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modder-tools-pack

Collection of tools and templates for modders

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README

Modders' Tool Pack

An all-in-one collection of tools, converters, editors, templates, and ready-to-use graphics for Heroes of Might and Magic III and VCMI mod creators.

The pack is distributed as a VCMI development-resource mod, but it does not add gameplay content by itself. Most tools can also be used directly from the content directory without launching VCMI.

Highlights

  • Extract and manage Heroes III, Might & Magic, and HotA archives.
  • Convert DEF and D32 animations to PNG and VCMI JSON.
  • Preview DEF files and display their thumbnails in Windows Explorer.
  • Recolor DEF palettes with live frame and animation previews, precise selection masks, and professional color tools.
  • Edit DEF graphics, random-map templates, and HotA.dat.
  • Recalculate VCMI creature AI and fight values.
  • Use more than 1,400 curated icons and numerous layered graphics templates.
  • Install Explorer integrations with the included self-elevating scripts.

Requirements and compatibility

  • Operating system: the supplied executables and Explorer integrations are intended for Windows. Both x86 and x64 builds are included where applicable.
  • VCMI: version 1.5 or newer is required when the pack is installed as a VCMI mod.
  • HotA archives: VCMIExtract supports archives from HotA 1.8.1. MMArchive support is limited to HotA 1.7.3.
  • Optional software: some utilities or templates require Python 2.7/3, ImageMagick, Paint.NET, GIMP, Photoshop, or another editor compatible with the supplied file format. See the relevant entry below.

Core tools

Tool Purpose Usage notes
VCMIExtract Extracts LOD, PAC, SND, VID, PAK, DEF, and D32 resources; converts PCX images directly to PNG. Run install.cmd for Explorer extraction commands. Includes x86 and x64 builds. Upstream project.
DEF2JSON Converts DEF/D32 animations to PNG frames and VCMI animation JSON. Supports batch input, sequential/group-0 naming, merged shadows, overlays, and generated VCMI object templates and masks. Run install.cmd for the Explorer submenu, or use the CLI. See the complete guide.
DEF Thumbnail Provider Displays real DEF sprite thumbnails in Windows Explorer. Run install.cmd, then restart Explorer if thumbnails do not appear. See its README.
DEFRecolor 1.2 Professional DEF palette editor with side-by-side live frame and animation previews, usage and color-range selection masks, HSL and advanced corrections, ramps, tone modes, Magic Recolor, effects, undo/redo, and JSON palette exchange. Portable x86, x64, and ARM64 builds with eight languages and Unicode paths. The matching provider DLL is bundled; optional Explorer thumbnails can be installed directly from the Tools menu. See its README.
DefPreview Opens, previews, and extracts DEF animations. Run install.cmd to associate .def files. The uninstaller restores the previous association.
MMArchive GUI and CLI manager for listing, previewing, extracting, adding, and replacing files in LOD, LWD, SND, VID, PAC, and related archives. Run install.cmd for archive associations. The CLI also supports filtered extraction and DefTool output; see the CLI reference.

Additional utilities

Tool Purpose Requirements / notes
H3DefTool Classic editor for creating and editing Heroes III DEF animations. Windows executable; Russian language files are included.
DEF Recoloring Program Older palette-based DEF recoloring utility by Macron1. Detailed instructions are supplied as doc/Instruction.doc.
H3 RMG Converter Converts Heroes III random-map generator templates by drag and drop. Python 3; the original readme specifies Python 3.5.1. Instructions.
TEditor Visual editor for Heroes III random-map templates, including zones, links, object settings, and TPZ files. Windows executable; the bundled help is in Russian.
HotA Editor Edits HotA.dat. Separate x86 and x64 builds are included. Back up the data file before editing it.
Macron's Balancer Recalculates creature AI and fight values in VCMI JSON files. Accepts files or directories by drag and drop. Requires Python 2.7. Instructions.
Puzzle generator Splits a 596×546 town puzzle image into the 48 pieces expected by VCMI and includes a sample configuration. Requires ImageMagick. Instructions.

Graphics and templates

Resource Contents / use
Heroes III Modding Resources More than 1,400 specialty, secondary-skill, artifact, spell-scroll, spell-book, luck, morale, blank-icon, and creature-background images, including tagged HotA, ToW, WoG, and other mod variants. See the collection notes.
Creature positioning frames x2, x3, and x4 two-hex positioning frames for VCMI HD creature graphics.
Adventure Map buttons Layered GIMP/XCF template and a Python palette-fixing helper for adventure-map buttons.
Battlefield Hexes Transparent battlefield hex overlay for positioning combat graphics.
Shooter projectile template Grid for determining projectile offsets from a creature's firing frame. Instructions.
Mage guild template Paint.NET template and blank background for custom mage-guild windows.
Puzzle template Layered Paint.NET file and sample JSON for manually creating a 48-piece faction puzzle.
Town icon and hall templates Transparent fort overlays and a layered Paint.NET template for town icons and town-hall backgrounds.
Layered town backgrounds Nine town-screen background PSD files, one for each classic faction.
Heroes III logo templates Layered XCF logo collections covering multiple Heroes III variants.

DEF2JSON examples

bash
def2json.exe CREATURE.def
def2json.exe OBJECT.d32 --ignorefilename --ignoregroup
def2json.exe OBJECT.def --mergeshadow --overlay
def2json.exe OBJECT.def --vcmi-template --template-frame 3
def2json.exe OBJECT.d32 --vcmi-template --maskonly

The normal output consists of OBJECT.json and an OBJECT directory containing the extracted PNG frames. --vcmi-template additionally creates OBJECT.template.json. For every option and restriction, consult the DEF2JSON guide.

MMArchive CLI examples

bash
MMArchiveCLI.exe list data.lod
MMArchiveCLI.exe extract data.lod -o extracted
MMArchiveCLI.exe extract sprites.lod -f *.def
MMArchiveCLI.exe add data.lod newfile.txt
MMArchiveCLI.exe extractdef sprites.lod -o deftool

MMArchive reads its settings from MMArchive.ini. The CLI returns exit code 0 on success and 1 on failure.

Safety notes

  • Back up archives, templates, and game data before modifying them.
  • Installers change Windows registry entries for context menus, thumbnail handlers, or file associations and therefore request administrator privileges.
  • Use the matching uninstall.cmd before moving an installed tool to another directory; then reinstall it from the new location.
  • The pack contains third-party executables from multiple authors. Obtain releases from this repository or the linked upstream projects and scan downloads according to your normal security policy.

Credits, license, and support

The collection is maintained by multiple contributors and contains work by various original authors. Refer to each bundled readme for item-specific authorship and licensing details.

The VCMI package metadata declares Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 for the pack. Individual tools, source files, and included assets may carry their own licenses; those item-specific terms take precedence where applicable. DEF Thumbnail Provider, for example, is documented as GPL-2.0-or-later.