Simple Hacks_ Addons, Macros And More.pdf

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in this part
Chapter 1
Introduction to WoW
Modding
Chapter 2
Combat Addons
Chapter 3
Map Addons
Chapter 4
Miscellaneous Addons
Chapter 5
Loot Addons
Chapter 6
Chat Addons
Chapter 7
Raid Addons
Chapter 8
Class-Specific Addons
Chapter 9
Addon Compilations
Simple Hacks:
Addons, Macros,
and More
part
Introduction to
WoW Modding
chapter
W
hat is an addon?
An addon is nothing more than a bunch of markup files, scripts,
and textures in a folder.
These files are identical — in form — to the ones that define the
default interface designed by Blizzard. That means they have the
power to do anything Blizzard has done, barring a few intentional
limitations. Because addons exist as discrete files on your hard disk,
they can easily be archived and distributed online. Since the game’s
release, thousands of addons have been created, and a large commu-
nity of developers continues to grow.
In fact, members of the community have had an impact on Blizzard’s
own interface development. Many features that originated as user-
created addons have made their way into the default interface, includ-
ing (but not limited to):
Extra action bars on the bottom and right side of the screen
Quest-goal tracking from outside the Quest window
Numerical values for reputation status
Built-in scrolling combat numbers
At the same time, many addons haven’t been assimilated into the
default user-interface and have matured on their own over the years.
Here are a few examples of the most popular addons:
Gatherer:
Remembers the location of every mine, herb, and
chest you discover, marking each one with an icon on the world
map and minimap.
Auctioneer:
Scans the auction house to determine the market
value of your items. It also highlights items that are for sale
below their market value.
in this chapter
Examining the
legality of WoW
hacks
Exploring the WoW
user interface
Creating a simple
macro
Finding
downloadable
addons
Installing and
managing addons
Using interface
skins
4
Part I — Simple Hacks: Addons, Macros, and More
KLHThreatMeter:
Enables you to see who in your group or raid has accumulated the
most threat over the course of a fight.
Atlas:
Provides you with maps for every instanced dungeon, each marked with the loca-
tions of bosses and other points of interest.
Blizzard has made it a priority to support addon developers by responding to their concerns in
the forums. Each patch contains numerous updates and additions to the underlying framework
on which addons are built.
You might think addons are too much of a hassle to be worth your time. In truth, they’re
incredibly simple to install and use. However, before jumping into the specifics of addons,
let’s clear up some confusion about the legality of WoW modding in general.
Examining the Legality of WoW Hacks
Many players are worried about getting banned. Blizzard announces thousands of account can-
cellations each month in connection with the use of third-party programs. These illegal third-
party programs are often confused with addons, but they’re not the same thing.
Third-Party Programs
Third-party programs are executables that modify the game’s data files or interfere with com-
munication between the WoW client and Blizzard’s servers. This is how speed-hacks were
created and how most bots work. You can expect to be banned for using any of these programs.
It’s important to understand that these programs are
not
addons; they’re executables that run at
the same time as the client and interfere with its data in memory.
Blizzard has a support page to help you understand what constitutes a third-party program. If
you’re interested, visit
http://blizzard.com/support/wow/?id=aww01657p
. For the
record, it uses the word “hack” very differently from this book. They use it to imply a malicious
act, whereas this book uses it to describe an interesting (and legal) technical project.
Certain statements in the World of Warcraft Terms of Use document — that you agree to
before playing the game — make it sound like no modding of any kind is tolerated. However,
it’s important to distinguish between the modifications Blizzard wants to prevent and the kinds
of modifications this book is about. Blizzard is concerned only about programs that mess with
the game’s data files and memory directly. You won’t ever touch these.
It’s important to note that Blizzard reserves the right to prohibit the use of any mod at any
point in time. However, in practice Blizzard is supportive of addon use and development, and
cracks down only on modifications that result in some kind of unfair advantage. All of these
delicate distinctions may make it seem like addons are a liability, but the bottom line is that
pure addons are completely legal.
What exactly is a
pure
addon?
Chapter 1 — Introduction to WoW Modding
A pure addon resides in a folder in the World of Warcraft directory. It’s not an executable file.
It’s fully managed by the WoW client and is restricted by the limitations of the addon system.
No one has ever been banned from the game for simply using a pure World of Warcraft addon!
This
is important. You will not be banned for using an addon, we promise. If an addon ever allows
players to do something that Blizzard disapproves of, Blizzard has the power to disable its
functionality forever. It will not ban anyone for using it (however, abuse and harassment is
another matter).
Fortunately, you don’t have to take our word for it. Drysc, an official Blizzard representative,
made the following clarification: “Due to the UI and macro restrictions and our ability to con-
trol the use of functions within each, you will not be banned for any use of a pure UI addon or
macro that wholly runs within the confines of the game.”
5
Not All Executables Are Bad
Just to make things more confusing, there are some legal executables that you’ll come in contact
with in the WoW modding world. These programs are fundamentally different than the unau-
thorized third-party programs mentioned previously.
Some addons are distributed as Windows installers. These are not considered unauthorized or
dangerous because they don’t interfere with the WoW client, nor do they modify core game files.
Be careful, though; and always make sure your installer is from a trusted source. Executables
can do literally anything to your computer. Legit installers do nothing more than place addons’
files into the proper place on your computer.
Also, some addons include an executable component that’s used to provide automatic updates.
Again, they’re okay to use because they don’t mess with core installation files or data in memory
while the game is running. For example, a popular addon compilation called Cosmos ships
with an auto-updater. There’s no risk in using it.
In most cases, common sense will dictate whether a program is okay to use. The technical dis-
tinctions between legal and illegal mods are subtle, but become easier to understand as you gain
familiarity with them. You can safely assume that every hack discussed in this book is legal, and
will
not
endanger your account.
What’s So Special About Addons?
To reiterate: Addons are legal because they run entirely within the WoW client. They’re not
executables. Instead, they exist as source code that’s dynamically compiled by the game.
Because all addon code passes through the client’s interpreter, nothing remains outside of
Blizzard’s control. That means if and when an addon becomes too powerful, Blizzard can
disable its functionality instead of banning anyone.
For example, about a year after the game’s launch, an addon was released that would automati-
cally run your character from place to place. No one who downloaded or used the addon was
banned, but Blizzard responded with a patch that disabled the addon.

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