HPL2/TDD/Areas

This page lists the different types of areas available in Amnesia – The Dark Descent and what they do. Area types are defined in the file editor/AreaTypes.cfg.

Script

Script areas are used for a variety of purposes in conjunction with scripting, like detecting collisions or spawning particle systems and entities. See Script Areas.

Variables

Name	Type	Default	Description
PlayerLookAtCallback	String		Callback called when player looks at entity. Syntax: void Func(string &in asEntity, int alState) alState: 1=looking, -1=stopped looking
PlayerLookAtCallbackAutoRemove	Bool	false	Should look at callback be removed when entity is looked at and callback is called.
PlayerInteractCallback	String		Callback called when player interacts with entity. Syntax: void Func(string &in asEntity)
PlayerInteractCallbackAutoRemove	Bool	false	Should interact callback be removed when entity is interacted with and callback called.
ItemInteraction	Bool	false	Set true if an item is used on this area.
MaxFocusDistance	Float	-1	The max focus distance. If -1 then default (from game.cfg) is used.

PosNode

This is used in combination with Rope areas, to show where the rope ends.

Flashback

These trigger flashbacks when the player collides with them. Shows a white flash on the screen when a flashback starts and ends. When a flashback is active, radial blur is applied and the player's movement speed is slowed down (60% by default). These properties are defined in the Player_General section of game.cfg. Additionally, darkness sanity drain is disabled, the lantern does not use oil, and enemies ignore the player when a flashback is active.

Variables

Name	Type	Default	Description
FlashbackFile	File (.flash)		The flashback file played when player enters area. Flashbacks should be "flashbacks" folder.
Callback	String		Callback that runs when flashback is over. Syntax: MyFunc()

Sign

Displays text when the player looks at it. Note: Interactions cannot pass through.

Variables

Name	Type	Default	Description
TextCat	String		Text lang category.
TextEntry	String		Text lang entry.

SlimeDamage

Gives minor damage to the player when they collide with it. Used for the Guardian/Shadow flesh damage. Collision is only checked for at randomized intervals: 2 to 5 seconds by default. This value is re-rolled each time the interval ends, so the player only receives damage if they're colliding with the area on one of those intervals.

As of version 1.5, multiple slime types can be used, defined in game.cfg. It specifies the sounds and particles played, range of damage dealt, and amount of screen shake applied.

Variables

Name	Type	Default	Description
mlSlimeType	Int	0	Determines attack properties. See game.cfg for the different proper values.
MinCheckAttackTime	Float	2	The min time between check to attack.
MaxCheckAttackTime	Float	5	The max time between check to attack.
DisableAfterAttack	Bool	false	If area should be disabled after an attack on player.
Callback	String		Called when attacking player. Syntax: MyFunc(string &in asArea)

Examine

Displays a message on screen when interacted with by the player, similar to the SetMessage script function. Supposed to display a different message if the player's sanity is below a threshold defined in game.cfg (default 50), yet this doesn't work due to the game reading the MaxExamineSanity value from Player_Interaction when it's actually under Insanity. This can be worked around by moving the property to Player_Interaction.

Variables

Name	Type	Default	Description
DescCat	String		Normal description lang category. Leave empty for no description
DescEntry	String		Normal description entry.
DescInsaneCat	String		Insane description lang category. If empty normal is used.
DescInsaneEntry	String		Insane description lang entry.
Sound	File (.snt)		Normal sound played.
InsaneSound	File (.snt)		Insane sound played. If empty, normal sound is played.

Insanity

Plays a random insanity event when the player collides with it, if their sanity doesn't exceed the value of MaxSanity_LongWait in the Insanity section of game.cfg (default 65). Each individual event has a MaxSanity value, above which the event cannot occur. There is a wait time between events, the exact amount depending on the player's current sanity, configured in the Insanity section of game.cfg. Insanity events do not repeat until all events have been played. See main_sanity_events.cfg for more information on insanity events and their properties.

Similar to SlimeDamage areas, Insanity areas check for collision at random intervals. This is determined by the InsanityArea_CheckTimeMin and InsanityArea_CheckTimeMax properties in the Insanity section of game.cfg (default 1 to 15 seconds).

Variables

Name	Type	Default	Description
AutoDisable	Bool	false	If the area is disabled once effect is triggered.

Ladder

Defines an area that is considered a climbable ladder. Note: This is not the visible ladder that the player will see, just the area that lets them climb. This area should be placed a bit away from the ladder model.

Variables

Name	Type	Default	Description
Material	String	metal	The type of sounds the player will make climbing the ladder Can be "metal", "wood", or "rope".

Liquid

Defines an area that is considered water. Produces splash particles and sounds when the player, objects, and enemies are colliding with it. Slows down the player and affects the movement of objects; lighter objects will float and bob. Note: It is not visible in-game, and is usually accompanied by a no-collision plane with a water texture.

Variables

Name	Type	Default	Description
Density	Float	100	Density of the water. The higher the heavier things float.
LinearViscosity	Float	0.1	The higher, the more slowed down things will be in linear transformations (changing position)
AngularViscosity	Float	0.1	The higher, the more slowed down things will be in angular transformations (changing rotation)
HasWaves	Bool	true	If object will go up and down in a wavelike manner.
WaveAmp	Float	0.04	Height of waves.
WaveFreq	Float	3	How fast the waves will go up and down.
PlayerSpeedMul	Float	0.8	Player speed is multiplied by this when in water.
MaxWaveDistance	Float	25	Max distance from player that objects get waves. This is an optimization thingie.
PhysicsMaterial	String	Water	Material of water. Can be the name of any material defined in materials.cfg.

Sticky

Used to make entities "stick" to something. When an entity collides with this area, it will snap to it. The behavior can be configured. Example of Sticky areas in The Dark Descent include the Machine Room cogwheels and the Control Room pipe wall.

Variables

Name	Type	Default	Description
MoveBody	Bool	true	If body is moved into position when placed Moves the object so that the center of its body matches the area's center.
RotateBody	Bool	true	If body is rotated according to area. Rotates the object so that its rotation matches the area's rotation.
CheckCenterInArea	Bool	true	If body center must be in area for it to be attached.
CanDetach	Bool	true	If the body can be detached.
PoseTime	Float	1	The time it takes to get moved and rotated into postion.
AttachableBodyName	String		If not empty then this determines if a body can be attached or not. If the string exists in a body name, then it is attached. A body name of an entity is EntityName_BodyName. Because of this, using a partial entity name will allow all entities with that string in their name to be attached.
AttachFunction	String		Called on attach. Call AllowStickyAreaAttachment with if attachment should work (if AttachableBodyName succeeded then no need to call) ! Syntax: void Func(string &in asStickyArea, string &in asBodyName)
DetachFunction	String		Called on detach. Syntax: void Func(string &in asStickyArea, string &in asBodyName)
AttachSound	File (.snt)		Sound played when attaching body.
DetachSound	File (.snt)		Sound played when detaching body.
AttachPS	File (.ps)		Particles created when attaching body.
DetachPS	File (.ps)		Particles created when detaching body.

Rope

Defines a rope. See Rope.

Variables

Name	Type	Default	Description
EndPosNode	String		A PosNode area that sets the end of the rope
StartBody	String		The body at the start of the rope. Game first looks for Body with name, and then for entity. Can be empty
EndBody	String		The body at the end of the rope. Game first looks for Body with name, and then for entity. Can be empty
MinTotalLength	Float	0.5	The minimum length of the rope.
MaxTotalLength	Float	10	The maximum length of the rope.
AutoMove	Bool	false	If the rope automoves.
AutoMoveAcc	Float	5	Acceleration of automovement.
AutoMoveMaxSpeed	Float	3	The maximum speed for automovement.
RopeFile	File (.rope)		If set, it overrides all of the settings below.
SegmentLength	Float	0.3	Length of each segment.
Damping	Float	0.1	The amount of air resistance. The higher the faster it slows down
Strength	Float	200	How much the rope pulls on the connected bodies
Stiffness	Float	3	How much slacking is allowed in the rope. The higher the less slacking.
Material	File (.mat)	textures/ropes/default.mat	The material used
Radius	Float	0.025	Radius of each segment
LengthTileAmount	Float	1	How many times each material is tiled in a segment
LengthTileSize	Float	0.5	Only used if SegmentLength=0. The length (in m) where material repeats.
Sound	File (.snt)		Sound played when moving
SoundStartSpeed	Float	0.49	Speed when sound starts playing.
SoundStopSpeed	Float	0.45	Speed when sound stops playing.

PathNode

Used for enemy navigation and patrolling around the map. They can guide the enemies so they can avoid obstacles, climb stairs and over objects, do not get stuck on walls or corners, and can wander around more freely. See Enemies.

PlayerStart

Defines a location where the player may spawn, either at the start of the level or at a checkpoint after dying. Note: The player spawns looking in the direction of the blue arrow (positive Z), with their feet level at the area's center.

Also used as a teleport destination by the TeleportPlayer script function and as a camera position (when named "CameraPos") for menu background maps. When used as a camera position, the camera faces the opposite direction of the blue arrow (negative Z).