So far in my mapping I've run across seven main types of invalid brushes. If I find more I'll expand this article to cover them.

Error messages: Check for Problems may (or may not) indicate an "Invalid solid structure". Zoner's will give a "Brush Outside World" message during compiling. An invalid hull brush can also cause a "Leak" error.

Causes: Almost always vertex manipulation.

Fixes: You can try to use the Clipping Tool (set to keep both parts) to split the brush as shown below, but it often won't do it right. Failing that, use vertex manipulation to modify the brush, or delete the offending brush and recreate the shape using two or more legal shapes.

Error Messages: Check for Problems may (or may not) indicate an "Invalid solid structure". Zoner's will give a "Coplaner Plane" message during compiling.

Causes: Again, almost always Vertex manipluation.

Fixes: Either use the Clipping Tool (set to keep both parts) to split the brush as shown in the previous example, or use Vertex Manipulation to move the middle vertex onto one of its neighbors, and then merge the vertices.

Error Messages: Check for Problems will usually show an "Invalid solid structure" and "Texture axis perpendicular to face". Zoner's will give you a "plane with no normal" ,and possibly a "coplaner plane" error message.

Causes: Vertex manipulation is the usual culprit - often this will occur if you hit "No" when WorldCraft/Hammer asks if you want to "Merge vertices." Resizing a brush to a very small size can also cause this, as can Carving, and very rarely Clipping (usually when working with very small brushes).

Fixes: If the vertices truley occupy the same gridpoint the brush cannot be salvaged - you will have to delete it and recreate it. If the vertices are merely very close together then you may be able to use vertex manipulation to move them apart.

Error Messages: Check fo problems usually won't detect this. Zoner's typically will give a "Coplaner Plane" message, a "Brush outside world" message, or a "Plane with no normal" message during compiling.

Causes: Resizing a brush to a very small size. Clipping and Carving can also cause this, especially if done to a face that was already on a diagonal relative to the grid. WorldCraft/Hammer will usually allow this, but Zoner's and the game engine won't. Vertices will get moved during the compile process to the nearest grid point - either distorting the brush or causing a a variety of invalid brush situations.

Fixes: Look carefully at suspect brushes, and make certain that the vertices are on grid points. Move them with the vertex manipulation tool so that they snap to the grid points, but watch out - this can easily create any of the other invalid brushes listed here!

Error Messages: Check for Problems will indicate an "Invalid solid structure". Zoner's may not catch this one at all - apparently it just "fixes" it for you by moving a vertex so that the brush is made valid. Of course, it may no longer be the shape you wanted.

Causes: Vertex manipulation, or rotating a complex brush (such as a cylinder) - especially if you rotate it on more than one axis.

Fixes: As shown in the examples below, the Clipping Tool can either be used to trim the end (set to discard one part), or it can be use to split the brush (set to keep both parts). You can also try to use Vertex Manipulation, but you'll need a good understanding of advanced geometry so you can calulate the point placements (they must be exact - close is not good enough).

Error Messages: Check for Problems will usually not detect this. Zoner's will give a "Brush Outside World" message during compiling.

Causes: The simplest cause is that you have moved a brush so that part extends off the grid - particularly possible if you have moved a large group of brushes, or if you are working near the edge of the grid. Scaling a brush to a larger size (usually much larger) can also cause this.

Fixes: Reduce the size of the brush, and/or move it so that it is fully within the grid.

Error Messages: Check for Problems will usually not detect this. Zoner's will give a "Brush Outside World" message during compiling.

Causes: In this case the brush is not one created directly by the user, but rather is created as an unintended side-effect of manipulating other brushes. These "big assed brushes" are usually quite huge, but very thin. They may not be visable in an .rmf map. Carving, vertex manipulation, and (rarely) clipping, can cause this, typically when modifying a very complex brush. In the example shown below, many of these big assed brushes were created by using a 25 sided cylinder, rotated to 30 degrees, to carve a larger 29 sided cylinder.

Fixes: The offending brush(es) must be found and deleted. Save the map and reopen it from the .map file (not the .rmf file). Zoom out until the entire grid can be seen, and the big assed brushes should become visable, as seen above.

Thanks to Neo and Delete_Me for identifying, describing, and naming this invalid brush.

Did I miss any invalid brushes? Got some better ideas on how to fix them?
Tell me about them! email Firebinder

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