docs: update README and guides for multi-expansion direction

docs/architecture.md

@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ Wowee follows a modular architecture with clear separation of concerns:
 - VAO/VBO/EBO management
 
 **Texture** - Texture management
-- Loading (will support BLP format)
+- Loading (BLP via `AssetManager`, optional PNG overrides for development)
 - OpenGL texture object
 - Mipmap generation
 
@@ -191,11 +191,14 @@ Wowee follows a modular architecture with clear separation of concerns:
 
 ### 6. Asset Pipeline (`src/pipeline/`)
 
-**MPQManager** - Archive management
-- Loads .mpq files (via StormLib)
-- Priority-based file lookup (patch files override base files)
-- Data extraction with caching
-- Locale support (enUS, enGB, etc.)
+**AssetManager** - Runtime asset access
+- Loads an extracted loose-file tree indexed by `Data/manifest.json`
+- Layered resolution via optional overlay manifests (multi-expansion dedup)
+- File cache + path normalization
+
+**asset_extract (tool)** - MPQ extraction
+- Uses StormLib to extract MPQs into `Data/` and generate `manifest.json`
+- Driven by `extract_assets.sh`
 
 **BLPLoader** - Texture parser
 - BLP format (Blizzard texture format)
@@ -385,7 +388,7 @@ Window::swapBuffers()
 ```
 World::loadMap(mapId)
     ↓
-MPQManager::readFile("World/Maps/{map}/map.adt")
+AssetManager::readFile("World/Maps/{map}/map.adt")
     ↓
 ADTLoader::load(adtData)
     ├─ Parse MCNK chunks (terrain)
@@ -394,7 +397,7 @@ ADTLoader::load(adtData)
     └─ Parse MCNR chunks (normals)
     ↓
 For each texture reference:
-    MPQManager::readFile(texturePath)
+    AssetManager::readFile(texturePath)
     ↓
     BLPLoader::load(blpData)
     ↓

docs/quickstart.md

@@ -9,9 +9,11 @@ Implemented today:
 - SRP6a authentication + world connection
 - Character creation/selection and in-world entry
 - Full 3D rendering pipeline (terrain, water, sky, M2/WMO, particles)
-- Core gameplay systems (movement, combat, spells, inventory, quests, vendors, loot, chat)
+- Core gameplay plumbing (movement, combat/spell casting, inventory/equipment, chat)
 - Transport support (boats/zeppelins) with active ongoing fixes
 
+For a more honest snapshot of gaps and current direction, see `docs/status.md`.
+
 ## Build And Run
 
 ### 1. Clone
@@ -34,9 +36,22 @@ cmake -S . -B build -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
 cmake --build build -j"$(nproc)"
 ```
 
-### 4. Provide WoW Data
+### 4. Provide WoW Data (Extract + Manifest)
 
-Put your legal WoW 3.3.5a data in `Data/` (or set `WOW_DATA_PATH`).
+Wowee loads assets from an extracted loose-file tree indexed by `manifest.json`.
+
+If you do not already have an extracted `Data/manifest.json`, extract from your WoW install:
+
+```bash
+# WotLK 3.3.5a example
+./extract_assets.sh /path/to/WoW/Data wotlk
+```
+
+By default wowee uses `./Data/`. To override:
+
+```bash
+export WOW_DATA_PATH=/path/to/extracted/Data
+```
 
 ### 5. Run
 
@@ -80,5 +95,5 @@ Use `BUILD_INSTRUCTIONS.md` for distro-specific package lists.
 
 ### Missing assets (models/textures/terrain)
 
-- Verify WoW data files exist under `Data/`
-- Or export `WOW_DATA_PATH=/path/to/WoW/Data`
+- Verify `Data/manifest.json` exists (or re-run `./extract_assets.sh ...`)
+- Or export `WOW_DATA_PATH=/path/to/extracted/Data`

docs/server-setup.md

@@ -374,38 +374,39 @@ UPDATE realmlist SET address='your.server.ip' WHERE id=1;
 
 ## WoW Data Files
 
-The client needs access to WoW 3.3.5a data files for terrain, models, and textures.
+The client needs access to extracted WoW data (terrain, models, textures) indexed by `manifest.json`.
+
+If you have a fresh WoW install (MPQs only), extract once with:
+
+```bash
+./extract_assets.sh /path/to/WoW-3.3.5a/Data wotlk
+```
 
 ### Setting WOW_DATA_PATH
 
 ```bash
 # Linux/Mac
-export WOW_DATA_PATH="/path/to/WoW-3.3.5a/Data"
+export WOW_DATA_PATH="/path/to/extracted/Data"
 
 # Or add to ~/.bashrc
-echo 'export WOW_DATA_PATH="/path/to/WoW-3.3.5a/Data"' >> ~/.bashrc
+echo 'export WOW_DATA_PATH="/path/to/extracted/Data"' >> ~/.bashrc
 source ~/.bashrc
 
 # Run client
-cd /home/k/Desktop/wowee/wowee
+cd /path/to/wowee
 ./build/bin/wowee
 ```
 
 ### Data Directory Structure
 
-Your WoW Data directory should contain:
+Your extracted data directory should contain (example):
 ```
 Data/
-├── common.MPQ
-├── common-2.MPQ
-├── expansion.MPQ
-├── lichking.MPQ
-├── patch.MPQ
-├── patch-2.MPQ
-├── patch-3.MPQ
-└── enUS/  (or your locale)
-    ├── locale-enUS.MPQ
-    └── patch-enUS-3.MPQ
+├── manifest.json
+├── interface/
+├── sound/
+├── world/
+└── expansions/
 ```
 
 ## Testing Features
@@ -567,8 +568,8 @@ account set gmlevel demo 3 -1
 
 3. **Start Client:**
 ```bash
-cd /home/k/Desktop/wowee/wowee
-export WOW_DATA_PATH="/path/to/WoW-3.3.5a/Data"
+cd /path/to/wowee
+export WOW_DATA_PATH="/path/to/extracted/Data"
 ./build/bin/wowee
 ```
 

docs/status.md

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+# Project Status
+
+**Last updated**: 2026-02-15
+
+## What This Repo Is
+
+Wowee is a native C++ World of Warcraft client experiment focused on connecting to real emulator servers (online/multiplayer) with a custom renderer and asset pipeline.
+
+## Current Code State
+
+Implemented (working in normal development use):
+
+- Auth flow: SRP6a auth + realm list + world connect with header encryption
+- Rendering: terrain, WMO/M2 rendering, water, sky system, particles, minimap/world map, loading video playback
+- Core gameplay plumbing: movement, targeting, action bar basics, inventory/equipment visuals, chat (tabs/channels, emotes, item links)
+- Multi-expansion direction: Classic/TBC/WotLK protocol variance handling exists and is being extended (`src/game/packet_parsers_classic.cpp`, `src/game/packet_parsers_tbc.cpp`)
+
+In progress / incomplete (known gaps):
+
+- Quests: some quest UI/markers exist, but parts of quest log parsing are still TODOs
+- Transports: functional support exists, but some spline parsing/edge cases are still TODOs
+- Audio: broad coverage for events/music/UI exists, but 3D positional audio is not implemented yet
+- Warden: crypto + module plumbing are in place; full module execution and server-specific compatibility are still in progress
+
+## Near-Term Direction
+
+- Keep tightening packet parsing across server variants (especially Classic/Turtle and TBC)
+- Keep improving visual correctness for characters/equipment and M2/WMO edge cases
+- Progress Warden module execution path (emulation via Unicorn when available)
+
+## Where To Look
+
+- Entry point: `src/main.cpp`, `src/core/application.cpp`
+- Networking/auth: `src/auth/`, `src/network/`, `src/game/game_handler.cpp`
+- Rendering: `src/rendering/`
+- Assets/extraction: `extract_assets.sh`, `tools/asset_extract/`, `src/pipeline/asset_manager.cpp`
+