Add support for a modern 3D ping system (useful for e.g. MvM and Competitive)

[pr0jesse]

Description

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3800232546

Adds a contextual 3D ping system for non-verbal communication.

Pings use the existing TF2 party system by default. Optional team-wide pings can be enabled server-side.

Ping targeting, validation, classification, and recipient routing are handled by the server. Rendering and notification settings are configurable client-side.

Supported targets include:

• world locations
• friendly and enemy players
• friendly and enemy buildings
• health pickups
• ammo pickups
• MvM robots
• Sentry Busters
• tanks

Party and team pings

Party pings are the default.

Team-wide pings require:
tf_3dping_team_allowed

Players can separately choose whether to send and receive team pings.

Spy handling

To avoid exposing hidden Spy information:

• cloaked Spies cannot ping
• there is a 2-second lockout after decloaking
• Spies disguised as the enemy team cannot ping
• hidden enemy Spies are excluded from ping target classification

Spectators and SourceTV

Spectator and SourceTV support are disabled by default.

They can be enabled with:
tf_3dping_spectator_allowed
tf_3dping_sourcetv_allowed

Party-only pings are not exposed to spectators or SourceTV. SourceTV uses the broadcast relay/cameraman's observed team, since individual viewer camera state is not exposed server-side.

Configuration

Player-facing settings are available through Advanced Options, including size, opacity, sound, colors, team send/receive options, and the master enable toggle.

No default gameplay key is forced. tf_ping is available in Keyboard settings and can be bound normally.

Example:
bind "mouse3" "tf_ping"

Server settings

• tf_3dping_team_allowed
• tf_3dping_spectator_allowed
• tf_3dping_sourcetv_allowed
• tf_3dping_cooldown
• tf_3dping_lifetime
• tf_3dping_max_range
• tf_3dping_burst_count
• tf_3dping_burst_window
• tf_3dping_burst_lockout
• tf_3dping_aim_tolerance_angle
• tf_3dping_team_range
• tf_3dping_cluster_window
• tf_3dping_cluster_count

Showcase

Demo videos

OUTDATED, see Youtube videos for up to date showcase (more coming soon)
https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/24f51460-d351-4807-8a12-76f775dc8271

Watch the full video(s) here:
Advanced Settings showcase
https://youtu.be/lMPr-N9jisw

Gameplay
https://youtu.be/OnGlYSuF8Fc

OUTDATED videos:

Advanced Settings showcase
[YouTube link]

Gameplay 1
https://youtu.be/3IiDYS0I8ZI

Gameplay 2
https://youtu.be/5NMuXThWQt4

[KimmyTF2]

Pings for the whole team would be the most helpful, as nowadays people just don't communicate that often. To avoid a spam of pings from everyone on the team, ideally only teammates in close proximity would see each other's pings, if it's possible to implement.

[pr0jesse]

Pings for the whole team would be the most helpful, as nowadays people just don't communicate that often. To avoid a spam of pings from everyone on the team, ideally only teammates in close proximity would see each other's pings, if it's possible to implement.

I decided against that server side ON as default, but it's up to Valve in the end. MvM and Competitive I'd say default on on official servers!

[bakugo]

Mmm, delicious slop

[pr0jesse]

(Im new to github, PRs, and coding as a whole, sorry for all these tweaks I'm still learning)

[pr0jesse]

Reworking the icons according to feedback

[Chickenman456]

This is a really cool idea that I wouldn't mind being implemented, even if it was only restricted to friend parties or mvm.

[pr0jesse]

Working on better icons which fit more with vanilla TF2. Will update soon + more cleanup.