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References

Local Source

  • docs/games/world-of-warcraft/readme.md: target status and build/run commands.
  • games/world-of-warcraft/common/world_wow.c: WDT/ADT path setup, terrain height cache, DBC map/safe-location helpers.
  • games/world-of-warcraft/renderer/wow/r_wowmap*.c: ADT terrain, alpha maps, splats, doodads, WMOs, draw state.
  • games/world-of-warcraft/renderer/m2/r_m2.c: M2 loader, skin sections, animation evaluation, character composite textures.
  • games/world-of-warcraft/game/g_model.c: M2 animation metadata parsing for game-side movement.
  • games/world-of-warcraft/game/g_wow.c: WoW game scaffolding, ambient creatures, packed appearance/equipment use.
  • tools/m2tool.c: M2 inspection, DBC-backed player configuration, component texture path resolution.
  • tools/README.md: m2tool and WoW install examples.
  • common/shared.h: Wow_PackAppearance, Wow_UnpackAppearance, Wow_PackEquipment, and Wow_UnpackEquipment.
  • tools/mpqtool.c: MPQ browsing and simple BLP metadata inspection.
  • tools/blp2jpg.c: BLP1/BLP2 texture decoding paths used by local tooling.
  • tools/blpgen.c: deterministic BLP2 fixture generator.

Local External Reference

  • data/whoa-master/src/component/CCharacterComponent.cpp: component texture creation, character base texture updates, geoset visibility prep.
  • data/whoa-master/src/component/Types.hpp: component texture sections, geoset groups, item slots, attachment IDs.
  • data/whoa-master/src/component/Util.cpp: character section, hair, and facial-hair DBC selection helpers.
  • data/whoa-master/src/db/rec/*Rec.hpp: DBC record layouts used by whoa-master.
  • data/whoa-master/src/model/M2Data.hpp: M2 arrays, tracks, materials, batches, cameras, bones, and related structures.
  • data/whoa-master/src/world/map/*: map, chunk, doodad, object, liquid, and WMO-facing scaffolding.
  • data/WoWee/src/rendering/m2_renderer_particles.cpp: Full particle/ribbon/smoke pipeline — emitParticles, updateParticles, updateRibbons, renderM2Ribbons, renderM2Particles, renderSmokeParticles. ~800 lines, no stubs. Includes model-specific tuning: floors emission rate against particle lifespan so flame emitters (torches, braziers, lanterns) don't visually disappear when authored M2 rates are too sparse. Interpolation helpers for M2AnimationTrack, M2FBlock (scalar, vec3).

M2 particle scale curves are fractional and sampled over normalized particle life. Encode them through m2_particle_encode_curve; do not cast the authored values directly to the shared MDX byte curve. Near-zero classic scale endpoints are valid shrink targets, not corrupt-data sentinels. WoW particle blend modes 3/4 also need m2_particle_blend_mode because the shared legacy particle renderer's additive enum names have opposite semantics. Particle vertical/horizontal ranges are radians: vertical range is cone inclination from +Z and horizontal range is azimuth. A common torch value of 2π means full rotation around the upward axis, not a linear XY spread magnitude. - data/WoWee/src/rendering/m2_renderer_internal.h: Particle/ribbon emitter GPU structs, M2Instance particle state (accumulators, edge buffers), per-emitter gravity caching. - data/WoWee/assets/shaders/m2_particle.vert.glsl, m2_particle.frag.glsl: Vulkan particle billboard shaders. - data/WoWee/assets/shaders/m2_ribbon.vert.glsl, m2_ribbon.frag.glsl: Vulkan ribbon trail shaders.

Open-Source Client Implementations

  • whoahq/whoa — unofficial open-source WoW 3.3.5a (build 12340) client in C++11. Targets Windows 10+, macOS 10.14+, Linux. Launches against extracted client data files (no live MPQ reading).
  • Kelsidavis/WoWee — custom open-source WoW client with Warden anti-cheat (Unicorn x86), SDL2, Vulkan, GLM, StormLib, OpenGL renderer, Native Linux. Covers Vanilla, TBC, WotLK. Most active client reimplementation.
  • Reinisch/Warcraft-Arena-Unity — WoW-style combat/arena engine in Unity. Built on original custom-authored content (Mage spell kit, ScriptableObject-driven spells/auras, Unity URP/Netcode/Zenject). Not a client reimplementation — spells and VFX are hand-authored rather than extracted from original M2 particle/ribbon data. Non-commercial educational fan project.

Server Emulators

  • TrinityCore — the most active WoW server emulator (WotLK-focused), reference implementation for spell system, combat mechanics, auras, movement.
  • AzerothCore — modular WoW server emulator (WotLK 3.3.5a), derived from SunwellCore/TrinityCore.
  • MaNGOS — lineage of server emulators (Zero for Vanilla, One for TBC, Two for WotLK, Three for Cataclysm).
  • wowemulation-dev/wow-patcher — Rust patcher that redirects vanilla WoW client login/cert-verification to private servers.
  • wowemulation-dev/warcraft-rs — Rust crates for BLP, M2, ADT, WDT, WMO parsing.

Format References

  • WoWDev wiki home: https://wowdev.wiki/
  • WoWDev WDT: https://wowdev.wiki/WDT
  • WoWDev ADT: https://wowdev.wiki/ADT
  • WoWDev WDL: https://wowdev.wiki/WDL
  • WoWDev WMO: https://wowdev.wiki/WMO
  • WoWDev M2: https://wowdev.wiki/M2
  • WoWDev SKIN: https://wowdev.wiki/SKIN
  • WoWDev M2/AnimationList: https://wowdev.wiki/M2/AnimationList
  • WoWDev DBC: https://wowdev.wiki/DBC
  • WoWDev DB2: https://wowdev.wiki/DB2
  • WoWDev DBChanges: https://wowdev.wiki/DBChanges
  • WoWDev WDB: https://wowdev.wiki/WDB
  • WoWDev Lst: https://wowdev.wiki/Lst
  • WoTLK Modding Wiki ADT/WDT/WDL: https://wotlkdev.github.io/wiki/theory/adt
  • WoTLK Modding Wiki M2: https://wotlkdev.github.io/wiki/theory/m2
  • WoTLK Modding Wiki DBC index: https://wotlkdev.github.io/wiki/dbc/
  • Warcraft Wiki BLP files: https://warcraft.wiki.gg/wiki/BLP_files
  • Warcraft Wiki DBC: https://warcraft.wiki.gg/wiki/DBC
  • Warcraft Wiki CASC: https://warcraft.wiki.gg/wiki/CASC
  • Warcraft Wiki WDB files: https://warcraft.wiki.gg/wiki/WDB_files
  • getMaNGOS WMO file: https://www.getmangos.eu/wiki/referenceinfo/clientfiles/wmo-file-r20030/
  • TrinityCore ItemDisplayInfo.dbc: https://trinitycore.info/files/DBC/335/itemdisplayinfo
  • WoTLK Modding Wiki ItemDisplayInfo: https://wotlkdev.github.io/wiki/dbc/ItemDisplayInfo
  • getMaNGOS TBC ItemDisplayInfo: https://www.getmangos.eu/wiki/referenceinfo/dbcfiles/mangosonedbc/ItemDisplayInfo-r7649/
  • wow_dbc parser crate notes: https://github.com/gtker/wow_dbc
  • warcraft-rs project: https://github.com/wowemulation-dev/warcraft-rs
  • warcraft-rs BLP notes: https://warcraft-rs.readthedocs.io/en/latest/formats/graphics/blp.html
  • wow-m2 parser crate: https://docs.rs/wow-m2
  • wow-adt parser crate: https://docs.rs/wow-adt
  • wow-wdt parser crate: https://docs.rs/wow-wdt
  • wow-wmo parser crate: https://docs.rs/wow-wmo
  • wow-blp parser crate: https://docs.rs/wow-blp
  • wowdev/pywowlib: https://github.com/wowdev/pywowlib
  • wowdev/WoWDBDefs: https://github.com/wowdev/WoWDBDefs
  • wowdev/DBCD: https://github.com/wowdev/DBCD
  • wowdev/wow-listfile: https://github.com/wowdev/wow-listfile
  • wow.export: https://github.com/Kruithne/wow.export
  • mangos classic M2 notes mirror: https://github-wiki-see.page/m/Marzec737/mangos-classic/wiki/M2-files
  • Archival World of Warcraft Formats PDF mirror: https://lasatmanstanding.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/wow-formats-2.pdf

WoW to Unity Model Pipeline

  • Kruithne/wow.export — current extraction/export tool (successor to Marlamin's WoW Export Tools). Extracts and converts WoW client or CDN files, supports Retail and Classic, previews M2/WMO models, exports OBJ/GLTF. Includes a Blender add-on for maps/models.
  • briochie/wow.unity — Unity-side companion to wow.export. Shaders, asset postprocessors, and tools that configure materials and parse wow.export metadata (including doodad placements) so exported models/prefabs drop into Unity scenes with ~80% in-game look fidelity (Built-In or URP).
  • Selzier/wow.export.unity — fork of wow.export retargeted for exporting directly into the Unity Editor (Unity-aware export step, alternative to post-processing with wow.unity).
  • cplushplush/unity-wow-map-importer — Unity plugin for importing map tiles (terrain/zones) exported by WoW exporters.

Note: none of these tools export M2 particle/ribbon emitter data — they produce static geometry and textures. Particle/ribbon VFX must be reimplemented by hand on the target engine side.

Combat and Game Design References

  • docs/games/world-of-warcraft/magic-and-effects.md: Magic schools, damage types, multi-school system, buffs/debuffs, DoT/HoT, crowd control, status effects.
  • docs/games/world-of-warcraft/enemies-and-creatures.md: Creature types/taxonomy, classifications (normal/elite/rare/boss), difficulty tiers, aggro/threat, NPC AI roles.
  • docs/games/world-of-warcraft/weapons-and-classes.md: Weapon types, class weapon access, combat roles (tank/healer/DPS), all class specializations, primary/secondary stats.

External Combat References

  • Warcraft Wiki — Magic schools: https://warcraft.wiki.gg/wiki/Magic_schools
  • Warcraft Wiki — Creature: https://warcraft.wiki.gg/wiki/Creature
  • Warcraft Wiki — Weapon: https://warcraft.wiki.gg/wiki/Weapon
  • Warcraft Wiki — Class role: https://warcraft.wiki.gg/wiki/Class_role
  • Warcraft Wiki — Crowd control: https://warcraft.wiki.gg/wiki/Crowd_control
  • Warcraft Wiki — Debuff: https://warcraft.wiki.gg/wiki/Debuff
  • Warcraft Wiki — Threat: https://warcraft.wiki.gg/wiki/Threat
  • Maxroll — Magic Schools: https://maxroll.gg/wow/resources/magic-schools
  • Maxroll — Stats and Attributes: https://maxroll.gg/wow/resources/stats-and-attributes
  • Liquipedia — Diminishing Returns: https://liquipedia.net/worldofwarcraft/Diminishing_Returns

Grass Rendering References

  • NVIDIA GPU Gems, Rendering Countless Blades of Waving Grass: https://developer.nvidia.com/gpugems/gpugems/part-i-natural-effects/chapter-7-rendering-countless-blades-waving-grass
  • NVIDIA GPU Gems 2, Inside Geometry Instancing: https://developer.nvidia.com/gpugems/gpugems2/part-i-geometric-complexity/chapter-3-inside-geometry-instancing
  • NVIDIA GPU Gems 3, Vegetation Procedural Animation and Shading in Crysis: https://developer.nvidia.com/gpugems/gpugems3/part-iii-rendering/chapter-16-vegetation-procedural-animation-and-shading-crysis
  • AMD GPUOpen, Procedural grass rendering: https://gpuopen.com/learn/mesh_shaders/mesh_shaders-procedural_grass_rendering/
  • Epic Unreal Engine documentation, Grass Quick Start: https://dev.epicgames.com/documentation/unreal-engine/grass-quick-start-in-unreal-engine
  • getMaNGOS GroundEffectTexture: https://www.getmangos.eu/wiki/referenceinfo/dbcfiles/five_dbc/GroundEffectTexture-r9780/

Caution

WoW file schemas vary by client era. Validate every DBC field offset, M2 header/view layout, and ADT chunk assumption against the data version being inspected.