Hi everyone,

I’m exploring the feasibility of using existing Heroic difficulty flags (10H/25H) in WotLK to create new difficulty variants for raids that do not natively use them — without modifying boss AI scripts.

This would allow us to give new life to legacy raids while maintaining a blizzlike feel.

🔧 Goal

To implement a new Heroic version of existing raids using spawnmask and difficulty flags, but without changing scripted behaviors. Specifically:

• Duplicate creature_template entries with increased stats (HP, damage…)
• Assign them spawnmask = 2 (used only for 10H/25H)
• Create distinct creature_loot_template entries
• Optionally apply an undispellable aura (e.g., +30% spell damage taken) when players enter in Heroic mode
• Do not touch .cpp boss scripts or hardmode logic

📜 Raids that don’t use 10H/25H

These WotLK raids do not leverage the Heroic flag and are eligible for this approach:

🧩 For Ulduar and Sartharion, adding 10H/25H would effectively unlock 4 difficulty variants:

• Normal + Heroic
• Each with and without optional hardmode triggers

This results in extra content combinations without modifying script logic.

💠 Loot Concept

To make these new modes attractive while keeping balance:

• Rewards could be cosmetic only

  • Old legendary weapon models (Atiesh, Sulfuras, Warglaives, etc.)
  • Tier 3 skins from old Naxxramas (40-player)

• Or 284 ilvl loot that is:

  • Highly specialized per spec/playstyle
  • Encourages horizontal progression instead of simple power creep

This would allow us to offer high-end rewards while avoiding ICC-style stat inflation.

❓ Questions

1. Has this approach been discussed or implemented in any public forks (TrinityCore, AzerothCore, etc.)?
2. Is spawnmask + difficulty_entry handling reliable/stable in TC 3.3.5 for this use case?
3. Are there limitations or edge cases I should expect (AI targeting, phasing, group loot, etc.)?
4. Are tools/scripts available to mass duplicate raid entries (creatures, spawns, loot) to a new difficulty slot?

Thanks for reading — I'm just exploring this idea before committing development time.
Any feedback or experience from similar systems would be appreciated.

(Post originally written in French, translated with ChatGPT.)