DRS Header & Core Nodes¶

This section describes the DRS file header and the core node structures on which all class data depends.
These structures form the backbone of the DRS archive layout.

Overview¶

Text Only

flowchart TD
  A[DRS Header] --> B[NodeInformation[]]
  A --> C[Node[]]
  B -->|info_index| C
  C -->|name / identifier| D[Class Data Blocks]

Root Elements

The first NodeInformation entry and the first Node always represent the Root Node.
The Root Node itself does not contain payload data — it only anchors the hierarchy.

Header Structure¶

Field	Type	Description
`magic`	`int`	Constant signature value `-981667554`
`number_of_models`	`uint`	Always `1` in BattleForge
`node_information_offset`	`uint`	Offset where the NodeInformation section starts
`node_hierarchy_offset`	`uint`	Offset where the Node section starts
`node_count`	`uint`	Total number of Nodes

The first NodeInformation and Node entries at these offsets correspond to the Root Node.

RootNodeInformation¶

Represents metadata for the Root Node and tracks how many additional nodes exist.

Field	Type	Default	Description
`zeroes[16]`	`int[16]`	`0`	Spacer / padding (16×0)
`neg_one`	`int`	`-1`	Unknown use, always `-1`
`one`	`uint`	`1`	Unknown use, always `1`
`node_information_count`	`uint`	–	Number of additional NodeInformation entries
`zero`	`uint`	`0`	Unknown use, always `0`

Tip

node_information_count equals node_count - 1, because the Root Node itself is excluded.

NodeInformation¶

Links each Node to the data blob of its class.

Field	Type	Description
`magic`	`int`	Unique magic number identifying the class type
`identifier`	`uint`	References `Node.info_index` (`-1` for Root)
`offset`	`uint`	File offset where the class data starts
`size`	`uint`	Size of the data blob in bytes
`unused[4]`	`uint[4]`	Four unused values (ignored in BattleForge / Skylords, used in SpellForce 2)

Root Node (first entry in Node hierarchy)¶

Field	Type	Default	Description
`identifier`	`uint`	`0`	Identifier of the Root Node
`unknown`	`uint`	`0`	Unknown, always zero
`length`	`uint`	`9`	Length of the string `"root_node"`
`name`	`str`	`"root_node"`	Name of the Root Node

The Root Node always has identifier 0 and name "root_node".
It precedes all other class nodes in the hierarchy.

Node (generic hierarchy entry)¶

Each Node represents a link between a class name and its corresponding NodeInformation entry.
Every Node ends with a zero integer used as a spacer.

Field	Type	Description
`info_index`	`uint`	Index into the NodeInformation table (`-1` for Root)
`length`	`uint`	Length of the class name string
`name`	`str`	The class name
`zero`	`uint`	Always `0` (spacer)

Validation Rules¶

Rule	Description
`Header.magic == -981667554`	Validates file signature
`Header.node_count >= 1`	At least one node (Root) must exist
`RootNode.identifier == 0` and `RootNode.name == "root_node"`	Root node consistency
`len(NodeInformation) == Header.node_count - 1`	Node counts must match (`-1` for RootNodeInformation)
Each `Node.info_index >= 0`	Must reference valid NodeInformation (except Root)
No overlapping `offset`/`size` pairs	Class data blocks must not overlap

Known Variants¶

Game / Version	Notes
BattleForge / Skylords Reborn	`unused[4]` fields are unused; `number_of_models` is always `1`.
SpellForce 2 DRS	`unused[4]` were used to override settings for certain assets.

Summary¶

The DRS Header defines where all structural blocks of the archive begin.
From there, each NodeInformation and Node entry establishes the relationship between class metadata and data payloads.
Understanding this hierarchy is essential before parsing any of the 15 class structures that follow.