Most people's computers kick into overdrive when the login screen is open, and you shouldn't have to suffer the extra heat and dragon roars. This modification allows you to slay that e-dragon by changing your login screen, hopefully within the Blizzard ToS (You are not modifying any game files or running third party programs). You can choose from any of the character selection screens, BC, classic, or blank login screens.
1) Put the GLUES folder inside your Interface folder.
2) Structure should be similar to ...World of Warcraft\Interface\GLUES\MODELS\UI_MainMenu_Northrend
3) Open UI_MainMenu_Northrend and select the login screen you want by copying the files from a folder and pasting them into UI_MainMenu_Northrend.
This has been tested with the most of the US and EU clients. You will need to use a workaround if you play on a Mac for some reason.
While people's desire for an 'official' response is understandable, Blizzard is generally loath to comment on things like this. They typically reserve the right to decide at any time that they don't like something, and coming out and saying out that something is okay restricts their ability to do that. Moreover, most of the people who post on the forums are community reps, not the legal team, and strictly avoid making statements that might prove to be legally binding on the company without extensive council.
To address some of the concerns raised as best I'm able:
The game maintains a "folder structure" in its collection of MPQ files. This folder structure is analogous to the folder structure on your hard drive. When the game client needs a particular file, it actually looks on your hard drive FIRST, then if it doesn't find the file, it looks in the MPQ "folders" in the same place. That's how tweaks like this work in the first place. Modifying the MPQ files is very bad; not only will it get you suspended or banned, it will often prevent WoW from loading at all, because a program called Warden checks them. However, Warden doesn't monitor substitute files like gun sound replacements.
The kicker to this is that Blizzard (1) expressly programmed in the ability to override files like this, and (2) later expressly REMOVED the ability to override critical files like the mob and terrain models and textures. This is a pretty good indicator that they're probably okay with it, but it is NOT legally binding and does not constitute actual permission.
Model changing, on the other hand, is well-established as a bad practice and has gotten entire guilds banned. So anything that involves model replacement is pretty suspect.
On the third hand (Quick, get an octopus!), this doesn't impact the actual play experience, which is what they're worried about first and foremost.
Summation: It doesn't look actually bad, but use very much at your own risk; this really straddles a line (yes, I know that's pretty much what the thread has said so far, but I wanted to throw a little more actual information into the mix).
Optional Files - E-Dragon Slayer
Sorry, there are currently no optional files available.
I'm listening... and what kind of negative repercussions could this kind of bypass have? Because I'm not about to risk getting banned for a login screen...
However, I'm not 100% convinced that the functionality this addon uses/d to work is entirely inactive. See I used to do a bit of model swapping myself back in the day, NOTHING HARMFUL, just making my Warlock's fire green and turning my Druid's cat form into this*- http://members.optusnet.com.au/trini...907_005642.png
At first I did it just by putting the files in their relevant directories, then that was removed (for models at least) with patch 1.11 (?) and you had to make your own "patch-?.mpq" files. That too was disabled during BC at some stage. I must have just left my custom patch files there, because when 3.2 hit I suddenly started seeing naked bank alts**! My Warlock also had invisible fire spells so assumedly something changed within the real .mpqs, but the point is that the file override feature has been turned back on (to an unknown extent).
TL;DR- There's a chance that putting these GLUES files into a fake patch file may get them working. MAY.
DISCLAIMER- I don't do this stuff these days, don't ask me how because I don't know anymore and the programs I used no longer work.
* I've cleared out my SS folder a few times since 2007 so I don't have any better images, this one I found on my GF's PC. I am 99.9% sure that the model was from one of those JC figurines, but images on Wowhead suggest otherwise. Perhaps it was changed at some point.
** The archiving tool I used could not create a .mpq file that didn't crash WoW, but it was quite capable of editting existing ones. The easiest custom patches to find and use as a base template were nude patches. *shrug*
Last edited by TrinityJayOne : 08-29-2009 at 11:36 AM.
Originally posted by Shnissigah butbutbut now i can't have my blood elf login screen!!
waaaaaaah! mommy! blizzard's being mean to me!
Yeah Blizzard are being evil jerks - again!
Its probably that Cory Stockton, the same guy who prevents us from using our flying mounts from level 80 in the next expansion.
Originally posted by Lastbreath Hey m8 hope ull make this addon work with 3.2 coz i hate this dragon. As i read and understand we can use this kind of addon so hope ull fix it soon....
Hey m8 hope ull make this addon work with 3.2 coz i hate this dragon. As i read and understand we can use this kind of addon so hope ull fix it soon....
Modifying the actual game files is against t the terms of use but modifying part of the interface is ok.
As it's located in the Interface folder I cant see any issues.
And yeah, borked with 3.2 as predicted. Any hints on when it might be updated? =)
Never, unfortunately. Blizzard has removed the ability to override the mpq files by putting the files in separate directories. There is no longer any possible way to get rid of that stupid dragon and get our beloved vanilla login screen back.
Originally posted by Kupotek I don't see why this wouldn't work in 3.2 or require a very slight fix like pretty much all addons will require in 3.2, or are they going to make it impossible to change the login screen which is just a complete waste of time. But hey, that's Blizzard, stop players from doing stuff that doesn't effect gameplay.
Originally posted by chaud Maybe you missed the large red This will no longer work in 3.2.
I don't see why this wouldn't work in 3.2 or require a very slight fix like pretty much all addons will require in 3.2, or are they going to make it impossible to change the login screen which is just a complete waste of time. But hey, that's Blizzard, stop players from doing stuff that doesn't effect gameplay.
