Novel open replacement for Blizzard's Map.dbc + AreaTable.dbc
+ the AzerothCore-style world_zone SQL tables. The 26th open
format added to the editor.
Defines two related kinds of locator in one catalog:
• Maps — top-level worlds (continents / instances / raids /
battlegrounds / arenas) with a friendly name,
type, expansion tag, and player-count cap.
• Areas — sub-zones within maps with friendly names, parent-
area chain, recommended level range, faction-
territory marker (alliance / horde / contested /
both), exploration XP, and an ambient-sound
cross-reference into WSND.
The runtime uses Areas for minimap labels, location strings
under the player frame, "Discover Sub-zone" XP gains, and
ambient-music selection on zone entry.
Cross-references with previously-added formats:
WMS.area.ambienceSoundId -> WSND.entry.soundId
WMS.area.parentAreaId -> WMS.area.areaId (intra-format
sub-zone hierarchy)
WSPN entries are tied to WMS.area boundaries by
world position (no direct ID — the runtime resolves
position -> area at lookup time)
Format:
• magic "WMSX", version 1, little-endian
• maps[] (each): mapId / name / shortName / mapType /
expansionId / maxPlayers
• areas[] (each): areaId / mapId / parentAreaId / name /
minLevel..maxLevel / factionGroup / explorationXP /
ambienceSoundId
Enums:
• MapType (5): Continent / Instance / Raid / Battleground / Arena
• ExpansionId (5): Classic / Tbc / Wotlk / Cata / Mop
• FactionGroup: Both / Alliance / Horde / Contested
(PvP-flagging zone)
API: WoweeMapsLoader::save / load / exists +
WoweeMaps::findMap / findArea.
Three preset emitters showcase the catalog shape:
• makeStarter — 1 continent + 3 areas with parent chain
(Goldshire is a sub-zone of Elwynn Forest)
• makeClassic — 2 continents + Deadmines instance + 6
areas (Stormwind/Elwynn/Goldshire/Westfall/
Duskwood/Teldrassil/Deadmines) with WSND
ambient-sound refs
• makeBgArena — Alterac Valley (40-player BG) + Nagrand
Arena (5v5 with maxPlayers=10)
CLI added (5 flags, 578 documented total now):
--gen-maps / --gen-maps-classic / --gen-maps-bgarena
--info-wms / --validate-wms
Validator catches: empty map name, unknown mapType / expansion,
BG/Arena with maxPlayers=0 (no participant cap), area ids=0
+ duplicates, empty area name, maxLevel < minLevel, areas
referencing non-existent maps, parentAreaId chains crossing
maps (sub-zones must be on the same world), self-parent.
