[Mel Ennial]

The default version of co-op is fun for a while, right? Then you might start to get bored with the limited amount of special infected around at any one time. You find a way to up the tempo, either by having them constantly respawning or by bypassing the two-at-a-time limit. Then at some point, you come to a tall ladder with a thousand AI jockeys stuck at the top and you realise: ladders are now a death sentence.

I tried looking for something to alleviate this, but could only find this thread by V1SoR. I'm sure it's much better than my meagre offering, but it requires Linux. I do not have Linux. So I made my own, extremely basic, version that should work across all operating systems. This plugin is so straightforward that I wouldn't be surprised if it actually worked for lots of games; I have tested this plugin, and will only test this plugin, in L4D2, though.

Changelog:
v1 - initial release. Only manual mode included.
v2 - automatic mode; survivors pull out guns when they stop on a ladder.
- cvars; a cvar to show current version, and a cvar to change laddergun mode (0 = disabled, 1 = manual, 2 = auto).
- now uses a .cfg (ladderguns.cfg) to store your preferred plugin mode.
- plugin now won't load unless the game is L4D2.
- plugin info now exists.
v2a, b - Cravenge's fix for the tank-related bug reported by MasterMind420. Thanks, guys.
c - No more need for the kludge, Cravenge solved my problem; I didn't realise we just go ahead and declare a MoveType variable instead of an int. D'oh.


CVars:
ladderguns_version will show you which version you're currently running.
ladderguns_mode changes how the plugin functions. 0 = disable plugin. 1 (default) = manual mode, press +use on a ladder to draw guns. 2 = auto mode, survivors draw their weapons when they stop moving on a ladder.

How to use:
ladderguns_mode 1: (default)
If a survivor is on a ladder, they can press their "use" key ("e" by default) and they will pull out their guns. They are able to use any of their items, from guns to first-aid kits. As soon as they try to move up or down the ladder, though, they will revert to normal climbing-up-ladder mode. Note: you will drop any of the prop_physics items (fireworks, petrol can, gnome, etc.) if you do this.

ladderguns_mode 2:
If a survivor is on a ladder and they stop moving, they should draw their guns automatically. That's it.

Credits:
I used thecount's code from here to detect movement in this plugin. Thanks!
Cheers to Cravenge for the advice and support; some of the code they've posted in this thread is in the plugin.
Also thanks to Silver, who suggested I put in the plugin info and game check; I used the code from their own (excellent) Fireworks plugin for this. I hope that's not too cheeky...

Installation:
You can either download the .smx directly or compile it from l4d2_ladderguns_v2c.sp. Once you have "l4d2_ladderguns_v2c.smx", place it into your Sourcemod's plugins folder. For example, if you have Steam installed on the C: drive, this might be "C:\Steam\steamapps\common\Left 4 Dead 2\left4dead2\addons\sourcemod\plugins".

"l4d2_ladderguns.cfg" will be generated by this plugin after you run it for the first time. If you always want auto-mode on, go to where your config files are - this will be something along the lines of "C:\Steam\steamapps\common\Left 4 Dead 2\left4dead2\cfg\sourcemod\" - and change the value of ladderguns_mode to 2. To disable the plugin, use a value of 0 in this .cfg, or type "ladderguns_mode 0" in the in-game console.

[cravenge]

Sweet! Finally, Windows users get to feel what Linux users have.

One quick question, tho, I saw the source code and I was wondering why change their move type to MOVETYPE_WALK instead of reverting back to MOVETYPE_LADDER when they use their guns?

Other than that,

[Mel Ennial]

Originally Posted by cravenge Sweet! Finally, Windows users get to feel what Linux users have. One quick question, tho, I saw the source code and I was wondering why change their move type to MOVETYPE_WALK instead of reverting back to MOVETYPE_LADDER when they use their guns? Other than that,

In all honesty? I'm not confident about the quality of my testing, and MOVETYPE_WALK seems safer in case there's something I missed. I'm thinking of being caught by an SI on the ladder or somesuch, but a specific SI in a specific situation might not properly reset a victim's movetype. A similar sort of thing to jockeys not triggering the ability_use event.

[cravenge]

Originally Posted by Mel Ennial [...]

Well said!

I tested it and it works fine atm.

[edwinvega86]

when climbing and standing still on the stairs the animation does not stop. good complement

[Mel Ennial]

Originally Posted by edwinvega86 when climbing and standing still on the stairs the animation does not stop. good complement

Thanks.

The weird animation bug where Bill climbs a ladder - while actually being completely still - is something that happens regardless of this plugin. I loaded the game up with no plugins other than the standard set, and Bill still does his thing. Sorry man. I put it in the same category as Zoey straight up missing certain melee animations (like crowbar) and Coach freaking out when crouching with a magnum. Maybe someone on the Workshop has fixed the animation?

[cravenge]

[L4D2] Survivor Animation Fix plugin by Deathchaos or [L4D2] Improved L4D1 Animations addon in GameMaps.

Take your pick if you want to fix problems regarding survivor animations. I recommend plugin rather than addon.

[theproperson]

I'm not sure if its related to this plugin or just the way the game behaves. When climbing a ladder and pressing e to use a weapon, if a common jumps on top of me then I stop being able to use my weapon
and end up being stuck until dropping off the ladder. Is there a work around to this?

[Mel Ennial]

Originally Posted by cravenge [L4D2] Survivor Animation Fix plugin by Deathchaos or [L4D2] Improved L4D1 Animations addon in GameMaps. Take your pick if you want to fix problems regarding survivor animations. I recommend plugin rather than addon.

Neat, I'd assumed this was something that could only be fixed via tweaking the actual models, so I never even looked for a plugin to solve it. Sweet!

Originally Posted by theproperson I'm not sure if its related to this plugin or just the way the game behaves. When climbing a ladder and pressing e to use a weapon, if a common jumps on top of me then I stop being able to use my weapon and end up being stuck until dropping off the ladder. Is there a work around to this?

I'll try and replicate this problem. When I do, I'll edit this post, hopefully with a fix of some kind.

Edit: I haven't had much luck recreating this. I've had commons push me up/down the ladder, but so far I've not got stuck. On another note, I've got automatic ladder-gunning working to an extent; the player still has to be still on the ladder, but apart from that there's no button-press required. New version is in the original post.

[Visual77]

Originally Posted by theproperson I'm not sure if its related to this plugin or just the way the game behaves. When climbing a ladder and pressing e to use a weapon, if a common jumps on top of me then I stop being able to use my weapon and end up being stuck until dropping off the ladder. Is there a work around to this?

Sounds like classic l4d2, with or without this plugin (commons blocking your way up the ladder, etc).