Modding your own GW

We'll I found this interesting on Guildwars wikki

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/User_...archive#gw.dat

Seems Anet said its ok to somewhat mod your GW game. Wonder what programs one would need to open the .dat file. Who knows how much fun for ourselfs we could make. Since you would only be changing things on your own end, thus not violating the EULA or TOS.

Anyone wanting to attempt that, read Emily's words very carefully before you do anything.

So far its been done with sound files such as the UT kill sounds.

I totally bookmarked that.
Weeeeee.
I love modding.
I had no idea we could mod textures in Guild Wars.
I have to put my friends faces on my heroes. lol

from what ive seen it is possible to mod textures on your side only. I.E. the Terror Sheild hoax was done that way.

I'm surprised ANet hasn't released a client side mod to change you PC's hair locally only if they can't do anything like that in the game.

I was thinking about that too. Modding is a very important part of my life and I've always wanted to have look at the interior of that .dat file.

However I believe that the file only contains the meshes and textures used in the game, nothing that could be used to 'cheat'. Therefore all the changes you made would be client side and only you would be able to see.

In WoW you can make it so you see different textures differently by making a fake folder structure that matches the one found inside the dat file. The engine automatically looks for folders rather than the .dat file and so in game you can make a textures show up differently, naturally it's very hit and miss without access to the dat.

Anyway, if you did alter any files they'd be updated and replaced next time you ran GW so it's a lost cause in that respect.

However people that illegally host servers of GW can mod them as much as they like.

I believe that .dat files are encrypted in a way that means they can only be read by the program that encrypted them. Therefore GW would have to release a .dat opener in order to view the files.

Well the old FS dat file extracter used to work on a bunch of other games but for the love of god I cant remember the name of it. I've done modding on lots of other games myself too.

Well, I personally don't know how to mod, but if any of you do, I'd love to see some screen shots!!

o rly? I'd like to be able to change the bow/arrow combat sounds back to what they were like a few months ago

Oh, awesome. I don't know how this stuff works, but I'm going to try it out.=D

UT sounds in GW? Sign me up!

All enemy deaths would play some taunt

L-L-L-LUDICROUS Kill!

It's a grey zone, modding multiplayer games. Even just changing textures seems pretty harmless to most - especially pve gamers - but a lot of people will fly up in arms about anything that could be considered an "advantage" in pvp. Such as making all monk textures a solid red, all Signet of Devotion particle graphics a bright flashing yellow, and so on. Basically stuff that's intended to make your client more efficient than pretty.

I've dabbled into modding since quake 2, and it's always a huge can of worms in fps games. Competitive players want brightskins for everyone, more casual players think it's lame and takes a lot of the fun out of it. If you go to the official UT2k4 forums and browse a little, there's usually always a 70 page thread about people arguing over if brightskins should be allowed or not.

I don't really mind either way. Personally I don't think that brightskin mods make *that* big of a difference, and as long as nothing is forcing me to use them, I don't mind. I still think it's cheesy though, and possibly better left alone than making it moddable.

Oh HELL yes. I need to find out if I can up the resolution on the FoW armors, and see if I can modify the UI.

<3 Modding

Well if you're PvPing, you probably couldn't (or shouldn't) care less how the enemy is dressed (especially after the insignia changes). So why not make the Monk a big target sign???

Seriously though they opened a can of worms with that one.

I was sure Gstats was EXACTLY that, and yet it got shut down. Kthx whoever you are Emily Diehl. Get your facts straight. The only mod that has been allowed is the UT Sounds mod by Kuntz (who also made Gstats). Saying that mods could be allowed if they are beneficial to the community, but banning Gstats, is like saying that food is allowed, but making eating illegal.

I'm all over this...I will be diving into this tonight for sure.

I really wish Anet would release something supported by them for modifications as they apprently seem ok with it on a certain level,obviously not game changing mods,although hosting modified,"approved islands" would be groovy.Love to know "official" file formats and any crucial game breaking data that could be supplied.Pariah needs a new pair of shoes!

Ok sounds to die for ^^

"The Kurzicks are on a RAAAAMMPAGE " (Or Luxons to taste)

{Your Down}MEDICAL EMERGENCY!!!

{Game Over} Waaaaaa....Wipeout

{Gold Wep Drop} Hallllauia (Worms Armagedon Style) or Zelda Pick Up Item Music (Youve found the Master Sword....Again!)

{Vanquished Area} FF7 Battle End Music *Duh Duh Duh Duh Durrr Dur Durh!*(Will give 5k to anyone who shows me how for this one^^)

{In Realm of Torment} "I sense a Demon Nearby" (Warcraft 3 -no Im not a WoW player)

{Being a 55hp Monk XD} Mario Inincible Sound

{Shadow Stepping}"Im There" , "As Fast as Lightning" (Comand and Conquer 3)

{Fleeing} "Better Part of Valour, Better Part of Valour!!!" (Baldurs Gate 1)

{Talking to Merch} "Something on yo' mind" (Baldurs Gate again)

{FireStorm} "I Love the smell of napalm in the morning"

Anyway - Wouldnt know where to begin modding XD But theres some ideas Id like if I could

I have mixed feelings about this. The ability to change textures would certainly enhance game play but the fact of the matter is a lot of these can be modded in ways that would provide people, especially with considerable experience, a definate advantage in PvP. Highlighting certaing skill animations, enhancing the radar, and highlighting certain armors are just a few examples. I can't imagine Anet even semi-officially giving the nod to this and would expect a statement condemning this type of modding.