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How to Lawena #2 - STV, HLAE, and CE
1
#1
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My last Lawena guide went over the basics and using POV/PREC demos. This is going to be a continuation that will be going over specifically using HLAE for cinematic shots (smooths), and how to get damage numbers, hitsounds, and initiator killfeed using CE.

Shout outs Jayy and Cyanic.

Here's what you will need:

Lawena
Half-Life: Advanced Effects
CastingEssentials

HLAE
Your first step is to go to the HLAE Github and download the latest release installer and run it. Once you have it installed, open Lawena then go to advanced > Launch Mode > Select HLAE Executable and select your HLAE.exe. You might need to do some navigating to find it. Once you have HLAE selected, enable the HLAE launch mode and launch Lawena.

HLAE has a lot of documentation of commands, their functions, and what games they work on. However, for cinematic shots, here are a few commands you will need to know. Feel free to bind them to whatever you feel.

mirv_campath enabled [0/1] = enables the campath to be run
mirv_campath add = adds campath keyframes
mirv_campath remove [id] = removes selected keyframe
mirv_campath_draw enabled [0/1] = shows where the camera will go, point, and each keyframe
mirv_campath clear = clears the campath keyframes
mirv_fov = changes camera fov

Once you have your keyframes placed, when you replay the demo your camera should follow the campath as long as you have it enabled. I would make a video about how to actually go about this but I'd rather not.

CastingEssentials
CastingEssentials can give you damage numbers, hitsounds, and highlighted killfeed in STV demos. Make sure you run the game in -insecure mode through Lawena's launch options. Installing it is similar to installing HLAE, you will have to install the latest release ZIP from the CE Github. Then you want to extract the CastingEssentialsRed folder into Lawena's custom folder. DELETE THE RESOURCES FOLDER. Then you will want to run the following commands.

ce_hitevents_enabled 1 = Enables hitsounds and damage numbers
ce_killfeed_continuous_update 1 = Sets up Intiator killfeed
ce_localplayer_enabled 1 = Sets up to track a player for initiator killfeed
ce_localplayer_set_current_target = Targets player being spectated for highlighted killfeed
ce_tplock_enable = Third Person Taunts

There are a lot more commands for both CE and HLAE but I'll let you test and figure those out.

CE Command List
HLAE Command List

EDIT: updated CE link thanks to Wiethoofd.
HLAE is currently having issues for me where drawing the campath causes a crash with the error message "Cannot load corrupted map." Workaround that works for me is when I reload the map, I turn off the drawn campath and reload. No clue of what causes this, I will open a ticket in the HLAE Git Hub later this week.
Issue is fixed as of HLAE version 2.148.3.2.

My last Lawena guide went over the basics and using POV/PREC demos. This is going to be a continuation that will be going over specifically using HLAE for cinematic shots (smooths), and how to get damage numbers, hitsounds, and initiator killfeed using CE.

Shout outs Jayy and Cyanic.

Here's what you will need:

[b]Lawena[/b]
[b]Half-Life: Advanced Effects[/b]
[b]CastingEssentials[/b]

[h]HLAE[/h]
Your first step is to go to the [url=https://github.com/advancedfx/advancedfx/releases]HLAE Github[/url] and download the latest release installer and run it. Once you have it installed, open Lawena then go to [b]advanced > Launch Mode > Select HLAE Executable[/b] and select your HLAE.exe. You might need to do some navigating to find it. Once you have HLAE selected, enable the HLAE launch mode and launch Lawena.

HLAE has a lot of documentation of commands, their functions, and what games they work on. However, for cinematic shots, here are a few commands you will need to know. Feel free to bind them to whatever you feel.

[b]mirv_campath enabled [0/1] = enables the campath to be run
mirv_campath add = adds campath keyframes
mirv_campath remove [id] = removes selected keyframe
mirv_campath_draw enabled [0/1] = shows where the camera will go, point, and each keyframe
mirv_campath clear = clears the campath keyframes
mirv_fov = changes camera fov[/b]

Once you have your keyframes placed, when you replay the demo your camera should follow the campath as long as you have it enabled. I would make a video about how to actually go about this but I'd rather not.

[h]CastingEssentials[/h]
CastingEssentials can give you damage numbers, hitsounds, and highlighted killfeed in STV demos. Make sure you run the game in -insecure mode through Lawena's launch options. Installing it is similar to installing HLAE, you will have to install the latest release ZIP from the [url=https://github.com/dalegaard/CastingEssentials/releases]CE Github[/url]. Then you want to extract the CastingEssentialsRed folder into Lawena's custom folder. [b][i]DELETE THE RESOURCES FOLDER[/i][/b]. Then you will want to run the following commands.

[b]ce_hitevents_enabled 1 = Enables hitsounds and damage numbers
ce_killfeed_continuous_update 1 = Sets up Intiator killfeed
ce_localplayer_enabled 1 = Sets up to track a player for initiator killfeed
ce_localplayer_set_current_target = Targets player being spectated for highlighted killfeed
ce_tplock_enable = Third Person Taunts [/b]

There are a lot more commands for both CE and HLAE but I'll let you test and figure those out.

[url=https://pastebin.com/raw/MVa59fi5]CE Command List[/url]
[url=https://github.com/advancedfx/advancedfx/wiki/Source%3ACommands]HLAE Command List[/url]

EDIT: updated CE link thanks to Wiethoofd.
[s]HLAE is currently having issues for me where drawing the campath causes a crash with the error message "Cannot load corrupted map." Workaround that works for me is when I reload the map, I turn off the drawn campath and reload. No clue of what causes this, I will open a ticket in the HLAE Git Hub later this week.[/s]
Issue is fixed as of HLAE version 2.148.3.2.
2
#2
0 Frags +

Although you mentioned it for CastingEssentials, I'd suggest using "-insecure" in your launch options (Or through Lawena as stated above) whenever you're using any sort of plug-in.

"VAC warning: The HLAE tool is technically a hack, therefore you should use it for making movies / watching demos only. Joining VAC protected servers with HLAE will probably get you VAC banned." Sourced https://www.advancedfx.org/download/

Although you mentioned it for CastingEssentials, I'd suggest using "-insecure" in your launch options (Or through Lawena as stated above) whenever you're using any sort of plug-in.

"VAC warning: The HLAE tool is technically a hack, therefore you should use it for making movies / watching demos only. Joining VAC protected servers with HLAE will probably get you VAC banned." Sourced [url=https://www.advancedfx.org/download/]https://www.advancedfx.org/download/[/url]
3
#3
0 Frags +
TwistyAlthough you mentioned it for CastingEssentials, I'd suggest using "-insecure" in your launch options (Or through Lawena as stated above) whenever you're using any sort of plug-in.

Using HLAE through Lawena automatically uses -insecure. Still, it doesn't hurt to be safe.

[quote=Twisty]Although you mentioned it for CastingEssentials, I'd suggest using "-insecure" in your launch options (Or through Lawena as stated above) whenever you're using any sort of plug-in.
[/quote]

Using HLAE through Lawena automatically uses -insecure. Still, it doesn't hurt to be safe.
4
#4
0 Frags +

Nice guide! You can also use ce_localplayer_track_spec_target 1 to set the localplayer target to whoever you are spectating automatically - however this does not always work properly so where it is more convenient, the method you mentioned is more reliable.

You can use "mirv_input camera" to move the camera while the demo is paused in order to set keyframes apparently, although I don't use HLAE and didn't use this method when I did so I do not know for sure.

Nice guide! You can also use ce_localplayer_track_spec_target 1 to set the localplayer target to whoever you are spectating automatically - however this does not always work properly so where it is more convenient, the method you mentioned is more reliable.

You can use "mirv_input camera" to move the camera while the demo is paused in order to set keyframes apparently, although I don't use HLAE and didn't use this method when I did so I do not know for sure.
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