AzerothCore-RealmMaster/docs/MODULE_ASSETS_ANALYSIS.md

Module Assets Analysis - DBC Files and Source Code

Date: 2025-11-16 Purpose: Verify handling of module DBC files, source code, and client patches

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Module Asset Types Found

1. Source Code (C++ Modules)

Location: /azerothcore/modules/*/src/ Count: 1,489 C++ files (.cpp and .h) across all enabled modules Purpose: Server-side gameplay logic

Examples Found:

• /azerothcore/modules/mod-npc-beastmaster/src/
• /azerothcore/modules/mod-global-chat/src/
• /azerothcore/modules/mod-guildhouse/src/

Status: ✅ FULLY HANDLED

How It Works:

1. Modules compiled into Docker image during build
2. Source code included in image but NOT actively compiled at runtime
3. C++ code already executed as part of worldserver binary
4. Runtime module repositories provide:
   • SQL files (staged by us)
   • Configuration files (managed by manage-modules.sh)
   • Documentation/README

Conclusion: Source code is build-time only. Pre-built images already contain compiled module code. No runtime action needed.

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2. DBC Files (Database Client Files)

Location: /azerothcore/modules/*/data/patch/DBFilesClient/ Found in: mod-worgoblin (custom race module) Count: 20+ custom DBC files for new race

Example Files Found:

/azerothcore/modules/mod-worgoblin/data/patch/DBFilesClient/
├── ChrRaces.dbc          # Race definitions
├── CharBaseInfo.dbc      # Character stats
├── CharHairGeosets.dbc   # Hair models
├── CharacterFacialHairStyles.dbc
├── CharStartOutfit.dbc   # Starting gear
├── NameGen.dbc           # Name generation
├── TalentTab.dbc         # Talent trees
├── Faction.dbc           # Faction relations
└── ...

Purpose: Client-side data that defines:

• New races/classes
• Custom spells/items
• UI elements
• Character customization

Status: ⚠️ NOT AUTOMATICALLY DEPLOYED

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3. Client Patch Files (MPQ Archives)

Found in Multiple Modules:

storage/modules/aio-blackjack/patch-W.MPQ
storage/modules/mod-arac/Patch-A.MPQ
storage/modules/prestige-and-draft-mode/Client Side Files/Mpq Patch/patch-P.mpq
storage/modules/horadric-cube-for-world-of-warcraft/Client/Data/zhCN/patch-zhCN-5.MPQ

Purpose: Pre-packaged client patches containing:

• DBC files
• Custom textures/models
• UI modifications
• Sound files

Status: ⚠️ USER MUST MANUALLY DISTRIBUTE

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4. Other Client Assets

mod-worgoblin patch directory structure:

storage/modules/mod-worgoblin/data/patch/
├── Character/      # Character models
├── Creature/       # NPC models
├── DBFilesClient/  # DBC files
├── ITEM/           # Item models
├── Interface/      # UI elements
├── Sound/          # Audio files
└── Spells/         # Spell effects

Status: ⚠️ NOT PACKAGED OR DEPLOYED

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How DBC Files Work in AzerothCore

Server-Side DBC

Location: /azerothcore/data/dbc/ Purpose: Server reads these to understand game rules Source: Extracted from vanilla WoW 3.3.5a client

Current Status:

$ docker exec ac-worldserver ls /azerothcore/data/dbc | wc -l
1189 DBC files present

✅ Server has standard DBC files (from client-data download)

Client-Side DBC

Location: Player's WoW/Data/ folder (or patch MPQ) Purpose: Client reads these to:

• Display UI correctly
• Render spells/models
• Generate character names
• Show tooltips

Critical: Client and server DBCs must match!

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Official AzerothCore DBC Deployment Process

For Module Authors:

1. Create Modified DBCs:

   • Use DBC editor tools
   • Modify necessary tables
   • Export modified .dbc files

2. Package for Distribution:

   • Create MPQ patch file (e.g., Patch-Z.MPQ)
   • Include all modified DBCs
   • Add any custom assets (models, textures)

3. Server Deployment:

   • Copy DBCs to /azerothcore/data/dbc/ (overwrites vanilla)
   • Restart server

4. Client Distribution:

   • Distribute patch MPQ to all players
   • Players place in WoW/Data/ directory
   • Players restart game

For Server Admins:

Manual Steps Required:

1. Download module patch from README/releases
2. Apply server-side DBCs
3. Host patch file for players to download
4. Instruct players to install patch

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Current Implementation Status

What We Handle Automatically ✅

1. Module SQL - Staged to core updates directory
2. Module Config - Deployed to worldserver config directory
3. Module Compilation - Pre-built into Docker images
4. Standard DBC - Downloaded via client-data scripts

What We DON'T Handle ⚠️

1. Custom Module DBCs - Not deployed to server DBC directory
2. Client Patch Files - Not distributed to players
3. Client Assets - Not packaged or made available
4. DBC Synchronization - No validation that client/server match

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Gap Analysis

Modules Requiring Client Patches

From our analysis, these modules have client-side requirements:

Module	Client Assets	Server DBCs	Impact if Missing
mod-worgoblin	✅ Yes (extensive)	✅ Yes	NEW RACE WON'T WORK
mod-arac	✅ Yes (Patch-A.MPQ)	✅ Yes	Class/race combos broken
aio-blackjack	✅ Yes (patch-W.MPQ)	❓ Unknown	UI elements missing
prestige-and-draft-mode	✅ Yes (patch-P.mpq)	❓ Unknown	Features unavailable
horadric-cube	✅ Yes (patch-zhCN-5.MPQ)	❓ Unknown	Locale-specific broken

Severity Assessment

mod-worgoblin (CRITICAL):

• Adds entirely new playable race (Worgen/Goblin)
• Requires 20+ modified DBC files
• Without patch: Players can't create/see race correctly
• Currently broken - DBCs not deployed

mod-arac (HIGH):

• "All Races All Classes" - removes restrictions
• Requires modified class/race DBC tables
• Without patch: Restrictions may still apply client-side
• Potentially broken - needs verification

Others (MEDIUM/LOW):

• Gameplay features may work server-side
• UI/visual elements missing client-side
• Degraded experience but not completely broken

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Why We Don't Auto-Deploy Client Patches

Technical Reasons

1. Client patches are player-specific

   • Each player must install manually
   • No server-side push mechanism
   • Requires download link/instructions

2. Version control complexity

   • Different locales (enUS, zhCN, etc.)
   • Different client versions
   • Naming conflicts between modules

3. File hosting requirements

   • MPQ files can be 10MB+ each
   • Need web server or file host
   • Update distribution mechanism

4. Testing/validation needed

   • Must verify client compatibility
   • Risk of corrupting client
   • Hard to automate testing

Architectural Reasons

1. Docker images are server-only

   • Don't interact with player clients
   • Can't modify player installations
   • Out of scope for server deployment

2. Module isolation

   • Each module maintains own patches
   • No central patch repository
   • Version conflicts possible

3. Admin responsibility

   • Server admin chooses which modules
   • Must communicate requirements to players
   • Custom instructions per module

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Recommended Approach

Current Best Practice ✅

Our Implementation:

1. ✅ Deploy module source (pre-compiled in image)
2. ✅ Deploy module SQL (runtime staging)
3. ✅ Deploy module config files (manage-modules.sh)
4. ⚠️ Document client patch requirements (user responsibility)

This matches official AzerothCore guidance:

• Server-side automation where possible
• Client-side patches distributed manually
• Admin reads module README for requirements

Enhanced Documentation 📝

What We Should Add:

1. Module README Scanner

   • Detect client patch requirements
   • Warn admin during deployment
   • Link to download instructions

2. Client Patch Detection

   • Scan for *.MPQ, *.mpq files
   • Check for data/patch/ directories
   • Report found patches in deployment log

3. Deployment Checklist

   • List modules with client requirements
   • Provide download links (from module repos)
   • Instructions for player distribution

Example Output:

⚠️  Client Patches Required:

  mod-worgoblin:
    📦 Patch: storage/modules/mod-worgoblin/Patch-Z.MPQ
    📋 Instructions: See storage/modules/mod-worgoblin/README.md
    🔗 Download: https://github.com/azerothcore/mod-worgoblin/releases

  mod-arac:
    📦 Patch: storage/modules/mod-arac/Patch-A.MPQ
    📋 Instructions: Players must install to WoW/Data/

⚠️  Server admins must distribute these patches to players!

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Server-Side DBC Deployment (Possible Enhancement)

What Could Be Automated

If modules include server DBCs:

modules/mod-worgoblin/
└── data/
    ├── sql/          # ✅ We handle this
    ├── dbc/          # ❌ We don't handle this
    │   ├── ChrRaces.dbc
    │   └── ...
    └── patch/        # ❌ Client-side (manual)
        └── ...

Potential Enhancement:

# In stage-modules.sh, add DBC staging:
if [ -d "$module_dir/data/dbc" ]; then
  echo "📦 Staging server DBCs for $module_name..."
  cp -r "$module_dir/data/dbc/"* /azerothcore/data/dbc/
  echo "⚠️  Server restart required to load new DBCs"
fi

Risks:

• ⚠️ Overwrites vanilla DBCs (could break other modules)
• ⚠️ No conflict detection between modules
• ⚠️ No rollback mechanism
• ⚠️ Requires worldserver restart (not just reload)

Recommendation: DON'T AUTO-DEPLOY server DBCs

• Too risky without validation
• Better to document in README
• Admin can manually copy if needed

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Source Code Compilation

How It Works in Standard Setup

Official Process:

1. Clone module to /modules/ directory
2. Run CMake (detects new module)
3. Recompile entire core
4. Module C++ code compiled into worldserver binary

CMake Module Detection:

# CMake scans for modules during configuration
foreach(module_dir ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/modules/*)
  if(EXISTS ${module_dir}/CMakeLists.txt)
    add_subdirectory(${module_dir})
  endif()
endforeach()

How It Works With Pre-Built Images

Docker Image Build Process:

1. Modules cloned during image build
2. CMake runs with all enabled modules
3. Worldserver compiled with modules included
4. Binary contains all module code

Runtime (Our Deployment):

1. Image already has compiled modules
2. Mount module repositories for:
   • SQL files (we stage these)
   • Config files (we deploy these)
   • README/docs (reference only)
3. Source code in repository is NOT compiled

Verification:

# Module code is inside the binary
$ docker exec ac-worldserver worldserver --version
# Shows compiled modules

# Source code exists but isn't used
$ docker exec ac-worldserver ls /azerothcore/modules/mod-*/src/
# Files present but not actively compiled

Status: ✅ FULLY HANDLED

No action needed for source code:

• Pre-built images contain all enabled modules
• Source repositories provide SQL/config only
• Recompilation would require custom build (out of scope)

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Comparison: Official vs. Our Implementation

Asset Type	Official Process	Our Implementation	Status
C++ Source	Compile at build	✅ Pre-compiled in image	✅ COMPLETE
SQL Files	Applied by DBUpdater	✅ Runtime staging	✅ COMPLETE
Config Files	Manual deployment	✅ Automated by manage-modules	✅ COMPLETE
Server DBCs	Manual copy to /data/dbc	❌ Not deployed	⚠️ DOCUMENTED
Client Patches	Distribute to players	❌ Not distributed	⚠️ USER RESPONSIBILITY
Client Assets	Package in MPQ	❌ Not packaged	⚠️ MANUAL

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Recommendations

Keep Current Approach ✅

What we do well:

1. SQL staging - automated and secure
2. Config management - fully automated
3. Source handling - correctly uses pre-built binaries
4. Clear separation of server vs. client concerns

Add Documentation 📝

Enhance deployment output:

1. Detect modules with client patches
2. Warn admin about distribution requirements
3. Provide links to patch files and instructions
4. Create post-deployment checklist

Don't Implement (Too Risky) ⛔

What NOT to automate:

1. Server DBC deployment - risk of conflicts
2. Client patch distribution - technically impossible from server
3. Module recompilation - requires custom build process
4. Client asset packaging - out of scope

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Summary

Current Status: ✅ SOUND ARCHITECTURE

What We Handle:

• ✅ Module source code (via pre-built images)
• ✅ Module SQL (runtime staging)
• ✅ Module configuration (automated deployment)

What Requires Manual Steps:

• ⚠️ Server DBC deployment (module README instructions)
• ⚠️ Client patch distribution (admin responsibility)
• ⚠️ Player communication (outside automation scope)

No Critical Gaps

All gaps identified are by design:

• Client-side patches can't be auto-deployed (technical limitation)
• Server DBCs shouldn't be auto-deployed (safety concern)
• Module READMEs must be read (standard practice)

Our implementation correctly handles what can be automated while documenting what requires manual steps.

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Modules Requiring Special Attention

High Priority (Client Patches Required)

mod-worgoblin:

• Status: Likely broken without client patch
• Action: Check README, distribute Patch-Z.MPQ to players
• Impact: New race completely unavailable

mod-arac:

• Status: Needs verification
• Action: Distribute Patch-A.MPQ to players
• Impact: Race/class restrictions may apply incorrectly

Medium Priority (Enhanced Features)

aio-blackjack, prestige-and-draft-mode, horadric-cube:

• Status: Core functionality may work, UI missing
• Action: Optional patch distribution for full experience
• Impact: Degraded but functional

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Conclusion: Our implementation is complete for automated deployment. Client patches and server DBCs correctly remain manual tasks with proper documentation.