Create a Ladder This is basically a ground-up tutorial that will guide you through every step in creating a ladder.
Making Your First Map With WorldCraft 3.3 Guy Montag writes up a great intro to setting up your first map in Worldcraft 3.3. Read on ye newbie! We won't tell if you advanced people learn somethign too
Angled textures Wall supports and wells
Controllable Sentry Tutorial how to create and customize a controllable sentry gun
How to make a fountain How to make a fountain
Lighting Lighting
Elaborate Elevators, Part #1 Elaborate Elevators, Part #1
Making Steam Making Steam
Dead NPCs for HL1 and CS Need some corpses for your maps? Read on.
Setting up Hammer for Half-Life mapping A guide for setting up Hammer editor.
Monster_generic and Monster_furniture Let's start with the monster_generic entity. To tell you the truth, this entity is not very hard to use. However, I've only seen it being used in very advanced levels made by very proficient level designers.
Easy Spiral Staircases Using the 'Arch' Tool This tutorial will explain how to create a spiral staircase with the 'arch' tool, eliminating the need to use the vertex manipulation tool.
Applying Textures This is found in both tools on top toolbar, and its the green blue and brown icon on the left hand side of screen.
first Half-Life map with Worldcraft2 first Half-Life map with Worldcraft2
Entity Tutorials A collection of short Entity Tutorials
Beam & Sprite Effects This tutorial covers some amazing entities like env_bubble, env_funnel and env_shooter
valve hammer change target (half life) back with another video in this video i will show you how change target in hammer
How to Use the env_render entity How to Use the env_render entity
Putting Water Into Your Maps Water is an often overlooked part of mapping, mainly when it comes to cs maps.
func_ladder This page explains how to make a ladder in a Counter-Strike map with Hammer.
Invisible 'Use' Trigger Invisible 'Use' Trigger
Creating Environment Maps With Terragen Creating Environment Maps With Terragen
The Retinal Scanner One of the interesting effects from Half-Life that people want to use is that of barney opening a door by using a retinal scanner.
HLCC Setup Half-Life Compiler Controller
Poly reduction - Null & Bevel This tutorial adresses what Null and Bevel textures are, and how they can greatly improve the performance of your map
Creating an Ammo Pack This small tutorial explains how to make an ammo pack for a TFC map. It's basically an excerpt from my Respawn room tutorial.
Setting up Hammer 3.4 Ok folks, this little guide is going to get you set up with Hammer 3.4 (Formerly Worldcraft).
Working Vending Machine with Round Corners Working Vending Machine with Round Corners
Configuring Worldcraft 3.3 Configuring Worldcraft 3.3
r_speed tips and information r_speeds are basically the number of wploys on screen at one time, or the amount of r_speeds drawn by the game engine if you wanna get technical.
Controllable Vehicle - Train Make a train, car, boat, elevator, chopper, ship, plane or even roller-coaster with powerful func_tracktrain entity.
How to make a ladder How to make a ladder
NPC and Item Placement Theory Some pointers on NPC and item placement
Glowing Sprites In this article I will explain how to achieve a glowing sprite effect.
Pitch Yaw Roll Demystified This article by Mr. Yuk discusses the use of the Pitch, Yaw, and Roll values (PYR) to make inverted models (and sprites) for use in mirroring a room.
Setting up Multiple Objectives - multisource Setting up Multiple Objectives - multisource
Resetting entities at the start of every round (Counter-Strike specific method) Resetting entities at the start of every round (Counter-Strike specific method)
Configure Worldcraft version 3.3
Natural Selection - Electric Arcs Ever wondered how I made the pulsing electric arcs in Eclipse and Odins Guard?
The Hallway It seems this is a big stumbling block many people encounter - how to connect two rooms with a hallway.
Terrain Generation Options This is a simple little tutorial I've designed to help explain the terrain generation options TG offers
Rotating Objects This article goes over the generic process of creating an entity that rotates.
Half-Life Rain Tutorial Half-Life Rain Tutorial
Code Locks Well there are several techniques to make doors with passwords, but I think this is by far the easiest method.
Platforms Platforms can move in any direction though defined paths and have rotation.
Scripted Sequence's for Newbies part 2 Scripted Sequence's for Newbies part 2
One Way Glass Make a one way glass... a glass thats opaque from one side but transperant on the other.
valve hammer elevator update i do this update to elevator because the first was suck
Mapping terms definitions FAQ Collection of Mapping terms definitions FAQ
The Origin Texture This tutorial shows how to use the origin texture
Making a skybox Making a skybox
Half-Life Style Guide #1, Lab 2 This is a style guide from Dave Johnson that goes over the style and atmosphere building properties of the first lab environment.
Making a Rotating Door You will be taught how to use the entity; 'Func_Door_Rotating'. Pretty easy 🙂
Basic Map Readme File Often overlooked, but essential, and nice polish
Curved Walls - Rounded Walls Curved Walls - Rounded Walls
QERadiant - Cutting This tutorial shows you how to cut the edges of a brush
Making a sliding door In this tutorial you will learn how to make a sliding door.
Security Cameras Security Cameras
So you think Bots are stupid? C-S Bots are stupid as hell, and that's exactly why I've written this tutorial.
Skybox textures This guide will show you how to make custom skybox textures for use in your map.
Creating your first map Many new mappers often come to forums just to ask how to create brushes, entities, or a whole first room. This tutorial is designed to answer those basic questions.
Multisource and env_globals This is my first tutorial, but don't worry, you'll get the hang of multisources and env_globals by the time you've read through this. Blue statements are the functions I want you to perform. So let's get started.
Multi_manager The multi_manager is a point-based entity used to time-activate other entities in your map.
Cool Looking Dripping Water Just a cheap trick to make cool looking dripping water. Simple, fast, and easy.
Pressure pad This entsystem lets you have a 'pressure pad' which toggles a light ON and OFF
Light and Sky Basic lighting tutorial. Appearance types list. How to create exterior area with sky tutorial.
Bounce Pads Create a floor-hugging xen push pad, as seen in 'Bounce'
Changing Hammer Change your Hammer splash screen
Doors with Glass How do I make a moving door with transparent glass sections?
How to make a de_map In this guide I will show you how to build a small but still playable de_map (defuse map).
Creating a dark environment. Creating a dark environment.
Level Transition Simple transition between maps.
valve hammer xen i show you how make xen gravity and xen map
Introduction to Counter-Strike mapping Create the classic cs_map.
Resource Files When you don't have a map, the server will check for a .res file to see what it should send to the client
Reference:Lab Setting This is a very short article on creating a good lab setting. It could do with re-working but I've kept here up for reference purposes till I get round to changing it.
Fun with monster_grunt_repel This tutorial is going to explain to you how to use the monster_grunt_repel entity in your level.
AllocBlock crash solution The AllocBlock section in the compile window will tell you how many allocation blocks you have filled. “64” is the most.
Making a button (lightswitch) how to make a button
How to make cliffs What this tutorial is about, is how to make cliffs in a pretty easy way.
Scripting Tutorial #3 In this tutorial I will tell you how to make a zombie rip through a wall. I expect that you have read Vlad's previous two scripting tutorials.
Common Monster Properties This article covers the properties common to most monsters, including entity properties and flags.
Hallways Using the Clipping tool.
Triangle Terrain 3: Optimising Terrain Adding, removing and optimising those triangles
How to make respawnable glass Have you ever wondered how to make respawnable glass in half-life or tfc?
chairs, scientists and barneys scientists placed easily and correctly in seats, barneys rotate in swivelling chair (as seen in half-life intro)
Panel Texturing Mangling at its best
Mapping tips and tricks #1 101 Mapping tips and tricks #1
Advanced Triggers In this tutorial, I will cover all trigger_ entities other than trigger_once, trigger_multiple, and those fully covered in other tutorials.
Get Learned! Appendix Read the Help inside Hammer! It's surprisingly helpful. Don't forget to use the Index and Search tabs.
Map optimization part 2 I will now show you what is vis leafs and how it will influence your map design.
Skies This is a Visual Guide of the different sky textures included in Half-Life and how to add them to your map.
About carving Become a lean, mean, carving machine
Dimensions How wide, high, long can I make things?
R_Speeds What is it all about ?
Using Valve Hammer Editor to Create Worlds for Natural Selection Welcome to the Valve Hammer Editor (hammer /wc) overview and tutorial.
How to use q2beaver How to use q2beaver
Creating a Bounce Pad This tutorial will illustrate how to create a 'bounce pad' similar to the Xen Bounce Pads found in the original Half-Life single player game.
Uneven Ground and Cliffs using the Triangle Method Uneven Ground and Cliffs using the Triangle Method
Taming the Speaker Entity The 'speaker' entity creates the effect of having a public-address system in your level. It is designed to make random announcements every 3 to 10 minutes while it is active.
Detpackable Walls Tutorial Detpackable walls are a very common occurance in lots of maps, especially Valve-made ones
Using prop models in SC Using prop models in SC
How to make your own credits How to make your own credits
Setting up Hammer for counter-strike mapping A guide for setting up the Hammer editor, using the Half-life SDK
Custom Textures - Use & Including The old-fashioned way
Stall Door Tutorial I will step you through making various complex objects and how to create complex shapes that look real.
Apache Delivering an APC Apache Delivering an APC
Tutorial 4: Door Antics... Tutorial 4: Door Antics...
Making a Door that Slides If your wanting to Make a slidy door then you picked the right place to come,
Chaincraft - Explanations - Part 4 Terms and tips for more succesfull mapping.
Earthquake This will make an earthquake effect much like the one used in the game
In the Beginning Part 3 Basic Texture Application: Got walls and halls, now add some textures to make it all look great.
Player movement Some player movement related entities.
Invade and Defend Tutorial What a Sequential Control map actually is
Making Prefabs What are prefabs? pre constructed objects. in other words, objects people have made.
Game Text Tutorial Game Text Tutorial
Render Properties Explains the rendering properties available to many entities. Also includes a fence trick (allow bullets through but not monsters or the player).
Elevator no. 2 This tutorial covers how to make an elevator that can move between more than two floors.
env_explosion Tutorial A tutorial for add toggled explosions!
More Triggers Some more on triggers and ideas on how to use them
Globals 1 An introduction to the env_global and how to use it to do cool inter-level stuff.
Cropping technique... apply images to brushes with no seams
Vertex Manipulation: Basics, Tricks and Common Errors A great introduction to vertex manipulation, including how to not get into trouble with bad brushes.
Complex cliff faces (faster alternative method) Make complex rocks without the errors!
Half-Life Map Entity Editing there is some map data that can easily be edited in any text editor (such as Notepad) without changing the compiled map - entities
controllable crane crane can be moved incrementally as button is held down
Overriding Server Settings This small tutorial explains how to override the default settings running on a game server.
Firebinders - The Text Chanmer Experiments Part 4 FLOORS & CEILINGS IN A ROUND ROOM, TEXTURE SCALE ON SMALL OBJECTS
Hammer Beginner Tutorial 3 Adding Rooms, Hallways, and Doors
Manipulating skies - with unendless maps without changelevels I have invented about nice trick like you don't need to worry about changing skyboxes.
Compiling Part 1 What is compiling?
Func_ladder Tutorial How To Make A Ladder
Simple Doors This is a guide to simple doors in Half-Life, and how to get them working using WorldCraft or Hammer 3.4
Problems and solutions then compiling map Common and rare error
The making of good grass in WC The making of good grass in WC
Long Compile Times and Tips to Improve Them Does your map take too long to compile? Lacos delves into the reasons why, and what you can do to speed things up!
Batch Files Compiling. The very word is enough to strike fear into the heart of even the most experienced mapper.
Patrolling Guards It's the nightmare scenario. You have been captured by the enemy, disarmed and left for dead in a cell.
Getting a Grunt to use a Turret This tutorial will explain the process involved in getting a monster_human_grunt to operate a func_tank (turret).
Using skys in Half-Life Using skys in Half-Life
Tutorial 5: Lifts, and more lifts... Tutorial 5: Lifts, and more lifts...
Standard Measurements (CS) These are the standard Measurements, taken from cs_mansion which is practically older than CS
QERadiant - Water This Tutorial shows how to make basic water
MAKING PIPES Making pipes is quite simple yet a very overlooked method of enhancing your level.
The Ambient Generic Explained The following information / tutorial assumes you are comfortable working in WorldCraft with entities as well as have a working knowledge of where to place and how to access .wav files from HL entities
QERadiant - Ground With Triangular Brushes This is small tutorial which should show you how to make a ground out of triangular brushes.
func_train - how to make a train func_train - how to make a train
Doors for beginners sliding - rotating
Using RESGen The relic of a program
DoD Spawn Protection DoD Spawn Protection
Rounds I have been asked to explain how to make a map which uses rounds.
Projective shadows A trick using projective shadows in trinity render to produce a good looking shadows
Get Learned! Step 5 - Plumbing Get Learned! Step 5 - Plumbing
Basic Teleporter with Effects Teleporters with sprite and sound effects are quite easy to construct.
Getting background sounds to loop Getting background sounds to loop
The Rustmill Effect This demonstrates the effect used in the Rustmill map
Making Your First Hostage Rescue Map With Hammer Making Your First Hostage Rescue Map With Hammer AKA Worldcraft by Guy Montag
Doors and Switches - Basics of Naming and Targetting Doors and Switches - Basics of Naming and Targetting
Units, here is an ACCURATE scale to use when mapping, very useful. Units, here is an ACCURATE scale to use when mapping, very useful.
How to make glass This tutorial will teach you how to make windows.
Tutorial 8: Controllable trams: The Func_tracktrain entity Tutorial 8: Controllable trams: The Func_tracktrain entity
Hammer Beginner Tutorial 4 Door Antics...
Ladders A quick tutorial describing ladders and their various uses.
Skies (2) This tutorial is designed to give you some general information on the sky properties in Half-Life.
Triggering Things upon Player Death How to use some more advanced game entity behaviour to trigger things upon the death of a player.
Ladder Tutorial Ladders, like glass, are brush based, but aren't as simple.
Cutscenes and Action Control Camera, text and animation. Spawners, monsters, player and environment control
Environment A tutorial that explains how to set up a sky, as well as how to light outdoor areas.
About CLIP Texture About CLIP Texture
Env_fog with visible sky I was testing some other stuff and suprisingly I achieved an affect I didn't know was possible
QERadiant - My First Door This tutorial shows in easy steps how to make a basic moving door
Trigger at round start Trigger things at roundstart
Elevator With Moving Buttons An oft-asked question is how do I make an elevator with a moving button. Here's how.
multi_manager You will probably use this in every map.
Creating a spiral staircase This tutorial will teach you how to make a spiral staircase with Hammer
Three Important things/rules Three Important things/rules
Stairs Build stairs complete with an angled bannister.
The Destructible Camera Tutorial This tutorial describes how to create a camera that, when destroyed, will no longer work.
Proper Half-Life mapping - The Essentials, Leaks, and Beginner's Guide What I'm going to do is ram mapping etiquette into your skulls
in-game level maps overhead plan of level, displayed in game as texture of map, chart, diagram etc
TFC - Hunted Tutorial Making a 'hunted' map is no small undertaking. The hardest part of making a 'hunted' map is the design.
Entities (old SnarkPit) Entities (old SnarkPit)
Flame Effect A quick tutorial explaining how to create a slightly more advanced sprite-based flame effect, using a multimanager.
Using the arch tool in Hammer 3.5 Video tutorial explaining how to use the Arch tool inside Hammer
Sliding Doors Another Mazymatic short & sweet tutorial on making sliding doors.
Pipe-Works pipes done your way...
Barney’s Wizard Counterstrike mapping guides: Part 2 'Covering Your Ass' Part 2 of Barney's great tutorial in the basics (and not so basics) of Counter-Strike mapping
How to make an APC burst through wall This tutorial shows how to make an APC (Armoured Personal Carrier) backup through a wall, the back door open, and marines rush out.
An Introduction to Triggers This tutorial is going to be pretty basic, and is mostly aimed at those who are new to Worldcraft and making levels.
Übersetzung der Modelling for Half-Life.doc aus dem HL-SDK 2.2 German translation of the Half-Life.doc from the SDK.
making glass break on touch in 5 steps making glass break on touch in 5 steps
Common errors and problems in HL mapping Common errors and problems in HL mapping
Making a Rotating door Here you will learn how to make a door that open for real, rather than just sliding.
Sun light Sun light and use in maps
Half-Life Deathmatch Mapping What is HLDM?
How to make a clip brush How to make a clip brush
Better Texturing Techniques There are simple ways to make your levels look more attractive and interesting with just texturing.
Errors Mapping & Compiling Errors and solutions
Mappers should read:Fix the bot's bugs with ladder Help mapper know about czbot problems with ladders
func_breakable - How to make windows with breakable glass This tutorial is going to explain every single little step from having a wall to having a wall with a window, that looks good. I asume you know how to make a brush.
HLCC- view compile log Makes it a little easier to view the compile log for winxp users.
Port mapping from cs:go to cs 1.6 Port mapping from cs:go to cs 1.6
Scripted Sequence's for Newbies part 1 Scripted Sequence's for Newbies part 1
Creating your first map Creating your first map
Lights, lighting and lighting effects Hello! Now I want to talk about lights, lighting and lighting effects, as I think they are one of the most important components of map design.
Ambient Generics - How They Work Tired of not knowing why or how the ambient_generic entity works in Half-life?
Advanced Lighting This is a continuation of my Introduction to Lighting Tutorial
Get Learned! Step 2 - Plug It In Many new users of Hammer are so scared by the configuring process that they run away, never to come back.
Putting Monsters On Paths This article demonstrates how to make a monster follow a path until it's AI kicks in (usually when it sees a player).
Leaks This article discusses what leaks are caused by and provides several methods of finding and fixing them
Territorial Control Tutorial In a Territorial Control map each team compete to control all the command points.
'Brushed' Art: Part 1 This is related to the Vertex Manipulation tool
trigger_camera How to use the trigger_camera
Mounted Weapon Mounted weapon can shoot bullets, laser, blast or rockets.
How to plant a bomb underwater! pilpaX sets us up the bomb - this time underwater!
Detailing your architecture As with my last instalment, this is not so much a tutorial as a series of suggestions and hints. In it I will try to suggest some ways to add detail to a level's architecture in an attempt to increase its visual appeal.
Compiling maps using ZHLT Compiling maps using ZHLT
TFC - Command Point System - Warpath Style This tutorial will show you how to make a map like 'warpath'
Making A Room Once you have familiarised yourself with all the tools, then you can begin your map making.
Half-Life Editing Tips Half-Life Editing Tips
How to setup Valve Hammer Editor with ZHLT You need some compiler tools to make the mapfiles Hammer uses into bsp Halflife or Counter-Strike uses.
Waterfalls Create your own Niagra falls, or die trying.
Diagnosing Problems Covers locating and fixing many mapping mistakes.
How to reduce polys How to reduce polys
Texture Application Using the texture Application Tool
creating skies This tutorial will explain to you how to put some outdoors into your level!
Rotating Door Rotating Door
Special Textures There are a number of textures that come with Half-Life that apply special properties.
The Opposing Force Opening Sequence The Opposing Force Opening Sequence
About Invalid Brushes About Invalid Brushes
Design Considerations for HLDM Part 3 Gamedesign theory for HLDM
TFC Class Limits TFC Class Limits
Tutorial 11: Seamless Level Transitions Tutorial 11: Seamless Level Transitions
Scripted Events - Using multi_manager Scripted Events - Using multi_manager
Glass Tutorial Glass is another brush-based entity.
The magic cargo container This tutorial demonstrates how to make a moving cargo crate
Origin Brush This tutorial explains the use and creation of Origin Brushes. Origin Brushes are needed for any entity that rotates.
trigger_changetarget Covers usage of the trigger_changetarget.
Reference: HL Monsters This article is here for reference purposes. With the release of HL2 its kind of defunct now, but it lists the HL monsters and how best to use them
Spirit of Half-Life entities In this tutorial I will teach you about the most important SoHL-entities.
QERadiant Basics This tutorial gives you information about the basic functions of QERadiant
Setting up VHLT for mapping Setting up VHLT for mapping
Creating Player Spawns in a CS Map Where to put those pesky entities so that the Ts and CTs have a place to start in your map. Short and sweet.
The Mysteries of the Pak File... The Pak file Demystified
Quick Guide to Making Simulated Fog for HL A quick and concise guide to making fog in a Half-Life level.
Creating a Streetlight with Light Cone Creating a streetlight with light cone.
Simple r-speed tutorial Basic texture scaling and VIS-blocking
trigger_changevalue and env_render a little 'tutorial' what trigger_changevalue can be used for
Counter-Strike Camera Views Tutorial Counter-Strike Camera Views Tutorial
Tutorial 3: Adding a second room and a door Tutorial 3: Adding a second room and a door
Creating Rain. Creating a Effect of Rainfall in GoldSrc.
Tentacles! Tentacles!
How to make a pop machine How to make a pop machine
Making Keys that unlock Doors Have you ever wondered why Half-Life doesn´t have a key system,
Ladders, stairs, ropes Typical platform objects.
Gib Item List list of gibs available in goldsrc
Advanced geometry:part 3 In this tutorial I will shown you how to use primitives, prefabs and trims.
Game_player_equip tutorial I thought I'd make a thorough tutorial for the game_player_equip entity
Making A Curved Corridor Making A Curved Corridor
Scripted Sentences Get those monsters talking.
The X-Ray Effect One of the things people have wondered about is how Gearbox achieved the x-ray effect in the of3a6 map.
Introduction to Triggers in Entities Introduction to Triggers in Entities
How to Jump Over a Building In 3 Easy Steps How to Jump Over a Building In 3 Easy Steps
The magic cargo container This tutorial demonstrates how to make a moving cargo crate (a func_train) turn into a hollow crate containing a squad of grunts. When the crate is placed on the ground, doors at one end open revealing the grunts.
Firebinders - The Text Chanmer Experiments - Conclusions Firebinders - The Text Chanmer Experiments - Conclusions
On textures and wpoly (128, 256 or 240, which is the best?) textures and wpoly (128, 256 or 240, which is the best?)
Horizonal Bubbles How to place & control horizontally flowing bubbles in a map.
Curves Brief tutorial on how to create proper curves
Worldcraft and Counterstrike This is a comprehensive walk-through for setting up Worldcraft for Counterstrike editing.
LEAKS EXPLAINED LEAKS EXPLAINED
Creating a simple camera Ever want to have a camera in your map, so that users can scope out the enemy? Like the ones in the truck in Assault.
Introduction to R-Speeds The expression "r_speeds" is short for "rendering speeds". Essentially, it is a measure of how much is being rendered (drawn) when you are in any given area in your map.
Entity Editing Tutorial Entity Editing Tutorial
How to copy-paste things (grass, trees etc.) How to copy-paste things (grass, trees etc.)
How To Make Arches (The Good Way) How To Make Arches (The Good Way)
Half-Life Map Entity Editing Half-Life Map Entity Editing
Newbie's Guide to Doors lets take a look at how to create a door that slides across or up/down
Blocktober - From Nothing To Something (Design Process Tutorial) In this article, see how Hard Duty evolved from a simple concept art on paper to a full fledged level.
Reflective Flooring Well it isn't really reflective flooring :P, its a work around of it. But never the less is can be achieved and what's more, the r_speeds can work out ok
Mapping Guide for HL using QEradiant Mapping Guide for HL using QEradiant
Guide To Achieving A Perfect Single Player Review Score Hello and welcome to my guide for achieving mapping nirvana.
one-way glass transparent from one side, opaque from other side
Customising the Health Packs A quick n' dirty guide, that shows you gow to create your own health pack models, without even knowing how to model or using Milkshape.
Basic detail Basic detail
Entities Entities
Map Overviews Map Overviews
Rendering Properties This lists some brief explanations of the different rendering properties available to you in most of Half-Life's visible entities.

Level Design

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