EQIA: Asset Injector

EQOA Character Restoration & Hybrid Graft Pipeline

A PS2 reverse-engineering pipeline by Ahmad Hassan (B-Ted) for restoring original EverQuest Online Adventures character geometry inside the Frontiers client while preserving the runtime structures that keep the game stable.

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Project Purpose

Asset Injector is built around one practical goal: transplant original EQOA Vanilla character geometry into EverQuest Online Adventures: Frontiers without breaking the PS2 engine assumptions around skeleton memory, DMA packet layout, material state, or CDVD file loading.

The project is intentionally technical, but the motivation is human: keeping an older online world understandable, inspectable, and repairable instead of letting its formats and tooling disappear into scattered notes and one-off scripts.

Area	Role
Main author	Ahmad Hassan (B-Ted)
Target platform	PlayStation 2 / PCSX2
Main language	Python 3.12
Primary task	Geometry-only macro-node transplant
Utility base	EQOA community tools organized under UTILITIES/
Output	Bootable patched Frontiers ISO

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Status

Capability	State	Notes
Invisible character fix	Solved	Preserves Frontiers render-critical material state.
0x0 TLB miss crash	Solved	Avoids EE skeleton buffer overflow.
DMA/VIF integrity	Solved	Moves whole geometry macro-nodes instead of splicing float arrays.
In-place ISO patching	Implemented	Avoids rebuilding layouts that break PS2 CDVD expectations.
Documentation	Active	Architecture and workflow notes are being consolidated.

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Architecture Overview

The pipeline is deliberately conservative. It keeps the Frontiers runtime container intact and replaces only the geometry macro-node that carries the Vanilla mesh payload.

flowchart LR
    A[Vanilla assets\nCHAR.ESF / CSF] --> B[Parse asset databases]
    C[Frontiers assets\nCHAR.ESF / CSF] --> B
    B --> D[Identify matching target records]
    D --> E[Extract Frontiers model wrapper]
    D --> F[Extract Vanilla geometry macro-node]
    E --> G[Preserve runtime-safe Frontiers nodes]
    F --> H[Validate DMA and VIF payloads]
    G --> I[Hybrid model assembly]
    H --> I
    I --> J[Rebuild CHAR.ESF payload]
    J --> K[Patch ISO in place]
    K --> L[Bootable patched Frontiers ISO]

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Core Design Rule

Preserve the structures the Frontiers engine allocates and schedules. Replace the geometry payload only after it can be moved as a whole, aligned object.

That rule is why the project avoids naive binary merging. The PS2 engine is sensitive to node order, buffer size expectations, DMA alignment, VIF packet layout, material state, and UDF/CDVD placement.

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System Workflow

sequenceDiagram
    participant User
    participant Tool as EQOA_MASTER_TOOL.bat
    participant Parser as ESF/CSF Parsers
    participant Graft as Geometry Transplant
    participant ISO as In-place ISO Patcher
    participant Emulator as PCSX2 / PS2 Runtime

    User->>Tool: Start patch workflow
    Tool->>Parser: Load Vanilla and Frontiers databases
    Parser->>Graft: Provide matched model records
    Graft->>Graft: Keep Frontiers skeleton/material/runtime nodes
    Graft->>Graft: Insert Vanilla geometry macro-node
    Graft->>ISO: Emit patched CHAR.ESF payload
    ISO->>ISO: Patch payload and UDF descriptors in place
    ISO->>Emulator: Produce patched ISO for verification

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Internal Module Structure

Module	Responsibility
core/clean_transplant_geom_only.py	Main geometry-only macro-node transplant workflow.
core/repack_iso.py	In-place ISO payload replacement without destructive layout rebuilding.
core/patch_udf_char_esf_v2.py	UDF allocation descriptor patching for updated CHAR.ESF lengths.
core/validate_dma.py	Low-level DMA tag integrity checks.
core/audit_materials.py	Material node inspection and render-state validation.
core/w_component_audit.py	Verifies W component preservation, including ADC bit behavior.
core/esf_parser.py	Binary ESF structure parsing.
core/esf_rebuilder.py	Rebuild support for modified ESF payloads.
diagnostics/	Focused inspection scripts for offsets, trees, payloads, textures, and runtime behavior.
UTILITIES/	Community utility repos, tools, format references, and server implementations.

flowchart TB
    subgraph Interface
        master[EQOA_MASTER_TOOL.bat]
        setup[setup_environment.bat]
    end

    subgraph Core
        parser[ESF parser]
        transplant[Geometry transplant]
        dma[DMA validation]
        udf[UDF patcher]
        iso[ISO repacker]
    end

    subgraph Evidence
        diagnostics[diagnostics]
        reports[docs / reports]
        utilities[UTILITIES]
    end

    subgraph Output
        patched[iso/patched/EQOA_Frontiers_Patched.iso]
    end

    setup --> master
    master --> parser
    parser --> transplant
    transplant --> dma
    dma --> iso
    udf --> iso
    diagnostics --> transplant
    utilities --> parser
    reports --> diagnostics
    iso --> patched

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---

Data Flow

flowchart TD
    v1[Vanilla CHAR.ESF] --> p1[Pointer table parsing]
    f1[Frontiers CHAR.ESF] --> p1
    c1[CHARCUST / CHARSEL CSF files] --> p1
    p1 --> m1[Target asset map]
    m1 --> x1[Vanilla geometry extraction]
    m1 --> x2[Frontiers runtime wrapper extraction]
    x1 --> a1[DMA/VIF audit]
    x2 --> a2[Material and skeleton retention]
    a1 --> h1[Hybrid payload]
    a2 --> h1
    h1 --> r1[Rebuilt CHAR.ESF]
    r1 --> i1[In-place ISO patch]
    i1 --> o1[Patched ISO]

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Patch Lifecycle

Phase	What Happens	Why It Exists
1. Baseline preparation	Required Vanilla and Frontiers assets are placed in expected folders.	Keeps original and target data separated.
2. Database parsing	ESF/CSF records and pointer tables are inspected.	Prevents guesswork around offsets and payload sizes.
3. Structural comparison	Vanilla and Frontiers model trees are compared.	Identifies what can move and what must stay native.
4. Macro-node graft	Vanilla 0x02610 geometry is inserted into a Frontiers-safe wrapper.	Preserves DMA chain integrity.
5. Verification	DMA tags, materials, skeleton assumptions, and payload boundaries are audited.	Catches runtime-breaking mistakes before ISO patching.
6. ISO patching	CHAR.ESF is patched directly into the original ISO layout.	Avoids CDVD/LBA breakage from full ISO rebuilds.
7. Runtime testing	Patched output is tested in emulator.	Confirms the fix survives actual engine behavior.

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Technical Problem

Early transplant attempts failed for four engine-level reasons:

Problem	Cause	Resolution
EE skeleton overflow	Vanilla models used a smaller skeleton than the Frontiers animation controller expected.	Preserve Frontiers skeleton and bone matrix allocation.
DMA tag misalignment	Splicing float arrays disturbed strict 16-byte packet boundaries.	Move the entire geometry macro-node instead of partial data.
ADC bit damage	Zeroing W destroyed the anti-double-clipping bit.	Preserve the original packed vertex payload.
Render rejection	Vanilla material nodes did not match Frontiers render expectations.	Preserve Frontiers material state.

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Build & Deployment Pipeline

flowchart LR
    clone[Clone repository] --> setup[Run setup_environment.bat]
    setup --> assets[Place baseline ISOs]
    assets --> run[Run EQOA_MASTER_TOOL.bat]
    run --> patch[Patch Game ISO]
    patch --> verify[Run diagnostics / emulator checks]
    verify --> output[iso/patched]

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Quick Start

1. Clone or download this repository.
2. Run setup_environment.bat.
3. Confirm the required baseline ISOs exist:
   • iso/unpatched/EQOA_Original.iso
   • iso/unpatched/EQOA_Frontiers.iso
4. Run EQOA_MASTER_TOOL.bat.
5. Choose Patch Game ISO.
6. Test the generated ISO from iso/patched/.

Close the emulator before patching. Open file handles can cause [Errno 13] Permission Denied during ISO writes.

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Repository Structure

Asset-Injector/
├── core/                     # transplant, parsing, patching, and validation logic
├── diagnostics/              # focused analysis and runtime investigation scripts
├── docs/                     # reports, architecture notes, testing notes, project context
├── iso/
│   ├── unpatched/            # local baseline ISO inputs
│   ├── patched/              # generated patched ISO outputs
│   └── legacy/               # retained legacy ISO workspace
├── assets/                   # tracked lightweight asset fixtures and placeholders
├── UTILITIES/                # external EQOA tools and reference projects as submodules
├── legacy/                   # older scripts kept for traceability
├── phase1_patch_ingame_models/
├── phase2_preserve_baseline/
├── phase3_patch_character_selection/
├── phase4_unified_patch/
├── workspace/                # working files, extracted data, scratch analysis, reports
├── EQOA_MASTER_TOOL.bat      # main operator entry point
├── setup_environment.bat     # environment/bootstrap helper
└── README.md

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Utility Contributions

Asset Injector is authored and maintained by Ahmad Hassan (B-Ted). The project also stands on useful EQOA community tooling. The people below created tools, data references, server implementations, patches, and format research that support the work organized in this repository.

Contributor	Contribution used in this project
benturi	ben_eqoa_c_server, C server and packet-handling reference.
rosyfiles	EQOA_Addons, Lua addon and workflow helper scripts.
devin103	EQOA_Creator, EQOA-Frontiers-ISO-Patch, EQOA-Prototype-Server.
Jadiction	EQOA-Data, structured EQOA game data reference.
DabDavis	eqoa-esf-tools and eqoa-pipeline, ESF/CSF and runtime pipeline tooling.
userrnx	EQOA-Ranix, EQOA utility/reference work.
joukop	EQOA-server and ESF-file-format, server and format references.
eqoa	eqoa.github.io, public EQOA reference material.
EQOAReturnHome	EQOAGameServer, modern server implementation.
Dexr1te	eqoazyc-api, API/service reference.
Faxonation2	Hagley, EQOA reference utility.
Randall-Adams	Kairen, EQOA reference utility.
unenergizer	OpenEQOA, open server/reference implementation.
trevormorg	tech-eqoakv, technical EQOA reference work.
skulkingfox	eqoa, EQOA reference project.

Utility submodule map

UTILITIES/
├── ben_eqoa_c_server
├── EQOA_Addons
├── EQOA_Creator
├── EQOA-Data
├── eqoa-esf-tools
├── EQOA-Frontiers-ISO-Patch
├── EQOA-Prototype-Server
├── EQOA-Ranix
├── EQOA-server
├── eqoa.github.io
├── EQOAGameServer
├── eqoazyc-api
├── Hagley
├── Kairen
├── OpenEQOA
├── tech-eqoakv
├── eqoa
├── eqoa-pipeline
└── ESF-file-format

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Development Workflow

gitGraph
    commit id: "baseline research"
    branch diagnostics
    checkout diagnostics
    commit id: "trace RAM / offsets"
    commit id: "compare model trees"
    checkout main
    merge diagnostics
    branch transplant
    checkout transplant
    commit id: "geometry macro-node graft"
    commit id: "DMA validation"
    checkout main
    merge transplant
    commit id: "ISO patch output"

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Recommended contribution path:

1. Start with a small, reproducible asset or diagnostic case.
2. Add evidence under diagnostics/ or docs/ before changing transplant behavior.
3. Keep binary patching changes isolated and explain offset assumptions.
4. Run the relevant verifier before trusting emulator output.
5. Document new findings where the next person will look first.

New people are welcomed, especially around documentation, reproducible diagnostics, safer validation, and clearer format notes.

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Documentation Map

Document	Purpose
CHANGELOG.md	Project changes and utility contribution notes.
PATCH_GUIDE.md	Patch usage details.
WALKTHROUGH_DEV.md	Development walkthrough.
docs/architecture.md	Architecture notes.
docs/DIAGNOSTICS_GUIDE.md	Diagnostic workflow guidance.
docs/TESTING_GUIDE.md	Testing notes and validation guidance.
docs/SOLUTION_REPORT.md	Technical solution narrative.

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Notes

This repository does not distribute commercial game ISOs. Baseline ISO files are local inputs and are intentionally ignored by Git.

The project is technical preservation work. The code favors explicit binary evidence, repeatable diagnostics, and narrow changes over broad rewrites.