Configuring Hammer for Empires - Revision history

Awpolt at 16:07, 5 April 2026

2026-04-05T16:07:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:07, 5 April 2026
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	{{MappingDocumentation}}		{{MappingDocumentation}}
	Hammer should work out of the box using the Hammer.bat file in the bin folder. Feel free to create a shortcut! Once launching, choose Empires 2013 from the list, and voila! Hammer for Empires should launch. If you encounter problems, do not ~~hesitant~~ to post on the [~~http://forums.empiresmod.com/index.php?forums/8 Mapping forum~~] to seek help.		Hammer should work out of the box using the Hammer.bat file in the bin folder. Feel free to create a shortcut! Once launching, choose Empires 2013 from the list, and voila! Hammer for Empires should launch. If you encounter problems, do not hesitate to post on the [[Empires Discord]] to seek help.

Thexa4 at 01:41, 10 August 2017

2017-08-10T01:41:11Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:41, 10 August 2017
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	{{MappingDocumentation}}		{{MappingDocumentation}}
	~~__TOC__~~		Hammer should work out of the box using the Hammer.bat file in the bin folder. Feel free to create a shortcut! Once launching, choose Empires 2013 from the list, and voila! Hammer for Empires should launch. If you encounter problems, do not hesitant to post on the [http://forums.empiresmod.com/index.php?forums/8 Mapping forum] to seek help.
	==Hammer ~~Setup==~~
	~~To specifically use Hammer for '''Empires only''', follow these instructions:~~
	~~Provided you've installed the latest version~~ of ~~Empires, open~~ the ~~following file:~~

	~~:''Steam\SteamApps\common\Empires\bin\GameConfig.txt''~~

	~~This file stores~~ the Hammer configurations for Empires for Source 2013. In order to use Hammer to create and edit maps for a given game or mod on a particular version of the engine, that game or mod must have an entry within the appropriate game configuration text file.

	~~You may already see some entries in the~~ file ~~for:~~
	*Half-Life 2: Episode Two
	*Team Fortress 2
	*Portal
	*Day of Defeat: Source

	Take note of how these entries are made. Each one has a game title in quotation marks, and beneath it there are sets of braces nested within each other. These braces are important delimiters that must exist in the ~~proper places for the Source SDK launcher to be able to read the entries.~~

	~~The configuration file has the following format:~~

	~~<pre>"Configs"~~
	{
	~~"Games"~~
	{
	~~"Entry for Game 1"~~
	{
	}
	~~"Entry for Game 2"~~
	{
	}
	~~"Entry for Game _ and so on..."~~
	{
	}
	}
	~~"SDK Version" "3"~~
	~~}</pre>~~

	~~The purpose of this quick method is '''add''' an entry for Empires. Essentially, your config file should have the following basic structure when done:~~

	~~<pre>"Configs"~~
	{
	~~"Games"~~
	{
	~~"Entry for Game 1"~~
	{
	}
	~~"Entry for Game 2"~~
	{
	}
	~~"Empires"~~
	{
	}
	}
	~~"SDK Version" "3"~~
	~~}</pre>~~

	~~To setup Hammer for Empires, copy and paste the following text over the information of your '''GameConfig.txt''' file.~~
	~~<pre>~~
	~~"Configs"~~
	{
	~~"Games"~~
	{
	~~"Empires 2013"~~
	{
	~~"GameDir" "..\empires"~~
	~~"Hammer"~~
	{
	~~"GameData0" "..\empires\empires.fgd"~~
	~~"GameData1" "base.fgd"~~
	~~"GameData2" "halflife2.fgd"~~
	~~"GameData3" "hl2mp.fgd"~~
	~~"TextureFormat" "5"~~
	~~"MapFormat" "4"~~
	~~"DefaultTextureScale" "0.320000"~~
	~~"DefaultLightmapScale" "256"~~
	~~"GameExe" "..\hl2.exe"~~
	~~"DefaultSolidEntity" "func_detail"~~
	~~"DefaultPointEntity" "emp_info_map_overview"~~
	~~"BSP" "vbsp.exe"~~
	~~"Vis" "vvis.exe"~~
	~~"Light" "vrad.exe"~~
	~~"GameExeDir" "..\"~~
	~~"MapDir" "..\empires\mapsrc"~~
	~~"BSPDir" "..\empires\maps"~~
	~~"CordonTexture" "tools/toolsskybox"~~
	~~"MaterialExcludeCount" "0"~~
	}
	}
	}
	~~"SDKVersion" "5"~~
	}
	~~</pre>~~

	~~Once pasted, and once you've verified that the structure of nested braces is intact, save the '''GameConfig.txt''' file.~~

	~~Now you should be able to launch Hammer from '''hammer.exe''' via the empires\~~bin folder. Feel free to create a shortcut! Once launching, choose Empires 2013 from the list, and voila! Hammer for Empires should launch. If you encounter problems, do not hesitant to post on the [http://forums.empiresmod.com/index.php?forums/8 Mapping forum] to seek help.

Smithy: Text replacement - "http://forums.empiresmod.com/forumdisplay.php?f=" to "http://forums.empiresmod.com/index.php?forums/"

2016-06-29T22:18:42Z

Text replacement - "http://forums.empiresmod.com/forumdisplay.php?f=" to "http://forums.empiresmod.com/index.php?forums/"

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:18, 29 June 2016
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	Once pasted, and once you've verified that the structure of nested braces is intact, save the '''GameConfig.txt''' file.		Once pasted, and once you've verified that the structure of nested braces is intact, save the '''GameConfig.txt''' file.

	Now you should be able to launch Hammer from '''hammer.exe''' via the empires\bin folder. Feel free to create a shortcut! Once launching, choose Empires 2013 from the list, and voila! Hammer for Empires should launch. If you encounter problems, do not hesitant to post on the [http://forums.empiresmod.com/~~forumdisplay~~.php?f=8 Mapping forum] to seek help.		Now you should be able to launch Hammer from '''hammer.exe''' via the empires\bin folder. Feel free to create a shortcut! Once launching, choose Empires 2013 from the list, and voila! Hammer for Empires should launch. If you encounter problems, do not hesitant to post on the [http://forums.empiresmod.com/index.php?forums/8 Mapping forum] to seek help.

Administrator at 01:45, 31 March 2014

2014-03-31T01:45:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:45, 31 March 2014
Line 94:		Line 94:
	Once pasted, and once you've verified that the structure of nested braces is intact, save the '''GameConfig.txt''' file.		Once pasted, and once you've verified that the structure of nested braces is intact, save the '''GameConfig.txt''' file.

	Now you should be able to launch Hammer from "hammer.exe" via the empires\bin folder. Feel free to create a shortcut! Once launching, choose Empires 2013 from the list, and voila! Hammer for Empires should launch. If you encounter problems, do not hesitant to post on the [http://forums.empiresmod.com/forumdisplay.php?f=8 Mapping forum] to seek help.		Now you should be able to launch Hammer from '''hammer.exe''' via the empires\bin folder. Feel free to create a shortcut! Once launching, choose Empires 2013 from the list, and voila! Hammer for Empires should launch. If you encounter problems, do not hesitant to post on the [http://forums.empiresmod.com/forumdisplay.php?f=8 Mapping forum] to seek help.

Administrator: updated for source 2013

2014-03-31T01:44:33Z

updated for source 2013

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:44, 31 March 2014
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	{{MappingDocumentation}}		{{MappingDocumentation}}
	__TOC__		__TOC__
	~~==Prerequisites==~~
	First you need to install the '''Source SDK''', available through Steam under the ''Tools'' section. You may or may not need to run '''Source SDK Base 2007''' (required for Empires) at least once in order for the game executable to be set up. Although likely taken care of already, it is also required that you have the [http://www.empiresmod.com/drupal/node/13 latest version of Empires] installed in order to map for Empires.

	~~Please note that the ''Source SDK'' and ''Source SDK Base 2007'' are not the same thing. ''Source SDK Base 2007'' is required for Empires, and is used by the ''Source SDK''.~~

	~~===VBSP.exe===~~
	Since the current version of empires uses ''parallax occlusion mapping'' its required to use a modified BSP compiler (vbsp.exe). Its shipped with empires and can be found in the ''empires_base.gcf'' located in your ''Steam\SteamApp'' directory. Inside the .gcf the file is located in ''empires/sdktools''.

	~~To extract the file from the .gcf you need a tool like [http://nemesis.thewavelength.net/index.php?p=25 GCFScape].~~
	You need to save the file in the ''SourceSDK2007\bin'' directory or you wont be able to compile properly - renaming it is still possible though in case you dont want to overwrite the original vbsp.exe.

	==Hammer Setup==		==Hammer Setup==
	Provided you've installed the latest version of Empires~~, installed Source SDK, as well as installed and ran Source SDK Base 2007~~, open the following file:		To specifically use Hammer for '''Empires only''', follow these instructions:
			Provided you've installed the latest version of Empires, open the following file:

	:''Steam\SteamApps\~~YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME~~\~~sourcesdk\bin\source2007~~\bin\GameConfig.txt''		:''Steam\SteamApps\common\Empires\bin\GameConfig.txt''

	This file stores the Hammer configurations for ~~all games or mods that utilize~~ Source ~~Engine 2007 (''formerly'' known as OrangeBox)~~. In order to use Hammer to create and edit maps for a given game or mod on a particular version of the engine, that game or mod must have an entry within the appropriate game configuration text file.		This file stores the Hammer configurations for Empires for Source 2013. In order to use Hammer to create and edit maps for a given game or mod on a particular version of the engine, that game or mod must have an entry within the appropriate game configuration text file.

	You may already see some entries in the file for:		You may already see some entries in the file for:
Line 65:		Line 55:
	}</pre>		}</pre>

	To setup Hammer for Empires, copy and paste the following text ~~into~~ the ~~appropriate location~~ of your '''GameConfig.txt''' file. You will proceed to change each instance of '''YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME''' to your actual username with which you login to your Steam account. ''Please note that your account username and Steam Friends alias are not the same thing. Your Steam Friends alias can be changed at any time, but your account username will always remain the same.''		To setup Hammer for Empires, copy and paste the following text over the information of your '''GameConfig.txt''' file.

	~~This file assumes you installed Steam on your C: drive, if its different for you dont forget to change it!~~

	~~If you use a 64bit operating system, dont forget that steam is installed under ''program files (x86)'' and change that aswell!~~
	<pre>		<pre>
	"Empires"		"Configs"
			{
			"Games"
			{
			"Empires 2013"
	{		{
	"GameDir" "~~c:\program files\steam\steamapps\YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME\empires~~\empires"		"GameDir" "..\empires"
	"~~hammer~~"		"Hammer"
	{		{
			"GameData0" "..\empires\empires.fgd"
			"GameData1" "base.fgd"
			"GameData2" "halflife2.fgd"
			"GameData3" "hl2mp.fgd"
	"TextureFormat" "5"		"TextureFormat" "5"
	"MapFormat" "4"		"MapFormat" "4"
	"DefaultTextureScale" "0.~~250000~~"		"DefaultTextureScale" "0.320000"
	"DefaultLightmapScale" "16"		"DefaultLightmapScale" "256"
	"DefaultSolidEntity" "func_detail"		"GameExe" "..\hl2.exe"
	"DefaultPointEntity" "~~info_player_start~~"		"DefaultSolidEntity" "func_detail"
			"DefaultPointEntity" "emp_info_map_overview"
	"GameExeDir" "~~c:\program files\steam\steamapps\YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME~~\~~Source SDK Base 2007~~"		"BSP" "vbsp.exe"
	"MapDir" "~~c:\program files\steam\steamapps\YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME~~\empires\~~sourcesdk_content~~\empires\~~mapsrc~~"		"Vis" "vvis.exe"
	"CordonTexture" "tools\toolsskybox"		"Light" "vrad.exe"
			"GameExeDir" "..\"
			"MapDir" "..\empires\mapsrc"
			"BSPDir" "..\empires\maps"
			"CordonTexture" "tools/toolsskybox"
	"MaterialExcludeCount" "0"		"MaterialExcludeCount" "0"
	~~"GameExe" "c:\program files (x86)\steam\steamapps\YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME\Source SDK Base 2007\hl2.exe"~~
	~~"BSP" "LOCATION_OF_THE_ALTERED_VBSP.EXE"~~
	~~"Vis" "c:\program files\steam\steamapps\YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME\sourcesdk\bin\source2007\bin\vvis.exe"~~
	~~"Light" "c:\program files\steam\steamapps\YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME\sourcesdk\bin\source2007\bin\vrad.exe"~~
	~~"BSPDir" "c:\program files\steam\steamapps\YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME\empires\empires\maps"~~
	~~"GameData0" "c:\program files\steam\steamapps\YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME\empires\empires\empires.fgd"~~
	}		}
	}		}
			}
			"SDKVersion" "5"
			}
	</pre>		</pre>

	Once pasted, and once you've verified that the structure of nested braces is intact, save the '''GameConfig.txt''' file.		Once pasted, and once you've verified that the structure of nested braces is intact, save the '''GameConfig.txt''' file.

	Now you should be able to launch the ~~Source SDK, choose ''Source Engine 2007'' for Engine Version~~, choose ''Empires~~'' for Current Game~~, and ~~then launch the~~ Hammer ~~Editor. From here on out, you~~ should ~~be good to go~~. ~~However, always be certain that~~ you ~~have the latest version of the '''empires.fgd''' file. Occasionally~~, ~~this file has been left out of installer packages for older versions of Empires. As of Empires 2.25, the empires.fgd is properly included in your client's ''/mapsrc/'' directory, and will likely~~ not ~~need~~ to ~~be updated. For whatever reason now or in the future, if you find yourself missing the empires.fgd, check~~ the [http://forums.empiresmod.com/forumdisplay.php?f=8 Mapping forum] to ~~see if an updated empires.fgd has been released, otherwise simply PM another mapper to ask for a copy of the fgd, and if necessary, make a thread to request it~~.		Now you should be able to launch Hammer from "hammer.exe" via the empires\bin folder. Feel free to create a shortcut! Once launching, choose Empires 2013 from the list, and voila! Hammer for Empires should launch. If you encounter problems, do not hesitant to post on the [http://forums.empiresmod.com/forumdisplay.php?f=8 Mapping forum] to seek help.

Administrator: /* Hammer Setup */

2011-07-01T15:50:38Z

Hammer Setup

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:50, 1 July 2011
Line 29:		Line 29:
	The configuration file has the following format:		The configuration file has the following format:

	<pre>"~~Config~~"		<pre>"Configs"
	{		{
	"Games"		"Games"
Line 48:		Line 48:
	The purpose of this quick method is '''add''' an entry for Empires. Essentially, your config file should have the following basic structure when done:		The purpose of this quick method is '''add''' an entry for Empires. Essentially, your config file should have the following basic structure when done:

	<pre>"~~Config~~"		<pre>"Configs"
	{		{
	"Games"		"Games"

Administrator: /* VBSP.exe */

2011-04-30T11:21:06Z

VBSP.exe

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:21, 30 April 2011
Line 10:		Line 10:

	To extract the file from the .gcf you need a tool like [http://nemesis.thewavelength.net/index.php?p=25 GCFScape].		To extract the file from the .gcf you need a tool like [http://nemesis.thewavelength.net/index.php?p=25 GCFScape].
	~~If you want~~ to save the file in the ''SourceSDK2007\bin'' directory you ~~should rename~~ the ~~file~~.		You need to save the file in the ''SourceSDK2007\bin'' directory or you wont be able to compile properly - renaming it is still possible though in case you dont want to overwrite the original vbsp.exe.

	==Hammer Setup==		==Hammer Setup==

Administrator at 12:58, 18 April 2011

2011-04-18T12:58:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:58, 18 April 2011
Line 68:		Line 68:

	This file assumes you installed Steam on your C: drive, if its different for you dont forget to change it!		This file assumes you installed Steam on your C: drive, if its different for you dont forget to change it!

	If you use a 64bit operating system, dont forget that steam is installed under ''program files (x86)'' and change that aswell!		If you use a 64bit operating system, dont forget that steam is installed under ''program files (x86)'' and change that aswell!
	<pre>		<pre>

Administrator at 12:58, 18 April 2011

2011-04-18T12:58:08Z

Administrator: adapted for steampires and POM; removed GUI way to setup since its just slower and shit ...

2011-04-18T12:35:13Z

adapted for steampires and POM; removed GUI way to setup since its just slower and shit ...

Show changes

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:58, 18 April 2011
Line 67:		Line 67:
	To setup Hammer for Empires, copy and paste the following text into the appropriate location of your '''GameConfig.txt''' file. You will proceed to change each instance of '''YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME''' to your actual username with which you login to your Steam account. ''Please note that your account username and Steam Friends alias are not the same thing. Your Steam Friends alias can be changed at any time, but your account username will always remain the same.''		To setup Hammer for Empires, copy and paste the following text into the appropriate location of your '''GameConfig.txt''' file. You will proceed to change each instance of '''YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME''' to your actual username with which you login to your Steam account. ''Please note that your account username and Steam Friends alias are not the same thing. Your Steam Friends alias can be changed at any time, but your account username will always remain the same.''

	This file assumes you installed Steam on your C: drive, if its different for you dont forget to change it aswell.		This file assumes you installed Steam on your C: drive, if its different for you dont forget to change it!
			If you use a 64bit operating system, dont forget that steam is installed under ''program files (x86)'' and change that aswell!
	<pre>		<pre>
	"Empires"		"Empires"
	{		{
	"GameDir" "c:\program files ~~(x86)~~\steam\steamapps\YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME\empires\empires"		"GameDir" "c:\program files\steam\steamapps\YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME\empires\empires"
	"hammer"		"hammer"
	{		{
Line 81:		Line 82:
	"DefaultPointEntity" "info_player_start"		"DefaultPointEntity" "info_player_start"

	"GameExeDir" "c:\program files ~~(x86)~~\steam\steamapps\YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME\Source SDK Base 2007"		"GameExeDir" "c:\program files\steam\steamapps\YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME\Source SDK Base 2007"
	"MapDir" "c:\program files ~~(x86)~~\steam\steamapps\YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME\empires\sourcesdk_content\empires\mapsrc"		"MapDir" "c:\program files\steam\steamapps\YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME\empires\sourcesdk_content\empires\mapsrc"
	"CordonTexture" "tools\toolsskybox"		"CordonTexture" "tools\toolsskybox"
	"MaterialExcludeCount" "0"		"MaterialExcludeCount" "0"
	"GameExe" "c:\program files (x86)\steam\steamapps\YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME\Source SDK Base 2007\hl2.exe"		"GameExe" "c:\program files (x86)\steam\steamapps\YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME\Source SDK Base 2007\hl2.exe"
	"BSP" "LOCATION_OF_THE_ALTERED_VBSP.EXE"		"BSP" "LOCATION_OF_THE_ALTERED_VBSP.EXE"
	"Vis" "c:\program files ~~(x86)~~\steam\steamapps\YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME\sourcesdk\bin\source2007\bin\vvis.exe"		"Vis" "c:\program files\steam\steamapps\YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME\sourcesdk\bin\source2007\bin\vvis.exe"
	"Light" "c:\program files ~~(x86)~~\steam\steamapps\YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME\sourcesdk\bin\source2007\bin\vrad.exe"		"Light" "c:\program files\steam\steamapps\YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME\sourcesdk\bin\source2007\bin\vrad.exe"
	"BSPDir" "c:\program files ~~(x86)~~\steam\steamapps\YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME\empires\empires\maps"		"BSPDir" "c:\program files\steam\steamapps\YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME\empires\empires\maps"
	"GameData0" "c:\program files ~~(x86)~~\steam\steamapps\YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME\empires\empires\empires.fgd"		"GameData0" "c:\program files\steam\steamapps\YOUR_STEAM_ACCOUNT_USERNAME\empires\empires\empires.fgd"
	}		}
	}		}