I increased the number of grunt heads in my model files from 40 to 450.
The model files ended having a significant decrease in size.
The game at first picks either hgrunt.mdl or hgrunt_blk.mdl for white and black grunts respectively
The game then picks a random headpiece (except for the red Beret, squad leader only).
Then a random skin for the head. There's a total of 15 headpieces plus 15 head skins. Multiplied, that equals to 225. Multiplied again by 2 (number of model files) we end with 450. Too lazy to show the black heads anyways.
Awesome, comrade!
That is fantastic work!
I always wanted to do something similar for The Core in the early days, but lacked the modelling/coding chops. I wanted to extend it to multiple NPCs though, including scientists and guards including different hairstyles, facial hear and other things like headwear, earpieces and eyewear.
Go for it! There's nothing stopping you. I myself don't know how to code and had to rely on the classic copy-and-paste method to get it to work. My modelling's no good either but my standards are low anyway so I'm fine with how things look.
However, you could always get someone else to do it for you, or nick some code from the Half-Life: Extended SDK. Pretty sure they'd be ok with it.
you could unironically make your own half-life extended if you wanted to lmfao
No need, the community is saturated with the likes of Extended.