An example of the “Found” alert button for Fumblub Gearwind.
This warning appears when searched-for mobs are already cached at log in.
The options window with a list of all mobs currently being searched for.
NPCScan
_NPCScan tracks seldom-seen rare mobs by proximity alone, making the old “/targetexact …” macros obsolete. It has the same range as those targeting macros, but you won't have to mash any buttons. Just go about your business and let _NPCScan alert you when it finds something.
Details
The Cache
This addon doesn't use nameplates or mouseover units to find rares. Instead, it checks your creature cache for the moment a rare mob is found. There is one catch to this technique however: Once a mob is “found”, _NPCScan won't be able to find it again until your cache is cleared. If you find a rare mob's corpse—Dirkee for example—you would have to clear your cache before _NPCScan would find Dirkee again. Thankfully, clearing your cache is a safe and simple matter.
Clearing Your Cache
To clear your cache, follow these straightforward steps:
Exit World of Warcraft.
Delete the “Cache” sub-directory inside your World of Warcraft folder. For example on a standard Windows XP installation, you would delete the folder “C:\Program Files\World of Warcraft\Cache”.
Note: Windows Vista and Windows 7 users see this info to find your Cache folder in WoW's Virtual Store.
That's it. Log in after you've done that and you'd be able to find Dirkee a second time. It's completely safe because WoW will recreate your Cache folder after you log in again.
Cache Warning
If a rare mob is already cached when you log in, _NPCScan will print a warning message with the names of those mobs. If you see this message but still want to find the listed NPCs again, it's time to clear your cache by following the above procedure. Otherwise, you can quit searching for those mobs using the Search options window detailed below. You can suppress this log-in message using the main options pane, as well.
“Found” Alert
When a rare mob is found, _NPCScan alerts you by playing a loud and distinctive sound, making your screen pulse red, and displaying an animated targeting button. To get a feel for what this alert looks and sounds like, try the “Test Found Alert” button in the addon's main Interface Options panel. (See the Options section below.)
Targeting Button
When clicked, the targeting button tries to target the most-recently-found mob. You can also bind a key to hit this button. If the default button position isn't to your liking, you can move it while holding your <CTRL> key.
Note: The button cannot be shown during combat. In the unlikely case that you do find a rare while fighting, the button will appear after you leave combat. You will still hear the alert however, and the name of the mob will appear in your chat log.
Options
_NPCScan's main options window can be accessed from the Interface Options menu. This panel includes a “Test Found Alert” button, various ways to customize the alert sound, and an option to suppress cache warning messages on log-in.
New sounds can be added to the alert sound dropdown menu by installing SharedMedia-type addons.
Search List
The list of mobs that _NPCScan searches for can be modified easily through the Interface Options panel, however it comes pre-configured with most rare Outlands and Northrend mobs. To access the mob list, type “/npcscan”.
Grayed out NPCs in a list aren't being searched for, either because they're cached, a pet, or not needed for their achievement.
The first tab available lists Custom NPCs that you can enter or remove manually. NPCs that are already cached show a red “X” in the first column. You can add or remove Custom NPCs with the [+] and [-] buttons at the bottom right.
All other tabs control achievements like Bloody Rare and Frostbitten. These tabs show an additional column on the right with green check marks for completed achievement mobs. You may enable or disable tracking each achievement with its tab's checkbox.
The two checkboxes at the top left of the pane allow greater control over which mobs to search for. “Search for tamable NPCs” controls searching for mobs tamable by hunters (to avoid the issues detailed in the “Limitations” section below). “Search for completed Achievement NPCs” allows you to keep looking for mobs you no longer need for achievements.
Finding NPC IDs
A mob's NPC ID is its unique identification number, and it can be found on sites like WowHead or WowDB. For example, search for the mob “Dirkee” on WowHead and go to the mob's page. That page's URL will look like “http://www.wowhead.com/?npc=32500”; 32500 is Dirkee's NPC ID.
Limitations
The only problem mobs for _NPCScan are tamable beasts. Even when you run across the tamed version, _NPCScan gets tricked into thinking that mob is nearby. In order to prevent those false positives, _NPCScan only shows alerts for tamable mobs in their original zones. That is, if you spot Loque'nahak in Dalaran instead of Sholazar Basin where it usually patrols, _NPCScan would ignore it. When one of these tamable mob false-alarms happens, you'll see a message in your chat window explaining why it got ignored.
Since this makes tamable mobs are so difficult to track, I suggest you fly to the tamable mob's zone first, clear your cache, and then search for it. Any time you pass through a populated area like Dalaran, you risk filling your cache with popular rare pets.
Originally posted by Saiket Once you see an NPC, it gets added to WoW's "cache" (a list of mobs it has seen). That's what that red "X" means. Unfortunately, the only way to get the mob out of the cache is to reset it.
There's no way to change that.
Ok, then how can i reset cache? (and wtf this "cache" is?)
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Yes, my english = worst english ever...sry
Originally posted by Zveroboi When this mod gives "NPC found!" alert it count this NPC as killed and put 'em into "ignore list" - there is red cross into "cashed" column and NPC's name color become dark. How i can change this when even "search for completed achiv NPC" didnt help? Or maybe it's http://www.wowinterface.com/download...n.Overlay.html problem?..
P.S. just tell me what i need to delete in .lua to prevent this mod from cheking achiv's...
Once you see an NPC, it gets added to WoW's "cache" (a list of mobs it has seen). That's what that red "X" means. Unfortunately, the only way to get the mob out of the cache is to reset it.
When this mod gives "NPC found!" alert it count this NPC as killed and put 'em into "ignore list" - there is red cross into "cashed" column and NPC's name color become dark. How i can change this when even "search for completed achiv NPC" didnt help? Or maybe it's http://www.wowinterface.com/download...n.Overlay.html problem?..
P.S. just tell me what i need to delete in .lua to prevent this mod from cheking achiv's...
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Yes, my english = worst english ever...sry
Originally posted by Codex Does the "view distance" gfx option increase range of things loaded into cache? For some reason I had it set to half, and I noticed, and maxed it, and the second I did that I deetcted a rare!
Maybe it does... I was under the impression that it was always 100 yards.
Does the "view distance" gfx option increase range of things loaded into cache? For some reason I had it set to half, and I noticed, and maxed it, and the second I did that I deetcted a rare!
Originally posted by IRID1UM I see, thanks. I did turn off the tameable option, I'll turn it on later and see if terror spinner is around
Are there any other outland or northrend rares that arent included?
Thanks,
IRID1UM
Bro'gaz is the only one. All of the Northrend rares are included in achievements or in the default custom search list.
I see, thanks. I did turn off the tameable option, I'll turn it on later and see if terror spinner is around
Are there any other outland or northrend rares that arent included?
Thanks,
IRID1UM
Originally posted by Codex Just a thought-
what happens if gondria or another similar tamable mob are by the border of two zones, your in the other zone and see her, and because you detect her in the wrong zone, it says its "definitely a pet"?
Heheh, well I suppose it's not *that* definite, but thankfully not many rares are that close to zone borders.
Just a thought-
what happens if gondria or another similar tamable mob are by the border of two zones, your in the other zone and see her, and because you detect her in the wrong zone, it says its "definitely a pet"?
Originally posted by IRID1UM Btw, how come some Rares are missing? The spider in Zul'drak or the ogre in Nagrand for example.
Terror Spinner in Zul'drak should work alright, although it is tamable, so be sure to enable "Search for tamable NPCs". The ogre however, Bro'gaz the Clanless, doesn't have any achievement for killing him. You can still add him manually though (ID 18684).
I've created a .bat file for deleting the cache file each time I start WoW. A .bat file more or less is a selfmade executable file which can contain simple instructions (for those who dont know).
Simply open any text editor and write the following
Code:
E:
cd games\world of warcraft\Cache\WDB\enUS\
del creaturecache.wdb
cd..
cd..
cd..
wow.exe
Note that you'll have to insert YOUR drive letter (E: in my case) and WoW path for it to work (Note that the enUS may be different, depending on which client you use). It changes to the hard disk where WoW is installed, enters the cache directory, deletes the cache file, goes back out to the root directory and starts WoW.
Simply save this file to your desktop as start.bat or start.txt and rename txt to bat. Doubleclicking it will launch it.
There probably is a more sophisticated way of writing this, but it works This way I can always find all rare spawns on each login.
Have fun!
Btw, how come some Rares are missing? The spider in Zul'drak or the ogre in Nagrand for example.
Originally posted by lodewijk from what i have noticed today it seems like the addon alerts with only a message in chat when the rare mob is in range when i log in.
thanks for fixing this!
feature request: when a rare mob is found that is already dead it would be nice if no alarm is given.
and i'd like to thank you for making this amazing addon, it helped me making a LOT of gold!
Originally posted by lodewijk i use the mod just for locating the rare raptors (takk, dart, ravasaur- and razormaw matriarch) and i delete the cache folder after every wow session. for some reason however sometimes when a mob is found the addon doesnt make the alertsound or give the onscreen graphic of the mob, it only gives a message in chat. as far as i can remember this is mostly fixed when i use the testbutton.
i use different alts that are stationed on all spawns.
is there something i do wrong or is it some sort of minor bug?
update: i just did my rounds and got 3/4 raptors. my round is un'goro, wetlands, dustwallow, barrens. i found razormaw in the wetlands with all bells and whistles going off. next i logged on my alt in dustwallow; only a message in chat, no sound or onscreen graphic. next to barrens, i found takk with all bells and whistles again. no wow restart or cachefolder delete in between!
I'm looking into this now; Thanks for the detailed bug report!
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Edit: Bug fixed in 3.2.0.7; Tamable rares now show an alert again if you find them just after logging in.
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