Creating a gauntlet event

[OliPro007]

I'm new to map making and for my first [short and not too complex] map I want to do some type of arena were when you pass the door the game will send infected in as a wave and drop down from above the walls. I succeded most of it but now I want to make it a bit more interesting: I want to make a gauntlet event even if it's not the finale, so mobs will spawn indefinitely until you break the wall in front of the checkpoint room, instead of mutliple arenas. I did find out how to start the classic panic event and the director info on the hud to show that the infected are coming, but I don't actually know how to make a gauntlet-type panic event. Anyone can tell me how to trigger one without it being for a finale like shown on the valve devs site?

[Rectus]

Gauntlet events are made by modifying the mob spawn behavior with a director vscript. They are started by inputting BeginScript and the script name to your info_director, and stopped the same way with the EndScript input. You can either make your own script, or use one of the included ones, like c1_mall_onslaught.

[OliPro007]

Ok so even if those gauntlet events are made for endings in official maps I can just copy the script and use it for any other situation if I want to, is that it?

[Rectus]

Yeah, pretty much. You can also copy the script into a new file, and modify it for your needs.

[OliPro007]

Ok thank you!

[OliPro007]

Hum I kinda have a problem: I've search through many maps folders and I didn't find the c1_mall_onslaught, I've even used the search tool in the left 4 dead 2 main folder in common and it didn't find it... Is it only in left 4 dead 1?

[Rectus]

They are stored encrypted inside the vpk archives. More information on how they are stored and how they are used here. There is a link at the bottom of that page for decrypted versions of the scripts as well.

[OliPro007]

As I read the page, I see that the scripted onslaught or gauntlet are programmed with a finale trigger at the end. Is the one you are telling me about the same? Because I'm not too comfortable downloading huge packages (I don't know if there is a lot of them on the same download link) and downloading a squirrel editing program and mess up with it. Should I simply start with a simple panic and when I'll be more familiar with level making and progamming I should simply modify it? (I'm going in computer sciences in college next year so I will learn about that pretty thoroughly...)

[Rectus]

A non-finale onslaught just uses the script, nothing else needed, except a way to start and stop it. Just copy one and save it as something like scripts\vscripts\my_onslaught.nut, and then you can edit it when needed.

Here is c1_mall_onslaught:

Msg("Initiating Onslaught\n");

DirectorOptions <-
{
	// This turns off tanks and witches.
	ProhibitBosses = true

	MobSpawnMinTime = 1
	MobSpawnMaxTime = 4
	MobMinSize = 15
	MobMaxSize = 20
	MobMaxPending = 30
	SustainPeakMinTime = 10
	SustainPeakMaxTime = 15
	IntensityRelaxThreshold = 0.99
	RelaxMinInterval = 3
	RelaxMaxInterval = 5
	RelaxMaxFlowTravel = 200
	BoomerLimit = 0
	SmokerLimit = 3
	HunterLimit = 1
	ChargerLimit = 2
	SpecialRespawnInterval = 5.0
	PreferredMobDirection = SPAWN_IN_FRONT_OF_SURVIVORS
	//ZombieSpawnRange = 1500
}

Director.PlayMegaMobWarningSounds()
Director.ResetMobTimer()

It's not very hard to edit a director script, you can use notepad, and change the numbers to your liking. You can put other director options in from the wiki page if an option you need is missing. Just make sure you put them between the curly brackets where the other options are.

[OliPro007]

Oh thanks! So I only need to use notepad and save with the .nut expansion?

[Rectus]

Yup!

[OliPro007]

Finally, last question: where do we put those scripts? We create a directory script/vscripts inside our mod's main folder? Also how do we make them load? In the parameter column in the output?

[Rectus]

Correct on both. Put them in left 4 dead 2\left4dead2\scripts\vscripts\so they load in the mean time. And you call them without the .nut part

[OliPro007]

ah so we need to have them in the official left4dead2 folder. How can I make this script work if I distribute it to my friends on the workshop or something else? The map and all will be in the vpk at the end but how will they have the script?

[Rectus]

The scripts go in script/vscripts inside your vpk directory before you pack it up. All the directories in there are relative to left 4 dead 2\left4dead2\.

[OliPro007]

oh ok so for testing purposes it is better to put them in the game folders and when I'm done pack it up in the mod folders?