HOW-TO: Custom mouse cursors

[Saiket]

Originally Posted by Amenity Ok, this argument I can understand. Sort of. You kinda argue against yourself here: -snip- Exactly. It's Blizzard's own work that's causing their own cursors to be overridden by ones I put in an additional file. By comparison, addons do this intentionally all the time with no ill will.

I'm leaving out parts of the story on purpose, since this is an official Blizzard Fan Site, and the mods would be obligated to delete any post detailing how model edits work. Patch MPQs that modify geometry or other client data require hacks be run alongside WoW to fool the game into using them. The MPQ package is what might confuse Warden, Blizzard's cheat detector. The things Warden looks for change frequently and without warning too, so I would still be wary of overriding MPQs.

If you don't think you'd be heard in the Suggestions forum, you might want to try the UI Developer's Suggestions and Questions thread on the UI & Macro forum. I like to imagine that Slouken still reads it.

Originally Posted by Saiket I'm leaving out parts of the story on purpose, since this is an official Blizzard Fan Site, and the mods would be obligated to delete any post detailing how model edits work. Patch MPQs that modify geometry or other client data require hacks be run alongside WoW to fool the game into using them. The MPQ package is what might confuse Warden, Blizzard's cheat detector. The things Warden looks for change frequently and without warning too, so I would still be wary of overriding MPQs.

I believe you misunderstood me. I wasn't confused.

It's this:

Patch MPQs that modify geometry or other client data require hacks be run alongside WoW to fool the game into using them.

THAT's the key difference here. Now whether Warden is a bumbling SKEET-banning idiot...I don't know. I would tend to think not, though...mainly because this would leave Blizzard with a rather large legal hole should they be asked to provide proof that a user was breaking the ToS.

**EDIT: Going to bed. I'd like to see some actual evidence to one side or the other by the time I get back to you. So far all I've got is conjecture and prediction. It's been over 5 years...surely there's some precedent here?

**EDIT #2: Just had to get this out right quick:

And yes, if you made a blank MPQ with nothing it, it will be picked up by Warden and the account flagged. If you want to play tag with Warden, go ahead, it's your account.

How do you know what Warden does/flags/picks up? Again...you're using weasel terminology to make this look like it's "clearly" an illegal hack (and at the same time making me out to be an idiot).

[MidgetMage55]

Warden adding a flag doesnt mean your automatically banned. It means the system is alerted. What happens from there is entirely up to blizzard.

In the end its a risk. You can choose to take it based on what you feel is correct and that is your choice. Though i will agree that until you have a definitive answer from blizzard about this, it is best to leave out the tutorial on how it is done.

[Kupotek]

I've used a custom patch cursor for 2 years, I asked a GM and he said it was alright, but Blizzard could do what they want so use at your own risk. The fact is Blizzard has not come out and said it's bad so I see no reason to worry about it. It's a custom cursor for God's sakes people! Get a grip.

Originally Posted by Zyonin You may want to take down this How-To until you can verify the legality of what you are doing.

Blizzard will *NEVER* state whether it's okay or not because they don't like to be held to policy.
The fact that they have not said it's bad though should be clear enough that it's not.

Originally Posted by Zyonin And yes, if you made a blank MPQ with nothing it, it will be picked up by Warden and the account flagged. If you want to play tag with Warden, go ahead, it's your account.

Again, I've been using a patched cursor for over 2 years and never been hassled. And I've spoken to a GM about it
and TOLD him I was using it, and never been hassled.

[Jooze]

I asked a GM and he said it was alright,

GMs don't have a clue. There used to be another way to replace certain game art by putting files in the Interface folder that was removed.

I knew about MPQs and was uncertain of their legality. I talked to a GM who told me that while it might not be a violation of the ToU, Blizz can still cancel my account for it if they want and suggested I better remove the MPQ instead of risking it.

Conclusion:

1) Two GMs contradicting each other, usually means they have no clue/internal policy for these kind of things

2) One of the GMs is correct, the other one is wrong. I didn't see your GM conversation but I can say that the GM i talked to at least seemed to have a clue about what I was talking about.

[Kupotek]

Still, it's a cursor, and I'm not sweating it. I love my custom cursor.
Here's a screenshot of the cursor I put together.

Very nice, Kupo! As I told ya in my email, I dig it.

Oh, and thought I'd interject a little something in here: a blue post.

ZOMG WTF BBQ LOL, someone actually PROVIDING SOEM DATAZ???!?!

Yes...because instead of blind fear-mongering like the rest of you, I decided to read.

http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/th...eNo=1&sid=1#17

If you're lazy (which you are, obviously):

Once and for all, Herokorishi, modifying or otherwise editing in-game models (save for those related to one's user interface) is strictly prohibited by the Terms of Use (Section 2.C.), and may result in repercussions up to and including the termination of the account in question.

(Thank you Kamdis for bringing this to public attention)

Besides, did any of you stop to think for just one second that maybe there's a reason this works? Blizzard is fully capable of blocking this type of action (as they've done on numerous occasions with actual "model edits"). We're able to change all kinds of other stuff in the user interface by simply adding files (anyone seen AI-Art?) and nobody has ever asked questions about it. We even change in-game sounds by inserting our own audio files into the Data directory tree with no worries. In fact, I don't see how this doesn't apply to the existing addon common practice of "if Blizzard allows it to happen and it's not altering the game client, it's perfectly legal". I'd stake my account on it...with two geared 80s and a third 80 on its' way, and my sentimental vanilla WoW T2-geared PvP-title-holding Druid.

But no...I come along with a simple, safe, and effective way to change mouse cursors that is in no way violating the ToS (try reading the damn thing) and get jumped on.

I guess that's the privilege the "UI community elite" get around here. I haven't written any life-changing 100k+ download addons and aren't buddy-buddy with the site administration here so it's perfectly acceptable for all sorts of blind misinformed accusations to be tossed my way with no repercussions whatsoever. I mean, you're the ones bringing in the site traffic and the advertisement dollars so they have to cater to your whim.

Don't worry...you won't have to put up with my "annoyances" much longer.