docs(M02): publish character presentation handoff

Work-Package: M02-RND-CHARACTER-PRESENTATION-001

Agent: sindo-main-codex

coordination/claims/M02-RND-CAMERA-001.md

@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+# M02-RND-CAMERA-001 — Third-person camera rig boundary
+
+<!-- OPENWC_CLAIM:M02-RND-CAMERA-001:sindo-main-codex:2026-07-16 -->
+
+## Ownership
+
+- Target: M02
+- Program: RND/GMP
+- Owner/Agent ID: sindo-main-codex
+- Branch: `work/sindo-main-codex/m02-camera-rig`
+- Lease expires UTC: 2026-07-16
+- Integrator: M02 milestone integrator
+
+## Outcome
+
+Move mouse capture, orbit yaw/pitch, zoom state and Camera3D transforms from
+`ThirdPersonWowController` into a reusable `ThirdPersonCameraRig`, with an
+explicit replaceable camera-collision policy that preserves the current
+no-collision sandbox baseline.
+
+## Non-goals
+
+- Enable a new collision/raycast behavior before build-12340 comparison.
+- Change initial yaw/pitch, zoom limits, sensitivity, FOV, far plane or camera path.
+- Implement first-person, follow lag, shoulder offsets or cinematic cameras.
+- Change movement, terrain query, character presentation or renderer streaming focus.
+- Mark M02 complete or edit its checklist/Evidence.
+
+## Paths
+
+- Exclusive: `src/scenes/player/third_person_camera_rig.gd`,
+  `src/scenes/player/camera_collision_policy.gd`,
+  `src/scenes/player/no_camera_collision_policy.gd`,
+  `src/tools/verify_third_person_camera_rig.gd`,
+  `docs/modules/third-person-camera.md`, this claim
+- Shared/hotspots: `src/scenes/player/third_person_wow_controller.gd`,
+  runtime streaming scenes, player regression scene,
+  `src/tools/verify_player_input.gd`, `docs/modules/player-input.md`,
+  `docs/modules/local-player-movement.md`, `docs/modules/README.md`
+- Generated/ignored: local `.godot`, native DLL, generated resources and renderer corpus
+
+## Contracts and data
+
+- Public API: `ThirdPersonCameraRig.initialize_for_character`,
+  `handle_camera_input`, `godot_world_flight_movement_basis`, state getters and
+  `set_collision_policy`
+- Policy: `CameraCollisionPolicy.resolve_camera_distance`; default
+  `NoCameraCollisionPolicy` returns requested distance unchanged
+- Scene paths and renderer camera path remain unchanged
+- Schema/cache/coordinate contracts: unchanged
+- Consumers: player composition, sandbox flight movement and renderer viewport
+
+## Dependencies
+
+- Requires: merged TerrainQuery package on master `f5bb64e`
+- Blocks: character appearance/animation extraction from remaining player hotspot
+- External state: none; tests use asset-free camera/player scene
+
+## Verification
+
+- Commands: dedicated orbit/zoom/clamp/policy verifier, input/movement/terrain
+  regressions, asset-free scene, coordinate/StreamingFocus gates, renderer dry-run
+  and repository gates
+- Fixtures: initial state, remappable action events, mouse deltas and fixed-distance policy
+- Fidelity evidence: preserve current `-18°` pitch, `8` distance, `1` zoom step,
+  `2..18` clamp, `0.003` sensitivity and no-collision output
+- Performance budget: constant-time state/transform update; no raycast in baseline policy
+
+## Documentation deliverables
+
+- Inline API/export documentation for rig and collision policies
+- Camera module spec with inputs/outputs, data-flow, state and sequence diagrams
+- Updated input/movement consumer diagrams/source maps and module registry
+
+## Simplicity and naming
+
+- Important names: `ThirdPersonCameraRig`, `CameraCollisionPolicy`,
+  `NoCameraCollisionPolicy`
+- Simplest approach: one Node3D rig on existing CameraPivot and one explicit identity policy
+- Rejected complexity: generic camera framework, spring arm migration and hidden physics raycast
+- Unavoidable complexity: rig mutates Camera3D/character Node transforms on main thread
+- Measured optimization evidence: not applicable
+
+## Status
+
+- State: ready-for-review
+- Done: extracted rig and collision policy, migrated all three scene compositions,
+  added regressions and completed required module documentation
+- Next: milestone integrator reviews and merges `8c1cf9b`
+- Blocked by:
+
+<!-- OPENWC_HANDOFF:READY:M02-RND-CAMERA-001:8c1cf9b -->
+
+## Handoff
+
+- Outcome: `ThirdPersonCameraRig` now owns capture, orbit, zoom and camera
+  transforms; `ThirdPersonWowController` only dispatches camera events and
+  consumes the rig basis for sandbox flight.
+- Public contracts: `initialize_for_character`, `handle_camera_input`,
+  `godot_world_flight_movement_basis`, `set_collision_policy`, read-only state,
+  and `CameraCollisionPolicy.resolve_camera_distance`.
+- Verification: camera `state_cases=12 policy_cases=3 scenes=3`, input
+  `actions=12 intent_cases=6`, movement `cases=12 state_transitions=2`, terrain
+  `contract=4 interpolation=1 cache=1 failures=2`, coordinate boundary
+  `files=98 consumers=5`; documentation, coordination and diff checks passed.
+- Renderer dry-run: seven checkpoint plans and report completed; expected
+  diagnostics only for unavailable proprietary corpus/character GLB.
+- Fidelity: preserves the sandbox defaults (`-18 degrees`, distance `8`, zoom
+  `2..18` step `1`, sensitivity `0.003`, pivot `1.7`, far `50000`) and the prior
+  no-collision behavior. No build-12340 parity claim is made.
+- Local ignored inputs: native extension DLL and generated ADT resource scripts
+  were used for the renderer dry-run and are not part of the commit.
+- Migration: none; `ThirdPersonPlayer/CameraPivot/Camera3D` remains stable.
+- Risks: active collision and exact original-client camera semantics remain
+  unverified; exported initial values are captured at ready; mouse mode is
+  process-global.
+- Documentation: added the camera API/module spec plus data-flow, state and
+  sequence diagrams; updated player-input and local-movement consumer maps.

coordination/claims/M02-RND-CHARACTER-PRESENTATION-001.md

@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+# M02-RND-CHARACTER-PRESENTATION-001 — Character presentation boundary
+
+<!-- OPENWC_CLAIM:M02-RND-CHARACTER-PRESENTATION-001:sindo-main-codex:2026-07-16 -->
+
+## Ownership
+
+- Target: M02
+- Program: RND/GMP
+- Owner/Agent ID: sindo-main-codex
+- Branch: `work/sindo-main-codex/m02-character-presentation`
+- Lease expires UTC: 2026-07-16
+- Integrator: M02 milestone integrator
+
+## Outcome
+
+Move character GLB composition, geoset/texture/outfit setup and locomotion
+animation selection from `ThirdPersonWowController` into independently
+replaceable `CharacterAppearancePresenter` and `CharacterAnimationPresenter`
+components without changing the current sandbox presentation.
+
+## Non-goals
+
+- Add new model, equipment, animation or build-12340 behavior.
+- Change character asset formats, DBC parsing, texture composition or geoset rules.
+- Add network-driven appearance/movement snapshots.
+- Change input, movement, terrain, camera or renderer streaming behavior.
+- Mark M02 complete or edit its checklist/Evidence.
+
+## Paths
+
+- Exclusive: `src/scenes/character/character_appearance_presenter.gd`,
+  `src/scenes/character/character_animation_presenter.gd`,
+  `src/tools/verify_character_presentation.gd`,
+  `docs/modules/character-presentation.md`, this claim
+- Shared/hotspots: `src/scenes/player/third_person_wow_controller.gd`, runtime
+  streaming scenes, player regression scene, `src/tools/verify_player_input.gd`,
+  `docs/modules/local-player-movement.md`, `docs/modules/README.md`
+- Reused unchanged: geoset controller, texture compositor and outfit resolver
+- Generated/ignored: local `.godot`, native DLL, generated resources and renderer corpus
+
+## Contracts and data
+
+- Appearance API loads/replaces one character root under the existing `Visual` node.
+- Animation API binds an `AnimationPlayer` from that root and accepts a typed
+  moving/stationary presentation state.
+- Scene paths, model defaults, DBC/cache/coordinate contracts remain unchanged.
+- Consumers: player scene composition and renderer viewport only.
+
+## Dependencies
+
+- Requires: merged camera package on master `68e6f60`.
+- Blocks: final M02 sandbox-profile gate and target integration audit.
+- External state: asset-free tests use a synthetic mesh and AnimationPlayer.
+
+## Verification
+
+- Dedicated appearance composition, replacement, grounding and failure regression.
+- Dedicated animation discovery, fallback, looping, blend and state regression.
+- Player source-boundary and three-scene wiring checks.
+- Existing input/movement/terrain/camera regressions, coordinate gates and renderer dry-run.
+- Fidelity evidence: preserve current sandbox model path, scale, yaw, outfit,
+  Stand/Idle and Run/Walk selection only; no original-client parity claim.
+
+## Documentation deliverables
+
+- Inline public API/export documentation for both presenters.
+- Module specification with inputs/outputs, data-flow, lifecycle/state and sequence diagrams.
+- Updated movement consumer/source map and module registry.
+
+## Simplicity and naming
+
+- Important names: `CharacterAppearancePresenter`, `CharacterAnimationPresenter`.
+- Simplest approach: two small scene components on the existing `Visual` subtree.
+- Rejected complexity: generic presenter framework, async asset scheduler and duplicated character systems.
+- Unavoidable complexity: scene-tree composition and AnimationPlayer discovery run on the main thread.
+- Measured optimization evidence: not applicable.
+
+## Status
+
+- State: ready-for-review
+- Done: extracted both presenters, migrated all runtime/regression scenes,
+  added asset-free regressions and completed required module documentation
+- Next: milestone integrator reviews and merges `97bb53f`
+- Blocked by:
+
+<!-- OPENWC_HANDOFF:READY:M02-RND-CHARACTER-PRESENTATION-001:97bb53f -->
+
+## Handoff
+
+- Branch/commit: `work/sindo-main-codex/m02-character-presentation` at `97bb53f`.
+- Outcome: `CharacterAppearancePresenter` owns model/geoset/compositor/outfit
+  composition and `CharacterAnimationPresenter` owns AnimationPlayer discovery,
+  loop preparation and moving/stationary playback. The player is now only the
+  composition and horizontal-velocity adapter.
+- Changed composition: both runtime scenes and the player regression scene keep
+  `ThirdPersonPlayer/Visual`; they add `Visual/AnimationPresenter`.
+- Public contracts: appearance load/read-root/ready signal and animation
+  bind/present/read-state APIs documented in the module specification.
+- Verification: presentation `appearance_cases=9 animation_cases=10 scenes=3`,
+  input `actions=12 intent_cases=6`, movement `cases=12 state_transitions=2`,
+  terrain `contract=4 interpolation=1 cache=1 failures=2`, camera
+  `state_cases=12 policy_cases=3`, coordinate boundaries `files=99 consumers=5`,
+  and StreamingFocus `runtime_scenes=2 capture_tools=3` passed.
+- Renderer: dry-run passed project/material/dedupe/cache/manifest/calibration/
+  coordinate/server-spawn gates and planned all seven checkpoints. Missing
+  proprietary HumanMale GLB, DBC and ADT corpus produced expected diagnostics.
+- Repository gates: documentation `module_specs=8`, coordination
+  `fallback_claims=29`; five unrelated expired M00 claim warnings remain.
+- Fidelity: current model path, scale `1`, yaw `90 degrees`, class `1`, blend
+  `0.15 seconds`, starter outfit and Stand/Idle/Run/Walk selection are preserved.
+  No build-12340 appearance or animation parity claim is made.
+- Migration: repository scenes are migrated. External/custom scenes must move
+  model/class/scale/yaw exports from the player node to the scripted `Visual`
+  node and add `Visual/AnimationPresenter`. No cache/database rebuild is needed.
+- Local ignored inputs: native extension DLL, UID cache and generated ADT
+  resource scripts supported the dry-run and are not committed.
+- Risks: synchronous model load may hitch; first descendant AnimationPlayer wins;
+  moving state is a sandbox threshold boolean; complete equipment/animation
+  fidelity remains open.
+- Recommended merge order: merge this package after camera (already on master),
+  then implement the sandbox profile gate and perform the final M02 integration audit.
+- Documentation: added character-presentation API, inputs/outputs, data-flow,
+  lifecycle/state, sequence, ownership/failure and source-map sections; updated
+  the module registry and movement presentation consumer map.

docs/modules/README.md

@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
 | Player input | Partial | [`player-input.md`](player-input.md) |
 | Local player movement | Implemented | [`local-player-movement.md`](local-player-movement.md) |
 | Terrain query | Implemented | [`terrain-query.md`](terrain-query.md) |
+| Third-person camera | Implemented | [`third-person-camera.md`](third-person-camera.md) |
+| Character presentation | Implemented boundary / Partial fidelity | [`character-presentation.md`](character-presentation.md) |
 | Renderer | Partial | [`world-renderer.md`](world-renderer.md), [`../../RENDER.md`](../../RENDER.md) |
 | Network/session | Planned | [`../../targets/roadmap/03-network-and-session.md`](../../targets/roadmap/03-network-and-session.md) |
 | Gameplay | Prototype/Planned | [`../../targets/roadmap/04-gameplay-systems.md`](../../targets/roadmap/04-gameplay-systems.md) |

docs/modules/character-presentation.md

@@ -0,0 +1,273 @@
+# Character Presentation
+
+## Metadata
+
+| Field | Value |
+|---|---|
+| Status | Implemented boundary / Partial fidelity |
+| Target/work package | M02 / M02-RND-CHARACTER-PRESENTATION-001 |
+| Owners | Character appearance composition and locomotion animation presentation |
+| Last verified | `97bb53f`, 2026-07-14 |
+| Profiles/capabilities | Current render sandbox character experiment |
+
+## Purpose
+
+Compose the current sandbox character GLB, geosets, skin textures and starter
+outfit below the existing `Visual` node, then independently present its
+stationary or moving animation. Keep visual asset loading and AnimationPlayer
+state out of gameplay movement and the player scene composition root.
+
+## Non-goals
+
+- Define authoritative character identity, equipment or movement state.
+- Change the existing GLB, geoset, texture-compositor, DBC or outfit formats.
+- Implement full build-12340 animation selection, blending or equipment visuals.
+- Load world assets, query terrain, process input or control the camera.
+- Introduce asynchronous streaming, background scene mutation or persistence.
+
+## Context and boundaries
+
+```mermaid
+flowchart LR
+    Scene[ThirdPersonWowController composition] --> Appearance[CharacterAppearancePresenter]
+    Model[Configured PackedScene] --> Appearance
+    DBC[Extracted DBC/item textures] --> Appearance
+    Appearance --> Root[CharacterModel root]
+    Root --> Geosets[Existing geoset controller]
+    Root --> Compositor[Existing texture compositor]
+    Appearance -->|ready root| Scene
+    Scene --> Animation[CharacterAnimationPresenter]
+    Velocity[Movement read model] -->|moving boolean| Animation
+    Animation --> Player[AnimationPlayer below root]
+```
+
+Allowed dependencies:
+
+- configured Godot `PackedScene` character asset;
+- existing `CharacterGeosetController`, `CharacterTextureCompositor` and
+  `WowCharacterOutfitResolver` presentation components;
+- `AnimationPlayer` and animation resources below the composed character root;
+- main-thread player scene composition and movement velocity read model.
+
+Forbidden dependencies:
+
+- `MoveIntent`, input devices or movement integration;
+- `TerrainQuery`, ADT parsing, coordinate conversion or streaming decisions;
+- cameras, network packets, server databases or gameplay reducers;
+- direct production database writes or cache-format ownership.
+
+## Public API
+
+| Symbol | Kind | Purpose | Thread/lifetime | Errors |
+|---|---|---|---|---|
+| `CharacterAppearancePresenter.load_character_appearance(content_root_override)` | Command | Replaces the owned character root and schedules final grounding/outfit composition | Main thread; may be called again during scene lifetime | Returns `false` for empty/invalid model; warning for invalid resource |
+| `CharacterAppearancePresenter.character_root` | Read-only state | Current owned model root or null | Stable until next load | None |
+| `character_appearance_ready(character_root)` | Signal | Publishes a fully attached, grounded root | Deferred main-thread completion | Not emitted for invalid/empty model |
+| `CharacterAnimationPresenter.bind_character_root(character_root)` | Command | Discovers and prepares the first descendant AnimationPlayer | Main thread; binding lifetime | Returns `false` and clears state when absent |
+| `CharacterAnimationPresenter.present_locomotion(is_moving)` | Command | Selects current stationary/moving candidate and starts it once | Main/physics thread | Returns `false` when unavailable, missing or unchanged |
+| `active_animation_name` | Read-only state | Selected animation name | Stable until bind/state transition | Empty when unbound |
+| `has_animation_player` | Read-only state | Whether the presenter has a valid bound player | Stable until bind | None |
+
+## Inputs and outputs
+
+| Direction | Contract/data | Producer | Consumer | Ownership | Thread/lifetime |
+|---|---|---|---|---|---|
+| Input | Model resource path, class, scale and yaw | Runtime scene composition | Appearance presenter | Exported configuration | Captured at load |
+| Input | Extracted content root | Player scene configuration | Appearance presenter | Copied string | Captured at load |
+| Input | Packed character scene | Godot resource loader | Appearance presenter | Shared resource; presenter owns instance | Scene lifetime |
+| Output | Composed `CharacterModel` root | Appearance presenter | Scene/animation presenter | Appearance presenter owns node | Until replacement |
+| Output | Ready signal | Appearance presenter | Player composition | Synchronous signal after deferred completion | One per successful load |
+| Input | Moving/stationary boolean | Player adapter from horizontal velocity | Animation presenter | Value copy | One physics tick |
+| Output | AnimationPlayer playback mutation | Animation presenter | Rendered character | Bound root owns player/resources | Until next transition |
+
+Side effects:
+
+- loads and instantiates the configured model on the main thread;
+- adds/removes one owned `CharacterModel` subtree;
+- composes the existing texture/outfit components and reads their extracted inputs;
+- changes model transform for scale, yaw and ground alignment;
+- configures locomotion loop modes and starts AnimationPlayer playback;
+- does not write files, caches, databases or network state.
+
+## Data flow
+
+```mermaid
+flowchart TD
+    Config[Model/class/scale/yaw/content root] --> Load[Load PackedScene]
+    Load --> Replace[Replace owned CharacterModel]
+    Replace --> Attach[Attach model and compositor]
+    Attach --> Ground[Fit mesh bounds to visual ground]
+    DBC[Existing outfit resolver] --> Outfit[Apply starter outfit]
+    Ground --> Ready[Emit ready root]
+    Outfit --> Ready
+    Ready --> Bind[Discover AnimationPlayer]
+    Velocity[Horizontal movement velocity] --> State[Moving or stationary]
+    State --> Select[Run/Walk or Stand/Idle selection]
+    Bind --> Select
+    Select --> Playback[Loop and play with blend]
+```
+
+## Lifecycle/state
+
+```mermaid
+stateDiagram-v2
+    [*] --> Empty
+    Empty --> Loading: valid load command
+    Loading --> Ready: attach + deferred composition
+    Loading --> Empty: invalid resource
+    Ready --> Loading: replacement load
+    Ready --> Empty: empty model command
+
+    state Animation {
+        [*] --> Unbound
+        Unbound --> Stationary: bind root with animations
+        Stationary --> Moving: moving=true
+        Moving --> Stationary: moving=false
+        Stationary --> Unbound: bind missing player
+        Moving --> Unbound: bind missing player
+    }
+```
+
+Appearance replacement removes the old root from the scene immediately and
+queues it for deletion. Deferred completion checks root identity, so a stale
+completion cannot publish a replaced model.
+
+## Main sequence
+
+```mermaid
+sequenceDiagram
+    participant Scene as ThirdPersonWowController
+    participant Appearance as CharacterAppearancePresenter
+    participant Existing as Geoset/Compositor/Outfit
+    participant Animation as CharacterAnimationPresenter
+    participant Player as AnimationPlayer
+    Scene->>Appearance: load_character_appearance(content root)
+    Appearance->>Appearance: load, instantiate and attach root
+    Appearance->>Existing: compose textures and starter outfit
+    Appearance-->>Scene: character_appearance_ready(root)
+    Scene->>Animation: bind_character_root(root)
+    Animation->>Player: prepare loops and play Stand/Idle
+    loop Physics ticks
+        Scene->>Animation: present_locomotion(is moving)
+        Animation->>Player: play only on state/name change
+    end
+```
+
+## Ownership, threading and resources
+
+- The runtime scene owns one appearance presenter on `Visual` and one animation
+  presenter below it.
+- The appearance presenter exclusively owns the generated `CharacterModel`
+  subtree; imported shared resources remain Godot-owned.
+- The animation presenter borrows an AnimationPlayer reference until rebind or
+  subtree replacement; the player scene orders rebind through the ready signal.
+- Loading, node mutation, bounds calculation, outfit setup and playback occur
+  on the main thread. There are no workers, locks, RIDs or cancellation tokens.
+- The player controller owns neither model resources nor animation state.
+
+## Errors, cancellation and recovery
+
+| Failure | Detection | Behavior | Diagnostic | Recovery |
+|---|---|---|---|---|
+| Empty model path | Load guard | Clears old root and returns `false` | Contract regression | Configure a path and retry |
+| Invalid model resource | Failed PackedScene cast | Remains empty | Named warning with path | Correct/extract asset and retry |
+| Replaced deferred completion | Root identity check | Stale completion ignored | Replacement regression | No action required |
+| Missing DBC/outfit inputs | Existing resolver returns false/empty | Base model remains visible | Existing resolver diagnostics | Restore extracted inputs and reload |
+| Missing AnimationPlayer | Recursive discovery returns null | Presenter becomes unbound | Contract return/read state | Bind a root with animations |
+| Missing candidate animation | Candidate selection returns empty | Current playback unchanged | Verifier/source diagnostics | Extend verified candidate policy later |
+
+There is no background load cancellation. Replacement is the recovery path and
+invalid model state is explicit through the return value and null read model.
+
+## Configuration and capabilities
+
+| Setting/capability | Default | Profile | Runtime mutable | Effect |
+|---|---|---|---|---|
+| Character model | Human male sandbox GLB | Current sandbox | Before reload | Model scene input |
+| Character class ID | `1` | Current sandbox | Before reload | Starter outfit lookup |
+| Uniform scale | `1.0` | Current sandbox | Before reload | Character root scale |
+| Yaw offset | `90` degrees | Current sandbox | Before reload | Imported model correction |
+| Extracted content root | `res://data/extracted` | Local content | Per load override | DBC/item texture input |
+| Animation blend | `0.15` seconds | Current sandbox | Before bind/transition | Playback cross-fade/default blend |
+| Stationary candidates | `Stand`, then `Idle` | Current sandbox | Fixed | Exact then substring selection |
+| Moving candidates | `Run`, then `Walk` | Current sandbox | Fixed | Exact then substring selection |
+
+## Persistence, cache and migration
+
+Presenter state is transient. No saved settings, user profile, database schema
+or cache format changes. Existing scene paths remain
+`ThirdPersonPlayer/Visual` and add only `Visual/AnimationPresenter`; model and
+extracted-data paths retain their defaults. Moving the model exports from the
+player node to `Visual` is a scene-authoring ownership change, not persisted
+runtime data migration.
+
+## Diagnostics and observability
+
+- Logs: invalid model path warns with the responsible presenter and path.
+- Read models: current character root, animation binding and active name.
+- Tests: dedicated verifier reports appearance, animation, scene and player boundaries.
+- Metrics/correlation IDs: not applicable to this synchronous sandbox presenter.
+
+## Verification
+
+- Unit/contract: synthetic model fixture verifies load, scale, yaw, grounding,
+  compositor composition, ready signal, replacement and empty-model clearing.
+- Animation: synthetic libraries verify nested discovery, exact and substring
+  candidate selection, loop policy, blend configuration and duplicate suppression.
+- Boundary: player source contains no model loading, outfit, bounds or
+  AnimationPlayer logic; appearance and animation dependencies remain separate.
+- Integration: Eastern Kingdoms, Kalimdor and player regression scenes compose
+  both presenters; existing input/movement/terrain/camera tests remain required.
+- Fidelity evidence: only preservation of the current sandbox defaults and
+  selection rules. No build-12340 appearance or animation parity is claimed.
+- Performance: one synchronous model composition per load and constant-time
+  locomotion calls except on state transition; asset streaming remains future work.
+
+## Extension points
+
+- Replace starter outfit inputs with a versioned appearance/equipment snapshot.
+- Replace boolean locomotion input with a typed presentation state after
+  movement/network contracts define walk, run, jump, fall, swim, mount and emotes.
+- Add asynchronous/preloaded model providers behind the appearance command
+  without moving resource loading back into gameplay.
+- Add verified animation IDs/variation policy after build-12340 fixtures exist.
+
+## Capability status
+
+| Capability | Status | Evidence | Gap/next step |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| Independent appearance composition | Implemented | Synthetic fixture and three scene wirings | Integrator target update |
+| Independent locomotion animation | Implemented | Exact/fallback/loop/blend regression | Add typed presentation state later |
+| Current starter outfit | Partial | Existing resolver reused unchanged | Needs extracted DBC fixture and client comparison |
+| Current skin/geoset composition | Partial | Existing components reused | Full equipment/customization fidelity incomplete |
+| Build-12340 animation semantics | Planned | No original-client fixture | Capture animation IDs/transitions/timing |
+| Runtime equipment/network updates | Planned | No snapshot contract | M08/M09/M12 work |
+
+## Known gaps and risks
+
+- Model loading remains synchronous and can hitch when not preloaded.
+- Exact appearance, equipment, animation choice, playback speed and blending are unverified.
+- The moving input is a sandbox threshold boolean, not authoritative locomotion state.
+- The first descendant AnimationPlayer wins; multi-player imported scenes need a
+  more explicit binding contract if they appear.
+- Existing geoset/compositor/outfit implementations retain their own fidelity gaps.
+
+## Source map
+
+| Path | Responsibility |
+|---|---|
+| `src/scenes/character/character_appearance_presenter.gd` | Model-root ownership, composition, ground fit and outfit setup |
+| `src/scenes/character/character_animation_presenter.gd` | AnimationPlayer binding and locomotion playback state |
+| `src/scenes/character/character_geoset_controller.gd` | Existing geoset visibility and outfit defaults |
+| `src/scenes/character/character_texture_compositor.gd` | Existing skin/equipment texture composition |
+| `src/scenes/character/wow_character_outfit_resolver.gd` | Existing DBC starter outfit lookup |
+| `src/scenes/player/third_person_wow_controller.gd` | Scene composition and moving-state adapter |
+| `src/tests/scenes/character_presentation_model_fixture.tscn` | Asset-free model/grounding fixture |
+| `src/tools/verify_character_presentation.gd` | Presenter, scene and dependency regression |
+
+## Related decisions and references
+
+- ADR: none; current behavior and resource formats are preserved.
+- Upstream/reference: `targets/02-player-decomposition.md`,
+  `targets/roadmap/02-rendering-and-graphics.md`,
+  `targets/roadmap/04-gameplay-systems.md`, `RENDER.md`.

docs/modules/local-player-movement.md

@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@
 | Field | Value |
 |---|---|
 | Status | Implemented |
-| Target/work package | M02 / M02-GMP-MOVEMENT-001 |
+| Target/work package | M02 / M02-GMP-MOVEMENT-001, camera basis and character-presentation consumer updates |
 | Owners | Gameplay local movement state; scene composition owns the instance |
-| Last verified | `a45d521`, 2026-07-14 |
+| Last verified | `97bb53f`, 2026-07-14 |
 | Profiles/capabilities | Current render sandbox; production/debug profile gate pending |
 
 ## Purpose
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ flowchart LR
     Displacement --> Scene
     Scene --> Transform[Player world transform]
     Scene --> Terrain[TerrainQuery and ground snap adapter]
-    Velocity --> Presentation[Visual facing and animation adapter]
+    Velocity --> Presentation[Visual facing and CharacterAnimationPresenter adapter]
 ```
 
 Allowed dependencies:
@@ -79,11 +79,11 @@ Constructor units:
 | Direction | Contract/data | Producer | Consumer | Ownership | Thread/lifetime |
 |---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Input | `MoveIntent` | `PlayerInputSource` | Movement controller | Immutable caller-held value | One physics tick |
-| Input | Godot-world `Basis` | Player scene adapter | Movement controller | Value copy | One physics tick |
+| Input | Godot-world `Basis` | Player or `ThirdPersonCameraRig` adapter | Movement controller | Value copy | One physics tick |
 | Input | Delta seconds | Godot physics loop | Movement controller | Scalar value | One physics tick |
 | Input | Flight toggle command | Remappable sandbox action via scene adapter | Movement controller | Synchronous command | Input event dispatch |
 | Output | Displacement `Vector3` | Movement controller | Player scene adapter | Value copy | Applied in same tick |
-| Output | Velocity `Vector3` | Movement controller | Facing/animation adapter | Read-only value copy | Until next update |
+| Output | Velocity `Vector3` | Movement controller | Facing and `CharacterAnimationPresenter` scene adapter | Read-only value copy | Until next update |
 | Output | Flight state | Movement controller | Basis/terrain scene adapter | Read-only boolean | Until next toggle |
 
 Side effects:
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ sequenceDiagram
     participant Input as PlayerInputSource
     participant Scene as ThirdPersonWowController
     participant Move as LocalPlayerMovementController
-    participant Present as Facing/Animation adapter
+    participant Present as CharacterAnimationPresenter adapter
     Input-->>Scene: MoveIntent
     Scene->>Move: advance(intent, selected basis, delta)
     Move-->>Scene: displacement
@@ -233,7 +233,9 @@ separate versioned movement snapshot contract.
 |---|---|
 | `src/gameplay/movement/local_player_movement_controller.gd` | Owned velocity/flight state and deterministic integration |
 | `src/gameplay/terrain/terrain_query.gd` | Replaceable ground-height input boundary |
-| `src/scenes/player/third_person_wow_controller.gd` | Composition, basis selection, displacement/terrain/presentation adapters |
+| `src/scenes/player/third_person_camera_rig.gd` | Camera-relative sandbox flight basis producer |
+| `src/scenes/character/character_animation_presenter.gd` | Locomotion presentation consumer behind the scene adapter |
+| `src/scenes/player/third_person_wow_controller.gd` | Composition, basis selection, displacement/terrain and presentation-state adapters |
 | `src/tools/verify_local_player_movement.gd` | Pure numeric, state-transition and dependency regression |
 | `src/tests/scenes/player_input_regression.tscn` | Asset-free integrated player fixture |
 | `src/tools/verify_player_input.gd` | Input-to-movement scene regression |

docs/modules/player-input.md

@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@
 | Field | Value |
 |---|---|
 | Status | Partial |
-| Target/work package | M02 / M02-GMP-INPUT-001, M02-GMP-MOVEMENT-001 consumer update |
+| Target/work package | M02 / M02-GMP-INPUT-001, M02-GMP-MOVEMENT-001 and M02-RND-CAMERA-001 consumer updates |
 | Owners | Gameplay input boundary; `sindo-main-codex` for current package |
-| Last verified | `435e1c9`, 2026-07-14 |
+| Last verified | `8c1cf9b`, 2026-07-14 |
 | Profiles/capabilities | Current render-sandbox defaults; `Blizzlike335` binding semantics not yet verified |
 
 ## Purpose
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ flowchart LR
     Source --> Intent[MoveIntent]
     Intent --> Movement[LocalPlayerMovementController]
     Movement --> Controller[ThirdPersonWowController adapter]
-    Controller --> Camera[Current camera adapter]
+    Controller --> Camera[ThirdPersonCameraRig]
 ```
 
 Allowed dependencies:
@@ -63,15 +63,15 @@ Forbidden dependencies:
 | Direction | Contract/data | Producer | Consumer | Ownership | Thread/lifetime |
 |---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Input | Movement action strengths | Godot `InputMap`/`Input` | `PlayerInputSource` | Engine-owned snapshot | Sampled on main physics tick |
-| Input | Mouse action events | Godot `_unhandled_input` dispatch | Current scene controller | Engine-owned event | Current input dispatch only |
+| Input | Mouse action events | Godot `_unhandled_input` dispatch | `ThirdPersonCameraRig` through player dispatch | Engine-owned event | Current input dispatch only |
 | Output | `MoveIntent` | `PlayerInputSource` | `LocalPlayerMovementController` through scene composition | Immutable caller-held value | One physics tick |
-| Output | Camera action names | `PlayerInputActions` | Current scene controller | Static constants | Process lifetime |
+| Output | Camera action names | `PlayerInputActions` | `ThirdPersonCameraRig` | Static constants | Process lifetime |
 
 Side effects:
 
 - `PlayerInputSource` has no side effects beyond reading current engine input.
-- The existing controller still mutates player/camera transforms and mouse mode;
-  those responsibilities are intentionally not moved by this package.
+- `ThirdPersonCameraRig` owns mouse mode, orbit state and camera transforms;
+  player remains only the event-dispatch composition boundary.
 - No filesystem, cache, network, database or renderer-resource mutation occurs.
 
 ## Data flow
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ flowchart LR
     Project[project.godot action defaults] --> Map[InputMap]
     Remap[User or editor remapping] --> Map
     Map -->|movement strengths| Source[PlayerInputSource]
+    Map -->|camera events| Camera[ThirdPersonCameraRig]
     Source -->|clamp cancel normalize| Intent[MoveIntent]
     Intent --> Consumer[LocalPlayerMovementController]
     Consumer --> Adapter[ThirdPersonWowController]
@@ -192,7 +193,7 @@ provide a settings migration once user settings are persisted.
 - The defaults preserve the pre-M02 sandbox behavior, not verified original-client semantics.
 - Sprint and free flight are still executable by the sandbox controller until a
   typed build-profile gate is introduced.
-- Camera input is action-mapped but camera state/collision remains in the monolithic controller.
+- Camera state is extracted; active collision remains an explicit planned policy.
 - There is no persisted user keybinding format or UI yet.
 
 ## Source map
@@ -204,7 +205,8 @@ provide a settings migration once user settings are persisted.
 | `src/gameplay/input/player_input_actions.gd` | Stable project action names |
 | `src/gameplay/input/player_input_source.gd` | Engine Input Map adapter and pure composition |
 | `src/gameplay/movement/local_player_movement_controller.gd` | Scene-free movement consumer |
-| `src/scenes/player/third_person_wow_controller.gd` | Composition and camera/input-event adapter |
+| `src/scenes/player/third_person_camera_rig.gd` | Camera-action consumer and orbit/zoom state |
+| `src/scenes/player/third_person_wow_controller.gd` | Composition and input-event dispatcher |
 | `src/tests/scenes/player_input_regression.tscn` | Asset-free controller movement/camera regression fixture |
 | `src/tools/verify_player_input.gd` | Headless contract/integration regression |
 

docs/modules/third-person-camera.md

@@ -0,0 +1,253 @@
+# Third-Person Camera
+
+## Metadata
+
+| Field | Value |
+|---|---|
+| Status | Implemented |
+| Target/work package | M02 / M02-RND-CAMERA-001 |
+| Owners | Camera presentation state and CameraPivot/Camera3D lifecycle |
+| Last verified | `8c1cf9b`, 2026-07-14 |
+| Profiles/capabilities | Current sandbox orbit/zoom; identity collision policy |
+
+## Purpose
+
+Own third-person mouse capture, orbit yaw/pitch, zoom state and Camera3D local
+transforms on the existing `CameraPivot` node. Expose an explicit replaceable
+camera-distance collision policy while preserving the current no-collision
+sandbox baseline.
+
+## Non-goals
+
+- Implement an unverified physics raycast or claim build-12340 collision parity.
+- Own player movement, terrain queries, streaming focus or character visuals.
+- Implement first-person, follow lag, shoulder camera, cinematics or view modes.
+- Change current sensitivity, pitch/zoom limits, FOV or far plane.
+
+## Context and boundaries
+
+```mermaid
+flowchart LR
+    InputMap[Remappable camera actions] --> Player[ThirdPersonWowController dispatch]
+    Player --> Rig[ThirdPersonCameraRig]
+    Mouse[Mouse motion] --> Player
+    Rig --> Character[Character yaw transform]
+    Rig --> Pivot[CameraPivot local transform]
+    Rig --> Policy[CameraCollisionPolicy]
+    Policy --> Distance[Resolved distance]
+    Distance --> Camera[Camera3D local transform]
+    Rig --> FlightBasis[Godot-world pivot basis]
+    FlightBasis --> Movement[LocalPlayerMovementController adapter]
+```
+
+Allowed dependencies:
+
+- Existing `PlayerInputActions` names and Godot input events.
+- Explicit character, pivot and Camera3D Node references on the main thread.
+- Replaceable `CameraCollisionPolicy` selected by composition/tests.
+- Movement adapter may read the rig's Godot-world basis during sandbox flight.
+
+Forbidden dependencies:
+
+- ADT/terrain parsing, movement velocity, gameplay state or animation ownership.
+- Camera rig discovering renderer/network/server services.
+- Default collision policy performing hidden raycasts or changing baseline distance.
+- Collision policy mutating rig/camera/character nodes.
+
+## Public API
+
+| Symbol | Kind | Purpose | Thread/lifetime | Errors |
+|---|---|---|---|---|
+| `ThirdPersonCameraRig` | `Node3D` component | Owns orbit/zoom state on CameraPivot | Main thread; scene-owned | Reports missing Camera3D |
+| `initialize_for_character(character_body)` | Composition method | Attaches yaw target and captures initial character yaw | Main thread after scene ready | Null leaves yaw target absent |
+| `handle_camera_input(event)` | Input adapter | Applies capture/release/zoom/orbit actions | Main input thread | Returns whether camera consumed state |
+| `set_collision_policy(policy)` | Composition method | Replaces distance resolution policy | Main thread | Null rejected; old policy retained |
+| `refresh_camera_transform()` | Presentation update | Applies pivot pose and resolved camera distance | Main/physics thread | Missing camera leaves state but no Camera3D mutation |
+| `godot_world_flight_movement_basis()` | Read model | Returns pivot global basis for sandbox flight | Main thread | None |
+| `CameraCollisionPolicy.resolve_camera_distance(pivot, requested)` | Policy boundary | Resolves camera distance in Godot units | Main thread in current implementation | Rig clamps output to `[0, requested]` |
+| `NoCameraCollisionPolicy` | Identity policy | Preserves requested distance with no physics query | Any main-thread call | None |
+
+Read-only rig state: `yaw_radians`, `pitch_radians`,
+`requested_distance_units`, `resolved_distance_units` and `is_mouse_captured`.
+
+## Inputs and outputs
+
+| Direction | Contract/data | Producer | Consumer | Ownership | Thread/lifetime |
+|---|---|---|---|---|---|
+| Input | Camera action `InputEvent` | Godot/player dispatch | Camera rig | Engine-owned event | One dispatch |
+| Input | Mouse relative pixels | Godot input | Camera rig | Engine-owned event | One dispatch |
+| Input | Character `Node3D` | Player composition | Camera rig | Scene-owned reference | Rig scene lifetime |
+| Input | Collision policy | Composition/test | Camera rig | Rig-held RefCounted | Until replacement |
+| Output | Character yaw | Camera rig | Player transform | Scene mutation | Orbit event |
+| Output | Pivot pitch/height | Camera rig | CameraPivot | Scene mutation | Refresh |
+| Output | Requested/resolved distance | Camera rig/policy | Camera3D | Rig-owned scalar/read model | Until next input/refresh |
+| Output | Godot-world `Basis` | Camera rig | Flight movement adapter | Value copy | Physics tick |
+
+Side effects:
+
+- Mutates mouse mode, character yaw, CameraPivot local transform and Camera3D local transform.
+- Marks Camera3D current and sets its far plane once at ready.
+- Releases captured mouse on rig removal.
+- Creates no files, caches, RIDs, workers, network messages or gameplay state.
+
+## Data flow
+
+```mermaid
+flowchart LR
+    Action[Camera action or mouse delta] --> State[Yaw pitch requested distance capture]
+    State --> Clamp[Pitch/zoom clamps]
+    Clamp --> Pivot[Pivot height and pitch]
+    Clamp --> Request[Requested distance]
+    Request --> Policy[CameraCollisionPolicy]
+    Policy --> Safe[Clamp 0..requested]
+    Safe --> Camera[Camera3D Z distance]
+    State --> Character[Character yaw]
+```
+
+## Lifecycle/state
+
+```mermaid
+stateDiagram-v2
+    [*] --> MouseVisible
+    MouseVisible --> MouseCaptured: camera rotate pressed
+    MouseCaptured --> MouseVisible: camera rotate released
+    MouseCaptured --> MouseVisible: release cursor
+    MouseCaptured --> MouseCaptured: mouse motion / orbit and clamp
+    MouseVisible --> MouseVisible: zoom and clamp
+    MouseCaptured --> [*]: rig removed / release mouse
+    MouseVisible --> [*]: rig removed
+```
+
+Zoom and collision distance are orthogonal to capture state. The requested zoom
+persists while a policy may temporarily choose a shorter resolved distance.
+
+## Main sequence
+
+```mermaid
+sequenceDiagram
+    participant Engine as Godot Input
+    participant Player as ThirdPersonWowController
+    participant Rig as ThirdPersonCameraRig
+    participant Policy as CameraCollisionPolicy
+    participant Camera as Camera3D
+    Engine->>Player: InputEvent
+    Player->>Rig: handle_camera_input(event)
+    Rig->>Rig: update capture/orbit/zoom state
+    Rig->>Policy: resolve_camera_distance(pivot, requested)
+    Policy-->>Rig: resolved distance
+    Rig->>Camera: apply local position/rotation
+    opt captured mouse motion
+        Rig->>Player: mutate character yaw transform
+    end
+```
+
+## Ownership, threading and resources
+
+- Parent player scene owns the CameraPivot rig and Camera3D child.
+- Rig holds non-owning scene references to character and camera.
+- Rig owns scalar camera state and the RefCounted collision policy.
+- All input/state/scene mutations occur on the main thread.
+- Policy output is a scalar; policies must not mutate supplied nodes.
+- No background tasks, resources, RIDs or caches are created.
+
+## Errors, cancellation and recovery
+
+| Failure | Detection | Behavior | Diagnostic | Recovery |
+|---|---|---|---|---|
+| Camera3D missing | `_ready` lookup | State continues; transform application skipped | `ThirdPersonCameraRig` error with path | Restore child/path and recreate scene |
+| Character missing | Initialization | Orbit state updates without character yaw mutation | Composition/test failure | Call initializer with player node |
+| Null collision policy | Setter guard | Current policy retained | Rig error | Pass valid policy |
+| Policy returns negative/too large | Rig clamp | Distance clamped to `[0, requested]` | Policy regression tests | Fix/replace policy |
+| Rig removed while captured | `_exit_tree` | Mouse made visible | Lifecycle regression | Recreate rig normally |
+
+There is no asynchronous cancellation or persisted rollback. Recreating the rig
+restores configured defaults.
+
+## Configuration and capabilities
+
+| Setting/capability | Default | Profile | Runtime mutable | Effect |
+|---|---|---|---|---|
+| Initial pitch | `-18°` | Current sandbox | State-owned after ready | Initial orbit elevation |
+| Pitch limits | `-65°..35°` | Current sandbox | Exported | Mouse clamp |
+| Mouse sensitivity | `0.003` rad/pixel | Current sandbox | Exported | Orbit delta |
+| Pivot height | `1.7` units | Current sandbox | Exported | Camera eye origin |
+| Initial distance | `8` units | Current sandbox | Exported before ready | Requested zoom |
+| Zoom limits/step | `2..18`, step `1` | Current sandbox | Exported | Requested distance clamp |
+| Far plane | `50000` units | Renderer sandbox | Exported | Camera far plane |
+| Collision policy | `NoCameraCollisionPolicy` | Current sandbox | Replaceable | Identity distance/no raycast |
+
+## Persistence, cache and migration
+
+Camera state and policy are transient. No SavedVariables/settings schema, cache
+or migration is introduced. Scene paths remain
+`ThirdPersonPlayer/CameraPivot/Camera3D`, so renderer diagnostics and capture
+tools require no path migration.
+
+## Diagnostics and observability
+
+- Logs: missing camera/null policy emit explicit component errors.
+- Read models: yaw, pitch, requested/resolved distance and capture state.
+- Tests: dedicated verifier reports state/policy/scene counts.
+- Metrics/correlation IDs: not applicable to constant-time local presentation.
+
+## Verification
+
+- State regression: initial yaw/pitch/distance/height/far plane, capture/release,
+  mouse orbit, character yaw, pitch clamps and zoom clamps.
+- Policy regression: fixed-distance test policy changes Camera3D Z; identity
+  policy restores requested distance; baseline policy contains no physics query.
+- Scene integration: Eastern Kingdoms, Kalimdor and asset-free regression scenes
+  attach the rig to the existing CameraPivot.
+- Boundary: player no longer owns capture/yaw/pitch/distance or camera transform helper.
+- Existing input/movement/terrain regressions and renderer dry-run remain required.
+- Fidelity evidence: current numeric defaults and identity collision behavior
+  only; original-client orbit/collision comparison remains open.
+- Performance: constant-time scalar/transform work once per physics tick and
+  input event; no default raycast.
+
+## Extension points
+
+- Add an opt-in raycast collision policy after reference fixtures define mask,
+  margin, recovery smoothing and first-person limit.
+- Add follow/shoulder/cinematic rigs as separate components, not branches inside this rig.
+- Persist user camera settings through a future versioned settings module.
+- Input contexts may suppress camera actions before dispatch without changing rig state.
+
+## Capability status
+
+| Capability | Status | Evidence | Gap/next step |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| Independent third-person rig | Implemented | Three scene wirings and player boundary regression | Integrate target checklist after review |
+| Existing orbit/zoom behavior | Implemented | Numeric state/transform regression | Compare against build 12340 |
+| Camera-relative sandbox flight basis | Implemented | Basis and movement regressions | Restrict flight to sandbox profile |
+| Replaceable collision policy | Implemented | Fixed and identity policy tests | Implement verified collision policy |
+| Active camera collision | Planned | Identity policy intentionally preserves baseline | Capture original-client occluder fixtures first |
+| First-person/follow policies | Planned | Outside current sandbox baseline | Later completeness work |
+
+## Known gaps and risks
+
+- Default collision policy performs no occluder avoidance, matching the previous sandbox.
+- Exact WoW camera orbit direction, pitch limits, zoom curve, collision margin and
+  recovery smoothing are unverified.
+- Exported initial values are captured at ready; runtime mutation may require an
+  explicit reconfiguration API later.
+- Mouse mode remains process-global Godot state and must be coordinated with future UI contexts.
+
+## Source map
+
+| Path | Responsibility |
+|---|---|
+| `src/scenes/player/third_person_camera_rig.gd` | CameraPivot state, input and transforms |
+| `src/scenes/player/camera_collision_policy.gd` | Replaceable distance-policy boundary |
+| `src/scenes/player/no_camera_collision_policy.gd` | Identity baseline policy |
+| `src/scenes/player/third_person_wow_controller.gd` | Camera event dispatch and movement-basis consumer |
+| `src/scenes/streaming/*_streaming.tscn` | Runtime rig composition |
+| `src/tests/scenes/player_input_regression.tscn` | Asset-free rig/player composition |
+| `src/tools/verify_third_person_camera_rig.gd` | State, policy, scene and boundary regression |
+
+## Related decisions and references
+
+- ADR: none; current behavior and scene paths are preserved.
+- Upstream/reference: `targets/02-player-decomposition.md`,
+  `targets/roadmap/02-rendering-and-graphics.md`,
+  `targets/roadmap/04-gameplay-systems.md`, `docs/ARCHITECTURE.md`.

src/scenes/character/character_animation_presenter.gd

@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+class_name CharacterAnimationPresenter
+extends Node
+
+## Selects and plays the current sandbox idle or moving animation.
+## Animation import, movement simulation and model composition remain external.
+
+const MOVING_ANIMATION_CANDIDATES: Array[String] = ["Run", "Walk"]
+const STATIONARY_ANIMATION_CANDIDATES: Array[String] = ["Stand", "Idle"]
+
+## Cross-fade time retained from the current sandbox controller.
+@export var animation_blend_time_seconds: float = 0.15
+
+var active_animation_name: String:
+	get:
+		return _active_animation_name
+
+var has_animation_player: bool:
+	get:
+		return _animation_player != null and is_instance_valid(_animation_player)
+
+var _animation_player: AnimationPlayer
+var _active_animation_name := ""
+
+
+## Finds the first AnimationPlayer below a newly composed character root.
+## Binding null or a root without animations clears the current presentation.
+func bind_character_root(character_root: Node) -> bool:
+	_animation_player = (
+		_find_animation_player(character_root)
+		if character_root != null and is_instance_valid(character_root)
+		else null
+	)
+	_active_animation_name = ""
+	if _animation_player == null:
+		return false
+	_prepare_animation_player(_animation_player)
+	present_locomotion(false)
+	return true
+
+
+## Presents the current moving/stationary locomotion state.
+## Returns true only when a different animation starts playing.
+func present_locomotion(is_moving: bool) -> bool:
+	if _animation_player == null or not is_instance_valid(_animation_player):
+		_animation_player = null
+		_active_animation_name = ""
+		return false
+	var candidates := MOVING_ANIMATION_CANDIDATES if is_moving else STATIONARY_ANIMATION_CANDIDATES
+	var selected_animation := _choose_animation(candidates)
+	if selected_animation.is_empty() or selected_animation == _active_animation_name:
+		return false
+	_active_animation_name = selected_animation
+	_animation_player.play(selected_animation, animation_blend_time_seconds)
+	return true
+
+
+func _prepare_animation_player(animation_player: AnimationPlayer) -> void:
+	animation_player.playback_default_blend_time = animation_blend_time_seconds
+	for animation_name in animation_player.get_animation_list():
+		var lowercase_name := String(animation_name).to_lower()
+		if (
+			lowercase_name == "stand"
+			or lowercase_name == "idle"
+			or lowercase_name == "run"
+			or lowercase_name == "walk"
+			or lowercase_name.contains("stand")
+			or lowercase_name.contains("run")
+			or lowercase_name.contains("walk")
+		):
+			var animation := animation_player.get_animation(animation_name)
+			if animation != null:
+				animation.loop_mode = Animation.LOOP_LINEAR
+
+
+func _choose_animation(candidates: Array[String]) -> String:
+	for candidate in candidates:
+		if _animation_player.has_animation(candidate):
+			return candidate
+	var animation_names := _animation_player.get_animation_list()
+	for candidate in candidates:
+		var lowercase_candidate := candidate.to_lower()
+		for animation_name in animation_names:
+			if String(animation_name).to_lower().contains(lowercase_candidate):
+				return String(animation_name)
+	return ""
+
+
+func _find_animation_player(root: Node) -> AnimationPlayer:
+	if root is AnimationPlayer:
+		return root
+	for child in root.get_children():
+		var animation_player := _find_animation_player(child)
+		if animation_player != null:
+			return animation_player
+	return null

src/scenes/character/character_animation_presenter.gd.uid

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://c2jnn0e3mmymc

src/scenes/character/character_appearance_presenter.gd

@@ -0,0 +1,150 @@
+class_name CharacterAppearancePresenter
+extends Node3D
+
+## Composes one sandbox character model, texture compositor and starter outfit.
+## The presenter owns only nodes below the existing Visual scene boundary.
+
+const GEOSET_CONTROLLER_SCRIPT := preload("res://src/scenes/character/character_geoset_controller.gd")
+const TEXTURE_COMPOSITOR_SCRIPT := preload("res://src/scenes/character/character_texture_compositor.gd")
+const OUTFIT_RESOLVER_SCRIPT := preload("res://src/scenes/character/wow_character_outfit_resolver.gd")
+
+signal character_appearance_ready(character_root: Node3D)
+
+## Packed character scene used by the current render sandbox.
+@export var character_model_path: String = "res://src/resources/characters/HUMAN/MALE/HumanMale.glb"
+## Character class used when resolving the current starter outfit.
+@export var character_class_id: int = 1
+## Uniform scale applied to the composed character root.
+@export var character_scale: float = 1.0
+## Model-space yaw correction retained from the current sandbox.
+@export var character_yaw_offset_degrees: float = 90.0
+## Root containing extracted DBC and item texture inputs.
+@export var extracted_data_directory: String = "res://data/extracted"
+
+var character_root: Node3D:
+	get:
+		return _character_root
+
+var _character_root: Node3D
+
+
+## Loads and composes the configured character model below this Visual node.
+## A non-empty directory argument keeps the player's terrain/content root aligned.
+## Returns false immediately when no model is configured or the resource is invalid.
+func load_character_appearance(content_root_override: String = "") -> bool:
+	if not content_root_override.is_empty():
+		extracted_data_directory = content_root_override
+	_clear_character_root()
+	if character_model_path.is_empty():
+		return false
+	var character_scene := load(character_model_path) as PackedScene
+	if character_scene == null:
+		push_warning("CharacterAppearancePresenter: cannot load character model: %s" % character_model_path)
+		return false
+
+	if is_class("MeshInstance3D"):
+		set("mesh", null)
+	position = Vector3.ZERO
+
+	_character_root = Node3D.new()
+	_character_root.name = "CharacterModel"
+	_character_root.set_script(GEOSET_CONTROLLER_SCRIPT)
+	_character_root.scale = Vector3.ONE * maxf(character_scale, 0.001)
+	_character_root.rotation_degrees.y = character_yaw_offset_degrees
+
+	var character_instance := character_scene.instantiate()
+	character_instance.name = character_model_path.get_file().get_basename()
+	_character_root.add_child(character_instance)
+
+	var texture_compositor := Node.new()
+	texture_compositor.name = "CharacterTextureCompositor"
+	texture_compositor.set_script(TEXTURE_COMPOSITOR_SCRIPT)
+	texture_compositor.set("textures_dir", _character_textures_directory(character_model_path))
+	texture_compositor.set("extracted_dir", extracted_data_directory)
+	_character_root.add_child(texture_compositor)
+	add_child(_character_root)
+	_complete_character_composition.call_deferred(_character_root, texture_compositor)
+	return true
+
+
+func _complete_character_composition(expected_character_root: Node3D, texture_compositor: Node) -> void:
+	if expected_character_root != _character_root or not is_instance_valid(expected_character_root):
+		return
+	_fit_character_to_ground(expected_character_root)
+	_apply_character_starter_outfit(expected_character_root, texture_compositor)
+	character_appearance_ready.emit(expected_character_root)
+
+
+func _clear_character_root() -> void:
+	if _character_root == null or not is_instance_valid(_character_root):
+		_character_root = null
+		return
+	remove_child(_character_root)
+	_character_root.queue_free()
+	_character_root = null
+
+
+func _fit_character_to_ground(root: Node3D) -> void:
+	var character_bounds := _calculate_global_bounds(root)
+	if character_bounds.size == Vector3.ZERO:
+		return
+	var local_minimum_y := character_bounds.position.y - root.global_position.y
+	root.position.y -= local_minimum_y
+
+
+func _apply_character_starter_outfit(root: Node3D, texture_compositor: Node) -> void:
+	if texture_compositor == null:
+		return
+	var outfit_resolver: RefCounted = OUTFIT_RESOLVER_SCRIPT.new()
+	if not outfit_resolver.call("load_dbcs", extracted_data_directory):
+		return
+	var inferred_identity: Dictionary = outfit_resolver.call(
+		"infer_race_gender_from_model_path",
+		character_model_path
+	)
+	var race_name := String(inferred_identity.get("race", "Human"))
+	var gender_name := String(inferred_identity.get("gender", "Male"))
+	var starter_outfit: Dictionary = outfit_resolver.call(
+		"resolve_start_outfit",
+		race_name,
+		gender_name,
+		character_class_id
+	)
+	if starter_outfit.is_empty():
+		return
+	if texture_compositor.has_method("set_equipment_components"):
+		texture_compositor.call(
+			"set_equipment_components",
+			starter_outfit.get("textures", PackedStringArray())
+		)
+	if root.has_method("apply_outfit_defaults"):
+		root.call("apply_outfit_defaults", starter_outfit)
+
+
+func _calculate_global_bounds(root: Node) -> AABB:
+	var combined_bounds := AABB()
+	var has_bounds := false
+	for mesh_instance in _mesh_instances_below(root):
+		if mesh_instance.mesh == null:
+			continue
+		var global_bounds := mesh_instance.global_transform * mesh_instance.mesh.get_aabb()
+		combined_bounds = global_bounds if not has_bounds else combined_bounds.merge(global_bounds)
+		has_bounds = true
+	return combined_bounds if has_bounds else AABB()
+
+
+func _mesh_instances_below(root: Node) -> Array[MeshInstance3D]:
+	var mesh_instances: Array[MeshInstance3D] = []
+	_collect_mesh_instances(root, mesh_instances)
+	return mesh_instances
+
+
+func _collect_mesh_instances(node: Node, mesh_instances: Array[MeshInstance3D]) -> void:
+	if node is MeshInstance3D:
+		mesh_instances.append(node)
+	for child in node.get_children():
+		_collect_mesh_instances(child, mesh_instances)
+
+
+func _character_textures_directory(model_path: String) -> String:
+	return model_path.get_base_dir().path_join(model_path.get_file().get_basename() + "_textures")

src/scenes/character/character_appearance_presenter.gd.uid

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://bhqbo1ftrt3a3

src/scenes/player/camera_collision_policy.gd

@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+class_name CameraCollisionPolicy
+extends RefCounted
+
+## Replaceable third-person camera-distance policy.
+## Implementations may inspect the explicit pivot/world boundary but must return
+## a distance in Godot units without mutating the rig or camera nodes.
+
+
+## Resolves the camera distance for the current pivot and requested zoom.
+## The base policy preserves the request unchanged.
+func resolve_camera_distance(
+		_camera_pivot: Node3D,
+		requested_distance_units: float
+) -> float:
+	return requested_distance_units

src/scenes/player/camera_collision_policy.gd.uid

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://bgd41bb3hvbl1

src/scenes/player/no_camera_collision_policy.gd

@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+class_name NoCameraCollisionPolicy
+extends CameraCollisionPolicy
+
+## Identity collision policy preserving the pre-M02 sandbox camera behavior.
+
+
+## Returns the requested distance without physics queries or allocations.
+func resolve_camera_distance(
+		_camera_pivot: Node3D,
+		requested_distance_units: float
+) -> float:
+	return requested_distance_units

src/scenes/player/no_camera_collision_policy.gd.uid

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://csts45n5rnxro

src/scenes/player/third_person_camera_rig.gd

@@ -0,0 +1,169 @@
+class_name ThirdPersonCameraRig
+extends Node3D
+
+## Third-person orbit/zoom state and Camera3D presentation adapter.
+## The rig owns camera input state and local transforms. Character movement,
+## terrain, rendering and collision-policy decisions remain external boundaries.
+
+const NO_CAMERA_COLLISION_POLICY_SCRIPT := preload("res://src/scenes/player/no_camera_collision_policy.gd")
+
+## Relative Camera3D child used by this rig.
+@export var camera_path: NodePath = NodePath("Camera3D")
+## Mouse radians applied per input pixel.
+@export var mouse_sensitivity_radians_per_pixel: float = 0.003
+## Minimum orbit pitch in radians.
+@export var minimum_pitch_radians: float = deg_to_rad(-65.0)
+## Maximum orbit pitch in radians.
+@export var maximum_pitch_radians: float = deg_to_rad(35.0)
+## Pivot height above the character origin in Godot units.
+@export var pivot_height_units: float = 1.7
+## Initial requested camera distance in Godot units.
+@export var initial_distance_units: float = 8.0
+## Minimum user-requested zoom distance in Godot units.
+@export var minimum_distance_units: float = 2.0
+## Maximum user-requested zoom distance in Godot units.
+@export var maximum_distance_units: float = 18.0
+## Distance change per zoom action in Godot units.
+@export var zoom_step_units: float = 1.0
+## Camera far plane retained from the renderer sandbox baseline.
+@export var camera_far_plane_units: float = 50000.0
+
+var yaw_radians: float:
+	get:
+		return _yaw_radians
+
+var pitch_radians: float:
+	get:
+		return _pitch_radians
+
+var requested_distance_units: float:
+	get:
+		return _requested_distance_units
+
+var resolved_distance_units: float:
+	get:
+		return _resolved_distance_units
+
+var is_mouse_captured: bool:
+	get:
+		return _is_mouse_captured
+
+var _character_body: Node3D
+var _camera: Camera3D
+var _collision_policy: CameraCollisionPolicy
+var _yaw_radians := 0.0
+var _pitch_radians := deg_to_rad(-18.0)
+var _requested_distance_units := 8.0
+var _resolved_distance_units := 8.0
+var _is_mouse_captured := false
+
+
+func _ready() -> void:
+	_camera = get_node_or_null(camera_path) as Camera3D
+	if _camera == null:
+		push_error("ThirdPersonCameraRig: Camera3D not found at %s" % camera_path)
+	if _collision_policy == null:
+		_collision_policy = NO_CAMERA_COLLISION_POLICY_SCRIPT.new()
+	_pitch_radians = clampf(_pitch_radians, minimum_pitch_radians, maximum_pitch_radians)
+	_requested_distance_units = clampf(
+		initial_distance_units,
+		minimum_distance_units,
+		maximum_distance_units
+	)
+	if _camera != null:
+		_camera.current = true
+		_camera.far = camera_far_plane_units
+	refresh_camera_transform()
+
+
+func _physics_process(_delta_seconds: float) -> void:
+	refresh_camera_transform()
+
+
+func _exit_tree() -> void:
+	if _is_mouse_captured:
+		_is_mouse_captured = false
+		Input.mouse_mode = Input.MOUSE_MODE_VISIBLE
+
+
+## Attaches the character transform rotated by orbit input and captures its initial yaw.
+func initialize_for_character(character_body: Node3D) -> void:
+	_character_body = character_body
+	if _character_body != null:
+		_yaw_radians = _character_body.rotation.y
+	refresh_camera_transform()
+
+
+## Replaces camera-distance collision behavior and immediately refreshes the camera.
+## Passing null is rejected and preserves the current policy.
+func set_collision_policy(collision_policy: CameraCollisionPolicy) -> void:
+	if collision_policy == null:
+		push_error("ThirdPersonCameraRig: collision policy cannot be null")
+		return
+	_collision_policy = collision_policy
+	refresh_camera_transform()
+
+
+## Applies remappable camera actions and orbit mouse motion.
+## Returns true when the event changed or consumed camera state.
+func handle_camera_input(event: InputEvent) -> bool:
+	if event.is_action_pressed(PlayerInputActions.CAMERA_ROTATE):
+		_is_mouse_captured = true
+		Input.mouse_mode = Input.MOUSE_MODE_CAPTURED
+		return true
+	if event.is_action_released(PlayerInputActions.CAMERA_ROTATE):
+		_is_mouse_captured = false
+		Input.mouse_mode = Input.MOUSE_MODE_VISIBLE
+		return true
+	if event.is_action_pressed(PlayerInputActions.CAMERA_ZOOM_IN):
+		_requested_distance_units = clampf(
+			_requested_distance_units - zoom_step_units,
+			minimum_distance_units,
+			maximum_distance_units
+		)
+		refresh_camera_transform()
+		return true
+	if event.is_action_pressed(PlayerInputActions.CAMERA_ZOOM_OUT):
+		_requested_distance_units = clampf(
+			_requested_distance_units + zoom_step_units,
+			minimum_distance_units,
+			maximum_distance_units
+		)
+		refresh_camera_transform()
+		return true
+	if event.is_action_pressed(PlayerInputActions.RELEASE_CURSOR):
+		_is_mouse_captured = false
+		Input.mouse_mode = Input.MOUSE_MODE_VISIBLE
+		return true
+	if _is_mouse_captured and event is InputEventMouseMotion:
+		_yaw_radians -= event.relative.x * mouse_sensitivity_radians_per_pixel
+		_pitch_radians = clampf(
+			_pitch_radians - event.relative.y * mouse_sensitivity_radians_per_pixel,
+			minimum_pitch_radians,
+			maximum_pitch_radians
+		)
+		if _character_body != null:
+			_character_body.rotation.y = _yaw_radians
+		refresh_camera_transform()
+		return true
+	return false
+
+
+## Returns the pivot's Godot-world basis for camera-relative sandbox flight.
+func godot_world_flight_movement_basis() -> Basis:
+	return global_basis
+
+
+## Applies pivot and Camera3D local transforms using the active collision policy.
+func refresh_camera_transform() -> void:
+	position = Vector3(0.0, pivot_height_units, 0.0)
+	rotation.x = _pitch_radians
+	if _camera == null:
+		return
+	var policy_distance := _collision_policy.resolve_camera_distance(
+		self,
+		_requested_distance_units
+	) if _collision_policy != null else _requested_distance_units
+	_resolved_distance_units = clampf(policy_distance, 0.0, _requested_distance_units)
+	_camera.position = Vector3(0.0, 0.0, _resolved_distance_units)
+	_camera.rotation = Vector3.ZERO

src/scenes/player/third_person_camera_rig.gd.uid

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://cq60al4uw0mgo

src/scenes/player/third_person_wow_controller.gd

@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 extends CharacterBody3D
 
-const GEOSET_CONTROLLER_SCRIPT := preload("res://src/scenes/character/character_geoset_controller.gd")
-const TEXTURE_COMPOSITOR_SCRIPT := preload("res://src/scenes/character/character_texture_compositor.gd")
-const OUTFIT_RESOLVER_SCRIPT := preload("res://src/scenes/character/wow_character_outfit_resolver.gd")
 const COORDINATE_MAPPER_SCRIPT := preload("res://src/domain/coordinates/coordinate_mapper.gd")
 const GODOT_WORLD_POSITION_SCRIPT := preload("res://src/domain/coordinates/godot_world_position.gd")
 const ADT_TILE_COORDINATE_SCRIPT := preload("res://src/domain/coordinates/adt_tile_coordinate.gd")
@@ -24,35 +21,16 @@ const ADT_TERRAIN_QUERY_SCRIPT := preload("res://src/gameplay/terrain/adt_terrai
 @export var sprint_multiplier: float = 6.0
 @export var flight_vertical_speed: float = 7.0
 @export var acceleration: float = 28.0
-@export var mouse_sensitivity: float = 0.003
-@export var camera_pitch_min: float = deg_to_rad(-65.0)
-@export var camera_pitch_max: float = deg_to_rad(35.0)
-@export var camera_height: float = 1.7
-@export var camera_distance: float = 8.0
-@export var camera_min_distance: float = 2.0
-@export var camera_max_distance: float = 18.0
-@export var camera_zoom_step: float = 1.0
 @export var ground_offset: float = 0.05
 @export var ground_snap_speed: float = 24.0
 
 @export var camera_pivot_path: NodePath = NodePath("CameraPivot")
-@export var camera_path: NodePath = NodePath("CameraPivot/Camera3D")
 @export var visual_path: NodePath = NodePath("Visual")
-@export var character_model_path: String = "res://src/resources/characters/HUMAN/MALE/HumanMale.glb"
-@export var character_class_id: int = 1
-@export var character_scale: float = 1.0
-@export var character_yaw_offset_degrees: float = 90.0
-@export var animation_blend_time: float = 0.15
+@export var animation_presenter_path: NodePath = NodePath("Visual/AnimationPresenter")
 
-var _camera_pivot: Node3D
-var _camera: Camera3D
-var _visual: Node3D
-var _character_root: Node3D
-var _animation_player: AnimationPlayer
-var _active_animation := ""
-var _captured := false
-var _yaw := 0.0
-var _pitch := deg_to_rad(-18.0)
+var _camera_rig: ThirdPersonCameraRig
+var _appearance_presenter: CharacterAppearancePresenter
+var _animation_presenter: CharacterAnimationPresenter
 var _player_input_source: PlayerInputSource
 var _local_movement_controller: LocalPlayerMovementController
 var _terrain_query: TerrainQuery
@@ -79,57 +57,43 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 		acceleration,
 		sprint_multiplier
 	)
-	_camera_pivot = get_node_or_null(camera_pivot_path) as Node3D
-	_camera = get_node_or_null(camera_path) as Camera3D
-	_visual = get_node_or_null(visual_path) as Node3D
-	if _camera:
-		_camera.current = true
-		_camera.far = 50000.0
+	_camera_rig = get_node_or_null(camera_pivot_path) as ThirdPersonCameraRig
+	_appearance_presenter = get_node_or_null(visual_path) as CharacterAppearancePresenter
+	_animation_presenter = get_node_or_null(animation_presenter_path) as CharacterAnimationPresenter
+	if _camera_rig == null:
+		push_error("ThirdPersonWowController: ThirdPersonCameraRig not found at %s" % camera_pivot_path)
+	else:
+		_camera_rig.initialize_for_character(self)
+	if _appearance_presenter == null:
+		push_error("ThirdPersonWowController: CharacterAppearancePresenter not found at %s" % visual_path)
+	else:
+		_appearance_presenter.character_appearance_ready.connect(_on_character_appearance_ready)
+		_appearance_presenter.load_character_appearance(extracted_dir)
+	if _animation_presenter == null:
+		push_error("ThirdPersonWowController: CharacterAnimationPresenter not found at %s" % animation_presenter_path)
 	if spawn_at_tile_center:
 		var spawn_tile = ADT_TILE_COORDINATE_SCRIPT.new(spawn_tile_x, spawn_tile_y)
 		var half_tile_size := COORDINATE_MAPPER_SCRIPT.ADT_TILE_SIZE_YARDS * 0.5
 		var spawn_local = ADT_TILE_LOCAL_POSITION_SCRIPT.new(half_tile_size, global_position.y, half_tile_size)
 		var spawn_position = COORDINATE_MAPPER_SCRIPT.adt_tile_local_to_godot(spawn_tile, spawn_local)
 		global_position = Vector3(spawn_position.x_units, spawn_position.y_units, spawn_position.z_units)
-	_load_character_visual()
 	var spawn_ground_sample := _sample_ground_height(global_position)
 	if spawn_ground_sample.is_available:
 		global_position.y = spawn_ground_sample.height_units + ground_offset
-	_yaw = rotation.y
-	_apply_camera_transform()
 
 
 func _unhandled_input(event: InputEvent) -> void:
-	if event.is_action_pressed(PLAYER_INPUT_ACTIONS_SCRIPT.CAMERA_ROTATE):
-		_captured = true
-		Input.mouse_mode = Input.MOUSE_MODE_CAPTURED
-	elif event.is_action_released(PLAYER_INPUT_ACTIONS_SCRIPT.CAMERA_ROTATE):
-		_captured = false
-		Input.mouse_mode = Input.MOUSE_MODE_VISIBLE
-	elif event.is_action_pressed(PLAYER_INPUT_ACTIONS_SCRIPT.CAMERA_ZOOM_IN):
-		camera_distance = clampf(camera_distance - camera_zoom_step, camera_min_distance, camera_max_distance)
-		_apply_camera_transform()
-	elif event.is_action_pressed(PLAYER_INPUT_ACTIONS_SCRIPT.CAMERA_ZOOM_OUT):
-		camera_distance = clampf(camera_distance + camera_zoom_step, camera_min_distance, camera_max_distance)
-		_apply_camera_transform()
-	elif event.is_action_pressed(PLAYER_INPUT_ACTIONS_SCRIPT.RELEASE_CURSOR):
-		_captured = false
-		Input.mouse_mode = Input.MOUSE_MODE_CAPTURED if _captured else Input.MOUSE_MODE_VISIBLE
-	elif event.is_action_pressed(PLAYER_INPUT_ACTIONS_SCRIPT.DEBUG_TOGGLE_FLIGHT) and not event.is_echo():
+	if _camera_rig != null:
+		_camera_rig.handle_camera_input(event)
+	if event.is_action_pressed(PLAYER_INPUT_ACTIONS_SCRIPT.DEBUG_TOGGLE_FLIGHT) and not event.is_echo():
 		_local_movement_controller.toggle_sandbox_flight()
 
-	if _captured and event is InputEventMouseMotion:
-		_yaw -= event.relative.x * mouse_sensitivity
-		_pitch = clampf(_pitch - event.relative.y * mouse_sensitivity, camera_pitch_min, camera_pitch_max)
-		rotation.y = _yaw
-		_apply_camera_transform()
-
 
 func _physics_process(delta: float) -> void:
 	var move_intent := _player_input_source.sample_move_intent()
 	var godot_world_movement_basis := global_basis
-	if _local_movement_controller.is_flight_enabled and _camera_pivot:
-		godot_world_movement_basis = _camera_pivot.global_basis
+	if _local_movement_controller.is_flight_enabled and _camera_rig != null:
+		godot_world_movement_basis = _camera_rig.godot_world_flight_movement_basis()
 	global_position += _local_movement_controller.advance(move_intent, godot_world_movement_basis, delta)
 
 	if not _local_movement_controller.is_flight_enabled:
@@ -140,171 +104,16 @@ func _physics_process(delta: float) -> void:
 
 	var movement_velocity := _local_movement_controller.godot_world_velocity_units_per_second
 	var horizontal_motion := Vector2(movement_velocity.x, movement_velocity.z)
-	if _visual and horizontal_motion.length_squared() > 0.01:
-		_visual.global_rotation.y = atan2(-movement_velocity.x, -movement_velocity.z)
+	if _appearance_presenter != null and horizontal_motion.length_squared() > 0.01:
+		_appearance_presenter.global_rotation.y = atan2(-movement_velocity.x, -movement_velocity.z)
 
-	_update_character_animation(horizontal_motion.length_squared() > 0.04)
-
-	_apply_camera_transform()
-
-func _load_character_visual() -> void:
-	if character_model_path.is_empty() or _visual == null:
-		return
-	if _visual is MeshInstance3D:
-		(_visual as MeshInstance3D).mesh = null
-	_visual.position = Vector3.ZERO
-
-	if _character_root and is_instance_valid(_character_root):
-		_character_root.queue_free()
-	_character_root = null
-	_animation_player = null
-	_active_animation = ""
-
-	var scene: PackedScene = load(character_model_path)
-	if scene == null:
-		push_warning("ThirdPersonWowController: cannot load character model: %s" % character_model_path)
-		return
-
-	_character_root = Node3D.new()
-	_character_root.name = "CharacterModel"
-	_character_root.set_script(GEOSET_CONTROLLER_SCRIPT)
-	_character_root.scale = Vector3.ONE * maxf(character_scale, 0.001)
-	_character_root.rotation_degrees.y = character_yaw_offset_degrees
-
-	var instance := scene.instantiate()
-	instance.name = character_model_path.get_file().get_basename()
-	_character_root.add_child(instance)
-
-	var compositor := Node.new()
-	compositor.name = "CharacterTextureCompositor"
-	compositor.set_script(TEXTURE_COMPOSITOR_SCRIPT)
-	compositor.set("textures_dir", _character_textures_dir(character_model_path))
-	compositor.set("extracted_dir", extracted_dir)
-	_character_root.add_child(compositor)
-
-	_visual.add_child(_character_root)
-	await get_tree().process_frame
-	_fit_character_to_ground()
-	_apply_character_starter_outfit(compositor)
-	_animation_player = _find_animation_player(_character_root)
-	if _animation_player:
-		_prepare_animation_player(_animation_player)
-	_update_character_animation(false)
+	if _animation_presenter != null:
+		_animation_presenter.present_locomotion(horizontal_motion.length_squared() > 0.04)
 
 
-func _fit_character_to_ground() -> void:
-	if _character_root == null:
-		return
-	var aabb := _calculate_aabb(_character_root)
-	if aabb.size == Vector3.ZERO:
-		return
-	var local_min_y := aabb.position.y - _character_root.global_position.y
-	_character_root.position.y -= local_min_y
-
-
-func _apply_character_starter_outfit(compositor: Node) -> void:
-	if _character_root == null or compositor == null:
-		return
-	var resolver: RefCounted = OUTFIT_RESOLVER_SCRIPT.new()
-	if not resolver.call("load_dbcs", extracted_dir):
-		return
-	var inferred: Dictionary = resolver.call("infer_race_gender_from_model_path", character_model_path)
-	var race := String(inferred.get("race", "Human"))
-	var gender := String(inferred.get("gender", "Male"))
-	var outfit: Dictionary = resolver.call("resolve_start_outfit", race, gender, character_class_id)
-	if outfit.is_empty():
-		return
-	if compositor.has_method("set_equipment_components"):
-		compositor.call("set_equipment_components", outfit.get("textures", PackedStringArray()))
-	if _character_root.has_method("apply_outfit_defaults"):
-		_character_root.call("apply_outfit_defaults", outfit)
-
-
-func _update_character_animation(is_moving: bool) -> void:
-	if _animation_player == null:
-		return
-	var wanted := _choose_animation(["Run", "Walk"]) if is_moving else _choose_animation(["Stand", "Idle"])
-	if wanted.is_empty() or wanted == _active_animation:
-		return
-	_active_animation = wanted
-	_animation_player.play(wanted, animation_blend_time)
-
-
-func _prepare_animation_player(player: AnimationPlayer) -> void:
-	player.playback_default_blend_time = animation_blend_time
-	for animation_name in player.get_animation_list():
-		var lower := String(animation_name).to_lower()
-		if lower == "stand" or lower == "idle" or lower == "run" or lower == "walk" or lower.contains("stand") or lower.contains("run") or lower.contains("walk"):
-			var animation := player.get_animation(animation_name)
-			if animation:
-				animation.loop_mode = Animation.LOOP_LINEAR
-
-
-func _choose_animation(candidates: Array[String]) -> String:
-	if _animation_player == null:
-		return ""
-	for candidate in candidates:
-		if _animation_player.has_animation(candidate):
-			return candidate
-	var list := _animation_player.get_animation_list()
-	for candidate in candidates:
-		var lower := candidate.to_lower()
-		for animation_name in list:
-			if String(animation_name).to_lower().contains(lower):
-				return String(animation_name)
-	return ""
-
-
-func _find_animation_player(root: Node) -> AnimationPlayer:
-	if root is AnimationPlayer:
-		return root
-	for child in root.get_children():
-		var found := _find_animation_player(child)
-		if found:
-			return found
-	return null
-
-
-func _calculate_aabb(root: Node) -> AABB:
-	var result := AABB()
-	var has_aabb := false
-	for mesh_inst in _iter_mesh_instances(root):
-		if mesh_inst.mesh == null:
-			continue
-		var local_aabb := mesh_inst.mesh.get_aabb()
-		var global_aabb := mesh_inst.global_transform * local_aabb
-		if not has_aabb:
-			result = global_aabb
-			has_aabb = true
-		else:
-			result = result.merge(global_aabb)
-	return result if has_aabb else AABB()
-
-
-func _iter_mesh_instances(root: Node) -> Array[MeshInstance3D]:
-	var result: Array[MeshInstance3D] = []
-	_collect_mesh_instances(root, result)
-	return result
-
-
-func _collect_mesh_instances(node: Node, result: Array[MeshInstance3D]) -> void:
-	if node is MeshInstance3D:
-		result.append(node)
-	for child in node.get_children():
-		_collect_mesh_instances(child, result)
-
-
-func _character_textures_dir(model_path: String) -> String:
-	return model_path.get_base_dir().path_join(model_path.get_file().get_basename() + "_textures")
-
-
-func _apply_camera_transform() -> void:
-	if _camera_pivot:
-		_camera_pivot.position = Vector3(0.0, camera_height, 0.0)
-		_camera_pivot.rotation.x = _pitch
-	if _camera:
-		_camera.position = Vector3(0.0, 0.0, camera_distance)
-		_camera.rotation = Vector3.ZERO
+func _on_character_appearance_ready(character_root: Node3D) -> void:
+	if _animation_presenter != null:
+		_animation_presenter.bind_character_root(character_root)
 
 
 func _sample_ground_height(godot_world_position: Vector3) -> TerrainGroundSample:

src/scenes/streaming/eastern_kingdoms_streaming.tscn

@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 [ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://yi6lawwjgocg" path="res://src/scenes/streaming/streaming_world_loader.gd" id="1_stream"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://ltn2ko5kxvo4" path="res://src/scenes/player/third_person_wow_controller.gd" id="2_player"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://didjth34ut0v1" path="res://src/scenes/sky/wow_sky_controller.gd" id="3_sky"]
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://src/scenes/player/third_person_camera_rig.gd" id="4_camera_rig"]
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://src/scenes/character/character_appearance_presenter.gd" id="5_appearance"]
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://src/scenes/character/character_animation_presenter.gd" id="6_animation"]
 
 [sub_resource type="CapsuleShape3D" id="PlayerCapsuleShape_1"]
 radius = 0.45
@@ -104,9 +107,14 @@ shape = SubResource("PlayerCapsuleShape_1")
 [node name="Visual" type="MeshInstance3D" parent="ThirdPersonPlayer" unique_id=1028210492]
 transform = Transform3D(1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1.05, 0)
 mesh = SubResource("PlayerCapsuleMesh_1")
+script = ExtResource("5_appearance")
+
+[node name="AnimationPresenter" type="Node" parent="ThirdPersonPlayer/Visual"]
+script = ExtResource("6_animation")
 
 [node name="CameraPivot" type="Node3D" parent="ThirdPersonPlayer" unique_id=499263249]
 transform = Transform3D(1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1.7, 0)
+script = ExtResource("4_camera_rig")
 
 [node name="Camera3D" type="Camera3D" parent="ThirdPersonPlayer/CameraPivot" unique_id=2142337971]
 transform = Transform3D(1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 8)

src/scenes/streaming/kalimdor_streaming.tscn

@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 [ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://yi6lawwjgocg" path="res://src/scenes/streaming/streaming_world_loader.gd" id="1_sisqv"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://ltn2ko5kxvo4" path="res://src/scenes/player/third_person_wow_controller.gd" id="2_puy8r"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://didjth34ut0v1" path="res://src/scenes/sky/wow_sky_controller.gd" id="3_43ha7"]
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://src/scenes/player/third_person_camera_rig.gd" id="4_camera_rig"]
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://src/scenes/character/character_appearance_presenter.gd" id="5_appearance"]
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://src/scenes/character/character_animation_presenter.gd" id="6_animation"]
 
 [sub_resource type="CapsuleShape3D" id="PlayerCapsuleShape_1"]
 radius = 0.45
@@ -105,9 +108,14 @@ shape = SubResource("PlayerCapsuleShape_1")
 [node name="Visual" type="MeshInstance3D" parent="ThirdPersonPlayer" unique_id=1028210492]
 transform = Transform3D(1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1.05, 0)
 mesh = SubResource("PlayerCapsuleMesh_1")
+script = ExtResource("5_appearance")
+
+[node name="AnimationPresenter" type="Node" parent="ThirdPersonPlayer/Visual"]
+script = ExtResource("6_animation")
 
 [node name="CameraPivot" type="Node3D" parent="ThirdPersonPlayer" unique_id=499263249]
 transform = Transform3D(1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1.7, 0)
+script = ExtResource("4_camera_rig")
 
 [node name="Camera3D" type="Camera3D" parent="ThirdPersonPlayer/CameraPivot" unique_id=2142337971]
 transform = Transform3D(1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 8)

src/tests/scenes/character_presentation_model_fixture.tscn

@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+[gd_scene load_steps=2 format=3]
+
+[sub_resource type="BoxMesh" id="BoxMesh_character"]
+size = Vector3(1, 2, 1)
+
+[node name="SyntheticCharacter" type="Node3D"]
+
+[node name="Body" type="MeshInstance3D" parent="."]
+position = Vector3(0, 2, 0)
+mesh = SubResource("BoxMesh_character")

src/tests/scenes/player_input_regression.tscn

@@ -1,14 +1,22 @@
-[gd_scene load_steps=2 format=3]
+[gd_scene load_steps=5 format=3]
 
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://src/scenes/player/third_person_wow_controller.gd" id="1_player"]
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://src/scenes/player/third_person_camera_rig.gd" id="2_camera_rig"]
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://src/scenes/character/character_appearance_presenter.gd" id="3_appearance"]
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://src/scenes/character/character_animation_presenter.gd" id="4_animation"]
 
 [node name="PlayerInputRegression" type="CharacterBody3D"]
 script = ExtResource("1_player")
 spawn_at_tile_center = false
-character_model_path = ""
 
 [node name="Visual" type="Node3D" parent="."]
+script = ExtResource("3_appearance")
+character_model_path = ""
+
+[node name="AnimationPresenter" type="Node" parent="Visual"]
+script = ExtResource("4_animation")
 
 [node name="CameraPivot" type="Node3D" parent="."]
+script = ExtResource("2_camera_rig")
 
 [node name="Camera3D" type="Camera3D" parent="CameraPivot"]

src/tools/verify_character_presentation.gd

@@ -0,0 +1,164 @@
+extends SceneTree
+
+## Asset-free M02 appearance, animation and player-boundary regression.
+
+const MODEL_FIXTURE_PATH := "res://src/tests/scenes/character_presentation_model_fixture.tscn"
+const PLAYER_CONTROLLER_PATH := "res://src/scenes/player/third_person_wow_controller.gd"
+const APPEARANCE_PRESENTER_PATH := "res://src/scenes/character/character_appearance_presenter.gd"
+const ANIMATION_PRESENTER_PATH := "res://src/scenes/character/character_animation_presenter.gd"
+const REGRESSION_SCENE_PATH := "res://src/tests/scenes/player_input_regression.tscn"
+const RUNTIME_SCENE_PATHS: Array[String] = [
+	"res://src/scenes/streaming/eastern_kingdoms_streaming.tscn",
+	"res://src/scenes/streaming/kalimdor_streaming.tscn",
+]
+
+
+func _initialize() -> void:
+	_run_verification.call_deferred()
+
+
+func _run_verification() -> void:
+	var failures: Array[String] = []
+	await _verify_appearance_presenter(failures)
+	_verify_animation_presenter(failures)
+	_verify_source_boundaries(failures)
+	_verify_scene_wiring(failures)
+
+	if not failures.is_empty():
+		for failure in failures:
+			push_error("CHARACTER_PRESENTATION: %s" % failure)
+		quit(1)
+		return
+
+	print("CHARACTER_PRESENTATION PASS appearance_cases=9 animation_cases=10 scenes=3 player_boundary=1")
+	quit(0)
+
+
+func _verify_appearance_presenter(failures: Array[String]) -> void:
+	var presenter := CharacterAppearancePresenter.new()
+	presenter.character_model_path = MODEL_FIXTURE_PATH
+	presenter.character_scale = 2.0
+	presenter.character_yaw_offset_degrees = 45.0
+	root.add_child(presenter)
+	var ready_roots: Array[Node3D] = []
+	presenter.character_appearance_ready.connect(func(character_root: Node3D) -> void: ready_roots.append(character_root))
+
+	_expect_true(presenter.load_character_appearance("res://missing-extracted-fixture"), "fixture load starts", failures)
+	await process_frame
+	var character_root := presenter.character_root
+	_expect_true(character_root != null, "character root composed", failures)
+	if character_root != null:
+		_expect_near(character_root.scale.x, 2.0, "uniform character scale", failures)
+		_expect_near(character_root.rotation_degrees.y, 45.0, "character yaw offset", failures)
+		_expect_near(character_root.position.y, -2.0, "character grounded after scale", failures)
+		_expect_true(character_root.has_node("CharacterTextureCompositor"), "texture compositor composed", failures)
+	_expect_true(ready_roots.size() == 1, "appearance ready emitted", failures)
+	_expect_true(presenter.extracted_data_directory == "res://missing-extracted-fixture", "content root override retained", failures)
+
+	var previous_root := character_root
+	_expect_true(presenter.load_character_appearance(), "replacement load starts", failures)
+	_expect_true(presenter.character_root != previous_root, "replacement swaps owned root", failures)
+	await process_frame
+	_expect_true(ready_roots.size() == 2, "replacement ready emitted", failures)
+
+	presenter.character_model_path = ""
+	_expect_true(not presenter.load_character_appearance(), "empty model rejected", failures)
+	_expect_true(presenter.character_root == null, "empty model clears old root", failures)
+	await process_frame
+	presenter.free()
+
+
+func _verify_animation_presenter(failures: Array[String]) -> void:
+	var animation_root := Node.new()
+	var nested_node := Node.new()
+	var animation_player := AnimationPlayer.new()
+	animation_root.add_child(nested_node)
+	nested_node.add_child(animation_player)
+	var animation_library := AnimationLibrary.new()
+	for animation_name in ["Stand", "Run", "Emote"]:
+		animation_library.add_animation(animation_name, Animation.new())
+	animation_player.add_animation_library("", animation_library)
+
+	var presenter := CharacterAnimationPresenter.new()
+	presenter.animation_blend_time_seconds = 0.25
+	_expect_true(presenter.bind_character_root(animation_root), "nested animation player bound", failures)
+	_expect_true(presenter.has_animation_player, "animation player state exposed", failures)
+	_expect_true(presenter.active_animation_name == "Stand", "stationary animation selected", failures)
+	_expect_true(animation_player.current_animation == "Stand", "stationary animation playing", failures)
+	_expect_near(animation_player.playback_default_blend_time, 0.25, "default blend configured", failures)
+	_expect_true(animation_player.get_animation("Stand").loop_mode == Animation.LOOP_LINEAR, "stand loops", failures)
+	_expect_true(animation_player.get_animation("Run").loop_mode == Animation.LOOP_LINEAR, "run loops", failures)
+	_expect_true(animation_player.get_animation("Emote").loop_mode == Animation.LOOP_NONE, "unrelated animation unchanged", failures)
+	_expect_true(presenter.present_locomotion(true), "moving transition starts", failures)
+	_expect_true(presenter.active_animation_name == "Run", "moving animation selected", failures)
+	_expect_true(not presenter.present_locomotion(true), "duplicate moving state ignored", failures)
+
+	var fallback_root := Node.new()
+	var fallback_player := AnimationPlayer.new()
+	fallback_root.add_child(fallback_player)
+	var fallback_library := AnimationLibrary.new()
+	fallback_library.add_animation("CharacterStandLoop", Animation.new())
+	fallback_library.add_animation("FastRunCycle", Animation.new())
+	fallback_player.add_animation_library("", fallback_library)
+	_expect_true(presenter.bind_character_root(fallback_root), "fallback animation player bound", failures)
+	_expect_true(presenter.active_animation_name == "CharacterStandLoop", "substring stationary fallback", failures)
+	presenter.present_locomotion(true)
+	_expect_true(presenter.active_animation_name == "FastRunCycle", "substring moving fallback", failures)
+	fallback_root.free()
+	_expect_true(not presenter.present_locomotion(false), "freed animation root rejected", failures)
+	_expect_true(not presenter.has_animation_player, "freed animation binding cleared", failures)
+	var missing_animation_root := Node.new()
+	_expect_true(not presenter.bind_character_root(missing_animation_root), "missing animation player rejected", failures)
+	_expect_true(not presenter.has_animation_player, "missing binding clears state", failures)
+	presenter.free()
+	animation_root.free()
+	missing_animation_root.free()
+
+
+func _verify_source_boundaries(failures: Array[String]) -> void:
+	var player_source := _read_text(PLAYER_CONTROLLER_PATH, failures)
+	for forbidden_text in [
+		"GEOSET_CONTROLLER_SCRIPT",
+		"TEXTURE_COMPOSITOR_SCRIPT",
+		"OUTFIT_RESOLVER_SCRIPT",
+		"func _load_character_visual",
+		"func _find_animation_player",
+		"func _calculate_aabb",
+		"_animation_player",
+	]:
+		_expect_true(not player_source.contains(forbidden_text), "player omits %s" % forbidden_text, failures)
+	_expect_true(player_source.contains("_appearance_presenter.load_character_appearance"), "player delegates appearance", failures)
+	_expect_true(player_source.contains("_animation_presenter.present_locomotion"), "player delegates animation", failures)
+
+	var appearance_source := _read_text(APPEARANCE_PRESENTER_PATH, failures)
+	for forbidden_text in ["MoveIntent", "TerrainQuery", "ThirdPersonCameraRig", "AnimationPlayer"]:
+		_expect_true(not appearance_source.contains(forbidden_text), "appearance omits %s" % forbidden_text, failures)
+	var animation_source := _read_text(ANIMATION_PRESENTER_PATH, failures)
+	for forbidden_text in ["load(character_model_path)", "TerrainQuery", "MoveIntent", "Camera3D"]:
+		_expect_true(not animation_source.contains(forbidden_text), "animation omits %s" % forbidden_text, failures)
+
+
+func _verify_scene_wiring(failures: Array[String]) -> void:
+	for scene_path in RUNTIME_SCENE_PATHS + [REGRESSION_SCENE_PATH]:
+		var scene_source := _read_text(scene_path, failures)
+		_expect_true(scene_source.contains("character_appearance_presenter.gd"), "%s references appearance presenter" % scene_path, failures)
+		_expect_true(scene_source.contains("character_animation_presenter.gd"), "%s references animation presenter" % scene_path, failures)
+		_expect_true(scene_source.contains('name="AnimationPresenter"'), "%s composes animation presenter" % scene_path, failures)
+
+
+func _read_text(path: String, failures: Array[String]) -> String:
+	var file := FileAccess.open(path, FileAccess.READ)
+	if file == null:
+		failures.append("cannot open %s" % path)
+		return ""
+	return file.get_as_text()
+
+
+func _expect_near(actual_value: float, expected_value: float, label: String, failures: Array[String]) -> void:
+	if absf(actual_value - expected_value) > 0.000001:
+		failures.append("%s expected %.6f, got %.6f" % [label, expected_value, actual_value])
+
+
+func _expect_true(actual_value: bool, label: String, failures: Array[String]) -> void:
+	if not actual_value:
+		failures.append("%s expected true" % label)

src/tools/verify_player_input.gd

@@ -102,12 +102,13 @@ func _verify_regression_scene(failures: Array[String]) -> void:
 	Input.action_release(PlayerInputActions.MOVE_FORWARD)
 	_expect_near(player.position.z, -7.0, "forward action moves current sandbox controller", failures)
 
-	var camera_distance_before: float = player.get("camera_distance")
+	var camera_rig := player.get_node("CameraPivot") as ThirdPersonCameraRig
+	var camera_distance_before := camera_rig.requested_distance_units
 	var zoom_event := InputEventMouseButton.new()
 	zoom_event.button_index = MOUSE_BUTTON_WHEEL_UP
 	zoom_event.pressed = true
 	player.call("_unhandled_input", zoom_event)
-	_expect_near(player.get("camera_distance"), camera_distance_before - 1.0, "zoom action updates camera distance", failures)
+	_expect_near(camera_rig.requested_distance_units, camera_distance_before - 1.0, "zoom action updates camera distance", failures)
 
 	var flight_toggle_event := InputEventAction.new()
 	flight_toggle_event.action = PlayerInputActions.DEBUG_TOGGLE_FLIGHT

src/tools/verify_third_person_camera_rig.gd

@@ -0,0 +1,174 @@
+extends SceneTree
+
+## Headless M02 camera state, scene wiring and collision-policy regression.
+
+const PLAYER_CONTROLLER_PATH := "res://src/scenes/player/third_person_wow_controller.gd"
+const CAMERA_RIG_PATH := "res://src/scenes/player/third_person_camera_rig.gd"
+const NO_COLLISION_POLICY_PATH := "res://src/scenes/player/no_camera_collision_policy.gd"
+const REGRESSION_SCENE_PATH := "res://src/tests/scenes/player_input_regression.tscn"
+const RUNTIME_SCENE_PATHS: Array[String] = [
+	"res://src/scenes/streaming/eastern_kingdoms_streaming.tscn",
+	"res://src/scenes/streaming/kalimdor_streaming.tscn",
+]
+
+
+class FixedDistanceCameraCollisionPolicy extends CameraCollisionPolicy:
+	var _fixed_distance_units: float
+
+	func _init(fixed_distance_units: float) -> void:
+		_fixed_distance_units = fixed_distance_units
+
+	func resolve_camera_distance(
+			_camera_pivot: Node3D,
+			_requested_distance_units: float
+	) -> float:
+		return _fixed_distance_units
+
+
+func _initialize() -> void:
+	_run_verification.call_deferred()
+
+
+func _run_verification() -> void:
+	var failures: Array[String] = []
+	var player := _instantiate_regression_player(failures)
+	if player != null:
+		_verify_initial_state(player, failures)
+		_verify_zoom_clamps(player, failures)
+		_verify_orbit_and_capture(player, failures)
+		_verify_collision_policy(player, failures)
+		player.free()
+	_verify_source_boundaries(failures)
+	_verify_scene_wiring(failures)
+
+	if not failures.is_empty():
+		for failure in failures:
+			push_error("THIRD_PERSON_CAMERA: %s" % failure)
+		quit(1)
+		return
+
+	print("THIRD_PERSON_CAMERA PASS state_cases=12 policy_cases=3 scenes=3 player_boundary=1")
+	quit(0)
+
+
+func _instantiate_regression_player(failures: Array[String]) -> CharacterBody3D:
+	var packed_scene := load(REGRESSION_SCENE_PATH) as PackedScene
+	_expect_true(packed_scene != null, "regression scene loads", failures)
+	if packed_scene == null:
+		return null
+	var player := packed_scene.instantiate() as CharacterBody3D
+	_expect_true(player != null, "regression player instantiates", failures)
+	if player == null:
+		return null
+	root.add_child(player)
+	player.set_physics_process(false)
+	var camera_rig := player.get_node("CameraPivot") as ThirdPersonCameraRig
+	camera_rig.set_physics_process(false)
+	return player
+
+
+func _verify_initial_state(player: CharacterBody3D, failures: Array[String]) -> void:
+	var camera_rig := player.get_node("CameraPivot") as ThirdPersonCameraRig
+	var camera := camera_rig.get_node("Camera3D") as Camera3D
+	_expect_near(camera_rig.yaw_radians, 0.0, "initial yaw", failures)
+	_expect_near(camera_rig.pitch_radians, deg_to_rad(-18.0), "initial pitch", failures)
+	_expect_near(camera_rig.requested_distance_units, 8.0, "initial requested distance", failures)
+	_expect_near(camera_rig.resolved_distance_units, 8.0, "initial resolved distance", failures)
+	_expect_near(camera_rig.position.y, 1.7, "initial pivot height", failures)
+	_expect_near(camera.position.z, 8.0, "initial camera local Z", failures)
+	_expect_near(camera.far, 50000.0, "camera far plane", failures)
+	_expect_true(camera_rig.godot_world_flight_movement_basis().is_equal_approx(camera_rig.global_basis), "flight basis is pivot basis", failures)
+
+
+func _verify_zoom_clamps(player: CharacterBody3D, failures: Array[String]) -> void:
+	var camera_rig := player.get_node("CameraPivot") as ThirdPersonCameraRig
+	var zoom_in_event := _action_event(PlayerInputActions.CAMERA_ZOOM_IN, true)
+	for _step in range(20):
+		camera_rig.handle_camera_input(zoom_in_event)
+	_expect_near(camera_rig.requested_distance_units, 2.0, "minimum zoom clamp", failures)
+	for _step in range(30):
+		camera_rig.handle_camera_input(_action_event(PlayerInputActions.CAMERA_ZOOM_OUT, true))
+	_expect_near(camera_rig.requested_distance_units, 18.0, "maximum zoom clamp", failures)
+
+
+func _verify_orbit_and_capture(player: CharacterBody3D, failures: Array[String]) -> void:
+	var camera_rig := player.get_node("CameraPivot") as ThirdPersonCameraRig
+	_expect_true(camera_rig.handle_camera_input(_action_event(PlayerInputActions.CAMERA_ROTATE, true)), "capture action consumed", failures)
+	_expect_true(camera_rig.is_mouse_captured, "mouse capture state", failures)
+
+	var mouse_motion := InputEventMouseMotion.new()
+	mouse_motion.relative = Vector2(100.0, -50.0)
+	_expect_true(camera_rig.handle_camera_input(mouse_motion), "captured mouse motion consumed", failures)
+	_expect_near(camera_rig.yaw_radians, -0.3, "orbit yaw", failures)
+	_expect_near(camera_rig.pitch_radians, deg_to_rad(-18.0) + 0.15, "orbit pitch", failures)
+	_expect_near(player.rotation.y, -0.3, "character follows orbit yaw", failures)
+
+	var clamp_up_motion := InputEventMouseMotion.new()
+	clamp_up_motion.relative = Vector2(0.0, -100000.0)
+	camera_rig.handle_camera_input(clamp_up_motion)
+	_expect_near(camera_rig.pitch_radians, deg_to_rad(35.0), "maximum pitch clamp", failures)
+	var clamp_down_motion := InputEventMouseMotion.new()
+	clamp_down_motion.relative = Vector2(0.0, 100000.0)
+	camera_rig.handle_camera_input(clamp_down_motion)
+	_expect_near(camera_rig.pitch_radians, deg_to_rad(-65.0), "minimum pitch clamp", failures)
+
+	camera_rig.handle_camera_input(_action_event(PlayerInputActions.CAMERA_ROTATE, false))
+	_expect_true(not camera_rig.is_mouse_captured, "mouse release state", failures)
+
+
+func _verify_collision_policy(player: CharacterBody3D, failures: Array[String]) -> void:
+	var camera_rig := player.get_node("CameraPivot") as ThirdPersonCameraRig
+	var camera := camera_rig.get_node("Camera3D") as Camera3D
+	camera_rig.set_collision_policy(FixedDistanceCameraCollisionPolicy.new(3.0))
+	_expect_near(camera_rig.resolved_distance_units, 3.0, "fixed policy distance", failures)
+	_expect_near(camera.position.z, 3.0, "fixed policy camera transform", failures)
+	camera_rig.set_collision_policy(NoCameraCollisionPolicy.new())
+	_expect_near(camera_rig.resolved_distance_units, 18.0, "identity policy restores request", failures)
+
+
+func _verify_source_boundaries(failures: Array[String]) -> void:
+	var player_source := _read_text(PLAYER_CONTROLLER_PATH, failures)
+	for forbidden_text in ["var _captured", "var _yaw", "var _pitch", "func _apply_camera_transform", "camera_distance"]:
+		_expect_true(not player_source.contains(forbidden_text), "player omits %s" % forbidden_text, failures)
+	_expect_true(player_source.contains("_camera_rig.handle_camera_input"), "player delegates camera input", failures)
+
+	var rig_source := _read_text(CAMERA_RIG_PATH, failures)
+	_expect_true(rig_source.contains("extends Node3D"), "camera rig owns pivot Node3D", failures)
+	for forbidden_text in ["ADTLoader", "TerrainQuery", "MoveIntent", "AnimationPlayer"]:
+		_expect_true(not rig_source.contains(forbidden_text), "camera rig omits %s" % forbidden_text, failures)
+
+	var no_collision_source := _read_text(NO_COLLISION_POLICY_PATH, failures)
+	for forbidden_text in ["intersect_ray", "direct_space_state", "PhysicsRayQueryParameters3D"]:
+		_expect_true(not no_collision_source.contains(forbidden_text), "baseline policy omits %s" % forbidden_text, failures)
+
+
+func _verify_scene_wiring(failures: Array[String]) -> void:
+	for scene_path in RUNTIME_SCENE_PATHS + [REGRESSION_SCENE_PATH]:
+		var scene_source := _read_text(scene_path, failures)
+		_expect_true(scene_source.contains("third_person_camera_rig.gd"), "%s references camera rig" % scene_path, failures)
+		_expect_true(scene_source.contains('script = ExtResource("4_camera_rig")') or scene_source.contains('script = ExtResource("2_camera_rig")'), "%s wires CameraPivot script" % scene_path, failures)
+
+
+func _action_event(action_name: StringName, is_pressed: bool) -> InputEventAction:
+	var input_event := InputEventAction.new()
+	input_event.action = action_name
+	input_event.pressed = is_pressed
+	return input_event
+
+
+func _read_text(path: String, failures: Array[String]) -> String:
+	var file := FileAccess.open(path, FileAccess.READ)
+	if file == null:
+		failures.append("cannot open %s" % path)
+		return ""
+	return file.get_as_text()
+
+
+func _expect_near(actual_value: float, expected_value: float, label: String, failures: Array[String]) -> void:
+	if absf(actual_value - expected_value) > 0.000001:
+		failures.append("%s expected %.6f, got %.6f" % [label, expected_value, actual_value])
+
+
+func _expect_true(actual_value: bool, label: String, failures: Array[String]) -> void:
+	if not actual_value:
+		failures.append("%s expected true" % label)