Arctool (modding tool)

[FluffyQuack]

Updated my arctool to support Dragon's Dogma PC:
http://www.fluffyquack.com/tools/ARCtool.rar
http://www.fluffyquack.com/tools/ARCtool-PC-batch.rar

You can unpack and repack all the ARC files. It also lets you convert various file formats (by adding extra command line arguments. just edit the batch files, or add it when running the batch file in command prompt:
- TEX (-tex) Textures
- XFS (-xfs) Gameplay variables and scripts.
- LOT (-lot) Enemy definitions.

This is definitely for advanced users, so people who haven't done any modding before might get lost quickly.

I'll write more extensive documentation later along with some general information about where stuff is among the game files.

Community guide about tool: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=601818667

[dairy farmer]

Thanks! I'll be sure to check this out. Hopefully a group of people can get together and update the game with HD textures, if possible.

[Ringo]

Cool beans. Stuck at work so can't really mess around with anything yet (also kinda want to just play the game :P).

Do you (or anyone else) know if any of the 3ds Max scripts available for other Capcom MT framework games work on meshes from this game? Or do they need updated?

[GrayHound]

First the saves, now this.
You're my hero.

[FluffyQuack]

Originally posted by Ringo:

Cool beans. Stuck at work so can't really mess around with anything yet (also kinda want to just play the game :P).

Do you (or anyone else) know if any of the 3ds Max scripts available for other Capcom MT framework games work on meshes from this game? Or do they need updated?

They need to be updated. Hopefully it doesn't take long before that happens.

[player of games]

The program crashes when I try to open an .arc file. (Stopped working)

[FluffyQuack]

Originally posted by Elysium:

The program crashes when I try to open an .arc file. (Stopped working)

How are you using it? Right usage would be to unpack both rar files, and drag and drop arcs onto pc-dd to unpack, or drag and drop directories onto pc-dd to repack them. You can also use command line (which makes it easier to add more settings).

[FireShark]

Wow, so we could see some really nice mods in future it looks like? Nice work.

[RvB Churchaboose]

sweet

[FluffyQuack]

Made a community guide for tool: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=601818667

[player of games]

Originally posted by FluffyQuack:

Originally posted by Elysium:

The program crashes when I try to open an .arc file. (Stopped working)

How are you using it? Right usage would be to unpack both rar files, and drag and drop arcs onto pc-dd to unpack, or drag and drop directories onto pc-dd to repack them. You can also use command line (which makes it easier to add more settings).

I tried to assign a specific filetype (.arc) to be opened by arctool.exe. It does "convert" it, but the files in the converted folder are 0 bytes in size. The pc-dd method doesn't work correctly either (doesn't convert anything). Weird... I might just be doing something silly wrong.

[FluffyQuack]

Originally posted by Elysium:

Originally posted by FluffyQuack:

How are you using it? Right usage would be to unpack both rar files, and drag and drop arcs onto pc-dd to unpack, or drag and drop directories onto pc-dd to repack them. You can also use command line (which makes it easier to add more settings).

I tried to assign a specific filetype (.arc) to be opened by arctool.exe. It does "convert" it, but the files in the converted folder are 0 bytes in size. The pc-dd method doesn't work correctly either (doesn't convert anything). Weird... I might just be doing something silly wrong.

Sounds like you tried choose "open with" and selecting arctool which is not correct. If you have the arctool, the pc-dd.bat file, and the arc in the same directory, you can just drag the arc file onto the pc-dd.bat in Windows Explorer.

[player of games]

Originally posted by FluffyQuack:

Originally posted by Elysium:

I tried to assign a specific filetype (.arc) to be opened by arctool.exe. It does "convert" it, but the files in the converted folder are 0 bytes in size. The pc-dd method doesn't work correctly either (doesn't convert anything). Weird... I might just be doing something silly wrong.

Sounds like you tried choose "open with" and selecting arctool which is not correct. If you have the arctool, the pc-dd.bat file, and the arc in the same directory, you can just drag the arc file onto the pc-dd.bat in Windows Explorer.

Okay I think I got it, the game itself and the tool were in different drives. Thanks for the help though.
I've got one more question if it doesn't trouble you too much. So I'm trying to make an environment texture mod and the file structure is confusing to me because I've never modded an MT Framework game, do you have any idea where I might find the Gransys environment textures?

[weretiger]

Is there a way to create custom 3D models of weapons and armors, then repack and import them into the game ? Including them into npc vendor lists and such things ?

[FluffyQuack]

Originally posted by Elysium:

Originally posted by FluffyQuack:

Sounds like you tried choose "open with" and selecting arctool which is not correct. If you have the arctool, the pc-dd.bat file, and the arc in the same directory, you can just drag the arc file onto the pc-dd.bat in Windows Explorer.

Okay I think I got it, the game itself and the tool were in different drives. Thanks for the help though.
I've got one more question if it doesn't trouble you too much. So I'm trying to make an environment texture mod and the file structure is confusing to me because I've never modded an MT Framework game, do you have where how I might find the Gransys environment textures?

You should find everything related to environments in nativePC\rom\stage. I haven't looked much into the stage files myself, but if it's anything like other MT Framework games, you'll find textures repeated in many different stages. Which might make it a bit of a hassle if there's one specific texture you wanna replace which is used throughout the game.

Originally posted by weretiger:

Is there a way to create custom 3D models of weapons and armors, then repack and import them into the game ? Including them into npc vendor lists and such things ?

Importing new models into the game isn't possible yet, but hopefully it will be soon. Adding all new items is something I'm not sure will be feasible though. It'll definitely be far easier to replace weapon or armour models than adding all new items.

[armouredking]

Hey Fluffy, curiousity question. The files currently being converted, I'm poking around looking for something a bit more interesting with regards to parameters / xml and noted the bbs_rpg.arc file has a etc/item/ section that includes filenames like itemList, ItemCurse, LvParam*, etc. But the files are in various compressed / encrypted formats. Is this little area I've run across what I think it is and if so how can I go about getting these files human readable?