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.

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.