# Hytale Camera Controls > Documents Hytale's camera system for customizing player camera via ServerCameraSettings and SetServerCamera packets. Use when creating custom camera modes, top-down cameras, side-scroller cameras, isometric cameras, adjusting zoom distance, camera smoothing, rotation, cursor display, or resetting camera to default. Triggers - camera, ServerCameraSettings, SetServerCamera, ClientCameraView, camera preset, top-down, side-scroller, isometric, camera distance, camera rotation, camera zoom, first person, third person, camera controls, RotationType, MouseInputType, MovementForceRotationType. - Skill: `jburlison/hytale-camera-controls` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add jburlison/hytale-camera-controls` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/jburlison/hytale-camera-controls/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Coding & Dev Tools - Author: JBurlison (https://skillmd.com/u/jburlison) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/jburlison/hytale-camera-controls --- # Hytale Camera Controls Use this skill when customizing the player camera in Hytale plugins. The camera is controlled server-side by sending a `SetServerCamera` packet with `ServerCameraSettings` to configure distance, rotation, input mode, movement alignment, and more. > **Source:** --- ## Quick Reference | Task | How | |------|-----| | Set custom camera | Send `SetServerCamera(ClientCameraView.Custom, true, settings)` | | Reset to default | Send `SetServerCamera(ClientCameraView.Custom, false, null)` | | Lock camera | Set `isLocked = true` in the packet | | Top-down view | See Top-Down preset below | | Side-scroller view | See Side-Scroller preset below | | Isometric view | See Isometric preset below | | Prevent wall clipping | Use `PositionDistanceOffsetType.DistanceOffsetRaycast` | --- ## Required Imports ```java import com.hypixel.hytale.protocol.ApplyLookType; import com.hypixel.hytale.protocol.ClientCameraView; import com.hypixel.hytale.protocol.Direction; import com.hypixel.hytale.protocol.MouseInputType; import com.hypixel.hytale.protocol.MovementForceRotationType; import com.hypixel.hytale.protocol.PositionDistanceOffsetType; import com.hypixel.hytale.protocol.RotationType; import com.hypixel.hytale.protocol.ServerCameraSettings; import com.hypixel.hytale.protocol.Vector3f; import com.hypixel.hytale.protocol.packets.camera.SetServerCamera; ``` --- ## The Basics ### Applying Custom Camera Settings Create a `ServerCameraSettings` object, configure its fields, and send it to the player via a `SetServerCamera` packet: ```java ServerCameraSettings settings = new ServerCameraSettings(); settings.distance = 10.0f; // Zoom distance from player settings.isFirstPerson = false; // Third-person mode settings.positionLerpSpeed = 0.2f; // Smooth camera follow playerRef.getPacketHandler().writeNoCache( new SetServerCamera(ClientCameraView.Custom, true, settings) ); ``` ### Resetting to Default Camera Pass `false` and `null` to restore the default camera: ```java playerRef.getPacketHandler().writeNoCache( new SetServerCamera(ClientCameraView.Custom, false, null) ); ``` --- ## Camera Presets ### Top-Down (RTS / ARPG Style) Source: `com.hypixel.hytale.server.core.command.commands.player.camera.PlayerCameraTopdownCommand` ```java ServerCameraSettings settings = new ServerCameraSettings(); settings.positionLerpSpeed = 0.2f; settings.rotationLerpSpeed = 0.2f; settings.distance = 20.0f; settings.displayCursor = true; settings.isFirstPerson = false; settings.movementForceRotationType = MovementForceRotationType.Custom; // Align movement with camera yaw (horizontal rotation only) settings.movementForceRotation = new Direction(-0.7853981634f, 0.0f, 0.0f); // 45° right settings.eyeOffset = true; settings.positionDistanceOffsetType = PositionDistanceOffsetType.DistanceOffset; settings.rotationType = RotationType.Custom; settings.rotation = new Direction(0.0f, -1.5707964f, 0.0f); // Look straight down settings.mouseInputType = MouseInputType.LookAtPlane; settings.planeNormal = new Vector3f(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f); // Ground plane playerRef.getPacketHandler().writeNoCache( new SetServerCamera(ClientCameraView.Custom, true, settings) ); ``` ### Side-Scroller (2D Platformer Style) Source: `com.hypixel.hytale.server.core.command.commands.player.camera.PlayerCameraSideScrollerCommand` ```java ServerCameraSettings settings = new ServerCameraSettings(); settings.positionLerpSpeed = 0.2f; settings.rotationLerpSpeed = 0.2f; settings.distance = 15.0f; settings.displayCursor = true; settings.isFirstPerson = false; settings.movementForceRotationType = MovementForceRotationType.Custom; settings.movementMultiplier = new Vector3f(1.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f); // Lock Z-axis settings.eyeOffset = true; settings.positionDistanceOffsetType = PositionDistanceOffsetType.DistanceOffset; settings.rotationType = RotationType.Custom; settings.mouseInputType = MouseInputType.LookAtPlane; settings.planeNormal = new Vector3f(0.0f, 0.0f, 1.0f); // Side plane playerRef.getPacketHandler().writeNoCache( new SetServerCamera(ClientCameraView.Custom, true, settings) ); ``` ### Isometric Character Camera (Diablo Style) ```java ServerCameraSettings settings = new ServerCameraSettings(); settings.positionLerpSpeed = 0.2f; settings.rotationLerpSpeed = 0.2f; settings.isFirstPerson = false; settings.distance = 6f; settings.allowPitchControls = false; settings.displayCursor = true; // Force the camera's rotation to be set by the server settings.applyLookType = ApplyLookType.Rotation; // Notify that we provide a custom rotation settings.rotationType = RotationType.Custom; // Set the typical isometric rotation Direction rotation = new Direction( (float) Math.toRadians(45f), // yaw (float) Math.toRadians(-35f), // pitch 0f // roll ); settings.rotation = rotation; settings.movementForceRotation = rotation; playerRef.getPacketHandler().writeNoCache( new SetServerCamera(ClientCameraView.Custom, true, settings) ); ``` --- ## Common Settings Explained ### Position & Rotation | Setting | Type | Description | |---------|------|-------------| | `positionLerpSpeed` | `float` (0.0–1.0) | How smoothly the camera follows the player. Lower = smoother but slower. | | `rotationLerpSpeed` | `float` (0.0–1.0) | How smoothly the camera rotates. Lower = smoother but slower. | | `distance` | `float` | Camera distance from the player. Higher = more zoomed out. | | `rotation` | `Direction(yaw, pitch, roll)` | Camera angle in **radians**. | | `rotationType` | `RotationType` | How rotation is calculated. Use `RotationType.Custom` for your own `rotation` value. | ### Movement Alignment | Setting | Type | Description | |---------|------|-------------| | `movementForceRotationType` | `MovementForceRotationType` | `AttachedToHead` = movement follows where player looks; `Custom` = use `movementForceRotation`. | | `movementForceRotation` | `Direction` | When using `Custom`, sets the direction for W/S movement. Match yaw with camera but keep pitch at 0. | | `movementMultiplier` | `Vector3f` | Scale movement on each axis. E.g., `(1,1,0)` locks Z-axis for 2D movement. | ### Input & Display | Setting | Type | Description | |---------|------|-------------| | `displayCursor` | `boolean` | Show or hide the mouse cursor. | | `mouseInputType` | `MouseInputType` | `LookAtPlane` = mouse moves cursor on a plane (top-down); `LookAtTarget` = mouse rotates camera. | | `planeNormal` | `Vector3f` | For `LookAtPlane`, defines which plane the mouse moves on. `(0,1,0)` = ground plane. | ### Advanced | Setting | Type | Description | |---------|------|-------------| | `positionDistanceOffsetType` | `PositionDistanceOffsetType` | `DistanceOffset` = simple offset; `DistanceOffsetRaycast` = prevents camera clipping through walls. | | `eyeOffset` | `boolean` | Offset camera from the player's eye position. | | `isFirstPerson` | `boolean` | `true` for first-person, `false` for third-person. | | `allowPitchControls` | `boolean` | Allow player to adjust pitch. Set `false` to lock vertical angle. | | `applyLookType` | `ApplyLookType` | `ApplyLookType.Rotation` forces the camera rotation to be server-controlled. | --- ## Tips - **Zoom:** Adjust `distance` (higher = further out). - **Smoothness:** `positionLerpSpeed` and `rotationLerpSpeed` control how quickly the camera catches up to its target. - **Wall clipping:** Use `PositionDistanceOffsetType.DistanceOffsetRaycast` to prevent the camera from going through walls. - **Lock camera:** Set `isLocked = true` in the packet to prevent player changes. - **2D movement:** Set `movementMultiplier` to zero out an axis (e.g., `new Vector3f(1, 1, 0)` for side-scroller). - **Isometric cameras:** Always set `movementForceRotation` to match camera yaw for proper movement alignment. - **Angle calculations:** Use `Math.toRadians(degrees)` to convert degrees to radians. All rotation values use radians. - **Movement alignment:** When using `MovementForceRotationType.Custom`, match the yaw from your camera rotation but keep pitch at `0` so movement stays on the horizontal plane. --- ## Enums Reference ### ClientCameraView - `ClientCameraView.Custom` — Required view type for applying custom camera settings. ### RotationType - `RotationType.Custom` — Use the `rotation` value from settings. ### MovementForceRotationType - `MovementForceRotationType.AttachedToHead` — Movement follows where the player looks. - `MovementForceRotationType.Custom` — Use `movementForceRotation` to define movement direction. ### MouseInputType - `MouseInputType.LookAtPlane` — Mouse moves cursor on a defined plane (good for top-down/isometric). - `MouseInputType.LookAtTarget` — Mouse rotates the camera around the player. ### PositionDistanceOffsetType - `PositionDistanceOffsetType.DistanceOffset` — Simple distance offset from player. - `PositionDistanceOffsetType.DistanceOffsetRaycast` — Distance offset with raycast to prevent wall clipping. ### ApplyLookType - `ApplyLookType.Rotation` — Server controls the camera rotation.