Nicer graphics - feels kinda like WoW Forever - Fog Pushback patch

[Dernn]

Remove the chemtrail smog from the air! (or something like that)

Found this when trying to expand my view distance, from the twow forums::
https://forum.turtlecraft.gg/viewtopic.php?t=10982

Direct download to google drive (copied from the above post):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/14aHvyf ... sp=sharing

I added this and combined with `/console farclip 2112` it makes the game look really nice! No more atmospheric fog and can see a really long way! (Not quite WoW Forever distance, but I think maybe as good as we'll get on the vanilla client)

Steps:
- download that Patch-y.mpq file, rename to Patch-z.mpq (to ensure no conflicts)
- put in Data folder with the other patch- files
- Start game!
- in game, type: /console farclip 2112 (this seems about the max, try less if it causes too much framerate drop)

Added before and after screenshots, both using `/console farclip 2112`

P.S. I know I'll get questions on the black bars top/bottom - CT Viewport addon for 1.12

If you're unsure:
1. first play with farclip in-game:
Try /console farclip 777 (default vanilla distance), /console farclip 1200 (i think that's the default wotlk distance?), then try /console farclip 2112. You should see noticeable differences between the three. If you do not see a jump from 1200 to 2112, ensure your client allows such high farclip numbers. I think the launcher may help, or if not you can use vanilla-tweaks and it should set the max to 10,000 (way higher than the terrain actually renders).

2. If you see that farclip is working as expected in-game, it's just a simple download and moving the file into your Data folder.

3. To remove, just delete the Patch-y.mpq (or Patch-z.mpq if you renamed it) - you can cut it from Data and put in the base folder too if you want to save it for later. You can always throw it back in the Data folder if you want.


EDIT: changed suggested farclip number from 3200 to 2112:

It appears that the actual terrain max in vanilla is closer to 2112 (ai gave me that number, based on the chunk sizes of the terrain getting rendered) - you can play around with it, but for me, after a second test tweaking the farclip, I saw no change beyond 2112.

Kinda hard to judge this stuff depending on surroundings, but try increasing and see if there's more in view and if not just leave it at 2112. If 2112 is the max terrain distance, then there's no point in setting farclip past that, it will probably be worse for performance and will not provide any benefit.

[Dernn]

Tried using vanilla-tweaks and HxD (hex editor) to expand farclip and horizonfarclip even farther. Looks like it's not possible to go farther in the vanilla client without more extensive code adjustments, rather than a simple patch.

So the screenshots are about as much as we'll get in the vanilla client I think.

We can up the max horizonfarclip and farclip values, but this does not expand the number/size of terrain chunks that get loaded at one time, so I guess currently I'm able to see past the edge of the terrain but it would take some more complex work to actually expand how far the terrain chunks render.

Think of it like Minecraft except we cannot adjust the number of chunks that are loaded at one time, even if we can tweak the fog and clipping. Oh well, still looks much better than it did yesterday xD

Edit: perhaps farclip can be reduced from 3200 to a bit less to get a bit more performance, but in my experimentation from a few weeks ago I ended on 3200 as the max that caused visible changes. But maybe 2600-3000 or something. And maybe it depends on zone? not sure. Play around with it!

Some screenshots showing the limitations of the terrain render distance::
(NOTE: the horizontal lines and blotchiness in the sky is due to compression only!)

[Dernn]

srs tho guys, try it out! I won't go back. Maybe I'll add some more screenshots to help convince yall.

Would be cool if this mpq was available from the launcher. Currently I do not think it is, but it makes the world look so much better so it would be AWESOME if the octo devs added it for easy enable/disable!

(NOTE: the horizontal lines in the sky is due to compression only!)

[Dernn]

more comparison photos: (can only attach 3 per post....)

[Dernn]

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