Introduction to Mapbase

Mapbase is a "modding base" for Source 2013 that makes mapping easier and more flexible for Source modders and level designers. Rather than being a mod purely intended to change how the game plays or feels, Mapbase is almost entirely directed towards mod creators themselves, alleviating the craziness of Source and providing new capabilities that help level designers make their maps prettier, more fun, and make previously impossible visions feasible.

New entities and I/O/KV

Mapbase adds 50+ new entities and hundreds of I/O/KV (Inputs/Outputs/Keyvalues) to the engine, and that's not even counting filters or features ported from other branches of Source. Most of these additions are supposed to help with the mapping process and could go right over players' heads, allowing you to improve your technique without changing the game itself. For example, one of these entities is point_entity_replace, which lets you instantly "replace" one entity with another, giving the illusion of transformation. Another entity called game_convar_mod lets you set the value of a convar that safely saves and resets automatically on map load/unload, not having to rely on point_server/clientcommand. There's also logic_measure_direction, which is like the existing "logic_measure_movement", but for moving entities to the ends of traces.

Mapbase fixes existing entities and I/O/KV that were bugged or otherwise tricky, like func_clip_vphysics not being able to start disabled or OnBeginSequence not using the target NPC as the activator. It also comes with a heavily revised FGD file that adds eyedropper support to keyvalues and inputs that needed it.

Map-specific files

Mapbase expands upon the system that lets maps mount their own soundscripts or soundscape files, giving mappers the ability to mount map-specific actbusy or Response System files as well. This lets mappers use their own actbusies or responses without having to create their own mods and/or override default files.

New dev textures

Mapbase comes with a selection of new dev textures:

• A wider range of colors among the generic measure textures
• "Overlays" for outlines of most other kinds of measure textures, like walls or fences.
• Two new versions of nodraw with metal and wood sounds, similar to the ones from CS:S, except these have their own textures in Hammer to keep them easily identifiable to the mapper.

It also has a few new icons for existing entities, like logic_playerproxy having info_player_start's face on it.

Graphical changes

Mapbase isn't supposed to change the feeling of Source or HL2 itself in-game, but it does change a few things for mappers and other kinds of modders to toggle at will.

For example, Mapbase gathers projected texture fixes and features from all over the community, from the VDC to G-String, making them much more stable and usable. Mapbase also uses radial fog from Half-Life 2: Downfall, which means fog won't change with the camera angle anymore.

You can find an overview on Mapbase's graphical changes here.

Gameplay-related additions

Almost all gameplay-related changes are off by default and controlled by the mapper. They are mostly just new keyvalues that mappers could enable or disable and don't interfere with existing behavior. Most of these changes are related to NPCs, like metrocops being able to use most other kinds of weapons (AR2s, shotguns, etc.) or rebels being able to use the AR2 alt-fire, the latter of which is an unused feature.

There's also tons of dynamic interaction changes worth looking into, but new ones are off by default and must be toggled through a new keyvalue.

You can find an overview on Mapbase's gameplay changes here.