Plugin Dev: sorting out the gameobject array....

[addicted2rpg]

So umm.... I got a lot of admiration for those folks who figured out the various address offsets needed to do one functionality or another in NWN through the NWNX plugin system, and what values take on which significance by the NWN engine.

So you guys figure this stuff out with asym debuggers, the madhook lib, or what?

I'm interested in tearing into the NWN's mem so I can get my project off the ground, but all my software engineering experience is mainly with code in human readable form (non-compiled), but I can kind of see what is going on here just tracing through the core NWNX source codes. Hats off to the Avlis folks - impressive

Can anyone give me a pointer in the right direction to at least the *tools* to get started on this? I'm pretty sure I can figure the other half out myself, I hope I never actually collected much in the way of programs that chart out memory, dissassemblers, reverse engineering aids, etc..

My assembly is pretty weak, limited to a course I had my 3rd year towards my CS degree in college which was, uh, a decade ago. Hope its like riding a bike... At least Intel still has their specification up.

[addicted2rpg]

Spent some time reading about the specifications of PE files...

Seems like I need to modify the code image segment... ah, now to find where.....

[virusman]

The essential tool for reverse engineering is IDA (interactive disassembler). I would also suggest reading anything on reverse engineering itself.
An IM conversation would be more helpful, but I won't be online until the middle of the next week.
Have fun disassembling!
By the way, what are you trying to achieve?

[addicted2rpg]

I'll have to get IDA and see what I can read up, and I have instant messengers... all of them. Pidgin user here (formerly gaim). I think any help even conceptual or theoretical could help.

So basically what I'm really after is just improving skills, but the topic of choice is tackling the too many instructions error encountered in NWN. I understand that script re-assignment onto various objects within the game are a known workd around. Some server maintainers (with mods over 100 MB, etc..) have expressed that some of their script chains have grown large and this method is giving them performance drawbacks as well as code-clutter.

I'm not exactly sure which solution I should go for or what the final result will look like. There could be a script call ClearInstructionCount(), or perhaps the limit for TMI could be raised itself to a higher value (or perhaps even de-facto by affecting the rate it increments).

It seems like a challenging project, but I feel up to the task

[FunkySwerve]

Acaos already did this, with the aptly named tmi plugin. You can reset the instruction limit on the fly, up to a fairly obscene number. It's linux only, atm, afaik, however, but it might be a good place to start.

Funky

[addicted2rpg]

That's great. Then I guess I can focus my efforts on a port instead


p.s. although the linux may look a bit differently in memory so looks like I got some debugging ahead. Looks like he didn't go after the image base but plays the memory game

[Zebranky]

Yes, NWNx plugins all modify the code in memory. That's the benefit of plugins -- if you decide you want stock functionality, rather than using a hex editor, just put a file in the NWN folder and restart the server. It also allows MUCH easier hooking of functions (as opposed to direct code modification).

Good luck
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<Fluffy-Kooshy> NWNx plugin is to this as nuclear warheads are to getting rid of fire ants.

<ThriWork> whenever I hear nwn extender, I think what does NWN need a penis extender for?

[addicted2rpg]

This thread is now horribly old, and horribly misnamed, but I'm posting in it because its the same conversation.


I've been playing around with IDA from time to time over the past few months when I've had time, and I believe the TMI trigger is happening at: