env_laser

env_laser
Type	point
Status	supported

A less advanced version of env_beam. Creates a toggleable laser between itself and its target.

1 Keyvalues

Target of Laser : LaserTarget

Entity at which the beam ends.

Brightness : renderamt

Set how bright/visible/transparent the beam shall be on a scale from '0' (invisible) to '255' (very bright).

Beam color : rendercolor

Set the beam's color. Note that, because of bolts being rendered additively, darker colors mean greater transparency.

Width of beam : BoltWidth

Set the width of the bolt-/beam-texture in inches * 0.25. Note that one unit in Valve Hammer Editor equals one inch and the beam texture you are using possibly has entirely transparent sides, so the beam may appear a bit thinner than expected. (2.54 cm)

Amount of noise : noiseAmplitude

Set how much the bolt shivers on a scale from 0 (not at all) to 255 (very much).

Sprite name : texture

Set the sprite to use to display the bolt. Path starts in mod-folder.

End Sprite : EndSprite

This sprite is placed where the laser beam ends.

Texture scroll rate : TextureScroll

The texture of the laser is not supposed to be displayed statically. Setting a texture scroll rate gives a visual effect of an actual, moving electric current. The value you set here specifies how often the texture will scroll for the length of its own height per second.

Starting frame : framestart

Set the number of the frame of the sprite to start animating at. This is rarely ever useful, e.g. when you have two identical beams next to each other and need them to look slightly different. Setting '0' here is safe.

Damage / second : damage

Average damage per second for the laser.

2 Flags

1 : Start on

Causes the laser to be activated from map load onwards.

16 : Start sparks

If set, sparks will be emitted at the env_laser.

32 : End sparks

If set, sparks will be emitted at the target of the laser.

64 : Decal end

If set, a bullethole decal will be created whenever the beam hits a surface.

3 Notes

The only thing this entity has that the env_beam doesn't is "End Sprite". Unless you need this, it's probably best to use env_beam instead.In case multiple entities match the name specified under "Target of Laser", the env_laser entity will pick one randomly.Contrary to what you may have read elsewhere, it is not possible to alter how fine a laser will be, as in, of how many segments it will consist.The noise-value does not affect the area in which damage will be applied. The damage area only depends on starting point, ending point and the laser's width.

4 Issues

Setting a "Render FX" makes no change whatsoever.