Crimson Browser & Mod Manager

Crimson Browser & Mod Manager


Tool Function
Crimson Browser & Mod Manager is a standalone archive viewer and modding assistant for Crimson Desert.
It says 0. PAMT Metadata, Browse .paz Browse contents, preview common asset types, extract files, and rebuild supported mod-folder or overlay VFS overrides without altering the original archives.


Requirements

• Windows
• Python 3.10 or newer
• A Python installation that includes Tkinter
• The following Python packages are required: requirements.txt
• vtk For the embedded 3D model viewer
• vgmstream for WEM audio previews
  

Install / Launch

• Install Python 3.10 or later
• Open a terminal in the Crimson Browser folder.
• Run:
  pip install -r requirements.txt
• Confirm
  tools/vgmstream-win64/vgmstream-cli.exeEnable WEM preview support
• Edit
  config.txtand set your game path, for example:
  archives_path=D:\Path\To\Crimson DesertTheme=Dark
• Run
  python crimson_browser.py
  

First Launch
Initial launch processes archive metadata and generates the fast cache.
Subsequent launches will utilize the cached data unless you manually clear it. Refresh Cache.


Current Features

• Browse archive contents with search, filters, sorting, and optional tree paths
• Persistent fast cache to avoid repeated archive parsing unless refreshed.
• Preview tabs for text, images, 3D models, video, audio, and hex
• Partial-compressed DDS preview/extract support via meta/0.patch
• Customizable Light/Dark Mode saved in config.txt
• Extract selected or all filtered files with progress and time remaining
• PAM/PAMLOD extraction automatically exports OBJ assets as well.
• .paloc preview, JSON sidecar export, and JSON reimport support
• Single-file reimport as a rebuilt mod folder pack group override.
• Batch import folders from any loose directory structure
• ChaCha20 decryption and re-encryption available for compatible entries
• Full affected package group rebuilds with updated dependencies. 0. pamt and meta/0.papgt
• Automatically create new 16-byte-aligned .paz Chunks when supported replacements outgrow the old slot
• Managed Mod Manager UI mods/<mod>/files Sources, metadata editing, enable/disable, and override priority based on order
• Build Active Mods merges enabled mods into one final overlay output under mod_build/0036 Plus mod_build/meta/0.papgt
• Deploy In Game consumes both classic Mods Folder Overrides and Final Mod Build Output, with local Back Backups
• Launch Game bin64/CrimsonDesert.exe
  

3D Model Viewer

• Embedded PAM / PAMLOD Parsing
• VTK-based offscreen renderer integrated directly into the main tool.
• Main tool integrated OBJ export path
• Left-drag to rotate, right-drag to adjust lighting.
• Reset View
• Texture Toggle
• High-Poly Reduction Toggle
• Flip Normals
• Referenced textures are resolved from loaded archives when available.
• PAMLOD texture lookup also checks grouped references and DDS variants
• Texture alpha/transparency is preserved in the 3D preview when available.
  

Audio / Video / Image Preview

• WEM Audio Preview via vgmstream
• MP4 preview with built-in playback, seek, and fullscreen controls
• Image preview with zoom, pan, and transparency grid background.
  

Extraction Log

• LZ4 files decompressed.
• Partial-compressed DDS files are reconstructed to standard DDS format for preview or extraction when meta/0.patch Provides the texture header
• If a file cannot be decrypted or decompressed at this time, its raw data will be written directly.
• PAM / PAMLOD extraction also generates an OBJ file alongside the extracted source file.
• Matching textures are exported alongside the OBJ file when available.
  

Reimport Notes

• Original archives remain unaltered
• Output is written to the mod_folder as rebuilt pack-group overrides.
• Supports raw entries, LZ4 entries, clear entries, and ChaCha20-encrypted entries
• Updated PAZ offsets, sizes, and checksums. 0. PAMT, and meta/0.papgt For Affected Parties
• Uses standard LZ4 recompression for rebuilt payloads instead of forced exact-size matching.
• Currently does not support Partial, Zlib, or QuickLZ recompression.
• Currently does not support reimport of non-ChaCha20 encrypted files.
  

Quick Cache
The tool stores archive metadata and entry lists in:
crimson_cache/archive_index_cache.pkl


Use the Refresh Cache Force Full Rebuild
The live cache state also monitors the deployed-state file and the current meta/0.papgt Signature.


Known Issues

• Reimport currently updates existing file entries, not new archive paths.
• Minimal Multi-Mod Builds Build Mod Rely on the game's overlay to resolve untouched original chunks from the base installation.
• Known runtime path evidence still indicates numeric. %d Piece Chunk names are currently unused, so named chunk files are not in use.
• Partial, Zlib, and QuickLZ recompression remain unresolved.
  

Credits

• Version: 0.12.1
• All the brilliant minds at ResHax, especially MrIkso and NoName.
• LukeFZ for pycrimson and .papgt Structure Research
• Lazorr's ChaCha20 Encryption/Decryption Cracker and Toolkit
• Lathiel for model conversion scripts and foundational work
• kh0shn4w for the AutoFontModder release, which helped compare font workflows at exact sizes.
• Uses vgmstream to preview WEM audio files
  

Basic Controls

• Install dependencies using
  pip install -r requirements.txt
• Set your game path
  config.txt
• Run
  python crimson_browser.py
• Let the initial launch build the fast cache.
• Browse, preview, extract, or reimport compatible files