New water in old zones walkthrough

[paulgiamatti]

I got really sick of the old non-transparent classic water (hated it in 1999, hate it today), so here is a walkthrough to change it all to the new water.
(Disclaimer: You must have EverQuest Titanium installed in order for this to work!)

Before:
http://i.imgur.com/I5MeIef.jpg

After:
http://i.imgur.com/l1dkTaS.jpg

First you will want to backup your WaterSwap.ini by navigating to your EverQuest\Resources\WaterSwap directory, selecting the "WaterSwap" file and copy + pasting it to the folder of your choice. If you want to go back to old water, simply copy it back into your WaterSwap directory and select overwrite.

If you have EverQuest installed into your Program Files directory you will probably need administrative privileges to do this. If this is not the case, feel free to run Notepad normally.

1. Open Notepad with administrative privileges (find Notepad, right-click on it, select "Run as administrator")

2. Within Notepad, select File -> Open and navigate to your EverQuest\Resources\WaterSwap directory

3. Click the file type drop-down menu, select "All Files" and open the WaterSwap file

4. Scroll down to the first zone setting listed in WaterSwap.ini (the first zone should be [qeynos]) and select everything from the first opening bracket down until you're at the very end of the document. Press delete.

5. Copy and paste the following in its place:
[potranquility]
ReplaceThis1=BLUWAT00.DDS
ReplaceWith1=NewWaterTranquility

[nedaria]
ReplaceThis1=JPCSEA1.DDS
ReplaceWith1=NewWaterNedaria

[twilight]
ReplaceThis1=NEWWAT1.DDS
ReplaceWith1=NewWaterTwilight

[abysmal]
ReplaceThis1=scaocean01.dds
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[butcher]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[cauldron]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[cobaltscar]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[commons]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[dulak]
ReplaceThis1=loywater01.dds
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[eastkarana]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[eastwastes]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[erudnext]
ReplaceThis1=ow1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[erudsxing]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[fieldofbone]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[firiona]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[freporte]
ReplaceThis1=ow1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[gunthak]
ReplaceThis1=loywater01.dds
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[hollowshade]
ReplaceThis1=newwat1.dds
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[iceclad]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[kithicor]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[lakeofillomen]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[lakerathe]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[natimbi]
ReplaceThis1=niwater01.dds
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[nektulos]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[northkarana]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[nro]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[oasis]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[oot]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[overthere]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[postorms]
ReplaceThis1=newwat1.dds
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[qey2hh1]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[qeynos]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[qeytoqrg]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[sro]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[southkarana]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[stonebrunt]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[timorous]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[tox]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[warslikswood]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

[westwastes]
ReplaceThis1=W1.bmp
ReplaceWith1=NewWater

6. Select File -> Save, close Notepad and enjoy the new water.

A few notes:

I've heard that the newer water textures increase zoning times for the zones that use them. I'm not sure how much truth there is to this, but on higher-end systems it shouldn't make much of a difference.

I wasn't able to change the water in Kerra Isle or Emerald Jungle (zone names [kerraridge] and [emeraldjungle]) - if anyone has a solution for this it would be greatly appreciated.

I'm not sure if there are multiple versions of newer water textures other than the ones used for Nedaria's Landing, Plane of Tranquility, and Twilight Sea (NewWaterNedaria, NewWaterTranquility, and NewWaterTwilight), but if there are that would also be useful to know. If you want, you can also replace any of the NewWater tags with the Nedaria, Tranquility, and Twilight NewWater tags to change it up a bit.

This does NOT replace classic transparent water (used in all indoor zones) or swamp water which is a lot darker in some zones. I didn't want to parse through all the data to figure out how to change these, and I like how classic transparent water and swamp water looks anyway.

[Bamz4l]

they both look non-transparent to me.

[myriverse]

My zones start with qeynos, not potranquility, so maybe they're not always in the same order.

But thanks... just the thing to go with my Luclin models! Woohoo!

[big mouth chew]

disgusting
go play live

[phacemeltar]

Press delete.

i lol'd

[paulgiamatti]

Bump! Just say no to classic non-transparent water, some of the laziest graphic design in gaming history.

[paulgiamatti]

Bump! If you installed Telin's new sky graphics, which are amazing, you'll need to redo this.

[paulgiamatti]

they both look non-transparent to me.

Oh and I never responded to this - the reason I specified "non-transparent" water is because this only replaces classic water that is non-transparent. There is transparent classic water in a lot of zones like KC, some of the swamp zones, and lots of indoor zones. I like that water as it is, and wouldn't want to replace it with newer, non-transparent water.

In short, this only replaces old opaque water with new opaque water.

[loramin]

There's an easier way, just:


hit ALT + O (I think that's the command) to open up the options
go to the display/video/whatever it's called tab
(possibly hit the "advanced" button; I can't remember if this is necessary or not)
check the box for the improved water


But yeah, the newer water is sooo much better.

[Casey VII]

That is not going to turn it on for classic zones.

[Swish]

Looks good, but sadly

http://i.imgur.com/7tDQe21.gif

[paulgiamatti]

That is not going to turn it on for classic zones.

Right, and it doesn't enable new water in a lot of Kunark zones too. Kinda broken, which is why I made this walkthrough.

[loramin]

That is not going to turn it on for classic zones.

Actually, it does: I've never done any of OP's steps, I've only done the steps I mentioned, and I have classic water in every zone.

[loramin]

P.S. I'm using the very popular torrent of Titanium from that bay of pirates place, and perhaps whoever created it already did some of OP's steps. For anyone using that torrent none of OP's steps are needed (even to see improved water in classic zones), but people installing from the CDs might need OP's steps.

[Casey VII]

That's probably what happened, loramin.

[paulgiamatti]

If you installed Telin's new sky graphics (http://www.project1999.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1883763&postcount=58), which are amazing, you'll need to redo this.

[paulgiamatti]

Bump for those who've installed Telin's most recent sky graphics (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/252108328/P99Sky-Live.zip).

[paulgiamatti]

Bump for patch.

[paulgiamatti]

Classic water may be classic, but good lord is it terrible. Bump for patch!

[Zekayy]

Not Classic

[paulgiamatti]

Bump for patch.

[paulgiamatti]

Bump for patch, and for your convenience you can now download, extract, and overwrite this to your EQ directory to get your new water back: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/14728818/Project%201999/Textures/waterswap.zip

[paulgiamatti]

New link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/fwwvsbc2btircq4/waterswap.zip

[paulgiamatti]

Bump for patch.

[paulgiamatti]

Bump for patch (Chardok 2.0) - download and extract the zip linked above to your EQ directory, select overwrite.

[mischief419]

How to enable this in current days? The old water is so fugly. OP process doesn't work.

PS: What about sky? Live's skybox is beaaautifulll..... esp night. Twinkling stars, etc

[Canelek]

Yeah, all the character models and other world textures are so high fidelity...you know, the highest fidelity you can get. I want my Everquest to have more of a 1998 tile background as opposed to a 1994 tile background.

[mischief419]

Yeah, all the character models and other world textures are so high fidelity...you know, the highest fidelity you can get. I want my Everquest to have more of a 1998 tile background as opposed to a 1994 tile background.

If that's sarcasm, you know that there are tons of texture packs out there that are about 4x the resolution of the originals~

[eurekaent]

Any word on when this will be fixed for Green/Teal? Spell particles are not classic, upgraded HD models are not classic, so why can't we have HD water and sky?

Thoughts?

[Naerron]

bumper cars

[Telin]

Any word on when this will be fixed for Green/Teal? Spell particles are not classic, upgraded HD models are not classic, so why can't we have HD water and sky?

Thoughts?

Spell particles are as close to classic as possible after many hours of work. Same thing for the sky. The water and shadows came years after classic so they’re forced off. This project is all about making the experience classic, and that includes client graphics.

[eurekaent]

Spell particles are as close to classic as possible after many hours of work. Same thing for the sky. The water and shadows came years after classic so they’re forced off. This project is all about making the experience classic, and that includes client graphics.

First of all, Telin, thanks for all the countless hours you and your humble team pour into the love project that literally is like therapy to us kids that are now adults who get to come home to the world of Norath we all know and love. You guys don't get enough appreciation and I looked at your other posts and you're clearly focused on make updates, staying on track, and updating the community with changes and updates. Some elven wine is due!

I believe this community is very excited about the green project and the numbers speak for themselves. I've relived and created some amazing memories since rolling my character on Green. I enjoy the attention to detail and personally enjoy the original sky and the water that you guys have worked on. Hell, you even nailed the OoT boat ride even though the route had to be slightly adjusted and levitation had to be implemented.

Since many of the players currently here (id say about 70%) are knowledgeable at least in some form of file alteration or basic drag and drop file management, our point is simply it would be nice to manually, behind the scenes, make minor adjustments to things like water or sky. Simply for the immersion and enjoyment that you have already created but applified to our personal tastes. No one is asking for overhauls or Luclin skins or anything to crazy. It's just for those times you want to soak in the sunset while listening to some LOTR music or Enya (don't judge me) and chatting with you're guildies about your train that delvled you.

Afterall, my classic experience didn't involve a 24" monitor with 1080p resolution and flawless 60 FPS. I'm not asking for any in game modification, and UI changes, or any upgrades. All I ask is for the freedom to make 1 or 2 backdoor changes that only people who know what they're doing will even want to chase after.

The current state of Green/Teal is phenomenal and I would never want to take away from all your hard work. I hope that's it's clear how grateful we are that you all have devoted so much love to this project and if I'm wrong in my thinking, I completed understand.

Thank you again and may Tunare bless you!! lol

[mischief419]

Spell particles are as close to classic as possible after many hours of work. Same thing for the sky. The water and shadows came years after classic so they’re forced off. This project is all about making the experience classic, and that includes client graphics.

While your response is appreciated (and love Green, btw), it didn't really answer any of the questions asked: If there is a pin that links a guide to swapping to Luclin textures to improve upon the classic experience, and tons of projects allowed to improve the character/texture graphics - and even reskins - why should sky/water be any different for my own, aesthetic experience via the same precedence as the Luclin texture guide you guys have pinned (https://www.project1999.com/forums/showthread.php?t=130053)?

It would be paradoxical to say it wouldn't be allowed because it's not a classic experience while allowing all the other textures/particles/etc to be swapped for the personal experience when sky/water are just textures in a different directory.

our point is simply it would be nice to manually, behind the scenes, make minor adjustments to things like water or sky. Simply for the immersion and enjoyment that you have already created but applified to our personal tastes. No one is asking for overhauls or Luclin skins or anything to crazy. It's just for those times you want to soak in the sunset while listening to some LOTR music or Enya (don't judge me) and chatting with you're guildies about your train that delvled you.

Afterall, my classic experience didn't involve a 24" monitor with 1080p resolution and flawless 60 FPS. I'm not asking for any in game modification, and UI changes, or any upgrades. All I ask is for the freedom to make 1 or 2 backdoor changes that only people who know what they're doing will even want to chase after.
It's pretty much this. I'm enjoying EQ more than I ever have while being able to have HD textures, high resolution, fast loading times, and tons of personal-level quality of life gains I never had back in the day. Classic EQ mechanics, but with NICE gfx?? That's the dream.

If you like the color purple and you don't like the color yellow, please don't deny the color yellow for all those that enjoy it more if it doesn't affect anyone else if it would vastly improve the personal experience that does not affect anyone else. Water and sky are just textures just like the higher-quality Luclin gfx textures that is already allowed to swap (and pinned in the guide list), to further emphasize the existing precedence that is allowed.

Does any of your staff use these non-classic Luclin textures? Or know players using Luclin textures? 100% of my friends use them and I'm sure yours do, too. Do you believe they are having fun using it without it affecting anyone else? For classics sake, would you remove this ability to swap? I'd bet not -- but if not, I believe sky/water should be allowed to be swapped by that same concept.

Thank you for considering~

[mischief419]

Any workarounds for this? It wouldn't make sense to allow for graphical upgrades for everything *except* this. The precedence would be paradoxical~ Can we please completely either allow or disallow graphical mods (hopefully allow since it's our own experience with tons of happy folks using them)? If allow, would love the ability to swap out water/sky to match my current setup. It's weird to have HD skins/textures then have water/sky look so dated.

Is there a specific point to allowing texture swaps for everything except water/sky? That's like allowing all RGB colors to be displayed .... except blue (randomly).

These used to be swappable (with new water option even conveniently in settings!), so it should only be uncommenting a line of code, I'd imagine, since this was already ninja changed earlier.

[A1rh3ad]

I loved this but I think I understnad why textures are allowed but water is not. With the new water you are able to see through it where the original water was not transparent at all. I think the best bet for better water now is by modifying the original water texture to something more pleasing to the eye. The jellow water makes me feel like I'm going ti have a seizure.