Garry's Mod
Garry's Mod

Creating Custom Entities

Create custom entities in Garry's Mod. Learn to define, script, and spawn unique game objects using Lua. Build new gameplay mechanics and interactive elements.

Creating Custom Entities

Entities are the fundamental building blocks of any Garry's Mod experience, from simple props to complex NPCs and interactive devices. Creating your own custom entities allows you to extend the sandbox far beyond its default offerings, enabling unique gameplay mechanics, specialized tools, and entirely new interactive elements. Whether you're a budding developer or an experienced scripter, learning to create custom entities is a powerful way to bring your ideas to life within the Garry's Mod environment.

In Garry's Mod, almost everything you see and interact with is an entity. This includes static props, dynamic props, NPCs, players, weapons, and even the lights and effects you place. Custom entities are essentially new types of these objects that you define using Lua scripting. You can create entities that behave in specific ways, have unique properties, and interact with the game world and other entities according to your des. This involves defining their appearance, their physical properties, and their behavior through code.

The process of creating a custom entity typically involves:

  1. Defining the Entity Class: You'll create a new entity class in Lua, inheriting from existing GMod entity types or creating a base entity.
  2. Setting Properties: Define attributes such as the entity's model, its collision properties, its health, and any custom variables it needs.
  3. Implementing Behavior: Write Lua functions to control how the entity acts. This includes its Think function (which runs every frame), its Use function (when a player interacts with it), and its network functions for multiplayer synchronization.
  4. Spawning the Entity: You can then spawn instances of your custom entity using console commands or through other scripts.

Examples of custom entities can be found throughout the Garry's Mod Workshop. Addons like the "Halo CE Vehicles Expansion" provide custom vehicles, which are complex entities with drivable mechanics. Similarly, "Space Marines Pack (Warhammer 40k)" offers custom playermodels and potentially other related entities. Even simpler items like a custom weapon SWEP (Scripted Weapon) are a form of custom entity. For those interested in learning, the Garry's Mod Wiki has extensive documentation on entity creation, including examples and best practices. Starting with a simple entity, like a prop that emits a sound when touched, is a good way to begin your journey into custom entity development.