Helicopter Spawner Devices

Fortnite Creative is converting many devices in the Fortnite Creative toolset to improve user experience across devices. These improvements include things like a better way for selecting colors or numeric values, more options for better device control and customization, and, for some devices, new functionality!

Currently, a public beta version of the upgraded devices is available for you to try. You can opt into using the beta toolset with both existing islands and new experiences. To learn how to implement the changes, refer to the Upgrade Devices section at the bottom of the document.

A Helicopter Spawner is a device that spawns a Helicopter vehicle into the level at the spawner's given location and orientation.

• Use Helicopter Spawner devices in combination with the Race Checkpoint Device to design a racing game for your players.
• You can place a player directly inside the Helicopter using a trigger.

Finding and Placing the Device

Click image to enlarge.

1. From Create mode, press the Tab key to open the CREATIVE inventory screen.

2. Click the DEVICES tab and scroll to select the device. You can also use the Search box or the Categories panel on the left to find your device.

3. Click PLACE NOW to place immediately, or put the device in the QUICK BAR to place later.

4. Press Esc to return to your island in Create mode. Use your phone tool to position the device, then left-click to place it. Press Esc to detach the device from your phone.

5. Point at the device with your phone. If the CUSTOMIZE popup doesn’t open immediately, move closer until it does, then press E to open the CUSTOMIZE panel.

It’s helpful to customize device names when you use multiple copies of the same device.

Contextual Filtering

Some devices are affected by a feature called contextual filtering. This feature hides or displays options depending on the values selected for certain related options. This feature will reduce clutter in the Customize panel and make options easier to manage and navigate.

However, it may not be easy to recognize which options or values trigger contextual filtering. To help you identify them, in our device docs we use italic for any values that trigger contextual filtering. All options will be listed, including those affected by contextual filtering; if they are hidden or displayed based on a specific option’s value, there will be a note about that in the Description field for that option.

Device Options

This device has some basic functionality, like whether it is visible in game, or whether it supports wraps. Additionally, there are some advanced options, like which class and team can use the vehicle, and whether enabling or disabling the device spawns or despawns the vehicle.

You can configure this device with the following options.

Default values are bold. Values that trigger contextual filtering are italic.

Basic Options

All Options (Additional)

Channels

The channel system has been deprecated and will be removed in the near future. The system replacing it is Direct Event Binding, which is already available for you to use.

Right now, you have to manually convert your islands to the direct event binding system, but in the near future all islands that are still using the channels system will automatically be converted, which may break your islands.

For more information refer to the Direct Event Binding System section below.

When one device needs to "talk" to another device, it does so by transmitting a signal on a specific channel. The receiving device needs to be set up to receive the signal on the same channel.

A channel is identified by a number, and channel numbers are customized for a device under the option that uses the channel. Most devices will also pass the identity of the player who triggered the device with the signal.

When the Helicopter Spawner device receives a signal on a channel, it can be enabled or disabled, can spawn or destroy a vehicle, and assign a pilot. It can transmit a signal on a channel when a player enters or exits the vehicle, and when the vehicle is spawned or destroyed.

Receivers

Receivers listen for a channel and perform an action when they hear any device (including themselves) send a signal on that channel.

Transmitters

Transmitters send a signal on the selected channel when triggered.

Upgrade Devices

The upgrade device conversion includes a number of improvements:

• Updated UX across all devices.
• Improved UI for selecting colors and entering numeric values by adding the Color Picker flyout and direct-entry numeric input to devices with those kinds of options.
• Some updated devices will have additional options, or have previous options split into multiple new options to give you more detailed control over the device's behavior.
• Completely new functionality has been added to some devices.
• All devices that were previously equipped as Traps (for example, the Sequencer) will instead have a prop version that you can manipulate with the Phone tool.

Currently, the device conversion is an option, but will be the default for devices in the near future. Once you opt to convert an island you cannot revert the conversion.

Before opting in to the updated devices, you should first create a backup of your island. Using the backup island, thoroughly test the converted devices to make sure they work the way you want. Once you’re satisfied,, you can safely convert the original island.

To convert your island, follow these steps:

1. Select an existing island or a new island.
2. Select a device from the list and place on the island. (This step only applies to a new island.)
3. Select My Island > Tools > Upgrade Devices > Convert and Reload.
4. Confirm your selection by clicking Confirm. Your island automatically reloads with the Upgrade Devices. You’ll be sent back to the hub, and can enter the golden rift to go back to your island.

Below are the following changes made to the device options:

Direct Event Binding System

Direct event binding allows devices to communicate directly, making your workflow more intuitive, and giving you more freedom to focus on your design ideas. Switching to this system is the next step in creating more complex and diverse game mechanics.

The direct event binding system eliminates limitations inherent in the channel communication system because the devices communicate directly instead of on channels. You no longer have to worry about reaching the maximum channel limit or preplanning your channel allocation when designing an island.

When you copy-paste devices, you no longer need to edit them to change the channel assignments — the events and functions set in the original carry over to the copies.

To convert your island, follow these steps:

1. Select an existing island or a new island.
2. Select a device from the list and place on the island. (This step only applies to a new island.)
3. Select My Island > Tools > Event System > Convert.
4. Confirm your selection by clicking Confirm. The Direct Event Binding System is automatically added to your devices.

Below are the following direct event binding options for this device.

Functions

Direct event binding uses functions as receivers. A function listens for one device's event to tell another device to perform a function.

Events

Direct event binding uses events as transmitters. An event tells another device to perform a function.