Nihui NP - Nameplates

Version: 1.1 Author: nihil (based on rnxmUI)

Enhanced nameplates with visual effects, animations, and extensive customization options.

Features

Visual Enhancements

Custom Borders

• Stylish Frames: Apply custom border textures around nameplate health bars
• Configurable:
  • Texture path
  • Color and alpha
  • Edge size
  • Offset from health bar
  • Blend mode

Glass Overlay

• Depth Effect: Semi-transparent glass texture overlay on health bars
• Customizable:
  • Texture path
  • Alpha transparency
  • Blend mode
• Professional Look: Adds visual polish to nameplates

Target Highlighting

• Bright Indicator: Clear visual marker for your current target
• Options:
  • Custom highlight color (default: yellow)
  • Additive blend mode for extra brightness
  • Remove Blizzard default highlight
  • Optional pulse animation

Custom Statusbar Texture

• Modern Appearance: Replace default health bar texture
• Smooth Gradient: Clean, professional look
• Consistent Style: Match other Nihui addons

Health Loss Animations

• Smooth Transitions: Animated health decrease effect
• Performance Optimized:
  • Distance-based rendering (default: 60 yards)
  • Maximum concurrent animations limit (default: 10)
  • Efficient texture reuse
• Selective Filtering:
  • Enable for player
  • Enable for friendly units
  • Enable for enemy units
  • Enable for neutral units
  • Combat-only mode option

Cast Bar Enhancement

• Optional Nameplate Castbars: Show enemy cast bars on nameplates
• Features:
  • Spell icon display
  • Spell name text
  • Cast timer countdown
  • Interrupt detection
• Selective Display:
  • Enable for player (typically disabled)
  • Enable for friendly units
  • Enable for enemy units (recommended)
  • Enable for neutral units
• Positioning: Adjustable Y offset from nameplate
• Hide Blizzard Default: Option to disable Blizzard's castbar

Scaling System (Optional)

• Dynamic Sizing: Make target nameplate larger
• Settings:
  • Normal width/height scale (1.0 = 100%)
  • Target width/height scale (e.g., 1.2 = 120%)

Installation

1. Extract the Nihui_np folder to:

   World of Warcraft\_retail_\Interface\AddOns\
   

2. Restart World of Warcraft or type /reload

Configuration

Open the settings GUI:

/nihuinp

Quick Setup

1. Type /nihuinp to open the configuration panel
2. Enable desired visual effects (borders, glass, animations)
3. Configure health loss animation filters (player, friendly, enemy, neutral)
4. Adjust target highlighting preferences
5. Enable/disable cast bars as needed
6. Changes apply immediately

Recommended Settings

For PvP:

• Health Loss Animations: Enabled for enemy units only
• Combat Only: Enabled
• Target Highlighting: Bright yellow with additive mode
• Cast Bars: Enabled for enemy units

For PvE:

• Health Loss Animations: Enabled for all units
• Combat Only: Disabled
• Max Distance: 60 yards
• Cast Bars: Enabled for enemy and neutral units

For Performance:

• Max Concurrent Animations: 5-8
• Max Distance: 40 yards
• Combat Only: Enabled
• Scaling: Disabled

Health Loss Animation Settings

• Enabled: Master toggle for health loss animations
• Max Distance: Units beyond this range won't show animations (30-80 yards recommended)
• Max Concurrent: Limit simultaneous animations (5-15 recommended)
• Combat Only: Only show animations during combat
• Enable for Player: Show on player's nameplate
• Enable for Friendly Units: Show on party/raid members
• Enable for Enemy Units: Show on hostile targets
• Enable for Neutral Units: Show on neutral NPCs

Border Settings

• Enabled: Show custom borders
• Texture: Path to border texture file
• Color: RGBA color values
• Edge Size: Border thickness in pixels
• Offset: Distance from health bar edge
• Blend Mode: BLEND or ADD

Glass Overlay Settings

• Enabled: Show glass effect
• Texture: Path to glass texture file
• Alpha: Transparency (0.0 = invisible, 1.0 = opaque)
• Blend Mode: BLEND or ADD

Target Highlight Settings

• Enabled: Highlight current target
• Color: RGBA highlight color
• Use Additive: Brighter highlight with additive blending
• Remove Default: Hide Blizzard's default highlight
• Enable Pulse: Animated pulse effect (may impact performance)

Cast Bar Settings

• Enabled: Master toggle for nameplate castbars
• Y Offset: Vertical position from nameplate (pixels)
• Hide Blizzard Castbar: Remove default UI castbar
• Enable for Player/Friendly/Enemy/Neutral: Selective display
• Show Icon: Display spell icon
• Show Text: Display spell name
• Show Timer: Display cast time

Scaling Settings (Optional)

• Enabled: Enable dynamic scaling for target
• Normal Width/Height: Scale for non-targeted nameplates (1.0 = normal)
• Target Width/Height: Scale for your current target (1.2 = 20% larger)

Reset to Defaults

Return to default configuration:

/nihuinp reset

Compatibility

• Game Version: Retail (The War Within - 11.0.2+)
• Conflicts: Disable other nameplate addons (Plater, KUI Nameplates, TidyPlates)
• CVars: May modify some nameplate CVars for optimal appearance

Performance

• Efficient Rendering: Distance-based culling for animations
• Concurrent Limit: Prevents FPS drops in large battles
• Smart Updates: Only update visible nameplates
• Texture Pooling: Reuse animation textures efficiently

Saved Variables

Settings stored per character:

WTF\Account\<ACCOUNT>\<SERVER>\<CHARACTER>\SavedVariables\NihuiNameplatesDB.lua

Troubleshooting

Q: Nameplates look different than before A: Type /nihuinp reset to restore defaults, then customize from there

Q: Health loss animations not showing A: Check that animations are enabled and the unit type filter is enabled (enemy, friendly, etc.)

Q: FPS drops with many nameplates A: Lower "Max Concurrent Animations" and reduce "Max Distance"

Q: Borders not visible A: Ensure borders are enabled and check the texture path is correct

Q: Target highlight not showing A: Enable target highlighting and make sure "Remove Default" is enabled

Q: Cast bars appearing twice A: Enable "Hide Blizzard Castbar" option to remove the default UI castbar

Q: Glass effect too strong/weak A: Adjust the alpha value (lower = more transparent)

Commands

• /nihuinp - Open settings GUI
• /nihuinp reset - Reset to default settings
• /reload - Reload UI after major changes

Tips

1. Combat Performance: Enable "Combat Only" to reduce overhead out of combat
2. Visual Clarity: Use bright target highlighting in raids to easily spot your target
3. Cast Tracking: Enable enemy castbars to track interrupt opportunities
4. Distance Tuning: Adjust max distance based on your typical engagement range
5. Color Coordination: Match border colors to your UI theme

Technical Details

Animation System

• Texture: Overlays on health bar during damage
• Smoothing: Framerate-independent animation
• Pooling: Efficient memory usage
• Culling: Distance and visibility checks

Event Handling

• NAME_PLATE_UNIT_ADDED - Initialize new nameplates
• NAME_PLATE_UNIT_REMOVED - Cleanup removed nameplates
• UNIT_HEALTH - Trigger health loss animations
• PLAYER_TARGET_CHANGED - Update target highlighting

Credits

Author: nihil Based on: rnxmUI nameplate system

Part of the Nihui UI Suite

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Beautiful nameplates, exceptional clarity