Lau Setup 1.5.0 / Patch-Y 3.1.0
This release brings Neil's raid-tested Patch-Y into the HD new-spells, HD original-spells and SD editions. Consecration is included by default. It also adds the adopted Coldflame, Swarming Shadows, Meteor Strike trails and selected Trial of the Crusader effects.
The optional Compatible WoW.exe + loading screens choice adds 77 newly reviewed HD 16:9 loading backgrounds. Neil approved the pack after representative in-game testing at 16:9. Eight catalog backgrounds keep their original artwork and can retain side bars: Black Temple, Eastern Kingdoms, Kalimdor, Outland, PvP Battleground, generic Raid, Ruined City and Sunwell. The new images are 1672×940 or 1672×941 source artwork, not native 4K. The other 77 compositions retain their original subjects and framing while extending the scenery to 16:9. Loading-pack detail and evidence.
The optional map package resolves competing WorldMapArea tables behind the Caverns of Time fallback. It retains all existing Lau map records. Setup recognizes the previous map package and includes it in the update.
The installer explains rejected folders, offers another folder selection, and copies a redacted support report on request. Review distinguishes current files, fresh installation and files needing an update or repair. It links to contributor examples in the HD Discord.
Andre's supplied Halion skin restores tank-positioning material batches while preserving the model and breath cone. The restored marks have archive and material-batch checks; targeted in-game confirmation has not been recorded.
DBC changes
This is a DBC-changing release. Four Patch-Y tables change: Spell, SpellVisual, SpellVisualKit and SpellVisualEffectName. Existing spell routes are changed for the named abilities, new effect/kit records are added, and Slime Pool gets a dedicated visual cloned from 118 so unrelated spells retain their existing behavior. Consecration uses the accepted custom model and scale.
The root map WorldMapArea table gains 53 cave records while all 159 existing records remain unchanged. Duplicate WorldMapArea members are removed from all nine locale-T map archives. The Halion skin restoration itself has no DBC edits.
The optional loading pack changes LoadingScreens.HasWideScreen (zero-based field 3) from 0 to 1 on 61 of 92 rows. IDs, paths, strings and all other fields are preserved; rows for the eight original exceptions are unchanged. Exact row IDs and Q archive hashes.
Record/field history and reasons · Six 3.0.9 edition comparisons · Map rows and hashes.
Credits and readiness
Neil Mitchell / Lau / Lausudo: Lau edits, integration, HD/SD adaptations, loading-art adaptation, installer improvements, packaging and validation. Suppository and the contributors listed in the source patch: adopted visual sources. Andre: the supplied Halion mark restoration. Existing community credits remain intact. Source visual examples require Discord access.
The final installer passed 80 Windows cases, four real loading-package install/no-op/repair/restore fixtures, 30 interface renders and 2 real-payload transactions on Wine 11.0 / Mono 10.4.1. The Linux source-ZIP suite passed 53 tests; the full repository suite passed 94, including StormLib. All 17 new unique game assets downloaded from the public release through Setup's own downloader and matched their SHA-256 hashes. Earlier Patch-Y, map and Wine 9.0 candidate evidence is retained separately. Neil accepted the loading pack after representative in-game testing at 16:9 and confirmed the Caverns map correction. The eight original screens and untested raid/client combinations remain explicit limits. Discord examples remain uninspected. Final validation · Full scope and credits.
Download and extract the complete LauSetup.zip. This is the small online installer; the separate game 3.1.0 payload release carries the files Setup downloads. Close WoW, select the folder containing WoW.exe, review your optional choices, install, and confirm /pyversion shows 3.1.0 Lau. Keep LauSetupBackups for Restore previous install. Windows opens LauSetup.exe; Linux/Wine uses the included launcher and its documented prerequisites.