Setting up Hammer++

This guide walks you through setting up Hammer++ for Synergy, a custom level design tool.

What is Hammer++ ?

Hammer++ is an enhanced version of the Source Engine’s Hammer Editor, designed to fix its limitations and add several new features.

Key features include:

✅ Real-time 3D Lighting Preview – Instantly see lighting changes without a full compile.
✅ Better Performance & Stability – Faster load times, fewer crashes, and a smoother workflow.

These improvements make Hammer++ the top choice for mapping in Synergy, especially when working with custom entities, models, and textures.

Pre-requisites

Before installing Hammer++, ensure that Synergy and Half-Life 2 are both installed and have been launched at least once.

Downloading and Installing Hammer++

Before we dive into the editor, we'll need to download and install Hammer++ in just three simple steps.

1. Downloading Hammer++

Go to the official Hammer++ website:

👉 Download Hammer++ Here[ficool2.github.io]

Scroll down to the "Source SDK 2013 Multiplayer" section and download the latest version.

2. Installing Hammer++

1. Open the ZIP file using 7zip or another extraction tool.
   
2. Locate the bin folder inside the ZIP
   
3. Drag the bin folder into your Synergy directory:

steamapps/common/Synergy/

💡 Tip: You can quickly find your Synergy folder by right-clicking Synergy in your Steam Library and selecting Manage → Browse Local Files.

3. Launching Hammer++

Now that the app is installed, go to this folder:

steamapps/common/Synergy/bin

Find & launch hammerplusplus.exe to start mapping!

💡 Tip: Create a shortcut to hammerplusplus.exe and place it on your desktop for quick access.

Configuring Hammer++ for Synergy

Next up is configuring Hammer++, so that the game content is properly loaded into the editor. This involves inputting the correct paths in the Game Configurations and Build Programs tabs.

1. Game Configurations

1. Launch Hammer++
   
2. Go to Tools → Options
   
3. In the Game Configurations tab, make sure Synergy is selected (or add it if needed)

Click Add and select the following FGD files:

steamapps/common/Synergy/bin/base.fgd
steamapps/common/Synergy/bin/halflife2.fgd
steamapps/common/Synergy/bin/hl2mp.fgd
steamapps/common/Synergy/bin/synergy.fgd

(Paths may vary depending on your setup.)

Game Executable Directory:

steamapps\common\Synergy

Game Directory:

steamapps\common\Synergy\synergy

Hammer VMF Directory:

steamapps\common\Synergy\synergy\maps

Prefab Directory

steamapps\common\Synergy\bin\Prefabs

2. Build Programs

Game Executable

steamapps\common\Synergy\synergy.exe

BSP Executable:

steamapps\common\Synergy\bin\vbsp.exe

VIS Executable:

steamapps\common\Synergy\bin\vvis.exe

RAD Executable:

steamapps\common\Synergy\bin\vrad.exe

Place compiled maps in this directory before running the game:

steamapps\common\Synergy\synergy\maps

MDL Executable:

steamapps\common\Synergy\bin\studiomdl.exe

3. General

Autosave Directory:

steamapps\common\Synergy\bin\Autosaves\

Here's what it should approximately look like when you're done:

Wrapping Up & What's Next

You should now have Hammer++ fully set up for Synergy and ready for mapping! 🚀

From here, you can start by getting familiar with the interface and locating essential tools. Then, try blocking out a simple level before moving on to texturing and experimenting with different entities.

📌 Make sure to also check out this tutorial about Synergy's new entities & content.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3464957307
If you found this guide helpful, consider giving it a like! And if you have any questions or run into issues, feel free to leave a comment.