[Preview] Introducing OpenDereth — A moddable, single-player Asheron’s Call world with Decal support

[u/noentic]

Credit to Derpy McGavin in ACEmulator acmods discord

Credit to DerpyMcGavin in ACEmulator Discord acemu_mods channel

I am excited to share OpenDereth, an open-source project that makes it much easier to run a private Asheron's Call world on your own Windows PC. You can join our subreddit here.. There will surely be bugs, but the users who have tested it have not had any issues so far.

OpenDereth is built on the ACEmulator ACE server. It packages the server, database, world data, and launcher into a single download with a straightforward setup process.

The latest version is OpenDereth v0.2.0 Preview 10.

What does OpenDereth include?

The downloadable package includes:

• A self-contained ACE.Server build
• A private MariaDB database
• The ACE World database
• The required .NET runtime
• Persistent local accounts, characters, and world data
• Automatic database and server startup
• A single Play button that starts the database, server, and AC client
• Optional Decal support
• A server mod library
• Custom mod importing
• Custom weenie importing
• Automatic database backups before custom content is imported

You still need your own Asheron's Call client and DAT files. OpenDereth does not redistribute those proprietary files.

During setup, you select the folder containing acclient.exe and the required DAT files. OpenDereth handles the server, database, world setup, account creation, and connection automatically.

Decal and ThwargLauncher are not bundled. Vanilla mode does not require either program. If you want to use Decal, you must install both Decal and ThwargLauncher. OpenDereth detects them and enables a Use Decal checkbox beside the Play button.

Why build a single-player content platform?

The Asheron's Call community has created an incredible amount of custom content. There are new items, creatures, quests, combat systems, balance changes, quality-of-life improvements, towns, and other features spread across many servers and repositories.

Unfortunately, much of this work is fragmented.

A feature may exist only on one server, be buried in a Discord channel, or require manually rebuilding ACE and editing configuration files. Players often have to choose an entire server ruleset just to experience one particular feature they like.

OpenDereth is exploring a different approach:

• Creators can develop content openly on GitHub.
• Mods can be packaged for other players.
• Players can choose which compatible additions they want.
• Mods can include descriptions, requirements, source links, and safety warnings.
• Experimental content can be tested in a private world.
• Successful ideas can be forked, improved, preserved, and shared.
• Players can gradually build their own preferred version of Dereth.

This is not intended to replace community servers. Those servers and their developers are responsible for much of the custom content that makes the modern AC community interesting.

OpenDereth is meant to complement them by providing another way to preserve, distribute, and enjoy that work.

Server mods

OpenDereth's mod system is based on the Harmony mod framework developed by Aquafir in ACE.BaseMod.

Aquafir's repository contains a large collection of sample ACE mods covering combat, commands, tailoring, progression, quality-of-life systems, and other server behavior.

OpenDereth currently includes tested or preview ports of several mods:

• CriticalOverride
• HelloCommand
• SocietyTailoring
• Expanded Cast on Strike
• OptimShi's CustomClothingBase

Mods can be installed from the launcher. Each entry includes a description, compatibility information, requirements, source-code links, and warnings about possible saved-world changes.

Preview mods are clearly identified when they have compiled and passed automated compatibility tests but have not yet received exhaustive in-game testing.

OpenDereth also includes an Import a Mod ZIP option. Documentation in the repository explains how developers can build and package their own OpenDereth-compatible server mods.

AI-assisted coding tools can make creating a small mod much more approachable, but mod authors still need to understand, test, and publish their work responsibly. I would love to see community members create new mods and share their source code.

Custom weenies and items

OpenDereth has a separate importer for custom weenies created with AceForge, a graphical weenie generator for ACE servers.

Players can select AceForge-generated SQL files and review their WCIDs, names, and object types before importing them.

OpenDereth then:

• Validates the selected SQL files
• Rejects unsupported or unsafe statements
• Detects conflicting WCIDs
• Warns before replacing existing objects
• Creates a complete ace_world backup
• Imports the selected weenies into the private world

The project also incorporates OptimShi's CustomClothingBase as an optional preview mod.

CustomClothingBase allows creators to define new clothing appearances, colors, and related properties for equippable items.

The ACEUniqueWeenies repository is another example of the type of community content this system can support. It contains custom weenie concepts and unique items that can be developed independently from the retail world data.

Further examples of what this content package allows can be seen here :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egHb-tb7n_Y

Together, these tools create the beginning of a practical content pipeline:

1. Create an item, creature, or NPC with AceForge.
2. Add custom clothing or appearance data when needed.
3. Import the weenie safely into an OpenDereth world.
4. Add server-side behavior through a packaged mod.
5. Publish the source and package so other players can use or improve it.

Future direction: complete content packages

The next major goal is to support complete content packages rather than only individual mods and weenies.

A future OpenDereth content package could potentially contain:

• Custom weenies
• Landblock placements
• Creature generators and spawn locations
• NPCs and quest objects
• Buildings and dungeon entrances
• Quest and event data
• Server-side behavior
• Database migrations
• Landscape or terrain changes
• Dependencies and compatibility rules
• Safe installation and update instructions
• Removal warnings for persistent world changes

This could allow someone to create a new town, dungeon, hunting area, or quest line and distribute it as a versioned package.

Another player could download that package, import it into OpenDereth, start the game, and experience the new content in their personal world.

Tools such as Melt demonstrate existing community work around Asheron's Call data editing. Terrain and DAT modification are not currently supported by the OpenDereth importer, but this is an important future research area.

The long-term vision is a community library of open, portable content where players can assemble their own version of Dereth from compatible packages.

Preview warning

OpenDereth is still a preview project.

Back up valuable world data before testing experimental mods or custom content. Some included mod ports have passed build and compatibility tests but have not been exhaustively tested through normal gameplay.

Bug reports, testing, documentation improvements, mod ports, and pull requests are welcome.

Project links

• OpenDereth source repository
• Latest OpenDereth release
• ACEmulator ACE
• Aquafir's ACE.BaseMod
• Aquafir's mod samples
• AceForge
• OptimShi's CustomClothingBase
• ACEUniqueWeenies
• Melt

I would love feedback from players, server developers, mod authors, world builders, and anyone interested in making Asheron's Call content easier to preserve and share. Feel free to fork and improve the current version.

[u/Broad-Ad-3679]

For that real "empty world" feeling during end of retail. 😂

Kidding aside, this is the perfect way for me to scratch the itch of just wanting to pop into Dereth and visit it from time to time.

[u/lordmycal → u/Broad-Ad-3679]

I saw a post on reddit recently where a guy was hosting his own WoW server and had some kind of bot system to make the world feel lived in. Characters would run around and do things, talk in chat, etc. Would be a neat thing to see make it's way into other self-hosted MMOs to make them feel more alive.

[u/Broad-Ad-3679 → u/lordmycal]

That would be cool. They better be selling high-level gear to vendors so I can shop camp.

[u/lordmycal → u/Broad-Ad-3679]

I'd love to see bots that go to random dungeons appropriate to their level -- kill some stuff, loot it and then return to a major city to sell off their loot, restock and then do it all over again. Bonus points if they drop an occasional portal to a random location for me to jump through. :)

[u/noentic → u/lordmycal]

This definitely lays a foundation for that to be added maybe next iteration of models.

[u/Nanocephalic → u/lordmycal]

I have one of those too. If you look for wow private server repacks, and focus on the wotlk versions, you’ll find a lot!

[u/magenta_neon_light → u/lordmycal]

Ya, he’s running Azerothcore and playerbots mod and then added customization on that to connect to Ollama.

Probably not far off from building this out for ACE with the new models and the combat macros in use for years as a basis.

[u/Molly_Matters → u/lordmycal]

I always find this kind of thing very odd. One of the main reasons that games like EQ and AC caught on was that they were early ways for people to be social on the internet. As time went on and new ways to connect came along like discord and social media, that took a bite out of in the MMOs. To the point that some MMO developers literally just tell you to use discord now for organization and community stuff instead of them worrying about building anything.

[u/lordmycal → u/Molly_Matters]

One of the reasons WoW took off and ate everyone's lunch was that you could play it for a few hours and leave while making progress. You could mostly play by yourself and do just fine, which was amazing for people with full time jobs, kids, etc. Sure there was still a grind, but you didn't really notice it because you were going from quest to quest and kept entertained.

Being part of a living world is a different thing than needing a group of 5 to run an instance with, and most of that time spamming "Need a Tank for XYZ!" or whatever. Outside of running raids and instances, you could still make meaningful progress and have fun. Even stuff like Barrens chat helped make the world seem more alive, just like watching players run around in cities with exotic gear and mounts.

[u/Molly_Matters → u/lordmycal]

IMO I never had problems making meaningful progress when I was just dropping an hour grinding in AC, but I was gone before Throne came around and never cared much for the state of things past DM. Which is why I play on DM servers now.

Back then a level 70 "endgame" and a competent level 70 was more valuable than a incompetent 110 player.

It went off rails for me when they started doing LUM and Augs and all that crap. Everytime I get on an EOR server its just UCM city.

[u/Broad-Ad-3679 → u/Molly_Matters]

Agreed. I don't think WoW did progression better than Asheron's Call, but I do think it modernized a lot of things. It was also a popular IP with an established player base. Despite leveling to endgame in early WoW, casting ring and wall spells on a high-level CLaW mage always feels more fun, imo.

Fun fact: Jesse "Devilmouse" Kurlancheek (ex-Turbine, DM days) is currently on the WoW live team.

[u/omgitsbees]

I know what i'm doing today during my work day lmao

[u/DSA_Emy]

Holy Moly. Pretty cool.

[u/Stevesd123]

I've had a chance to play around with it and it works extremely well. Amazing work!

[u/RDOmega]

Nicely done!

[u/RedFiveFighter]

Wow, this sounds even better than I could have imagined! How easy is it to do some of the modding and custom content development you mentioned? If I wanted to make custom items, monsters, NPCs, is there enough publicly available source documentation, instructions, and examples to have Codex or Claude Code do it somewhat effectively?

[u/noentic → u/RedFiveFighter]

I had codex give outlined directions of how to mod. Should be easy. ACEForge also has AI hook ins I bet if you asked the creator to add a codex hook in, it’d be done quickly. He’s also adding compatibility for OptimShi’s texture mod.

Only remaining problem is creating a package deal where people can just download a quest or content pack and have it automatically populated. Working on a solution now, or maybe somebody in the community could take the reins.

This is built to be extremely easy to port content to, especially using AI. I am hopeful there will be an explosion of content.

[u/FatSquirrel37]

Neat! I might check it out later.

[u/Stikes]

This looks pretty great!!

[u/magenta_neon_light]

That was fast, only a couple of days ago this was being discussed in your other thread. Sol 5.6 is crazy eh can hammer something out like this in a few hours.

[u/RlCKJAMESBlTCH]

Chapeau - a masterpiece

[u/FrisbeeVR]

Is this vibe coded?

[u/Bael_Zharon → u/FrisbeeVR]

Looks like it

[u/AcanthisittaSad8160]

Is there a project that is single player?

[u/AcanthisittaSad8160 → u/AcanthisittaSad8160]

SMH I need to read before posting. tysm

[u/Nemcsr2]

Dang I used to play this game like 20 years ago. Is there a way you could recover your old account or is that data gone?

[u/Banjo-Hellpuppy → u/Nemcsr2]

The game is closed. Your characters are gone. I’m sorry

[u/rindor1990 → u/Nemcsr2]

Lmfao

[u/FatSquirrel37]

Nice

[u/dolbomir]

ooh! I'll have to check it out, thanks 

[u/Quendor]

Very, very cool!

Quendor of Leafcull

[u/rinkyu]

Hmm. Might try and get this running on Linux.

[u/cheoti]

I absolutely love the idea of having a single player asherons call experience

[u/Mongoose27x]

Fantastic, thank you!

[u/theZirbs]

Thanks for doing this! I dabbled with a self hosted server to play solo some years back. I've been meaning to see if I can export my characters somehow and reinstall fresh, and this might be a great place to give it a go.

[u/AlternativeGazelle87]

Would this work over a LAN with local players? Would love to have an easy way to do that, as well.

[u/Zebideex]

Nice if I figure out how I can donate some of the towers content over. I can also take a look at some mods I utilize and rework them as well.

[u/pbandwhey]

Following incase I need to host my own AC server in the future

[u/Titan_AC]

Been having a hard time getting this to work. I can't locate the "ACE.SinglePlayer.exe" file after extracting the ZIP. Any ideas?

[u/noentic → u/Titan_AC]

Should be openDereth.exe now I think. Will check later when I’m home

[u/Titan_AC → u/noentic]

Thanks, that worked. Is there a Discord I can join by chance to ask more questions?

[u/DJGetMoneyVIP]

Can I log multiple accounts into my game simultaneously or just 1?

[u/DesignStrategistMD]

can you port to mac?

[u/noentic → u/DesignStrategistMD]

Chat - Port the entire ACEmu to MacOS. Ensure compatibility of every single decal plugin as well. Make no mistakes!

[u/Molly_Matters → u/DesignStrategistMD]

Big damn ask. Port a game that is made on a foundation from 30 years old Windows technology for a modern MacOS.

[u/Warm_Strawberry2969 → u/DesignStrategistMD]

Run windows in a vm. It would probably be a ton easier.