Modders' Tool Pack
Description
All-in-one toolkit for Heroes III and VCMI mod creators
Tools, converters, editors, templates and ready-to-use graphics gathered in one practical package.
★ FIVE MUST-HAVE TOOLS
VCMIExtract
Extracts LOD, PAC, SND, VID, PAK, DEF and D32 resources and converts PCX graphics directly to PNG. Supports archives from HotA 1.8.1. Its installer adds convenient extraction commands to the Windows Explorer context menu.
DEF2JSON
Converts DEF and D32 animations to PNG frames and VCMI JSON. Advanced options support sequential naming, group normalization, merged shadows, generated overlays and automatic VCMI object templates with masks. The installer creates a complete, clearly labelled Explorer submenu for all common operations.
DEF Thumbnail Provider
Displays real DEF sprite previews directly in Windows Explorer instead of generic file icons, making large graphics collections much easier to browse.
DefPreview
Quickly opens, previews and extracts DEF animations. Its installer associates .def files with DefPreview, so they open on double-click while preserving any previous association for uninstall.
MMArchive
A powerful GUI and CLI archive manager for listing, previewing, extracting, adding and replacing files in LOD, LWD, SND, VID, PAC and other Heroes III and Might & Magic archives. HotA archive support is limited to version 1.7.3. It can also extract DEF files for DefTool. The installer enables convenient double-click opening and safely restores previous file associations on uninstall.
✓ EASY INSTALLATION
All five tools include simple install.cmd and uninstall.cmd scripts. They request administrator privileges automatically, use paths relative to their current folder and select the correct x86/x64 build where applicable.
MORE INCLUDED UTILITIES
• DEF graphics: H3DefTool, DEFRecolor and the classic DEF Recoloring Program for creating, editing and palette recoloring.
• Random maps: H3 RMG Converter and TEditor for converting and visually editing templates.
• HotA data: HotA Editor for editing HotA.dat in x86 and x64 versions.
• VCMI balancing: Macron's Balancer for recalculating creature AI and fight values in JSON.
TEMPLATES AND READY-TO-USE RESOURCES
• 1,400+ curated graphics: specialty icons, skills, artifacts, spell scrolls and books, luck and morale, blank icons and reconstructed creature-town backgrounds.
• Modding templates: Adventure Map buttons, battlefield hexes, shooter projectiles, mage guilds, puzzle maps, town icons, town halls and Heroes III logos in PNG, XCF, PDN and PSD formats.
• Additional resources: puzzle-map generator, HD creature-positioning frames, layered town backgrounds and nine town-screen PSD files.
This development resource pack does not add gameplay content by itself. Some additional utilities require Python, ImageMagick, Paint.NET, GIMP or another compatible graphics editor. Individual tools and resources come from various authors; see the included readme files for instructions, credits and limitations.
Version
1.2.0
Author
Various
Contact
https://discord.gg/chBT42V