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  AREOS WoW  -  HD / "PRISTINE" EDITION  setup guide
  For your WotLK 3.3.5a client (build 12340)
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Everything here is CLIENT-SIDE. The server doesn't change. You can
apply as much or as little as you like. Do it on your dev PC (real
GPU) - not over RDP.

Order of impact:  1) ReShade (lighting/color)  2) HD textures
                  3) HD models  4) tweaks

Back up your client folder first (or just keep the original zip).

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 1) RESHADE  -  the biggest visual upgrade, ~2 minutes
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This is the "shader layer" (like 117HD's post-processing): ambient
occlusion, better lighting, bloom, color grading, sharpening.

  a. Download ReShade from the OFFICIAL site:  https://reshade.me
     (Get the version WITH full add-on support.)
  b. Run it. Click "Browse", pick your  Wow.exe .
  c. Rendering API: choose  Direct3D 9 .
  d. When asked, tick "Standard effects" so it downloads the shader
     collection (this is what gives you MXAO, Bloom, LumaSharpen, etc.).
  e. Copy the included  AreosCinematic.ini  into your WoW folder
     (same folder as Wow.exe).
  f. Launch WoW (use Play.bat). Press  HOME  to open ReShade.
     Pick  AreosCinematic  from the preset dropdown at the top.
  g. IMPORTANT for the ambient-occlusion (MXAO): open the ReShade
     "Add-ons"/"DX9" settings and enable depth-buffer access
     ("Copy depth buffer before clear operations"). WoW's depth
     buffer only shows up once you're in the world, not on the
     login screen - so test it standing in Elwynn/Durotar.
  h. Tune to taste - every effect has sliders. If any effect says
     "missing", untick it; the rest still work.

Prefer a ready-made look instead of my preset? Reputable ones:
  - "Kuma's Preset" (realism + fake RT):  nexusmods.com/worldofwarcraft/mods/834
  - "WoW Cinematic ReShade preset":        nexusmods.com/worldofwarcraft/mods/868

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 2) HD TEXTURES  (patch MPQs - safe, big upgrade, no model bugs)
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These upscale terrain/armor/NPC textures. They're just MPQ files
you drop in - no install.

  RECOMMENDED (curated, low-bug):
  - Nexus "Creatures and Mounts HD Patch 2025" (Blizzlike, 3.3.5):
        nexusmods.com/worldofwarcraft/mods/891
  - "Bhop's WOTLK Remaster" (2x world/armor/NPC textures, trees,
     HD login, updated spell FX - NO model swaps, so very stable):
        ownedcore thread 1017024  (search: Bhop WOTLK Remaster)
  - Warmane "HD Upscaled Remaster [NO WOD/LEGION MODELS]":
        forum.warmane.com/showthread.php?t=467314

  HOW TO INSTALL any texture/patch MPQ:
   - World/global texture MPQs  ->  <WoW>\Data\
   - Language-specific MPQs      ->  <WoW>\Data\enUS\
   - Naming: the base client already uses patch.MPQ, patch-2.MPQ,
     patch-3.MPQ (and patch-enUS, -2, -3 in enUS). Name new ones so
     they don't collide and load LAST (letters load after numbers):
        patch-4.MPQ ... patch-9.MPQ, then patch-A.MPQ ... patch-Z.MPQ
     Higher = overrides lower. Most packs come pre-named; follow
     their own readme if so.

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 3) HD MODELS  (WoD/Legion character+creature models - biggest
    look change, but more bug-prone: occasional green/missing NPCs)
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Only add these if you want the full modern-character look and don't
mind the odd glitch. Install exactly like the texture MPQs above.

  - Warmane "FULL HD Down-port WoD + Legion models v2":
        forum.warmane.com/showthread.php?t=456935
  - Nexus "Ascension Bronzebeard ULTRA-HD Mod Pack":
        nexusmods.com/worldofwarcraft/mods/886

  TIP: add ONE pack at a time and log in to check, so if something
  breaks you know which MPQ did it. If a client uses a "patch-w.mpq"
  from another server, remove it first to avoid conflicts.

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 4) OPTIONAL ENGINE TWEAKS  (Config.wtf, in <WoW>\WTF\)
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Add/adjust these lines for crisper distance + filtering:
    SET farclip "1277"          ; max view distance
    SET horizonfarclip "6000"
    SET M2UseThreads "1"
    SET ffxGlow "1"
Anti-aliasing / anisotropic: set in-game Video options to max, or
force via your GPU control panel (NVIDIA/AMD) for the WoW.exe.

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 Distributing to players
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Once you're happy with a combo on your dev PC, you can bundle the
same MPQs + ReShade + AreosCinematic.ini into the client you hand
out, so everyone gets the HD look out of the box.

Reality check: it's a 2010 engine - this makes it look "remastered",
not Unreal 5. But ReShade + HD textures is a dramatic glow-up.
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