Editing L4D2 Official Campaign Maps

[Dharok]

Just wondering if there is a way to be able to open the L4D2 maps within the authoring tools, and modify them?
I really like the maps from Valve, and I want to be able to make some subtle changes to them if possible.
I had read however that unlike L4D1 maps, Valve didn't release the files for the L4D2 maps.
Is that true?
I also saw that one person had coded a custom decompiler to get the files for the maps, but the link they provided no longer works (this was from about 2011 or so).

Can anyone help?

Thanks!

[Mute]

I actually was also curious of this myself, and recently found this.[ata4.info] Simply download BSPSource, open the .jar file, and input the file you wish to modify. It will then output the map as a .vmf, ready for editing in Hammer.

[bob]

^^ there are some .vmf files floating around that don't require decompilation first; decompiling .bsps yourself sometimes leads to errors and corruption of the original vmfs, since those are "compressed" a bit when they are originally compiled.

[Dharok]

Originally posted by Mute:

I actually was also curious of this myself, and recently found this.[ata4.info] Simply download BSPSource, open the .jar file, and input the file you wish to modify. It will then output the map as a .vmf, ready for editing in Hammer.

Awesome, I will look into that !

Originally posted by B4ST4RDS|LuxPᴇʀᴘᴇᴛua:

^^ there are some .vmf files floating around that don't require decompilation first; decompiling .bsps yourself sometimes leads to errors and corruption of the original vmfs, since those are "compressed" a bit when they are originally compiled.

You wouldn't happen to know precisely where they are floating would you? lol

[Roflmahwafflz]

The valve maps should always decompile without issue, just decompile them to the:
Steam\steamapps\common\left 4 dead 2\sdk_content\mapsrc
directory then load them up in hammer world editor.

Be warned, valve maps are not "simple edits" they have a lot of clutter and finickey elements to them, you also need to edit the nav mesh if you move props around or add props of your own.

It is also worth noting that youd need to repack the valve maps into a vpk addon, which youd then need to release and have other people download to play with you. You cannot edit and "overwrite" a valve map because of how the game works, but you can edit and release your own copy. Which as I said before, must be downloaded by others in order for them to be able to play with you.

[Dharok]

Originally posted by Roflmahwafflz:

The valve maps should always decompile without issue, just decompile them to the:
Steam\steamapps\common\left 4 dead 2\sdk_content\mapsrc
directory then load them up in hammer world editor.

Be warned, valve maps are not "simple edits" they have a lot of clutter and finickey elements to them, you also need to edit the nav mesh if you move props around or add props of your own.

It is also worth noting that youd need to repack the valve maps into a vpk addon, which youd then need to release and have other people download to play with you. You cannot edit and "overwrite" a valve map because of how the game works, but you can edit and release your own copy. Which as I said before, must be downloaded by others in order for them to be able to play with you.

They will decompile? Hm, okay I'll give it a go.
And yes I know that, that is the plan.
Thanks!