level-design-guide.md

MuffMode Level Design Guide

README | Gameplay Reference | Configuration Reference | Server Host Guide

MuffMode gives level designers and server hosts extra control over item placement, conditional entity spawning, map behavior, and entity overrides. The goal is simple: let casual rotations, competitive map pools, and special event maps share the same BSP while still playing cleanly in each mode.

New Items

Item	Classname	Notes
Personal Teleporter	item_teleporter	Holdable deathmatch item that teleports the activator to a spawn point.
Small ammo	ammo_bullets_small, etc.	Small variants for shells, bullets, rockets, cells, and slugs.
Large ammo	ammo_bullets_large, etc.	Large variants for shells, bullets, and cells.
Regeneration	item_regen	Thirty-second powerup that regenerates health up to twice max health.

Map Tweaks

Some MuffMode map entity overrides add subtle ambient sounds, mover sounds, intermission cameras, and gametype-specific item changes.

One included campaign fix changes bunk1: the button for the lift to ware2 uses a wait of -1, preventing co-op players from toggling the lift again.

Item Replacement Controls

Use cvars to disable or replace deathmatch map items by classname:

disable_[classname]
replace_[classname]
[mapname]_disable_[classname]
[mapname]_replace_[classname]

Examples:

disable_weapon_bfg 1
q2dm1_replace_item_quad item_regen

Entity Override Files

MuffMode can load and save complete map entity strings as .ent files.

Cvar	Default	Purpose
g_entity_override_dir	maps	Subdirectory inside baseq2 for override files.
g_entity_override_load	1	Loads baseq2/<dir>/<mapname>.ent on map load.
g_entity_override_save	0	Saves an override file on map load when one does not already exist.

See Map And Rotation Cvars for related host settings.

Conditional Entity Keys

Gametype Keys

Use gametype and not_gametype to include or exclude an entity for specific gametypes. Values can be comma-separated or space-separated.

"gametype" "ffa duel"
"not_gametype" "ctf ca"

Value	Gametype
campaign	Campaigns
ffa	Deathmatch
tournament	Duel
team	Team Deathmatch
ctf	Capture the Flag
ca	Clan Arena
freeze	Freeze Tag
strike	Capture Strike
rr	Red Rover
lms	Reserved Last Man Standing token
horde	Horde Mode
ball	Reserved ProBall token
instagib	Instagib
nadefest	NadeFest

Ruleset Keys

Use ruleset and not_ruleset to include or exclude an entity for specific rulesets. Values can be comma-separated or space-separated.

"ruleset" "mm q2reb"
"not_ruleset" "q3a"

Value	Ruleset
q2re	Quake II Rerelease
mm	Muff Mode
q3a	Quake III Arena style
q2reb	Q2RE Balanced
q	Quake style
qc	Quake Champions style

Legacy notq2 and notq3a keys are still understood, but new overrides should prefer ruleset and not_ruleset.

Team Keys

Key	Effect
notteam	Removes an entity from team gametypes.
notfree	Removes an entity from non-team gametypes.
nobots	Prevents a player spawn point (info_player_start, info_player_deathmatch, info_player_team_red, or info_player_team_blue) from being used by bots.
nohumans	Prevents a player spawn point (info_player_start, info_player_deathmatch, info_player_team_red, or info_player_team_blue) from being used by humans.

Example:

"notteam" "1"

Entity Key Additions

Entity	Key or spawnflag	Effect
Items	spawnflags & 8	Suspends item in place; it does not fall to the floor.
worldspawn	author, author2	Sets level author information shown in server info.
misc_teleporter	mins, maxs	Overrides teleport trigger size and removes the visible teleporter pad if either key is set.
trigger_push	target	Can target target_position or info_notnull to set direction and apogee like Quake III Arena.

Entity Behavior Changes

Entity	Change
misc_nuke	Applies nuke screen flash and earthquake effects.
trigger_push	Without a target, keeps original behavior; with a target, uses target-based launch behavior.
trigger_key	Does not remove inventory item in deathmatch. Deathmatch or spawnflags 1 allows multiple uses.
trigger_coop_relay	Always behaves like trigger_relay, avoiding co-op progression blockers when players are absent.
func_rotating	Explodes non-player entities such as dropped items so rotators do not remain blocked.

New Entities

Entity	Behavior
target_remove_powerups	Removes all activator powerups, techs, held items, keys, and CTF flags.
target_remove_weapons	Removes activator weapons and ammo except Blaster. Add BLASTER to also remove Blaster.
target_give	Gives the activator the targeted item.
target_delay	Delays before firing targets. Supports wait and random; total delay is wait +/- random.
target_print	Center-prints a message. Uses message; spawnflags include REDTEAM, BLUETEAM, and PRIVATE.
target_setskill	Sets skill level from 0 Easy through 3 Nightmare/Hard+.
target_score	Adjusts player score by count, default 1; TEAM spawnflag also adjusts team score.
target_teleporter	Teleports activator to a target destination, or to a player spawn point when no target is set.
target_relay	Correctly named relay entity equivalent to trigger_relay.
target_kill	Kills the activator.
target_cvar	Sets a cvar using cvar and cvarValue.
target_position	Alias for info_notnull.
func_bobbing	Quake III Arena sine mover. Accepts height, speed, phase, and dmg; spawnflags X_AXIS and Y_AXIS change the bob axis from Z. Crushes through blockers like Q3.
func_pendulum	Quake III Arena pendulum mover. Uses brush length plus gravity for swing timing and accepts speed, phase, and dmg. Crushes through blockers like Q3.
trigger_deathcount	Fires targets after a minimum death count. Uses count, default 10; REPEAT repeats every count.
trigger_no_monsters	Fires when all monsters are dead or none are present. Removed in deathmatch except Horde. ONCE removes after firing.
trigger_monsters	Fires when monsters are present. Removed in deathmatch except Horde. ONCE removes after firing.

Shooter Entities

Entity	Projectile	Keys
target_shooter_grenade	Grenade	dmg default 120, speed default 600
target_shooter_rocket	Rocket	dmg default 120, speed default 600
target_shooter_bfg	BFG	dmg default 200 in deathmatch or 500 in campaigns, speed default 400
target_shooter_prox	Prox mine	dmg default 90, speed default 600
target_shooter_ionripper	Ionripper	dmg default 20 in deathmatch or 50 in campaigns, speed default 800
target_shooter_phalanx	Phalanx	dmg default 80, speed default 725
target_shooter_flechette	Flechette	dmg default 10, speed default 1150

Design Checklist

• Add gametype or not_gametype keys to prevent mode-specific items from polluting other modes.
• Use notteam and notfree for clean team/free-for-all variants.
• Use nobots and nohumans to improve spawn quality for mixed bot and human servers.
• Prefer .ent overrides for server-side map variants that should not require repacking a BSP.
• Test entity changes under every gametype listed in the map's rotation.