Hammer How-To #5: Stairs and Ladders

Further reading:
Ladders tutorial on VDC wiki
developer.valv...
Material surface properties (for ladder sounds)
developer.valv...

[@maxdeathlore]

You are a wonderful person. I am glad people are still making modern Hammer tutorials!

[@BruceKira]

Modern, lol

[@flintfrommother3gaming]

The Hammer we have now probably haven't changed fundamentally for like 10-12 years

[@assassinctkgfx2425]

Dude your Hammer How-To serie is so helping me with my map !! THX

[@WeaselLevelDesign]

[@jackat4]

You have Minecraft textures, a true man of culture

[@drunkonsuccess779]

This man is a fucking speed demon at building shit in Hammer, meanwhile it takes me hours to do basic things.

[@ninestar968]

While watching this video I was like: „Who on earth is still using Windows XP nowadays?“ until I looked at when this video was created. :) I like it how fast paced your tutorials are, coming straight to the point and putting as much useful information in it as possible. It might not be suitable for a beginner though, but there are other tutorials out there. GOD BLESS

[@unfa00]

This looks like modified Windows 7 more than XP to me...

[@steelfighter55]

@@unfa00 kind of a necropost, but I think this is a heavily modified version of Windows 8.

[@johhn8852]

This helped a lot I had issues at first with clipping but once I got it working it became very easy.

[@johnhoward5367]

Really new to making maps, I appreciate your video.

[@WeaselLevelDesign]

+Brian Comes, I can't reply to your comment due to privacy settings. Source's way of telling your PC which parts of the map it should keep loaded involves breaking the map into lots of sections - the boundaries of these sections are called visleaves. Visleaves are created by brushes (blocks), and the boundaries and connections between brushes. The stairs have to be func_detail otherwise they will create an unnecessary number of visleaves, which increases compile times and is entirely useless in-game.

[@lozramzy7632]

how do you copy one by one part of the stair ?

[@destroyerfish]

@@lozramzy7632 ctrl c to copy and ctrl v to paste

[@Boreau]

hold shift, then drag@@lozramzy7632

[@Boreau]

7:45 KLUNK-KLUNK it sounds exactly like that😭😭😭

[@unfa00]

How does the stair traversal work in the game? Is there an invisible ramp there or does the player controller in Source deal with that on it's own? EDIT: ah, never mind, you answer that question at 4:46. So the player controller will climbs stairs but would produce jagged vertical motion, and an invisible ramp helps with that.

[@antonioribastm5679]

Came for a tutorial on how to make a ladder, walked away stuck with this in my head 7:45

[@musicmystro]

This was just what I was looking for great vid! for some reason though I cannot do the second method of making a ladder. Nothing happens when I go up to it. (EP2 map) - note I'm using Hammer++

[@jkov-1]

Your head is gonna go gidigidigigigigigigi

[@mradventureson]

***** You need to make the grid size smaller, just use the left and right brackets or click the blue - and + at the top left corner of Hammer. Then try to resize them. Hope this helps

[@gregtrainer5600]

Please explain what keys you are pressing. I can't tell what quick commands you are using.

[@soukai]

Hi, I found your tutorial very instructive, but I'm wondering if its possible to do a telescopic ladder, that is unaccesible from ground level until you "unfold" it, like the ones in the fire exit on real buildings. thank you

[@WeaselLevelDesign]

You can make the moving pieces of the ladder as separate func_movelinear entities that are parented to each other in sequence, so that each one moves with the one it's holding onto. You shouldn't move the useableladder entity itself - just have it disabled when the ladder is retracted, and enable it when the ladder is pulled out :)

[@dholmlund]

Superb video!! I learned quite a lot!!

[@ScottWhalen81]

The part where u actually made a hall around the stairs.

[@sci_pain3409]

note: if you're mapping for hl2 use ladder end points

[@aaaaaaabutyt]

thank you! i've been trying it for an hour because it says the func_useableladder was leaking even though it wasn't.

[@sci_pain3409]

@@aaaaaaabutyt glad past me could help

[@aaaaaaabutyt]

@@sci_pain3409 haha, lol

[@47natethegreat]

I've been making Counter-strike maps when I get bored.

[@pimfaster]

can i see them

[@pimfaster]

@WideOpenM0uth aw

[@TheBlueScroom]

How did you get your grid so percise?

[@mailliw1337]

How do you get dots insted of squares on your x y and z cameras?

[@mael4260]

Tools,Options,2D views,Look down to grid then equip dotted grid.

[@Zannties]

this is still really helpful

[@ivanmunivrana1635]

I have a question,but first I'm going to describe my kind of a problem. I have created a map for CS:S. In this map,I have included a lot of ladders and some stairs and they are useful (I mean,they are working properly for players). But the main problem is that BOTS don't (or cannot) use any ladder in that map. Even though,I have set the ladders for reaching their objective (for example,CT have to climb on a ladders in order to find hostages in some rooms). Is there any solution to remove that problem,so that BOTS could use these ladders? Thanks.

[@Jackson-ev5hp]

Ivan Munivrana Yes go to your source engine then go to map then Map properties and recompile your Nav mesh Using the keys alt f4 At the same time And it should most likely work I know it sounds weird But it’s just a hot key

[@alekss8427]

that nostalgic feeling i got when i saw the green thingie from fraps ;D

[@danielr6770]

what is the keyboard shortcut to rotate objects?

[@WeaselLevelDesign]

+Daniel Rowlands Molpeceres unfortunately there is none - rotating is accessed by clicking a second time on a selected object in the 2D views.

[@davidawesome4569]

A bit late to the party, but you can also hit CTRL + M, and type in how much you want it to rotate. Useful for 90 degrees flipping.

[@techtips2124]

Ladder Time : 5:59

[@franciscobaridon2933]

great guide thanks

[@pyromisery1638]

Hey Is There Other Way To Make Long The Ladder Because Its Short And Its hard To Func Unusable ladder i cant straight weird its hard its not smooth

[@ScottWhalen81]

For the brush u put under the stairs... Wouldnt it be better to delete that for the VisLeaf to create a straight line rather an angle of what ever variation?

[@jamiewright2556]

I use old worldcraft 3.3 what is func detail is it the same as func wall What are this two types? Will this fix leaf portal saw into leaf ?

[@travellingdoggo]

thx now i can make ladders

[@TheLambchops95]

you have really great videos :P like them,

[@Sanquo]

I added the ladder texture but it didn't work when I ran the map

[@WeaselLevelDesign]

Different versions of the engine require different methods for ladders. The useableladder entity works for all versions, but some allow use of a func_ladder brush, and others just need a ladder texture. It depends on version

[@Illic-_-]

how do you make stairs which are not bumpy ?

[@iiboharz]

@honse246 it's Windows 8.

[@spacecowboy1929]

How did you copie the stairs like you did at 1:50 ?

[@derelisnei]

SHIFT+W

[@LionDoctor444]

I know this sounds stupid but is the measuregeneric useful, what does it do?

[@Laxhoop]

Is there any way to make ladder entities taller?

[@jackwood7508]

How do u make a ramp with the clipping tool???

[@zackie2107]

how to change the brush size it always makes 64x64

[@louisallerton8012]

Hi like like your series very useful but I have one question, when i rotate something it doesn't snap to grid making it hard to get it straight. Thank you.

[@WeaselLevelDesign]

Louis Allerton Tools > Options. There is a checkbox where you can enable rotation snapping. Happy mapping!

[@EPIC1827]

how do you get that taskbar where everything goes into the middle like that?

[@WeaselLevelDesign]

whatsup1827 Create an empty folder somewhere. Then right click the taskbar and create a toolbar out of that folder. Unlock the taskbar, hide the toolbar name, then drag it to the left of your app icons - you'll now be able to move the icons freely.

[@guys-in9vd]

what is that dog thingy on the tool bar ?????

[@BjrnToreLund]

Hi there, silly question. I just got back to hammer, and I started on a little project for laughs. For some reason when I try to make a stair, it seems my objects are locked at 64x64 minimum, else it turns into 0. How on earth do you fix this? Thank you.

[@WeaselLevelDesign]

Hi, you can use the Grid Size buttons in the toolbar to change the grid size. The keyboard keys for this are square brackets [ ]. If you'd like to know more about the interface I have a tutorial Hammer How-To #1: Basic Everything Have a lovely day! ^_^

[@BjrnToreLund]

Cheers mate

[@Jackson-ev5hp]

Open your settings by alt f4 and you can see all your settings

[@redisdead628-2.0]

i know the video is old and probably no one will respond, but whenever i try to make the stairs, it only lets me do entire 64 unit tall blocks, like on a massive grid, either that or just 1 unit height, how do i take it off the grid?

[@FatKatSkits]

You can hide (toggle) the grid or change the grid size in your top left menu. Sometimes Hammer is funky so switching between grid sizes that are more appropriate to what you're trying to do can help. You can also disable "snap to grid" as well. Hope that helps, I'm still learning myself//

[@GamerFollower]

@unbrokenjack Can you use funce_usableladder in multiplayer still?

[@mojoonpc2685]

The smallest by blocks go is 64x64, if i try to make it smaller it becomes flat. Help?

[@WeaselLevelDesign]

+MojoOnPC Zoom in with mousewheel! They probably just reached a size where the editor didn't want to show them so small.

[@blodrok]

Hi, I created a ladder using this tutotial, the ladder (second type, created with brush and ladder texture) works fine, But bots dont use them. How can I make bots use ladder???

[@spongedog0013]

how do u copy the stair step

[@l0lk_239]

Quick question. How do i get things to not snap in? I cant move it freely, it snaps it everywhere

[@skloomaxsvk1875]

Go to Map at the top options bar and hit Snap To Grid so it is unchecked or press Shift+W

[@carsformario]

Goddamn, taught me stairs and how to use the clipping tool. Thank you!

[@limeUC3L_r9Twr2GoWiYdeNR9boQ]

so i wanted to make a ladder and my building needs 2 stacked on each other and i did that but then only the bottom one shows

[@limeUC3L_r9Twr2GoWiYdeNR9boQ]

only the bottom one shows ingame, in hammer its fine

[@jimmylander2089]

I'm using the hammer with assets from Half-life 2 only and I still have the "invisibleladder" texture but it doesn't work in game so I guess I'm gonna either use the first method or switch to Episode 2 in the configuration >.

[@WeaselLevelDesign]

Yeah hasn't worked for years I'm afraid. You'll have to use the entity method.

[@vrayn3870]

gj. but how do i do it with a stair? so no stairs like u did, i mean stairs from the world models. cause i wanna do a house with a stair form the world model (looks better) but i can walk through the stairs :/ how do i, that i can walk up? ty 4 awnsers ^^

[@FatKatSkits]

Sorry if this is long overdue LMAO Some world models don't have a clip built in, you have to add a (tool) clip brush underneath that'll give it some physical presence in-game. Learned that while decompiling some official L4D2 maps-

[@GaMeRaM11]

Where can i get this ladder model?

[@pixelverse5244]

Why do I find untextured source maps really nice looking?

[@WeaselLevelDesign]

+PixelVerse They certainly have their own style! I think it's mostly down to lighting, and how the orange bounces everywhere.

[@pixelverse5244]

Also the contrast between the bright orange and grey. It also shows off the smoothness of the lighting between surfaces.

[@spongedog0013]

and how do i get small like how u did i cant do it

[@justkrisgaming4370]

how do you duplicate the blocks

[@Yetoob8lWuxUQnpAahSqEpYkyZ]

when i type in ladder it doesn't show up on the screen all it shows is a red error sign

[@glitchedsound6961]

how do you get skinny bricks all the bricks i place are big

[@WeaselLevelDesign]

If you mean the texture, try changing the scale from 0.25 to 0.125. If you mean the wall thickness, you can change the grid size with ] and [. Good luck and happy new year! Literally on a plane as I type this!

[@gordanfrohman8657]

For some reason the ladder brush doesn't work with TF2, can I fix this?

[@gordanfrohman8657]

Actually, every kind of ladder doesn't work

[@countryperson]

Rainbow Suits, Get Your Rainbow Suit Today! Team Fortress two isn't able to have ladders implemented in it. Therefore, ladders will not work.

[@gordanfrohman8657]

Fudge, then I have to test the ladders in Garrys Mod

[@nebthepleb756]

hi i was just wondering how u get your grid like that

[@WeaselLevelDesign]

Tools > Options > 2D View

[@Element_Finland]

Bit late but you could've used ctrl + shift+ v in the stairs ._.

[@WeaselLevelDesign]

Element Finland Very true!

[@Progoctopus]

how do you apply custom textures and sounds? (music.)

[@aspirus425]

how to add fences?

[@JagiUGG]

how do you move it by 1 unit? for me it moves by like 10 units :/

[@pyromisery1638]

JAGUAR Studio yeah in the func unusable ladder its hard to drag the video is different

[@gerardobards1355]

thanks!! for your tutvideo.!!

[@eyal28282]

The target place can be reached by jump crouching but I need to account for noobs. Ladder or stairs? Note that it's very probably that stairs will disturb crouch peeking by blocking / getting the player rekt by the gk47

[@jimmylander2089]

Why does nobody show how to make stairway with handrails like those on d1_canals_01_d...??

[@WeaselLevelDesign]

Look for the model kit they used - there will be handrail models from several levels, with fixed lengths, that you can connect together :) Think Nova Prospekt as well

[@jimmylander2089]

Guess I'll just copy paste them from the original maps (seems easy enough) since whenever I make a handrail it never follows the stairs correctly -.- thanks tho, also nice tutorial :3

[@honse246]

that is NOT windows 8 right ? and would you ever consider using windows 8 as a main os ?

[@blitzwing7490]

How do you copy those

[@JuanHernandez-mw9zt]

how did u group together the stairs?

[@WeaselLevelDesign]

Depends on the type of grouping. For non-critical blocks (so not major walls/floors/map sealing blocks) you want to group them as a func_detail entity, which is Ctrl+T. To group different kinds of objects together so you can move them around more easily, you can use Ctrl+G. Ungroup is Ctrl+U.

[@guyug6940]

ladder at 6:00

[@GamerFollower]

why didn't valve choose and stick with one type of ladder? ö.ö

[@nass8899]

how do you control and paste

[@nass8899]

copy*

[@WeaselLevelDesign]

Ctrl+C to copy and Ctrl+V to paste. You can also duplicate an item by holding Shift while dragging it in the 2D views.

[@spacecowboy1929]

I can’t find any good tutorial that explains in detail how to do stair and stair clipping

[@Evercreeper]

you just found one?

[@dennisweitner9091]

how can i clipp it?

[@troyar]

Perfect thanks!!!

[@FlamingCuntLips]

Does ANYBODY know what too many T-Junction means ? ? ? Im thinking it has something to do with the stairs in my level as it keeps appearing after I add them -___________- I've tried INTERLOPERS.NET Too many T-Junctions means too many of them and they need removed . . . . yeah great insight can you possibly hint better at how I should go about it ? ? ?

[@Krisztian08]

5 entities for a damn ladder

[@matthewjackson2656]

***** hai, i just follow the steps from this video. after i compile it and run it with gmod, the game won't start and exit automatically. how do i fix this?

[@jabosfuntrain9689]

+MatthewJackson 265 mabye make a player spawn

[@PrettyAutumnTree]

I can't pass the the limit to go 8.0 and 12.0 i can only go to 64.0 and 64.0 for the stairs

[@WeaselLevelDesign]

Shrimpy You can change the grid size with the grid size buttons or the square bracket keys on your keyboard :) please watch my first tutorial in the series for more help on this. Happy mapping!

[@PrettyAutumnTree]

Oh thank you also one question why are you called "Hiyu"?

[@WeaselLevelDesign]

Hiyou is apparently the Japanese word for flying, and I liked the sound of it :)

[@PrettyAutumnTree]

Oh ok thanks it does sound pretty nice :D

[@hikarikongou216]

I cant get it 8 by 12

[@user-us2bu4ld8y]

Old comment, but for new people coming here, use the '[' and ']' keys to decrease and increase the grid size. You can also use the top menu buttons in your Hammer editorial depending on which version you have. Optionally, you can hold 'alt' to stop snapping to the grid.

[@ebin5720]

@@user-us2bu4ld8y omg thanks dude i tried to find how to make smaller than 64x64 block and i just had to hold alt :D and sry for my bad english

[@fairyflosslord7]

i wanna make a stairwell like the one in city 17 n half life 2 anyone got help or a tutorial

[@kingtheking5335]

This tutorial is good for it, for the stairs. If you want the elevator fence etc, I can help you with that. I'm building one too at the moment.

[@fairyflosslord7]

KINGTHEKING thanks

[@fairyflosslord7]

KINGTHEKING do you know the texture name for the elevator fence

[@kingtheking5335]

Sorry I didn't received any notification of your comment. Many textures are good for it actually, I'd say type in: grate. There are a lot of good textures for it so you can variate.

[@777SFINN777]

this is to unbrockenjack or anyone else that can help me. Me being a dumbass in all accidently deleted one of the sidebar tools that are vital to making maps and im fucked if i cant get it back. So if anyone knows how to get it back i would deeply appreciate it.

thx

[@MrGermandeutsch]

SOMETIMES i dream about chese

[@MrGermandeutsch]

this just works in cs:s !

[@brentcruz6142]

My ladders arent working

[@WeaselLevelDesign]

Because different Source games use different versions of the engine, they also have different types of ladders. The two variants are func_useableladder (an entity you place in the world, and use info_ladder_dismount entities at the ends) and func_ladder (a brush entity; you make the block the player walks up against, then change that block into a func_ladder).

[@heresyosmoothie695]

I'm guessing ladders can't be done in Portal 2?

[@MahGhillie]

I pressed H and the stairs dissappeared and never came back

[@supermachine2275]

just like my dad

[@madsbs123]

3kliksphilip Have the best Tutorials on that, in my opinion.

[@prog_demos]

Nice tutorial! But I found a thing that made me laugh at 3:45. Open the automatic translations and you'll see...

[@ЯрославЧабан-щ5н]

You talk about "politically correct" moment?

[@meemstaryy3208]

wtf how do you duplicate stairs?!?

[@draftimpact4622]

You need to hold shift while selecting block and drag what you want to go.

[@mrhoundeye1064]

the ladder doesn't work ;-;

[@qwertyiuwg4uwtwthn]

You had windows 8. You damn poor thing

[@gamecomparisongaming.5928]

Thanks it helped! Subed

[@gamecomparisongaming.5928]

+Game Comparison /Gaming. ugh oh no 6,666 sub

[@mr.xavior]

I'm not even interested in using hammer. I'm confused,though,as to why I like this.

[@jasonlor9735]

Aww... So you can't make stairs automatically. Well that just ruined my time with Hammer for a while. Guess it will take 5 days to complete my stuff. :/

[@holben27]

so its a little fucking 3:56