🛠️ Tools and Utilities

Prerequisite

Install dependency

  • Node.js: (Latest or LTS should be fine)

After installing the the applications above, run npm install in this directory.

Configuration

All settings are stored in the .env file at the root of the project directory.

Before using any tools, rename .env.example to .env and adjust the configuration as needed.

The current values required are:

Note: In most cases, only HEROES_OF_THE_STORM_INSTALL_LOCATION needs to be set. This is the install location for Heroes of the Storm

Key Type Description Default Value
HEROES_OF_THE_STORM_INSTALL_LOCATION String The location of HotS game file. (The main location, which should contain folders such as HeroesData, Support, Versions and files such as .build.info. C:/Program Files/Heroes of the Storm
TOOLS_USE_CASC_ONLINE_MODE Bool Whether to use the online data when extracting game files (will not extract from HEROES_OF_THE_STORM_INSTALL_LOCATION) false
TOOLS_KEEP_CASC_ONLINE_MODE_CACHE Bool Whether to cache the online data files true
TOOLS_CASC_ONLINE_MODE_CACHE_DIR_NAME String The directory name (inside the OS temp dir) used to store the online CASC cache. Used by both extraction and npm run util:clearcasccache. trymode20_online_casc_cache
TOOLS_XML_MAIN_XML_PATH String The location of base.stormdata/gamedata.xml file. ./(10)trymemode.stormmap/base.stormdata/GameData.xml
TOOLS_XML_MODS_DIR String The location where the XML mods are stored. ./(10)trymemode.stormmap/base.stormdata/Mods
TOOLS_GAMEDATA_DIR String The location of base.stormdata directory. ./(10)trymemode.stormmap/base.stormdata
TOOLS_S2MA_SAVE_LOCATION String The save location for *.s2ma files. ./s2ma
TOOLS_MIMIC_LIBRARY_SAVE_LOCATION String The location to save the mimic libraries. ./(10)trymemode.stormmap/base.stormdata/ModuleMimicLibs/InternalMimics
TOOLS_MIMIC_LIBRARY_IMPORT_PREFIX String The prefix of the import mimic library, relative to TOOLS_GAMEDATA_DIR. ModuleMimicLibs/InternalMimics/
TOOLS_UPDATE_LIBRARY_LIBRARIES_LOCATION String The location of the galaxy modules. ./(10)trymemode.stormmap/base.stormdata/Modules
TOOLS_MIMC_ABILITY_XML_GENERATION_LOCATION String The location which Mimic Ability tool will produce. Please have it inside TOOLS_XML_MODS_DIR (Any level subdirectory does not matter). ./(10)trymemode.stormmap/base.stormdata/Mods/GameData/HeroesMod/AbilityMimic.xml
TOOLS_MIMC_BEHAVIOR_XML_GENERATION_LOCATION String The location which Mimic Behavior tool will produce. Please have it inside TOOLS_XML_MODS_DIR (Any level subdirectory does not matter). ./(10)trymemode.stormmap/base.stormdata/Mods/GameData/HeroesMod/BehaviorMimic.xml
TOOLS_MIMC_MODEL_XML_GENERATION_LOCATION String The location which Mimic Model tool will produce. Please have it inside TOOLS_XML_MODS_DIR (Any level subdirectory does not matter). ./(10)trymemode.stormmap/base.stormdata/Mods/GameData/HeroesMod/ModelMimic.xml

Tools and Utilities

Utility - Symbolic Linker

Command: npm run util:symlink

This utility creates a Symbolic Link to the Heroes of the Storm installation folder, mirroring the directory so that edits made in this repo are reflected in the actual Try Mode map.

This command only needs to be run once if it completes successfully.

Utility - Clear CASC Online Cache

Command: npm run util:clearcasccache

This utility removes the online CASC cache directory used when TOOLS_USE_CASC_ONLINE_MODE=true. The cache lives inside the OS temp directory under the folder named by the TOOLS_CASC_ONLINE_MODE_CACHE_DIR_NAME env variable (default: trymode20_online_casc_cache).

Use this when you want to force a fresh download of game files on the next extraction run, or to free up disk space.

Utility - Finder Tool for *.s2ma

Command: npm run extract:s2ma

*.s2ma files are the generated libraries for Heroes of the Storm and also contain actual map files.

The tool will extract all of the *.s2ma files and output them to s2ma/ directory.

To view or extract them, I suggest uses MPQ Editor.

Note: This is the same as s2ma repo

Tool - Automatically generate GameData.XML

Command: npm run build:xml

Use npm run watch:xml for automatically run the command above when the files were changed

This tool automatically generates GameData.XML under ./(10)trymemode.stormmap/base.stormdata, including all XML files in ./(10)trymemode.stormmap/base.stormdata/Mods by scanning through all subdirectories.

Note: It will ignore any files that do not end with .xml (case-insensitive) and does not validate XML syntax.

Tool - Ability Mimic Generator

Command: npm run build:mimicabilities

This tool searches through most abilities (Q, W, E, R, represented as <CAbil*>) and maps each to a corresponding <CBehaviorAbility>, with the ID prefixed with "M".

For example <CAbilEffectInstant id="ZeratulCleave"> will map to <CBehaviorAbility id="MZeratulCleave">.

This allows you to freely add any ability to any hero (it will appear in the items bar — the top bar where active items like Ice Block and Cleanse are placed).

To do so, add the behavior to the selected units (e.g using the chat command addbehavior MZeratulCleave)

Note that some abilities have special requirements. For example, ultimates may require Ultimate2Unlocked or Ultimate2Unlocked behavior — you will need to add these to the unit as well (e.g chat command adb Ultimate2Unlocked). Details on each abilities requirements will be shown inside the generated XML file.

Note: After generation, it will run a function similar to npm run build:xml once, since its a XML mod after all.

The generated XML file location is: ./(10)trymemode.stormmap/base.stormdata/Mods/GameData/HeroesMod/AbilityMimic.xml. You can change it with .env variable: TOOLS_MIMC_ABILITY_XML_GENERATION_LOCATION

Demo: Alarak with Zeratul’s Cleave, VP, 2 banner from Varian, Gazlowe’s Turret

Alarak with extra abilities

Tool - Behavior Mimic Generator

Command: npm run build:mimicbehaviors

This tool searches through all <CBehaviorBuff> entries and maps each to a toggleable hotkey button, similar to how Ice Block / Spell Shield works.

This will generate an ability with the prefixed MB. For example, the behavior AurielResurrectLightSpeedControllerBehavior (The behavior that gives massive movement speed to units that are resurrected by Auriel Lv20 Resurrection talent) will generate an ability MBAurielResurrectLightSpeedControllerBehavior, You can add this ability as a behavior to units using the chat command addbehavior MBAurielResurrectLightSpeedControllerBehavior.

Note: This will also respect the game settings, e.g Stuns and Silences will disable hotkey bars. Therefore it is not recommended to use MBPermaStun (Behavior Buff: PermaStun) or MBPermaSilence (Behavior Buff: PermaSilence) since you cannot active again to cancel it. You will need to respawn / remove the behavior (not the ability but actual behavior buff) if you would like to regain control.

Note: After generation, it will run a function similar to npm run build:xml once, since its a XML mod after all.

The generated XML file location is: ./(10)trymemode.stormmap/base.stormdata/Mods/GameData/HeroesMod/AbilityMimic.xml. You can change it with .env variable: TOOLS_MIMC_BEHAVIOR_XML_GENERATION_LOCATION

Tool - Model Mimic Generator

Command: npm run build:mimicmodels

This tool searches through all <CModel> entries and maps each to a <CUnit>, which can then be controlled on the map.

This will generate a unit with the prefixed UN. For instance, the model RetreatPing (White Flag retreat ping model) will have a unit UNRetreatPing, You can summon this unit using the chat command: summon UNRetreatPing.

Note: After generation, it will run a function similar to npm run build:xml once, since its a XML mod after all.

The generated XML file location is: : ./(10)trymemode.stormmap/base.stormdata/Mods/GameData/HeroesMod/ModelMimic.xml You can change it with .env variable: TOOLS_MIMC_MODEL_XML_GENERATION_LOCATION

Tool - Mimic Lib Generator

Command: npm run build:mimiclib

This feature is disabled by default in the game (though the tool can still generate the mimic libraries). This is because it is incompatible with some maps, and the feature does not provide sufficient benefit to justify enabling it by default. Because it is disabled via a .galaxy modification, it cannot be toggled with a chat command. If you would like to enable this feature, please manually edit the file:

File: (10)trymemode.stormmap/base.stormdata/LibTryMeMode.galaxy

Modify the following lines by removing the leading //:

  • Line 2 (at the top): Change // include "ModuleMimicLibs/MimicLibsLoader" to include "ModuleMimicLibs/MimicLibsLoader"
  • Line 23 (inside the libTRYM_InitLibraries() function): Change // libMICL_InitLib(); to libMICL_InitLib();

The Mimic Libs will be taken from heroesdata.stormmod/base.stormmod/TriggerLibs.

Currently will mimic (AI and Native Libs is excluded):

  • GameDataHelperLib.galaxy
  • GameDataHelperLib_h.galaxy
  • GameLib.galaxy
  • GameLib_h.galaxy
  • HeroesLib.galaxy
  • HeroesLib_h.galaxy
  • MapMechanicsLib.galaxy
  • MapMechanicsLib_h.galaxy
  • SoundLib.galaxy
  • SoundLib_h.galaxy
  • StartingExperienceLib.galaxy
  • StartingExperienceLib_h.galaxy
  • SupportLib.galaxy
  • SupportLib_h.galaxy
  • UILib.galaxy
  • UILib_h.galaxy

Internal Library Mimics

Mimic Libraries are identical to internal trigger libs (Created by Blizzard). However, due to some restrictions, some functionalities cannot be easily used (for example it will detect whether it is a development build or production build, to prevent normal users accessing the commands.)

TODO: Found out what cause LibAIAI.galaxy to crash the map when mimic-ed. Currently exclude that lib from mimicking.

Hence, I have create a mimic lib that is identical to internal libs, but modified a few things automatically.

Renamed all triggers, variables, function etc.

To prevent conflict with the original library, I have renamed the prefix name to Mimic[LibFileName], for example libSprt_gt_DEBUGShortHeroDeath_Func will changed to MimicSupportLib_gt_DEBUGShortHeroDeath_Func.

Changed Game Cheat Detection (Dev/Prod build detect)

Since there are two ways that Blizzard detect whether does the game are in dev mode (maybe by different Blizzard Staff), some of the triggers have them both validated:

if (!((libCore_gv_dEBUGDebuggingEnabled == true))) {
    return false;
}

This is most commonly used, however it can be easily bypass it, as libCore_gv_dEBUGDebuggingEnabled is just a variable that can be overwritten, which already done in libDEBUG.galaxy.

However, another checking method on some triggers can not bypass:

if (!((GameCheatsEnabled(c_gameCheatCategoryDevelopment) == true))) {
    return false;
}

Because this c_gameCheatCategoryDevelopment is a constant that was pre-defined (which cannot be changed and will crash if you “forcefully” do so).

Hence, all the mimic internal libs that checks for GameCheatsEnabled(c_gameCheatCategoryDevelopment) and libCore_gv_dEBUGDebuggingEnabled will be replaced to true.

Override TriggerDebugOutput() with a custom command MimicTriggerDebugOutput()

Since those code are for debug purpose only, if you have played around SC2 Maps, you should come around the TriggerDebugOutput function. This is internally, which looks something like this:

SC2 debug window

However, I cannot find a way to get the debug window up despite manually calling the debug window out. This tool is extremely useful for debugging if Heroes can call it out. Well, unfortunately.

Those messages still carry out important information about the current state of the trigger call it was changed the TriggerDebugOutput inside the mimic internal libs to a custom function, that will output the message to c_messageAreaSubtitle instead, like how all the chat commands outputs.

Note: This feature is disabled by default. Meaning it will not showing any messages. This is to prevent the bombardment from SupportLib’s logging messages (like 00:00|Player 1|ExperienceContribution 1234). If you would like to toggle this functionality, you can use the chat command tmtdo or togglemimictriggerdebugoutput to do so.

Prefixing Chat Commands

In order to prevent a chat command have conflict with the original lib (for example both internal and mimic lib listen for the same chat command and execute the same function), I have added a m prefix to all chat commands, regardless what characters do they start with.

For example:

Internal Command Mimicked Command
invulnerablestructures minvulnerablestructures
BUILDINGSCALING mBUILDINGSCALING
-AI All m-AI All

Tool - Patching Libraries

Command: npm run patch:libraries

Use npm run watch:libraries for automatically run the command above when required files were changed.

Automatically removes all //_heroes_replace_// strings in the Modules folder, reducing the chance of human error.

After exported and saved the galaxy file, run this command and enter Try mode to test it out.

This does not need to do a manual search/replace in Galaxy Editor.

Tool - Build Usage Doc (usage.md)

Command: npm run build:usagedoc

Use npm run watch:usagedoc for automatically run the command above when required files were changed.

Builds the usage.md document from usage.json in ./docs/gen/usage.json.

Tool - Build Showcase Doc (showcase.md)

Command: npm run build:showcasedoc

Builds the showcase.md document from showcase.json in ./docs/gen/showcase.json and the individual showcase entries stored under ./docs/gen/showcase/.

Each subdirectory inside ./docs/gen/showcase/ represents a single showcase entry and must contain a metadata.json file. An optional files/ subdirectory may also be included, whose contents will be embedded as fenced code blocks in the generated document.

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Try Mode 2.0 is a personal project and is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Blizzard or Heroes of the Storm. Distributed by an MIT license.

Page last modified: May 9 2026 at 08:00 PM.

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Made with ❤️ by Jamie Phan | GitHub.