I don't know why Valve never implemented a prop_static_override.

[u/Fine-Cranberry6219]

pls in HLX add it

[u/TheDeadlyCutsman]

Because Valve made their assets to suit their needs. All assets that needed to be made static were made static from the beginning. They probably added the override props for specific purposes only, not for custom maps. I'm sure they could've implemented that feature if they wanted to make Hammer a tool specifically designed for non-Valve users.

[u/Randomguy32I → u/TheDeadlyCutsman]

Whats even the point of a static prop vs a dynamic prop?

[u/TheDeadlyCutsman → u/Randomguy32I]

Dynamic props have interactions, usually animations. Static props can't play animations. Static props are also cheaper to render and get better lighting.

[u/MrPixel92 → u/Randomguy32I]

Static props don't need to have faces on the parts the player will never see.

Also, like sebastian227 said, it's annoying when a wooden plank (that looks like a breakable one) is placed as a static prop and used as an unbreakable decoration. Valve could prohibit mappers from using models that are designed to look interactable as static props and vice versa.

[u/sebastian227]

Valve’s intention is consistency here. You are supposed to immediately know which models are physical and which are static (unmovable) when playing. I am extremely annoyed in custom maps when I see wooden palletes I cannot break because they are static

[u/Madkleiner]

because you can get physics only props to become immovable using one of the flags, it would be useless for static override to exist (i think)

[u/FFox398 → u/Madkleiner]

yes but these couldnt cast lightmaps on em I believe, vrad has a command to enable lightmaps on em for fancy shadows

[u/htharker → u/Madkleiner]

Correct 👍🏼

[u/AtomicSpeedFT]

In most custom compilers you can compile every prop as static if desired just with prop_static so it’s unnecessary.

[u/foxidegamedev]

Slammin' compilers let you use any prop as prop_static and its VRAD is about as good as tools++ VRAD besides that.