Half-Life 2
The Art of Creating and Using NPCs effectively
Note: This would have been useful when I made it several years
ago, the only real purpose it serves
now is to add questionable 'content' to my website.
It also seems a waste to just delete it..
This is a simple guide I have created from my experiences in using the
Half-Life2
console to create and use NPCs.
Although the commands on how to create NPCs were given in many websites,
how
to actually use them, and to give equipment to the NPCs were not
included.
I hope to fix the problem here.
The Basics
In order to create NPCs, you must first open the console using the `
key.
This is located on the top left hand corner of your keyboard, just in
case
you are stupid (that's one of my tasteless jokes).
Once the console is open, you can create NPCs quite simply by typing in
"npc_create
npc_[insert npc name here]"
For instance, if I wanted to create a zombie, I would press ` to open
the console
then type
npc_create npc_zombie
BUT! Before you go off to start creating some zombies of your own, there
are more
things I need to say!
The Specifics
The creation of the NPC is done where ever you were aiming at,
therefore, in order
to create a zombie, you must aim at a flat ground (and also some
distance away
from you unless you want to get whacked) then type in the command.
You will see that the zombie is created there.
Great! Now we move onto the more complicated NPCs, the ones that use
weapons.
In order to create and use NPCs that use guns, you must first set their
equipment.
This is done by the command "npc_create_equipment weapon_[insert weapon
name here]"
So, for instance, I want to create a Combine soldier with the standard
Overwatch
Pulse Rifle, then I open the console then type
npc_create_equipment
weapon_ar2
npc_create npc_combine_s
Yay! You've just created a weapon wielding NPC!
The Console Codes
In order to actually create NPCs though, you need to know the Console
Codes
that create them, this can be found quite easily on the internet, so I'm
not
going to bother to list them all here, however, I will list a few codes,
the ones that I prefer the most.
NPC Codes
| NPC Name |
Console Code |
Alliance Type |
| Zombie |
zombie |
Alien |
| Poison Zombie |
poisonzombie |
Alien |
| Combine Soldier |
combine_s |
Combine |
| Resistance Fighter |
citizen |
Resistance |
| Barney |
barney |
Resistance |
| Alyx |
alyx |
Resistance |
| Vortigaunt |
vortigaunt |
Resistance |
| Antlion |
antlion |
Antlion |
| Big Antlion |
antlionguard |
Antlion |
Weapon Codes
| Weapon Name |
Console Code |
| Submachine Gun |
smg1 |
| Overwatch Pulse Rifle |
ar2 |
| Shotgun |
shotgun |
| RPG Launcher |
rpg |
Additional Information
Each Alliance Type is hostile to the other, except on very rare
occasions.
Whether or not an NPC is hostile to the human player can be modified,
but
I don't know how. NPCs like Striders, Helicopters, Gunships and such can
be
created, but their location needs to be done using co-ordinates,
otherwise
there isn't enough room so they are not created (or for Striders, they
are created,
but with only about half their head above the ground). Many of the
weapons cannot
be used by the NPC players, though all the ones I have listed work.
Remember to
type in npc_ before npc name and weapon_ before weapon name (e.g.
npc_barney, weapon_ar2)
Of those that are automatically friendly to the player, only the
Resistance Fighters
follow you around, and then, only four at a time, also, on most maps,
due to some
issues with the layout of the map, the citizens will be too stupid to
follow you
(though the Antlions, which are bugs, seem to be able to follow you
fine...).
Barney, Alyx and Monk (The Priest) all have lots of health, unlike the
standard
Combine Soldiers and the Resistance Fighters, so if you're going to use
NPCs, use
one of those three, I prefer Barney, just because he's so crazy. It's
really fun
to have about 20 Barneys with RPGs running around killing everybody in
the area..
If you just want to see the NPCs fight each other, without you
interfering, it'd
be best to turn notarget on (done by going in console, then typing
"sv_cheats 1"
followed by "notarget"), as doing so will mean the AI will just kill
each other
(provided the other is of a different Alliance Type).
And that's about it. It's quite pitiful, but it is simple...
N.B. When I said "20 Barneys with RPGs running around killing everybody
in the area.."
The Barneys don't actually run around on their own, finding enemies and
killing,
they stand pretty stationery like a turret, and only move and fight when
they 'detect'
an enemy presence, i.e. get fired upon. Which means you'll probably have
to create
a few hundred Barneys if you want the Barneys to take care of everything
for you
(i.e. create 2 or 3 Barneys for every encounter).
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