Local Server Setup Guide

Date: 2026-01-27 Purpose: Testing wowee with a local WoW 3.3.5a server Status: Ready for testing

Overview

The wowee client’s server list starts with ChromieCraft, the public WotLK server it is developed against. This guide explains how to set up and test with a local WoW 3.3.5a server from popular emulators like TrinityCore or AzerothCore, and point the client at it.

Default Configuration

The login card asks for the server first, then the account:

Setting Default Value Description
Server ChromieCraft (logon.chromiecraft.com:3724, WotLK) Every server you have logged into is listed too; Somewhere else… is for any other address
Address (the chosen server’s) Under more options; placeholder logon.example.com
Port 3724 Under more options; an empty box means 3724
Account (empty) Your account username
Password (empty) Your account password

A server you log into is saved to the list with its account and expansion.

Server Requirements

You need a WoW 3.3.5a (Wrath of the Lich King) server emulator running on your local machine or network.

Supported Server Emulators

Recommended:

Quick Setup (TrinityCore)

1. Install Prerequisites

Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install git cmake make gcc g++ libssl-dev \
    libmysqlclient-dev libreadline-dev zlib1g-dev libbz2-dev \
    libboost-all-dev mysql-server

macOS:

brew install cmake boost openssl readline mysql

2. Download TrinityCore

cd ~/
git clone -b 3.3.5 https://github.com/TrinityCore/TrinityCore.git
cd TrinityCore

3. Compile Server

mkdir build && cd build
cmake ../ -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=$HOME/trinitycore-server
make -j$(nproc)
make install

Compilation time: ~30-60 minutes depending on your system.

4. Setup Database

# Create MySQL databases
mysql -u root -p

CREATE DATABASE world;
CREATE DATABASE characters;
CREATE DATABASE auth;
CREATE USER 'trinity'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'trinity';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON world.* TO 'trinity'@'localhost';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON characters.* TO 'trinity'@'localhost';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON auth.* TO 'trinity'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

# Import base database
cd ~/TrinityCore
mysql -u trinity -ptrinity auth < sql/base/auth_database.sql
mysql -u trinity -ptrinity characters < sql/base/characters_database.sql
mysql -u trinity -ptrinity world < sql/base/world_database.sql

# Download world database (TDB)
wget https://github.com/TrinityCore/TrinityCore/releases/download/TDB335.23041/TDB_full_world_335.23041_2023_04_11.sql
mysql -u trinity -ptrinity world < TDB_full_world_335.23041_2023_04_11.sql

5. Configure Server

cd ~/trinitycore-server/etc/

# Copy configuration templates
cp authserver.conf.dist authserver.conf
cp worldserver.conf.dist worldserver.conf

# Edit authserver.conf
nano authserver.conf

Key settings in authserver.conf:

LoginDatabaseInfo = "localhost;3306;trinity;trinity;auth"
RealmServerPort = 3724
BindIP = "localhost"

Key settings in worldserver.conf:

LoginDatabaseInfo = "localhost;3306;trinity;trinity;auth"
WorldDatabaseInfo = "localhost;3306;trinity;trinity;world"
CharacterDatabaseInfo = "localhost;3306;trinity;trinity;characters"

DataDir = "/path/to/your/WoW-3.3.5a/Data"  # Your WoW client data directory

6. Create Account

cd ~/trinitycore-server/bin/

# Start authserver first
./authserver

# In another terminal, start worldserver
./worldserver

# Wait for worldserver to fully load, then in worldserver console:
account create testuser testpass
account set gmlevel testuser 3 -1

7. Setup Realm

In the worldserver console:

realm add "Local Test Realm" localhost:8085 0 1

Or directly in database:

mysql -u trinity -ptrinity auth

-- TrinityCore 3.3.5 realmlist columns: id, name, address, localAddress,
-- localSubnetMask, port, icon, flag, timezone, allowedSecurityLevel,
-- population, gamebuild. Unmentioned columns use defaults.
INSERT INTO realmlist (name, address, port, icon, flag, timezone, allowedSecurityLevel, gamebuild)
VALUES ('Local Test Realm', 'localhost', 8085, 1, 0, 1, 0, 12340);

Running the Server

Start Services

Terminal 1 - Auth Server:

cd ~/trinitycore-server/bin/
./authserver

Terminal 2 - World Server:

cd ~/trinitycore-server/bin/
./worldserver

Server Console Commands

Useful commands in worldserver console:

# Create account
account create username password

# Set GM level (0=player, 1=moderator, 2=GM, 3=admin)
account set gmlevel username 3 -1

# Teleport character
.tele ironforge
.tele stormwind

# Get server info
server info
server set motd Welcome to Test Server!

# List online players
account onlinelist

# Shutdown server
server shutdown 10  # Shutdown in 10 seconds

Connecting with WoWee

1. Start the Client

cd /path/to/wowee
./build/bin/wowee

2. Login Screen

The Server list opens on ChromieCraft. For a local server:

3. Connect

  1. Enter your credentials (e.g., testuser / testpass)
  2. Click Log In
  3. You should see “Authentication successful!”
  4. Select your realm from the realm list
  5. Create or select a character
  6. Enter the world!

Troubleshooting

Connection Refused

Problem: Cannot connect to auth server

Solutions:

# Check if authserver is running
ps aux | grep authserver

# Check if port is listening
netstat -an | grep 3724
sudo lsof -i :3724

# Check firewall
sudo ufw allow 3724
sudo ufw status

# Verify MySQL is running
sudo systemctl status mysql

Authentication Failed

Problem: “Authentication failed” error

Solutions:

# Verify account exists
mysql -u trinity -ptrinity auth
SELECT * FROM account WHERE username='testuser';

# Reset password
# In worldserver console:
account set password testuser newpass newpass

# Check auth server logs
tail -f ~/trinitycore-server/logs/Auth.log

Realm List Empty

Problem: No realms showing after login

Solutions:

# Check realm configuration in database
mysql -u trinity -ptrinity auth
SELECT * FROM realmlist;

# Verify world server is running
ps aux | grep worldserver

# Check world server port
netstat -an | grep 8085

# Update realmlist address
UPDATE realmlist SET address='localhost' WHERE id=1;

Cannot Enter World

Problem: Stuck at character selection or disconnect when entering world

Solutions:

# Check worldserver logs
tail -f ~/trinitycore-server/logs/Server.log

# Verify Data directory in worldserver.conf
DataDir = "/path/to/WoW-3.3.5a/Data"

# Ensure maps are extracted
cd ~/WoW-3.3.5a/
ls -la maps/  # Should have .map files

# Extract maps if needed (from TrinityCore tools)
cd ~/trinitycore-server/bin/
./mapextractor
./vmap4extractor
./vmap4assembler
./mmaps_generator

Network Configuration

Local Network Testing

To test from another machine on your network:

1. Find your local IP:

ip addr show | grep inet
# Or
ifconfig | grep inet

2. Update server configuration:

Edit authserver.conf:

# Local-only testing on the same machine:
BindIP = "127.0.0.1"

# LAN/remote testing (listen on all interfaces):
# BindIP = "0.0.0.0"

Edit database:

mysql -u trinity -ptrinity auth
UPDATE realmlist SET address='<your-lan-ip>' WHERE id=1;  # Your local IP

3. Configure firewall:

sudo ufw allow 3724  # Auth server
sudo ufw allow 8085  # World server

4. In wowee:

If the realm list hands the client a public address that your router cannot reach from inside the LAN, set WOWEE_REALM_HOST_OVERRIDE=<your-lan-ip> when starting wowee. It replaces the realm’s host and keeps its port.

Remote Server Testing

For testing with a remote server (VPS, dedicated server):

Client configuration (Somewhere else… → more options):

Server configuration:

# authserver.conf
# Public/remote access:
BindIP = "0.0.0.0"

# Database
UPDATE realmlist SET address='your.server.ip' WHERE id=1;

WoW Data Files

The client needs access to extracted WoW data (terrain, models, textures) indexed by manifest.json.

If you have a fresh WoW install (MPQs only), build the assets once. Started with nothing extracted, the client opens its asset builder; wowee_assets is the same builder as a separate window. Both write to the per-user data directory by default, which the client finds on its own:

Or from the command line, which writes to Data/ in the checkout:

./extract_assets.sh /path/to/WoW-3.3.5a/Data wotlk

See BUILD_INSTRUCTIONS.md for all three.

Setting WOW_DATA_PATH

Only needed when the data is somewhere other than the per-user directory or Data/ beside the client. WOW_DATA_PATH takes precedence over both.

# Linux/Mac
export WOW_DATA_PATH="/path/to/extracted/Data"

# Or add to ~/.bashrc
echo 'export WOW_DATA_PATH="/path/to/extracted/Data"' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

# Run client
cd /path/to/wowee
./build/bin/wowee

Data Directory Structure

Your extracted data directory should contain (example):

Data/
└── expansions/
    └── wotlk/
        ├── expansion.json
        ├── opcodes.json
        ├── update_fields.json
        ├── dbc_layouts.json
        ├── manifest.json
        ├── dbfilesclient/
        ├── interface/
        ├── sound/
        └── world/

Each game built into the same folder gets its own directory under expansions/; with more than one installed, the login screen offers an Assets choice.

Testing Features

In-Game Testing

Once connected and in-world, test client features:

Movement:

UI/Gameplay Windows:

Debug Features:

Performance Monitoring

In a debug build, press F1 to show/hide the performance HUD which displays:

Server Administration

GM Commands (in worldserver console or in-game)

Character Management:

.character level 80              # Set level to 80
.character rename                # Flag character for rename
.character customize             # Flag for appearance change
.levelup 80                      # Increase level by 80

Item/Gold:

.additem 25 10                   # Add 10 of item ID 25
.modify money 1000000            # Add 10 gold (in copper)
.lookup item sword               # Find item IDs

Teleportation:

.tele stormwind                  # Teleport to Stormwind
.tele ironforge                  # Teleport to Ironforge
.gps                             # Show current position

World Management:

.server set motd Welcome!        # Set message of the day
.announce Message                # Server-wide announcement
.server shutdown 60              # Shutdown in 60 seconds

Performance Tips

Server Optimization

worldserver.conf settings for testing:

# Faster respawn times for testing
Corpse.Decay.NORMAL = 30
Corpse.Decay.RARE = 60
Corpse.Decay.ELITE = 60

# Faster leveling for testing
Rate.XP.Kill = 2
Rate.XP.Quest = 2

# More gold for testing
Rate.Drop.Money = 2

# Instant flight paths (testing)
Rate.Creature.Normal.Damage = 1
Rate.Player.Haste = 1

Client Performance

Security Notes

⚠️ For Local Testing Only

This setup is for local development and testing purposes:

Do not expose these settings to the internet without proper security configuration.

Additional Resources

Server Emulators

Database Tools

WoW Development

Map/DBC Tools

Example Testing Session

Complete Workflow

  1. Start Server: ```bash

    Terminal 1

    cd ~/trinitycore-server/bin && ./authserver

Terminal 2

cd ~/trinitycore-server/bin && ./worldserver


2. **Create Test Account (in worldserver console):**

account create demo demopass account set gmlevel demo 3 -1


3. **Start Client:**
```bash
cd /path/to/wowee
export WOW_DATA_PATH="/path/to/extracted/Data"
./build/bin/wowee
  1. Connect:
    • Server: Somewhere else…, Address localhost under more options
    • Account: demo
    • Password: demopass
    • Click Log In
  2. Test Features:
    • Create a character
    • Enter world
    • Test windows (B, C, P, N, L, M, O)
    • Test vendor flow (buy, sell, buyback)
    • Test quest flow (accept, progress tracking, turn-in markers)
    • Test movement (WASD, mouse)
  3. Stop Server (worldserver console): 
    server shutdown 10

Troubleshooting Checklist

Next Steps

Once you have a working local server connection:

  1. Test network protocol implementation
  2. Validate packet handling
  3. Test character creation and login
  4. Verify world entry and movement
  5. Test rendering with real terrain data (requires extracted assets)
  6. Profile performance with actual game data

Status: Ready for local server testing Last Updated: 2026-09-21 Client Version: v3.1.32 Server Compatibility: Vanilla 1.12, TBC 2.4.3, WotLK 3.3.5a (12340), Turtle WoW 1.18