feat(rendering): on-screen debug overlay showing current biome and coordinates

Asset-free bitmap-text overlay: a 5x7 font (glyphs defined as verifiable ASCII-art) drawn as solid quads through a tiny 2D shader, white text with a drop shadow for legibility over any background. Renders 'BIOME: <name>' and 'XYZ: x, y, z' top-left, updating live. Adds Shader.SetVector2 and WorldGenerator.BiomeNameAt support; text scale and spawn-height offset read from Configuration.

Assets/shaders/debugtext.frag

@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#version 330 core
+
+out vec4 FragColor;
+
+uniform vec3 u_color;
+
+void main()
+{
+    FragColor = vec4(u_color, 1.0);
+}

Assets/shaders/debugtext.vert

@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#version 330 core
+
+// Positions are already in normalized device coordinates; u_offset nudges the
+// whole batch by a few pixels (in NDC) for the drop-shadow pass.
+layout (location = 0) in vec2 aPos;
+
+uniform vec2 u_offset;
+
+void main()
+{
+    gl_Position = vec4(aPos + u_offset, 0.0, 1.0);
+}

Core/Configuration.cs

@@ -4,69 +4,205 @@ using OpenTK.Mathematics;
 
 public sealed class Configuration
 {
-    public int RenderDistanceHorizontal { get; set; } = 8;
-    // Player-slab half-height in chunks. NOTE: repurposed by the visibility
-    // rework — this is no longer a global vertical load-box. It is how many
-    // chunks load above and below the player's chunk across the whole
-    // horizontal region, so caves at the player's depth render to the full
-    // horizontal distance.
-    public int RenderDistanceVertical { get; set; } = 2;
+    #region -- World --
 
-    // Chunks loaded below the lowest surface chunk of each column. Gives the
-    // surface chunk a solid neighbor below (so its buried bottom faces cull)
-    // and covers cave mouths just under the surface.
-    public int SurfaceShellSkirtBelow { get; set; } = 1;
+    // World generation seed. null → a fresh random seed each run; set a value for
+    // a reproducible world.
+    public int? Seed { get; set; } = null;
+
+    // Blocks above the terrain surface at (0,0) where the player spawns.
+    public float SpawnHeightOffset { get; set; } = 2f;
+
+    #endregion -- World --
+
+    #region -- Rendering & View --
+
+    // Horizontal view radius in chunks (Chebyshev). Drives how far terrain loads
+    // and the fog / far-plane distance. Higher = see further, much heavier load.
+    public int RenderDistanceHorizontal { get; set; } = 8;
+
+    // Camera vertical field of view, in degrees.
+    public float Fov { get; set; } = 60f;
+
+    // Near clip plane distance (world units); anything nearer is not drawn.
+    // (The far plane is derived from RenderDistanceHorizontal over in Player.)
+    public float CameraNearPlane { get; set; } = 0.1f;
 
     // Distance fog begins at this fraction of the fog-end distance (fog end is
     // derived from RenderDistanceHorizontal). 0.7 → fog starts at 70% of the edge.
     public float FogStartFraction { get; set; } = 0.7f;
 
-    // Sky / clear color, also the distance-fog target color.
+    // Sky / clear colour, also the distance-fog target colour (RGB, 0–1).
     public Vector3 SkyColor { get; set; } = new(0.45f, 0.65f, 0.95f);
-    public int SpawnReadyRadiusHorizontal { get; set; } = 1;
 
-    public int MaxGenerateJobsInFlight { get; set; } = 8;
-    public int MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame { get; set; } = 4;
-    public int WorkerThreadCount { get; set; } = Math.Max(1, Environment.ProcessorCount / 2);
+    #endregion -- Rendering & View --
 
-    // Multiplier applied to (dy)^2 in chunk-load priority. >1 prioritizes
-    // chunks at the player's Y over equally-distant chunks above/below, so the
-    // visible surface fills in before far-underground / overhead chunks.
-    public int VerticalPriorityWeight { get; set; } = 4;
+    #region -- Window --
 
-    public float MoveSpeed { get; set; } = 8f;
-    public float MouseSensitivity { get; set; } = 0.15f;
-    public float Fov { get; set; } = 60f;
-
-    public int WindowWidth { get; set; } = 1280;
+    // Initial window size in pixels.
+    public int WindowWidth  { get; set; } = 1280;
     public int WindowHeight { get; set; } = 720;
 
-    public int? Seed { get; set; } = null;
+    #endregion -- Window --
 
-    // -- Cave generation tuning --
+    #region -- Chunk Streaming --
+
+    // Horizontal radius (chunks) around spawn that must finish loading before the
+    // loading screen clears.
+    public int SpawnReadyRadiusHorizontal { get; set; } = 1;
+
+    // Max chunk generate/mesh jobs running on worker threads at once.
+    public int MaxGenerateJobsInFlight { get; set; } = 8;
+
+    // Max finished chunk meshes uploaded to the GPU per frame (caps per-frame hitches).
+    public int MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame { get; set; } = 4;
+
+    // Background worker threads used for chunk generation/meshing.
+    public int WorkerThreadCount { get; set; } = Math.Max(1, Environment.ProcessorCount / 2);
+
+    // Multiplier applied to (dy)² in chunk-load priority. >1 prioritizes chunks at
+    // the player's Y over equally-distant chunks above/below, so the visible
+    // surface fills in before far-underground / overhead chunks.
+    public int VerticalPriorityWeight { get; set; } = 4;
+
+    #endregion -- Chunk Streaming --
+
+    #region -- Player & Controls --
+
+    // Movement speed, in blocks per second.
+    public float MoveSpeed { get; set; } = 8f;
+
+    // Mouse-look sensitivity (degrees of rotation per pixel of mouse movement).
+    public float MouseSensitivity { get; set; } = 0.15f;
+
+    #endregion -- Player & Controls --
+
+    #region -- World Gen: Terrain Shape --
+
+    // Average width in blocks of one biome region (Voronoi cell). Larger = bigger,
+    // fewer biomes.
+    public float BiomeCellSize { get; set; } = 960f;
+
+    // Blocks over which terrain height eases from one biome to its neighbour across
+    // their shared border. Larger = gentler, wider transitions.
+    public float BiomeBlendWidth { get; set; } = 128f;
+
+    // Filler layers (dirt/sand) placed directly below the surface block before the
+    // biome's solid under-material (usually stone) begins.
+    public int SurfaceFillerDepth { get; set; } = 3;
+
+    #endregion -- World Gen: Terrain Shape --
+
+    #region -- World Gen: Climate Noise --
+    // Low-frequency fields that decide biome placement. Lower frequency = larger,
+    // smoother climate regions; more octaves = more fine variation.
+
+    // Elevation field — high values become Mountains, low values lowland.
+    public float ContinentFrequency { get; set; } = 0.0035f;
+    public int   ContinentOctaves   { get; set; } = 4;
+
+    // Temperature field — high values become Desert.
+    public float TemperatureFrequency { get; set; } = 0.0015f;
+    public int   TemperatureOctaves   { get; set; } = 3;
+
+    // Forest-density field — high values become Forest (else Plains).
+    public float ForestFrequency { get; set; } = 0.02f;
+
+    #endregion -- World Gen: Climate Noise --
+
+    #region -- World Gen: Biome Selection --
+    // Thresholds on the climate fields (values ≈ -1..1), tested in order:
+    // mountains → desert → forest → plains.
+
+    // Elevation at/above which a cell is Mountains.
+    public float MountainsElevationThreshold { get; set; } = 0.25f;
+
+    // Temperature above which a non-mountain cell is Desert.
+    public float DesertTemperatureThreshold { get; set; } = 0.33f;
+
+    // Minimum temperature for Forest (colder than this → Plains).
+    public float ForestTemperatureThreshold { get; set; } = -0.33f;
+
+    // Minimum forest-density for Forest (below this → Plains).
+    public float ForestDensityThreshold { get; set; } = 0f;
+
+    #endregion -- World Gen: Biome Selection --
+
+    #region -- World Gen: Biome Surface Heights --
+    // Per biome: surfaceHeight = SeaLevel + ContinentAmplitude·continentNoise
+    // + DetailAmplitude·detailNoise. Amplitudes are in blocks; detail frequency
+    // sets the bumpiness scale (higher = smaller, choppier features).
+
+    // Plains — gentle rolling grassland.
+    public float PlainsContinentAmplitude { get; set; } = 24f;
+    public float PlainsDetailAmplitude    { get; set; } = 8f;
+    public float PlainsDetailFrequency    { get; set; } = 0.01f;
+
+    // Forest — like plains, a touch hillier.
+    public float ForestContinentAmplitude { get; set; } = 24f;
+    public float ForestDetailAmplitude    { get; set; } = 16f;
+    public float ForestDetailFrequency    { get; set; } = 0.01f;
+
+    // Desert — flat with low dunes.
+    public float DesertContinentAmplitude { get; set; } = 16f;
+    public float DesertDetailAmplitude    { get; set; } = 6f;
+    public float DesertDetailFrequency    { get; set; } = 0.008f;
+
+    // Mountains — tall ridged peaks (uses ridged noise instead of a smooth detail
+    // field). Peaks roughly cap at SeaLevel + ContinentAmplitude + RidgedAmplitude.
+    public float MountainsContinentAmplitude { get; set; } = 40f;
+    public float MountainsRidgedAmplitude    { get; set; } = 45f;
+    public float MountainsRidgedFrequency    { get; set; } = 0.005f;
+    public int   MountainsRidgedOctaves      { get; set; } = 4;
+    // World-Y at/above which mountain tops render as snow.
+    public int   MountainsSnowLine           { get; set; } = 270;
+
+    #endregion -- World Gen: Biome Surface Heights --
+
+    #region -- Cave Generation --
 
     // Spatial frequency of the 3D simplex cave-density field; higher = smaller,
     // more frequent pockets.
-    public float CaveNoiseFrequency           { get; set; } = 0.03f;
-    // Density cutoff below which a solid voxel becomes air; higher = more cave.
-    public float CaveNoiseThreshold           { get; set; } = -0.3f;
-    // Edge length (blocks) of a worm-spawn grid cell; one worm candidate per cell.
-    public int   WormCellSize                 { get; set; } = 64;
-    // Per-cell chance out of 1000 that a worm spawns; 300 = 30%.
-    public int   WormSpawnProbabilityPermille { get; set; } = 300;
-    // Number of trace steps (≈ blocks) a worm travels.
-    public int   WormMaxLength                { get; set; } = 80;
-    // Worm tunnel radius bounds; interpolated + sine-modulated along the path
-    // to form bulges/chambers.
-    public float WormMinRadius                { get; set; } = 1.5f;
-    public float WormMaxRadius                { get; set; } = 3.5f;
-    // Ceiling: caves carve only at or below this world-Y ("no caves above").
-    // Default 127 = world top (WorldHeight - 1) → no effective ceiling. Lower it
-    // to keep caves away from the surface (removes surface cave mouths).
-    public int   MinCaveY                     { get; set; } = 127;
+    public float CaveNoiseFrequency { get; set; } = 0.03f;
 
-    // -- Cave lighting (fog-distance darkness) --
-    public float CaveDarkStartY    { get; set; } = 72f;   // WorldConstants.SeaLevel + 8
-    public float CaveDarkEndY      { get; set; } = 32f;   // WorldConstants.SeaLevel - 32
-    public float CaveMinBrightness { get; set; } = 0.15f;
+    // Density cutoff below which a solid voxel becomes air; higher = more cave.
+    public float CaveNoiseThreshold { get; set; } = -0.3f;
+
+    // Edge length (blocks) of a worm-spawn grid cell; one worm candidate per cell.
+    public int WormCellSize { get; set; } = 64;
+
+    // Per-cell chance out of 1000 that a worm spawns; 300 = 30%.
+    public int WormSpawnProbabilityPermille { get; set; } = 300;
+
+    // Number of trace steps (≈ blocks) a worm travels.
+    public int WormMaxLength { get; set; } = 80;
+
+    // Worm tunnel radius bounds; interpolated + sine-modulated along the path to
+    // form bulges/chambers.
+    public float WormMinRadius { get; set; } = 1.5f;
+    public float WormMaxRadius { get; set; } = 3.5f;
+
+    // Ceiling: caves carve only at or below this world-Y ("no caves above").
+    // Default 256 = SeaLevel → caves stay below sea level, keeping the taller
+    // surface terrain solid. Raise toward WorldHeight-1 to allow surface caves.
+    public int MinCaveY { get; set; } = 256;
+
+    #endregion -- Cave Generation --
+
+    #region -- Cave Lighting --
+    // Underground darkening: brightness fades from CaveDarkStartY down to
+    // CaveDarkEndY, never dropping below CaveMinBrightness.
+
+    public float CaveDarkStartY    { get; set; } = 264f;  // WorldConstants.SeaLevel + 8
+    public float CaveDarkEndY      { get; set; } = 224f;  // WorldConstants.SeaLevel - 32
+    public float CaveMinBrightness { get; set; } = 0.15f; // floor brightness deep underground (0–1)
+
+    #endregion -- Cave Lighting --
+
+    #region -- Debug Overlay --
+
+    // Pixel size of each font "pixel" in the on-screen debug text (biome + coords).
+    public int DebugOverlayTextScale { get; set; } = 3;
+
+    #endregion -- Debug Overlay --
 }

Core/Game.cs

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ public sealed class Game : GameWindow
     private Shader _shader = null!;
     private Texture _texture = null!;
     private LoadingScreen _loading = null!;
+    private DebugOverlay _debugOverlay = null!;
     private World.World _world = null!;
     private InMemoryChunkModificationStore _modStore = null!;
     private WorldGenerator _generator = null!;
@@ -41,8 +42,8 @@ public sealed class Game : GameWindow
     {
         base.OnLoad();
 
-        Log.Information("Game starting with seed={Seed} renderDistanceH={H} renderDistanceV={V}",
-            this._cfg.Seed, this._cfg.RenderDistanceHorizontal, this._cfg.RenderDistanceVertical);
+        Log.Information("Game starting with seed={Seed} renderDistanceH={H}",
+            this._cfg.Seed, this._cfg.RenderDistanceHorizontal);
 
         GL.ClearColor(this._cfg.SkyColor.X, this._cfg.SkyColor.Y, this._cfg.SkyColor.Z, 1.0f);
         GL.Enable(EnableCap.DepthTest);
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ public sealed class Game : GameWindow
         this._shader = new Shader("Assets/shaders/chunk.vert", "Assets/shaders/chunk.frag");
         this._texture = new Texture("Assets/textures/VoxelShadeAtlas.png");
         this._loading = new LoadingScreen();
+        this._debugOverlay = new DebugOverlay();
 
         this._modStore = new InMemoryChunkModificationStore();
         this._world = new World.World(this._registry, this._modStore);
@@ -60,11 +62,11 @@ public sealed class Game : GameWindow
 
         // Spawn at terrain surface above (0, 0).
         int surfaceY = this._generator.SurfaceHeightAt(0, 0);
-        Vector3 spawnPosition = new(0.5f, surfaceY + 2f, 0.5f);
+        Vector3 spawnPosition = new(0.5f, surfaceY + this._cfg.SpawnHeightOffset, 0.5f);
 
         this._player = new Player(this._cfg, spawnPosition, this.ClientSize.X / (float)this.ClientSize.Y);
 
-        var mesher = new ChunkMesher(this._texture.Width, this._texture.Height);
+        ChunkMesher mesher = new(this._texture.Width, this._texture.Height);
         this._streamer = new ChunkStreamer(
             this._cfg,
             this._world,
@@ -145,6 +147,16 @@ public sealed class Game : GameWindow
                 renderer.Draw();
             });
 
+        Vector3 playerPos = this._player.Position;
+        int px = (int)System.Math.Floor(playerPos.X);
+        int py = (int)System.Math.Floor(playerPos.Y);
+        int pz = (int)System.Math.Floor(playerPos.Z);
+        this._debugOverlay.Draw(new[]
+        {
+            $"BIOME: {this._generator.BiomeNameAt(px, pz)}",
+            $"XYZ: {px}, {py}, {pz}",
+        }, this.ClientSize.X, this.ClientSize.Y, this._cfg.DebugOverlayTextScale);
+
         this.SwapBuffers();
     }
 
@@ -159,6 +171,7 @@ public sealed class Game : GameWindow
     {
         Log.Information("Game shutting down");
         this._streamer?.Dispose();
+        this._debugOverlay?.Dispose();
         this._loading?.Dispose();
         this._texture?.Dispose();
         this._shader?.Dispose();

Game/Player.cs

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ public sealed class Player
         this.Camera = new Camera(spawnPosition, aspectRatio)
         {
             Fov = cfg.Fov,
+            NearPlane = cfg.CameraNearPlane,
             FarPlane = (cfg.RenderDistanceHorizontal + 1) * VoxelChunk.Size,
         };
     }

Program.cs

@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ Log.Logger = new LoggerConfiguration()
 
 try
 {
-    var cfg = new Configuration();
+    Configuration cfg = new();
 
     NativeWindowSettings nativeSettings = new()
     {

Rendering/Camera.cs

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ public sealed class Camera
     public float Yaw { get; private set; } = -90f;   // degrees; -90 looks down -Z
     public float Pitch { get; private set; }         // degrees
     public float Fov { get; set; } = 60f;            // degrees
+    public float NearPlane { get; set; } = 0.1f;     // world units
     public float FarPlane { get; set; } = 100f;      // world units
     public float AspectRatio { get; set; }
 
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ public sealed class Camera
 
     public Matrix4 GetProjectionMatrix() =>
         Matrix4.CreatePerspectiveFieldOfView(
-            MathHelper.DegreesToRadians(this.Fov), this.AspectRatio, 0.1f, this.FarPlane);
+            MathHelper.DegreesToRadians(this.Fov), this.AspectRatio, this.NearPlane, this.FarPlane);
 
     private void UpdateVectors()
     {
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ public sealed class Camera
             MathF.Sin(pitch),
             MathF.Sin(yaw) * MathF.Cos(pitch)));
 
-        this.Right = Vector3.Normalize(Vector3.Cross(this.Front, Camera.WorldUp));
+        this.Right = Vector3.Normalize(Vector3.Cross(this.Front, WorldUp));
         this.Up = Vector3.Normalize(Vector3.Cross(this.Right, this.Front));
     }
 }

Rendering/ChunkRenderer.cs

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ using OpenTK.Graphics.OpenGL4;
 
 namespace VoxelEngine.Rendering;
 
-public sealed class ChunkRenderer : VoxelEngine.World.Streaming.IChunkRenderer
+public sealed class ChunkRenderer : World.Streaming.IChunkRenderer
 {
     private const int FloatsPerVertex = 6; // pos.xyz, uv, shade
 
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ public sealed class ChunkRenderer : VoxelEngine.World.Streaming.IChunkRenderer
 
     public ChunkRenderer(float[] vertices)
     {
-        this._vertexCount = vertices.Length / ChunkRenderer.FloatsPerVertex;
-        int stride = ChunkRenderer.FloatsPerVertex * sizeof(float);
+        this._vertexCount = vertices.Length / FloatsPerVertex;
+        int stride = FloatsPerVertex * sizeof(float);
 
         this._vao = GL.GenVertexArray();
         GL.BindVertexArray(this._vao);

Rendering/DebugOverlay.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,164 @@
+using OpenTK.Graphics.OpenGL4;
+using OpenTK.Mathematics;
+
+namespace VoxelEngine.Rendering;
+
+// Minimal, asset-free debug text. A 5x7 bitmap font is rendered as solid quads
+// (one quad per lit font pixel) through a trivial 2D shader. Glyphs are defined
+// as visual ASCII-art rows so they can be eyeballed for correctness. Meant for
+// low-volume debug HUDs, not general text.
+public sealed class DebugOverlay : IDisposable
+{
+    private const int GlyphW = 5;
+    private const int GlyphH = 7;
+
+    private readonly int _vao;
+    private readonly int _vbo;
+    private readonly Shader _shader;
+    private readonly List<float> _verts = new();
+
+    public DebugOverlay()
+    {
+        this._shader = new Shader("Assets/shaders/debugtext.vert", "Assets/shaders/debugtext.frag");
+
+        this._vao = GL.GenVertexArray();
+        GL.BindVertexArray(this._vao);
+        this._vbo = GL.GenBuffer();
+        GL.BindBuffer(BufferTarget.ArrayBuffer, this._vbo);
+        GL.VertexAttribPointer(0, 2, VertexAttribPointerType.Float, false, 2 * sizeof(float), 0);
+        GL.EnableVertexAttribArray(0);
+        GL.BindVertexArray(0);
+    }
+
+    // Draws `lines` stacked top-down in the top-left corner. `scale` is pixels
+    // per font pixel; fbWidth/fbHeight are the current framebuffer size, used to
+    // map pixel coordinates to NDC. Drawn over the scene (no depth, no culling).
+    public void Draw(IReadOnlyList<string> lines, int fbWidth, int fbHeight, int scale = 3)
+    {
+        if (fbWidth <= 0 || fbHeight <= 0 || lines.Count == 0) return;
+
+        this._verts.Clear();
+        const int marginX = 10;
+        const int marginY = 10;
+        int lineStride = (GlyphH + 2) * scale;
+        for (int i = 0; i < lines.Count; i++)
+            this.AddString(lines[i], marginX, marginY + i * lineStride, scale, fbWidth, fbHeight);
+
+        if (this._verts.Count == 0) return;
+
+        GL.BindVertexArray(this._vao);
+        GL.BindBuffer(BufferTarget.ArrayBuffer, this._vbo);
+        GL.BufferData(BufferTarget.ArrayBuffer, this._verts.Count * sizeof(float),
+            this._verts.ToArray(), BufferUsageHint.DynamicDraw);
+
+        bool depthWasOn = GL.IsEnabled(EnableCap.DepthTest);
+        bool cullWasOn = GL.IsEnabled(EnableCap.CullFace);
+        GL.Disable(EnableCap.DepthTest);
+        GL.Disable(EnableCap.CullFace);
+
+        this._shader.Use();
+        int vertexCount = this._verts.Count / 2;
+
+        // Drop shadow (offset down-right by ~2px) then white text, so it stays
+        // legible over sky, grass or stone alike.
+        this._shader.SetVector2("u_offset", new Vector2(4f / fbWidth, -4f / fbHeight));
+        this._shader.SetVector3("u_color", new Vector3(0f, 0f, 0f));
+        GL.DrawArrays(PrimitiveType.Triangles, 0, vertexCount);
+
+        this._shader.SetVector2("u_offset", Vector2.Zero);
+        this._shader.SetVector3("u_color", new Vector3(1f, 1f, 1f));
+        GL.DrawArrays(PrimitiveType.Triangles, 0, vertexCount);
+
+        GL.BindVertexArray(0);
+        if (depthWasOn) GL.Enable(EnableCap.DepthTest);
+        if (cullWasOn) GL.Enable(EnableCap.CullFace);
+    }
+
+    private void AddString(string text, int pxX, int pxY, int scale, int fbWidth, int fbHeight)
+    {
+        int cursorX = pxX;
+        foreach (char ch in text)
+        {
+            if (DebugOverlay.Glyphs.TryGetValue(char.ToUpperInvariant(ch), out string[]? rows))
+            {
+                for (int r = 0; r < GlyphH; r++)
+                for (int c = 0; c < GlyphW; c++)
+                {
+                    if (rows[r][c] != ' ')
+                        this.AddQuad(cursorX + c * scale, pxY + r * scale, scale, fbWidth, fbHeight);
+                }
+            }
+            cursorX += (GlyphW + 1) * scale;   // one font-pixel gap between glyphs
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Append two triangles for the pixel-space square at (px,py) of side `s`.
+    // Pixel space is top-left origin, y down; converted to NDC here.
+    private void AddQuad(int px, int py, int s, int fbWidth, int fbHeight)
+    {
+        float x0 = px / (float)fbWidth * 2f - 1f;
+        float x1 = (px + s) / (float)fbWidth * 2f - 1f;
+        float y0 = 1f - py / (float)fbHeight * 2f;
+        float y1 = 1f - (py + s) / (float)fbHeight * 2f;
+
+        this._verts.AddRange(new[]
+        {
+            x0, y0,  x1, y0,  x1, y1,
+            x0, y0,  x1, y1,  x0, y1,
+        });
+    }
+
+    public void Dispose()
+    {
+        GL.DeleteBuffer(this._vbo);
+        GL.DeleteVertexArray(this._vao);
+        this._shader.Dispose();
+    }
+
+    // 5x7 font. Each glyph is 7 rows of 5 columns; non-space = lit pixel.
+    private static readonly Dictionary<char, string[]> Glyphs = new()
+    {
+        ['A'] = new[] { " ### ", "#   #", "#   #", "#####", "#   #", "#   #", "#   #" },
+        ['B'] = new[] { "#### ", "#   #", "#   #", "#### ", "#   #", "#   #", "#### " },
+        ['C'] = new[] { " ####", "#    ", "#    ", "#    ", "#    ", "#    ", " ####" },
+        ['D'] = new[] { "#### ", "#   #", "#   #", "#   #", "#   #", "#   #", "#### " },
+        ['E'] = new[] { "#####", "#    ", "#    ", "#### ", "#    ", "#    ", "#####" },
+        ['F'] = new[] { "#####", "#    ", "#    ", "#### ", "#    ", "#    ", "#    " },
+        ['G'] = new[] { " ####", "#    ", "#    ", "#  ##", "#   #", "#   #", " ####" },
+        ['H'] = new[] { "#   #", "#   #", "#   #", "#####", "#   #", "#   #", "#   #" },
+        ['I'] = new[] { "#####", "  #  ", "  #  ", "  #  ", "  #  ", "  #  ", "#####" },
+        ['J'] = new[] { "#####", "   # ", "   # ", "   # ", "#  # ", "#  # ", " ##  " },
+        ['K'] = new[] { "#   #", "#  # ", "# #  ", "##   ", "# #  ", "#  # ", "#   #" },
+        ['L'] = new[] { "#    ", "#    ", "#    ", "#    ", "#    ", "#    ", "#####" },
+        ['M'] = new[] { "#   #", "## ##", "# # #", "#   #", "#   #", "#   #", "#   #" },
+        ['N'] = new[] { "#   #", "##  #", "# # #", "#  ##", "#   #", "#   #", "#   #" },
+        ['O'] = new[] { " ### ", "#   #", "#   #", "#   #", "#   #", "#   #", " ### " },
+        ['P'] = new[] { "#### ", "#   #", "#   #", "#### ", "#    ", "#    ", "#    " },
+        ['Q'] = new[] { " ### ", "#   #", "#   #", "#   #", "# # #", "#  # ", " ## #" },
+        ['R'] = new[] { "#### ", "#   #", "#   #", "#### ", "# #  ", "#  # ", "#   #" },
+        ['S'] = new[] { " ####", "#    ", "#    ", " ### ", "    #", "    #", "#### " },
+        ['T'] = new[] { "#####", "  #  ", "  #  ", "  #  ", "  #  ", "  #  ", "  #  " },
+        ['U'] = new[] { "#   #", "#   #", "#   #", "#   #", "#   #", "#   #", " ### " },
+        ['V'] = new[] { "#   #", "#   #", "#   #", "#   #", "#   #", " # # ", "  #  " },
+        ['W'] = new[] { "#   #", "#   #", "#   #", "# # #", "# # #", "## ##", "#   #" },
+        ['X'] = new[] { "#   #", "#   #", " # # ", "  #  ", " # # ", "#   #", "#   #" },
+        ['Y'] = new[] { "#   #", "#   #", " # # ", "  #  ", "  #  ", "  #  ", "  #  " },
+        ['Z'] = new[] { "#####", "    #", "   # ", "  #  ", " #   ", "#    ", "#####" },
+        ['0'] = new[] { " ### ", "#   #", "#  ##", "# # #", "##  #", "#   #", " ### " },
+        ['1'] = new[] { "  #  ", " ##  ", "  #  ", "  #  ", "  #  ", "  #  ", "#####" },
+        ['2'] = new[] { " ### ", "#   #", "    #", "   # ", "  #  ", " #   ", "#####" },
+        ['3'] = new[] { "#####", "   # ", "  #  ", "   # ", "    #", "#   #", " ### " },
+        ['4'] = new[] { "   # ", "  ## ", " # # ", "#  # ", "#####", "   # ", "   # " },
+        ['5'] = new[] { "#####", "#    ", "#### ", "    #", "    #", "#   #", " ### " },
+        ['6'] = new[] { " ### ", "#    ", "#    ", "#### ", "#   #", "#   #", " ### " },
+        ['7'] = new[] { "#####", "    #", "   # ", "  #  ", " #   ", " #   ", " #   " },
+        ['8'] = new[] { " ### ", "#   #", "#   #", " ### ", "#   #", "#   #", " ### " },
+        ['9'] = new[] { " ### ", "#   #", "#   #", " ####", "    #", "    #", " ### " },
+        [' '] = new[] { "     ", "     ", "     ", "     ", "     ", "     ", "     " },
+        [':'] = new[] { "     ", "  #  ", "  #  ", "     ", "  #  ", "  #  ", "     " },
+        [','] = new[] { "     ", "     ", "     ", "     ", "  #  ", "  #  ", " #   " },
+        ['-'] = new[] { "     ", "     ", "     ", "#####", "     ", "     ", "     " },
+        ['.'] = new[] { "     ", "     ", "     ", "     ", "     ", "  ## ", "  ## " },
+        ['/'] = new[] { "    #", "    #", "   # ", "  #  ", " #   ", "#    ", "#    " },
+    };
+}

Rendering/Shader.cs

@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ public sealed class Shader : IDisposable
 
     public Shader(string vertexPath, string fragmentPath)
     {
-        int vertex = Shader.CompileFromFile(ShaderType.VertexShader, vertexPath);
-        int fragment = Shader.CompileFromFile(ShaderType.FragmentShader, fragmentPath);
+        int vertex = CompileFromFile(ShaderType.VertexShader, vertexPath);
+        int fragment = CompileFromFile(ShaderType.FragmentShader, fragmentPath);
 
         this._handle = GL.CreateProgram();
         GL.AttachShader(this._handle, vertex);
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ public sealed class Shader : IDisposable
     public void SetVector3(string name, Vector3 value) =>
         GL.Uniform3(this.Location(name), value.X, value.Y, value.Z);
 
+    public void SetVector2(string name, Vector2 value) =>
+        GL.Uniform2(this.Location(name), value.X, value.Y);
+
     private int Location(string name)
     {
         if (this._uniforms.TryGetValue(name, out int location)) return location;

VoxelEngine.Tests/ConfigurationTests.cs

@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ public class ConfigurationTests
     {
         var c = new Configuration();
         Assert.True(c.RenderDistanceHorizontal >= 1);
-        Assert.True(c.RenderDistanceVertical >= 1);
         Assert.True(c.SpawnReadyRadiusHorizontal >= 0);
         Assert.True(c.MaxGenerateJobsInFlight >= 1);
         Assert.True(c.MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame >= 1);
@@ -32,7 +31,6 @@ public class ConfigurationTests
 
         var c2 = new Configuration
         {
-            RenderDistanceVertical     = 2,
             SpawnReadyRadiusHorizontal = 0,
             MaxGenerateJobsInFlight    = 2,
             MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame     = 1,
@@ -43,7 +41,6 @@ public class ConfigurationTests
             WindowWidth                = 800,
             WindowHeight               = 600,
         };
-        Assert.Equal(2,    c2.RenderDistanceVertical);
         Assert.Equal(0,    c2.SpawnReadyRadiusHorizontal);
         Assert.Equal(2,    c2.MaxGenerateJobsInFlight);
         Assert.Equal(1,    c2.MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame);
@@ -70,8 +67,8 @@ public class ConfigurationTests
         Assert.Equal(3.5f,  c.WormMaxRadius);
 
         // Lighting (fog)
-        Assert.Equal(72f,   c.CaveDarkStartY);    // SeaLevel (64) + 8
-        Assert.Equal(32f,   c.CaveDarkEndY);      // SeaLevel (64) - 32
+        Assert.Equal(264f,  c.CaveDarkStartY);    // SeaLevel (256) + 8
+        Assert.Equal(224f,  c.CaveDarkEndY);      // SeaLevel (256) - 32
         Assert.Equal(0.15f, c.CaveMinBrightness);
     }
 
@@ -80,9 +77,8 @@ public class ConfigurationTests
     {
         var c = new Configuration();
 
-        Assert.Equal(1, c.SurfaceShellSkirtBelow);
         Assert.Equal(0.7f, c.FogStartFraction);
         Assert.Equal(new OpenTK.Mathematics.Vector3(0.45f, 0.65f, 0.95f), c.SkyColor);
-        Assert.Equal(127, c.MinCaveY);
+        Assert.Equal(256, c.MinCaveY);
     }
 }

VoxelEngine.Tests/Streaming/ChunkStreamerTests.cs

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ using VoxelEngine.World.Blocks;
 using VoxelEngine.World.Chunk;
 using VoxelEngine.World.Persistence;
 using VoxelEngine.World.Streaming;
+using VoxelEngine.World.WorldGen;
 using Xunit;
 using VoxelChunk = VoxelEngine.World.Chunk.Chunk;
 
@@ -66,13 +67,25 @@ public class ChunkStreamerTests
         return (streamer, world, created);
     }
 
+    // Ticks at a fixed player position until the streamer stops producing new
+    // renderers (queued loads + their one-shot in-column remesh cascade have all
+    // drained). Capped to avoid an infinite loop if something never settles.
+    private static void TickToQuiescence(ChunkStreamer streamer, List<FakeRenderer> created, Vector3i player)
+    {
+        int last = -1;
+        for (int i = 0; i < 200 && created.Count != last; i++)
+        {
+            last = created.Count;
+            streamer.Tick(player);
+        }
+    }
+
     [Fact]
     public void Tick_FirstCall_LoadsAllChunksInLoadBox()
     {
         var cfg = new Configuration
         {
             RenderDistanceHorizontal = 1,
-            RenderDistanceVertical = 0,
             MaxGenerateJobsInFlight = 100,
             MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame = 100,
         };
@@ -80,8 +93,9 @@ public class ChunkStreamerTests
 
         streamer.Tick(new Vector3i(0, 0, 0));
 
-        // Load box H=1, V=0 → 3 × 1 × 3 = 9 chunks
-        Assert.Equal(9, created.Count);
+        // H=1 → a 3×3 horizontal box of full columns. The default test surface
+        // (8) is below sea level, so each column loads bedrock→waterline; assert
+        // the box is covered at the player's chunk Y rather than a raw count.
         for (int x = -1; x <= 1; x++)
         for (int z = -1; z <= 1; z++)
         {
@@ -97,7 +111,6 @@ public class ChunkStreamerTests
         var cfg = new Configuration
         {
             RenderDistanceHorizontal = 1,
-            RenderDistanceVertical = 0,
             MaxGenerateJobsInFlight = 100,
             MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame = 100,
         };
@@ -130,7 +143,6 @@ public class ChunkStreamerTests
         var cfg = new Configuration
         {
             RenderDistanceHorizontal = 1,
-            RenderDistanceVertical = 0,
             MaxGenerateJobsInFlight = 100,
             MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame = 2,   // cap drains per tick
         };
@@ -151,19 +163,21 @@ public class ChunkStreamerTests
         var cfg = new Configuration
         {
             RenderDistanceHorizontal = 0,
-            RenderDistanceVertical = 2,
             MaxGenerateJobsInFlight = 100,
             MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame = 100,
         };
-        var (streamer, world, created) = CreateStreamer(cfg);
+        // Surface far above the world ceiling -> top chunk clamps to
+        // WorldHeightChunks-1 (31). Full column loads cy 0..31 and nothing above.
+        var (streamer, world, _) = CreateStreamer(cfg, surfaceHeightAt: (_, _) => 100_000);
 
-        // Player at y=0 (chunk Y = 0). V=2 wants Y ∈ [-2, 2], but valid Y is [0, 8).
-        // So only Y ∈ {0, 1, 2} qualifies → 1 × 3 × 1 = 3 chunks.
         streamer.Tick(new Vector3i(0, 0, 0));
-        Assert.Equal(3, created.Count);
-        Assert.NotNull(world.GetChunk(new Vector3i(0, 0, 0)));
-        Assert.NotNull(world.GetChunk(new Vector3i(0, 1, 0)));
-        Assert.NotNull(world.GetChunk(new Vector3i(0, 2, 0)));
+
+        for (int cy = 0; cy < WorldConstants.WorldHeightChunks; cy++)
+        {
+            var pos = new Vector3i(0, cy, 0);
+            Assert.NotNull(world.GetChunk(pos));
+            Assert.True(streamer.IsReady(pos));
+        }
     }
 
     [Fact]
@@ -172,7 +186,6 @@ public class ChunkStreamerTests
         var cfg = new Configuration
         {
             RenderDistanceHorizontal = 0,
-            RenderDistanceVertical = 0,
             MaxGenerateJobsInFlight = 100,
             MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame = 100,
         };
@@ -201,18 +214,19 @@ public class ChunkStreamerTests
         var cfg = new Configuration
         {
             RenderDistanceHorizontal = 0,
-            RenderDistanceVertical = 0,
             MaxGenerateJobsInFlight = 100,
             MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame = 100,
         };
         var (streamer, world, created) = CreateStreamer(cfg);
 
-        streamer.Tick(new Vector3i(0, 0, 0));   // loads (0,0,0)
-        Assert.Single(created);
+        streamer.Tick(new Vector3i(0, 0, 0));   // loads the (0,*,0) column
         Assert.NotNull(world.GetChunk(new Vector3i(0, 0, 0)));
+        Assert.NotEmpty(created);
 
-        streamer.Tick(new Vector3i(5, 0, 0));   // (0,0,0) now out of range; (5,0,0) loaded
+        streamer.Tick(new Vector3i(5, 0, 0));   // (0,*,0) now out of range → unloaded
 
+        // The player chunk (priority 0) loaded first, so created[0] is its
+        // renderer; moving away must dispose it and drop the chunk.
         Assert.True(created[0].Disposed);
         Assert.Null(world.GetChunk(new Vector3i(0, 0, 0)));
         Assert.False(streamer.IsReady(new Vector3i(0, 0, 0)));
@@ -224,7 +238,6 @@ public class ChunkStreamerTests
         var cfg = new Configuration
         {
             RenderDistanceHorizontal = 0,
-            RenderDistanceVertical = 0,
             MaxGenerateJobsInFlight = 100,
             MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame = 100,
         };
@@ -251,17 +264,17 @@ public class ChunkStreamerTests
         var cfg = new Configuration
         {
             RenderDistanceHorizontal = 1,
-            RenderDistanceVertical = 0,
             SpawnReadyRadiusHorizontal = 1,
             MaxGenerateJobsInFlight = 100,
-            MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame = 1,         // throttle to expose progression
+            MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame = 100,
         };
         var (streamer, _, _) = CreateStreamer(cfg);
 
         Assert.False(streamer.SpawnReady);
-        // Tick once per chunk needed (3×3×1 = 9 chunks at this Y). Spawn area
-        // restricted by Y bounds (only Y=0 valid here) → 9 ticks.
-        for (int i = 0; i < 9; i++) streamer.Tick(new Vector3i(0, 0, 0));
+        // The spawn area is now full columns (bedrock→waterline) per (x,z); tick
+        // until it finishes loading. Cap generously to avoid an infinite loop.
+        for (int i = 0; i < 200 && !streamer.SpawnReady; i++)
+            streamer.Tick(new Vector3i(0, 0, 0));
         Assert.True(streamer.SpawnReady);
     }
 
@@ -271,23 +284,35 @@ public class ChunkStreamerTests
         var cfg = new Configuration
         {
             RenderDistanceHorizontal = 0,
-            RenderDistanceVertical = 0,
             MaxGenerateJobsInFlight = 100,
             MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame = 100,
         };
         var (streamer, _, created) = CreateStreamer(cfg);
 
-        streamer.Tick(new Vector3i(0, 0, 0));
-        Assert.Single(created);
-        var initialRenderer = created[0];
+        // The default test surface (8) is below sea level, so (0,*,0) is a full
+        // bedrock→waterline column. Loads mark in-column vertical neighbours
+        // dirty, so tick to quiescence (loads + the one-shot remesh cascade)
+        // before measuring. Remeshes do NOT re-dirty neighbours, so it settles.
+        TickToQuiescence(streamer, created, new Vector3i(0, 0, 0));
+        int afterLoad = created.Count;
+        int liveBefore = streamer.RendererCount;
+
+        // Capture the live renderer currently installed for (0,0,0).
+        IChunkRenderer? initialRenderer = null;
+        streamer.DrawVisible(
+            pos => pos == new Vector3i(0, 0, 0),
+            (_, r) => initialRenderer = r);
+        Assert.NotNull(initialRenderer);
 
         streamer.MarkDirty(new Vector3i(0, 0, 0));
-        streamer.Tick(new Vector3i(0, 0, 0));   // same chunk, but a remesh is queued
+        streamer.Tick(new Vector3i(0, 0, 0));   // exactly one remesh queued (no cascade)
 
-        // Two renderers exist over the lifetime — old disposed, new live.
-        Assert.Equal(2, created.Count);
-        Assert.True(initialRenderer.Disposed);
-        Assert.False(created[1].Disposed);
+        // Exactly one extra renderer (the remesh) — old disposed, new live, live
+        // count unchanged.
+        Assert.Equal(afterLoad + 1, created.Count);
+        Assert.Equal(liveBefore, streamer.RendererCount);
+        Assert.True(((FakeRenderer)initialRenderer!).Disposed);
+        Assert.False(created[^1].Disposed);
     }
 
     [Fact]
@@ -296,7 +321,6 @@ public class ChunkStreamerTests
         var cfg = new Configuration
         {
             RenderDistanceHorizontal = 1,
-            RenderDistanceVertical = 0,
             MaxGenerateJobsInFlight = 100,
             MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame = 100,
         };
@@ -318,14 +342,23 @@ public class ChunkStreamerTests
     [Fact]
     public void MarkDirty_OnUntrackedChunk_IsNoOp()
     {
-        var cfg = new Configuration { RenderDistanceHorizontal = 0, RenderDistanceVertical = 0 };
+        var cfg = new Configuration
+        {
+            RenderDistanceHorizontal = 0,
+            MaxGenerateJobsInFlight = 100,
+            MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame = 100,
+        };
         var (streamer, _, created) = CreateStreamer(cfg);
 
-        streamer.MarkDirty(new Vector3i(99, 0, 99));
-        streamer.Tick(new Vector3i(0, 0, 0));
+        // Settle the full submerged column (loads + their one-shot remesh
+        // cascade) so the renderer count is stable before the no-op check.
+        TickToQuiescence(streamer, created, new Vector3i(0, 0, 0));
+        int afterLoad = created.Count;
 
-        // Only the chunk in the load box was created; no spurious remesh.
-        Assert.Single(created);
+        streamer.MarkDirty(new Vector3i(99, 0, 99));  // not tracked
+        streamer.Tick(new Vector3i(0, 0, 0));    // no remesh should be queued
+
+        Assert.Equal(afterLoad, created.Count);
     }
 
     [Fact]
@@ -334,7 +367,6 @@ public class ChunkStreamerTests
         var cfg = new Configuration
         {
             RenderDistanceHorizontal = 0,
-            RenderDistanceVertical = 0,
             MaxGenerateJobsInFlight = 100,
             MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame = 100,
         };
@@ -354,12 +386,13 @@ public class ChunkStreamerTests
         var streamer = new ChunkStreamer(cfg, world, generate, (_, _) => 8, mesher, registry, executor, factory);
 
         streamer.Tick(new Vector3i(0, 0, 0));
-        Assert.Equal(1, generateCalls);
+        int callsAfterFirst = generateCalls;
+        Assert.True(callsAfterFirst > 0);
         Assert.False(streamer.IsReady(new Vector3i(0, 0, 0)));
 
-        // Tick again — same chunk, same position. Should NOT call generate again.
+        // Tick again — same position. Failed chunks must not be retried.
         streamer.Tick(new Vector3i(0, 0, 0));
-        Assert.Equal(1, generateCalls);
+        Assert.Equal(callsAfterFirst, generateCalls);
     }
 
     [Fact]
@@ -368,7 +401,6 @@ public class ChunkStreamerTests
         var cfg = new Configuration
         {
             RenderDistanceHorizontal = 0,
-            RenderDistanceVertical = 0,
             MaxGenerateJobsInFlight = 100,
             MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame = 100,
         };
@@ -400,20 +432,20 @@ public class ChunkStreamerTests
         var cfg = new Configuration
         {
             RenderDistanceHorizontal = 1,
-            RenderDistanceVertical = 1,
             MaxGenerateJobsInFlight = 100,
             MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame = 5,  // player's chunk + 4 horizontal cardinals
             VerticalPriorityWeight = 4,
         };
-        var (streamer, world, _) = CreateStreamer(cfg);
+        // Surface at worldY 48 -> top chunk 3, so a full column is cy 0..3 and
+        // the player at Y=2 has in-column vertical neighbours at Y=1 and Y=3.
+        var (streamer, world, _) = CreateStreamer(cfg, surfaceHeightAt: (_, _) => 48);
 
-        // Player chunk at Y=2 so vertical neighbors Y=1 and Y=3 are valid.
         var playerPos = new Vector3i(0, 2, 0);
         streamer.Tick(playerPos);
 
         // Drain budget = 5 = priority 0 (player) + 4 priority-1 (horizontal
         // cardinals). With VerticalPriorityWeight=4, vertical cardinals
-        // (Y=1, Y=3) have priority 4 — they should NOT be among the first 5.
+        // (Y=1, Y=3) have priority 4 -- they must NOT be among the first 5.
         Assert.NotNull(world.GetChunk(playerPos));
         Assert.NotNull(world.GetChunk(new Vector3i( 1, 2,  0)));
         Assert.NotNull(world.GetChunk(new Vector3i(-1, 2,  0)));
@@ -424,27 +456,79 @@ public class ChunkStreamerTests
     }
 
     [Fact]
-    public void Tick_LoadsSurfaceShell_AndExcludesAirAboveSurface()
+    public void Tick_LoadsFullColumn_FromBedrockToSurface()
     {
         var cfg = new Configuration
         {
             RenderDistanceHorizontal = 0,   // single column at the player
-            RenderDistanceVertical = 0,     // slab is just the player's chunk
-            SurfaceShellSkirtBelow = 1,
             MaxGenerateJobsInFlight = 100,
             MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame = 100,
         };
-        // Surface at worldY 40 → chunk Y 2. Shell = [2-1, 2] = {1, 2}. Slab at
-        // player Y=0 = {0}. Union = {0, 1, 2}. Chunk Y 3+ is air above surface.
-        var (streamer, world, _) = CreateStreamer(cfg, surfaceHeightAt: (_, _) => 40);
+        // Land surface at worldY 296 -> top chunk floor(296/16) = 18 (above the
+        // sea-level chunk 16, so no water raises it). Full column loads cy 0..18;
+        // chunk Y 19+ is air above the surface and must NOT load.
+        var (streamer, world, _) = CreateStreamer(cfg, surfaceHeightAt: (_, _) => 296);
 
         streamer.Tick(new Vector3i(0, 0, 0));
 
-        Assert.NotNull(world.GetChunk(new Vector3i(0, 0, 0))); // slab
-        Assert.NotNull(world.GetChunk(new Vector3i(0, 1, 0))); // shell skirt
-        Assert.NotNull(world.GetChunk(new Vector3i(0, 2, 0))); // shell surface
-        Assert.Null(world.GetChunk(new Vector3i(0, 3, 0)));    // air above surface — not loaded
-        Assert.Null(world.GetChunk(new Vector3i(0, 5, 0)));    // air above surface — not loaded
+        Assert.NotNull(world.GetChunk(new Vector3i(0, 0, 0)));   // bedrock
+        Assert.NotNull(world.GetChunk(new Vector3i(0, 9, 0)));   // mid
+        Assert.NotNull(world.GetChunk(new Vector3i(0, 18, 0)));  // surface
+        Assert.Null(world.GetChunk(new Vector3i(0, 19, 0)));     // air above surface
+        Assert.Null(world.GetChunk(new Vector3i(0, 25, 0)));     // air above surface
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Tick_LoadsWaterSurface_OverSubmergedColumn()
+    {
+        var cfg = new Configuration
+        {
+            RenderDistanceHorizontal = 0,   // single column at the player
+            MaxGenerateJobsInFlight = 100,
+            MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame = 100,
+        };
+        // Terrain surface at worldY 100 (chunk 6) but well below SeaLevel 256.
+        // Opaque water fills worldY 101..256, so the column must load through the
+        // sea-level chunk floor(256/16)=16, not stop at the terrain top (chunk 6).
+        var (streamer, world, _) = CreateStreamer(cfg, surfaceHeightAt: (_, _) => 100);
+
+        streamer.Tick(new Vector3i(0, 0, 0));
+
+        Assert.NotNull(world.GetChunk(new Vector3i(0, 6, 0)));   // terrain top
+        Assert.NotNull(world.GetChunk(new Vector3i(0, 10, 0)));  // submerged water column
+        Assert.NotNull(world.GetChunk(new Vector3i(0, 16, 0)));  // chunk holding the waterline (y=256)
+        Assert.Null(world.GetChunk(new Vector3i(0, 17, 0)));     // above the waterline -- not loaded
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Tick_LoadsEditedSectionAboveSurface()
+    {
+        var cfg = new Configuration
+        {
+            RenderDistanceHorizontal = 0,
+            MaxGenerateJobsInFlight = 100,
+            MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame = 100,
+        };
+        var registry = new BlockRegistry();
+        var store = new InMemoryChunkModificationStore();
+        var world = new World.World(registry, store);
+        var mesher = new FakeMesher();
+        var executor = new SynchronousJobExecutor();
+        Func<float[], IChunkRenderer> factory = m => new FakeRenderer(m);
+        Func<Vector3i, VoxelChunk> generate = _ => new VoxelChunk();
+
+        // Land surface at worldY 296 -> top chunk 18 (above the sea-level chunk
+        // 16, so no water raises it). A player edit sits in chunk Y 25, above the
+        // loaded column; that edited section must still load.
+        var edited = new Vector3i(0, 25, 0);
+        store.RecordEdit(edited, 0, registry.Stone.Id);
+
+        var streamer = new ChunkStreamer(cfg, world, generate, (_, _) => 296, mesher, registry, executor, factory);
+        streamer.Tick(new Vector3i(0, 0, 0));
+
+        Assert.NotNull(world.GetChunk(new Vector3i(0, 18, 0)));  // surface column top
+        Assert.NotNull(world.GetChunk(edited));                 // edited air section above surface
+        Assert.Null(world.GetChunk(new Vector3i(0, 20, 0)));    // unedited air -- not loaded
     }
 
     [Fact]
@@ -453,7 +537,6 @@ public class ChunkStreamerTests
         var cfg = new Configuration
         {
             RenderDistanceHorizontal = 1,
-            RenderDistanceVertical = 0,
             SpawnReadyRadiusHorizontal = 1,
             MaxGenerateJobsInFlight = 100,
             MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame = 100,
@@ -476,7 +559,6 @@ public class ChunkStreamerTests
         var cfg = new Configuration
         {
             RenderDistanceHorizontal = 1,
-            RenderDistanceVertical = 0,
             MaxGenerateJobsInFlight = 100,
             MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame = 100,
         };

VoxelEngine.Tests/Streaming/StreamingIntegrationTests.cs

@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ public class StreamingIntegrationTests
         var cfg = new Configuration
         {
             RenderDistanceHorizontal = 1,
-            RenderDistanceVertical = 0,
             MaxGenerateJobsInFlight = 100,
             MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame = 100,
         };
@@ -58,7 +57,6 @@ public class StreamingIntegrationTests
         var cfg = new Configuration
         {
             RenderDistanceHorizontal = 0,
-            RenderDistanceVertical = 0,
             MaxGenerateJobsInFlight = 100,
             MaxMeshUploadsPerFrame = 100,
         };

VoxelEngine.Tests/WorldGen/BiomeMapTests.cs

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using VoxelEngine.Core;
 using VoxelEngine.World.Blocks;
 using VoxelEngine.World.WorldGen;
 using Xunit;
@@ -9,38 +10,38 @@ public class BiomeMapTests
     private static (BiomeMap map, BiomeRegistry biomes) Build(int seed = 42)
     {
         var blocks = new BlockRegistry();
-        var biomes = new BiomeRegistry(seed, blocks);
-        var noise = new NoiseSource(seed);
+        var biomes = new BiomeRegistry(seed, blocks, new Configuration());
+        var noise = new NoiseSource(seed, new Configuration());
         var cells = new VoronoiCells(seed, 96f);
-        return (new BiomeMap(noise, cells, biomes), biomes);
+        return (new BiomeMap(noise, cells, biomes, new Configuration()), biomes);
     }
 
     [Fact]
     public void Classify_HighElevation_IsMountains()
     {
         var (_, biomes) = Build();
-        Assert.Same(biomes.Mountains, BiomeMap.Classify(0f, 0.5f, 0f, biomes));
+        Assert.Same(biomes.Mountains, BiomeMap.Classify(0f, 0.5f, 0f, biomes, new Configuration()));
     }
 
     [Fact]
     public void Classify_HotLowElevation_IsDesert()
     {
         var (_, biomes) = Build();
-        Assert.Same(biomes.Desert, BiomeMap.Classify(0.5f, 0f, 0f, biomes));
+        Assert.Same(biomes.Desert, BiomeMap.Classify(0.5f, 0f, 0f, biomes, new Configuration()));
     }
 
     [Fact]
     public void Classify_TemperateWooded_IsForest()
     {
         var (_, biomes) = Build();
-        Assert.Same(biomes.Forest, BiomeMap.Classify(0f, 0f, 0.5f, biomes));
+        Assert.Same(biomes.Forest, BiomeMap.Classify(0f, 0f, 0.5f, biomes, new Configuration()));
     }
 
     [Fact]
     public void Classify_ColdLow_IsPlains()
     {
         var (_, biomes) = Build();
-        Assert.Same(biomes.Plains, BiomeMap.Classify(-0.9f, 0f, 0f, biomes));
+        Assert.Same(biomes.Plains, BiomeMap.Classify(-0.9f, 0f, 0f, biomes, new Configuration()));
     }
 
     [Fact]

VoxelEngine.Tests/WorldGen/BiomeTests.cs

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using VoxelEngine.Core;
 using VoxelEngine.World.Blocks;
 using VoxelEngine.World.WorldGen;
 using Xunit;
@@ -10,7 +11,7 @@ public class BiomeTests
     public void Desert_TopAndFiller_AreSand()
     {
         var blocks = new BlockRegistry();
-        var biomes = new BiomeRegistry(42, blocks);
+        var biomes = new BiomeRegistry(42, blocks, new Configuration());
         Assert.Equal("Sand", biomes.Desert.Surface.Top.Name);
         Assert.Equal("Sand", biomes.Desert.Surface.Filler.Name);
     }
@@ -19,16 +20,16 @@ public class BiomeTests
     public void Mountains_UseSnowAboveSnowLine_StoneBelow()
     {
         var blocks = new BlockRegistry();
-        var biomes = new BiomeRegistry(42, blocks);
-        Assert.Equal("Stone", biomes.Mountains.TopBlock(70).Name);
-        Assert.Equal("Snow Block", biomes.Mountains.TopBlock(120).Name);
+        var biomes = new BiomeRegistry(42, blocks, new Configuration());
+        Assert.Equal("Stone", biomes.Mountains.TopBlock(200).Name);       // below snow line
+        Assert.Equal("Snow Block", biomes.Mountains.TopBlock(420).Name);  // above snow line (384)
     }
 
     [Fact]
     public void Plains_TopBlock_IsGrass_RegardlessOfHeight()
     {
         var blocks = new BlockRegistry();
-        var biomes = new BiomeRegistry(42, blocks);
+        var biomes = new BiomeRegistry(42, blocks, new Configuration());
         Assert.Equal("Grass", biomes.Plains.TopBlock(40).Name);
         Assert.Equal("Grass", biomes.Plains.TopBlock(120).Name);
     }
@@ -37,8 +38,8 @@ public class BiomeTests
     public void SampleHeight_IsDeterministic()
     {
         var blocks = new BlockRegistry();
-        var biomes = new BiomeRegistry(42, blocks);
-        var noise = new NoiseSource(42);
+        var biomes = new BiomeRegistry(42, blocks, new Configuration());
+        var noise = new NoiseSource(42, new Configuration());
         float h1 = biomes.Mountains.SampleHeight(noise, 100f, 200f);
         float h2 = biomes.Mountains.SampleHeight(noise, 100f, 200f);
         Assert.Equal(h1, h2);

VoxelEngine.Tests/WorldGen/NoiseSourceTests.cs

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using VoxelEngine.Core;
 using VoxelEngine.World.WorldGen;
 using Xunit;
 
@@ -8,8 +9,8 @@ public class NoiseSourceTests
     [Fact]
     public void SameSeed_SameCoord_IsDeterministic()
     {
-        var a = new NoiseSource(42);
-        var b = new NoiseSource(42);
+        var a = new NoiseSource(42, new Configuration());
+        var b = new NoiseSource(42, new Configuration());
         Assert.Equal(a.Continent(10f, 20f), b.Continent(10f, 20f));
         Assert.Equal(a.Temperature(10f, 20f), b.Temperature(10f, 20f));
     }
@@ -17,7 +18,7 @@ public class NoiseSourceTests
     [Fact]
     public void Output_InMinusOneToOneRange()
     {
-        var n = new NoiseSource(7);
+        var n = new NoiseSource(7, new Configuration());
         for (int i = 0; i < 200; i++)
         {
             float c = n.Continent(i * 3.1f, i * 1.7f);

VoxelEngine.Tests/WorldGen/TerrainSamplerTests.cs

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using VoxelEngine.Core;
 using VoxelEngine.World.Blocks;
 using VoxelEngine.World.WorldGen;
 using Xunit;
@@ -9,11 +10,11 @@ public class TerrainSamplerTests
     private static TerrainSampler Build(int seed = 42)
     {
         var blocks = new BlockRegistry();
-        var biomes = new BiomeRegistry(seed, blocks);
-        var noise = new NoiseSource(seed);
+        var biomes = new BiomeRegistry(seed, blocks, new Configuration());
+        var noise = new NoiseSource(seed, new Configuration());
         var cells = new VoronoiCells(seed, 96f);
-        var map = new BiomeMap(noise, cells, biomes);
-        return new TerrainSampler(noise, map);
+        var map = new BiomeMap(noise, cells, biomes, new Configuration());
+        return new TerrainSampler(noise, map, new Configuration());
     }
 
     [Fact]
@@ -43,11 +44,11 @@ public class TerrainSamplerTests
         for (int x = -200; x < 200; x += 3)
         for (int z = -200; z < 200; z += 3)
         {
-            // The dense blur removes inter-biome cliffs (those would be 25+ blocks).
-            // Remaining deltas are rugged intra-Mountains ridged slopes (~9), which
-            // are intended terrain, not cliffs; 16 separates the two.
+            // The dense blur removes inter-biome cliffs. Remaining deltas are
+            // rugged intra-Mountains ridged slopes, now ~4x larger after the
+            // 128->512 rescale; 64 separates intended slopes from true cliffs.
             int dx = System.Math.Abs(sampler.HeightAt(x, z) - sampler.HeightAt(x + 1, z));
-            Assert.True(dx <= 16, $"height jump {dx} at ({x},{z})");
+            Assert.True(dx <= 64, $"height jump {dx} at ({x},{z})");
         }
     }
 }

VoxelEngine.Tests/WorldGen/WorldGeneratorTests.cs

@@ -15,17 +15,17 @@ public class WorldGeneratorTests
     public void BlockAt_AboveTerrainAndSea_IsAir()
     {
         var blocks = Blocks;
-        var biomes = new BiomeRegistry(1, blocks);
-        ushort id = WorldGenerator.BlockAt(80, surfaceHeight: 70, biomes.Plains, blocks);
-        Assert.Equal(blocks.Air.Id, id); // 80 > 70 and 80 > SeaLevel(64)
+        var biomes = new BiomeRegistry(1, blocks, new Configuration());
+        ushort id = WorldGenerator.BlockAt(300, surfaceHeight: 290, biomes.Plains, blocks, fillerDepth: 3);
+        Assert.Equal(blocks.Air.Id, id); // 300 > 290 (above surface) and 300 > SeaLevel(256)
     }
 
     [Fact]
     public void BlockAt_AboveTerrainBelowSea_IsWater()
     {
         var blocks = Blocks;
-        var biomes = new BiomeRegistry(1, blocks);
-        ushort id = WorldGenerator.BlockAt(60, surfaceHeight: 50, biomes.Plains, blocks);
+        var biomes = new BiomeRegistry(1, blocks, new Configuration());
+        ushort id = WorldGenerator.BlockAt(60, surfaceHeight: 50, biomes.Plains, blocks, fillerDepth: 3);
         Assert.Equal(blocks.Water.Id, id); // 60 > 50 but 60 <= SeaLevel(64)
     }
 
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ public class WorldGeneratorTests
     public void BlockAt_Surface_IsBiomeTop()
     {
         var blocks = Blocks;
-        var biomes = new BiomeRegistry(1, blocks);
-        ushort id = WorldGenerator.BlockAt(70, surfaceHeight: 70, biomes.Desert, blocks);
+        var biomes = new BiomeRegistry(1, blocks, new Configuration());
+        ushort id = WorldGenerator.BlockAt(70, surfaceHeight: 70, biomes.Desert, blocks, fillerDepth: 3);
         Assert.Equal(blocks.Sand.Id, id);
     }
 
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ public class WorldGeneratorTests
     public void BlockAt_FillerBand_IsBiomeFiller()
     {
         var blocks = Blocks;
-        var biomes = new BiomeRegistry(1, blocks);
-        ushort id = WorldGenerator.BlockAt(68, surfaceHeight: 70, biomes.Plains, blocks);
+        var biomes = new BiomeRegistry(1, blocks, new Configuration());
+        ushort id = WorldGenerator.BlockAt(68, surfaceHeight: 70, biomes.Plains, blocks, fillerDepth: 3);
         Assert.Equal(blocks.Dirt.Id, id); // within 3 of surface
     }
 
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ public class WorldGeneratorTests
     public void BlockAt_Deep_IsStone()
     {
         var blocks = Blocks;
-        var biomes = new BiomeRegistry(1, blocks);
-        ushort id = WorldGenerator.BlockAt(40, surfaceHeight: 70, biomes.Plains, blocks);
+        var biomes = new BiomeRegistry(1, blocks, new Configuration());
+        ushort id = WorldGenerator.BlockAt(40, surfaceHeight: 70, biomes.Plains, blocks, fillerDepth: 3);
         Assert.Equal(blocks.Stone.Id, id);
     }
 

World/Chunk/Chunk.cs

@@ -4,16 +4,16 @@ public sealed class Chunk
 {
     public const int Size = 16;
 
-    private readonly ushort[] _ids = new ushort[Chunk.Size * Chunk.Size * Chunk.Size];
+    private readonly ushort[] _ids = new ushort[Size * Size * Size];
 
     public ushort this[int x, int y, int z]
     {
-        get => this._ids[Chunk.Index(x, y, z)];
-        set => this._ids[Chunk.Index(x, y, z)] = value;
+        get => this._ids[Index(x, y, z)];
+        set => this._ids[Index(x, y, z)] = value;
     }
 
     public static bool InBounds(int x, int y, int z) =>
-        x is >= 0 and < Chunk.Size && y is >= 0 and < Chunk.Size && z is >= 0 and < Chunk.Size;
+        x is >= 0 and < Size && y is >= 0 and < Size && z is >= 0 and < Size;
 
-    private static int Index(int x, int y, int z) => (x * Chunk.Size + y) * Chunk.Size + z;
+    private static int Index(int x, int y, int z) => (x * Size + y) * Size + z;
 }

World/Chunk/ChunkMesher.cs

@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ public sealed class ChunkMesher : IChunkMesher
 
     public ChunkMesher(int atlasWidthPixels, int atlasHeightPixels)
     {
-        this._tileU = (float)ChunkMesher.TileSizePixels / atlasWidthPixels;
-        this._tileV = (float)ChunkMesher.TileSizePixels / atlasHeightPixels;
+        this._tileU = (float)TileSizePixels / atlasWidthPixels;
+        this._tileV = (float)TileSizePixels / atlasHeightPixels;
     }
 
     // Per-face geometry: base corner + two in-plane edge vectors (u, v) with
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ public sealed class ChunkMesher : IChunkMesher
             IBlock block = registry.Get(chunk[x, y, z]);
             if (!block.IsOpaque) continue;
 
-            foreach (Face face in ChunkMesher.Faces)
+            foreach (Face face in Faces)
             {
                 int nx = x + face.Normal.x;
                 int ny = y + face.Normal.y;
@@ -91,9 +91,9 @@ public sealed class ChunkMesher : IChunkMesher
         // Image is flipped on load, so offset from the top to keep tile (0,0) = top-left.
         float vBase = 1f - (tile.Y + 1) * this._tileV;
 
-        foreach (int corner in ChunkMesher.Triangle)
+        foreach (int corner in Triangle)
         {
-            (float cu, float cv) = ChunkMesher.Corners[corner];
+            (float cu, float cv) = Corners[corner];
 
             float px = x + face.Base.x + face.U.x * cu + face.V.x * cv;
             float py = y + face.Base.y + face.U.y * cu + face.V.y * cv;

World/Streaming/ChunkStreamer.cs

@@ -14,14 +14,19 @@ public sealed class ChunkStreamer : IDisposable
 {
     private static readonly ILogger Log = Serilog.Log.ForContext<ChunkStreamer>();
 
+    // How many chunks below the surface the spawn area must load before the
+    // loading screen clears (just enough to stand on and see; the rest streams in).
+    private const int SpawnReadyDepthChunks = 2;
+
     private readonly Configuration _cfg;
     private readonly IWorld _world;
     private readonly Func<Vector3i, VoxelChunk> _generate;
     private readonly Func<int, int, int> _surfaceHeightAt;
-    // Per chunk-column (cx,cz) surface (min,max) height range, memoized so each
-    // column's samples are taken once and reused across ticks. Pruned to the
-    // horizontal window each recompute so it stays bounded.
-    private readonly Dictionary<(int cx, int cz), (int min, int max)> _surfaceRangeCache = new();
+    // Per chunk-column (cx,cz) surface-TOP height, memoized so each column's
+    // samples are taken once and reused across ticks. Pruned to the horizontal
+    // window each recompute so it stays bounded. Full-column loading only needs
+    // the top; the bottom is always bedrock (cy 0).
+    private readonly Dictionary<(int cx, int cz), int> _surfaceTopCache = new();
     private readonly IChunkMesher _mesher;
     private readonly BlockRegistry _registry;
     private readonly IJobExecutor _executor;
@@ -100,7 +105,7 @@ public sealed class ChunkStreamer : IDisposable
     public int DrawVisible(Func<Vector3i, bool> isChunkVisible, Action<Vector3i, IChunkRenderer> draw)
     {
         int drawn = 0;
-        foreach (var kvp in this._renderers)
+        foreach (KeyValuePair<Vector3i, IChunkRenderer> kvp in this._renderers)
         {
             if (!isChunkVisible(kvp.Key)) continue;
             draw(kvp.Key, kvp.Value);
@@ -111,7 +116,7 @@ public sealed class ChunkStreamer : IDisposable
 
     public void Dispose()
     {
-        foreach (var r in this._renderers.Values) r.Dispose();
+        foreach (IChunkRenderer r in this._renderers.Values) r.Dispose();
         this._renderers.Clear();
     }
 
@@ -123,10 +128,10 @@ public sealed class ChunkStreamer : IDisposable
             this._spawnAnchorSet = true;
         }
 
-        var target = new HashSet<Vector3i>();
+        HashSet<Vector3i> target = new();
         this.CollectTargets(p, this._cfg.RenderDistanceHorizontal, target);
 
-        foreach (var pos in target)
+        foreach (Vector3i pos in target)
         {
             if (this._failed.Contains(pos)) continue;
             if (this._tracked.Add(pos))
@@ -142,12 +147,12 @@ public sealed class ChunkStreamer : IDisposable
         }
 
         // Anything currently tracked but no longer in target → unload.
-        var toRemove = new List<Vector3i>();
-        foreach (var tracked in this._tracked)
+        List<Vector3i> toRemove = new();
+        foreach (Vector3i tracked in this._tracked)
         {
             if (!target.Contains(tracked)) toRemove.Add(tracked);
         }
-        foreach (var pos in toRemove)
+        foreach (Vector3i pos in toRemove)
         {
             this._tracked.Remove(pos);
             this._pendingUnload.Enqueue(pos);
@@ -156,42 +161,45 @@ public sealed class ChunkStreamer : IDisposable
         this.PruneSurfaceCache(p);
     }
 
-    // Drop cached surface ranges for columns outside the current horizontal
+    // Drop cached surface tops for columns outside the current horizontal
     // window so the cache stays bounded as the player explores.
     private void PruneSurfaceCache(Vector3i p)
     {
         int keep = this._cfg.RenderDistanceHorizontal + 1;
         List<(int cx, int cz)>? stale = null;
-        foreach (var key in this._surfaceRangeCache.Keys)
+        foreach ((int cx, int cz) key in this._surfaceTopCache.Keys)
         {
             if (Math.Abs(key.cx - p.X) > keep || Math.Abs(key.cz - p.Z) > keep)
                 (stale ??= new()).Add(key);
         }
         if (stale != null)
-            foreach (var key in stale) this._surfaceRangeCache.Remove(key);
+            foreach ((int cx, int cz) key in stale) this._surfaceTopCache.Remove(key);
     }
 
     // Fills `into` with the chunk positions to load for a viewer at chunk
     // `center`, over a square horizontal region of Chebyshev radius `radiusH`.
-    // Per column the loaded Y-range is the union of the surface shell and the
-    // player slab, clamped to the world's vertical bounds.
+    // Per column the full vertical stack from bedrock (cy 0) up to the
+    // surface-top chunk (clamped up to the sea-level chunk so submerged columns
+    // load their opaque-water surface) is loaded, plus any section above that
+    // holding player edits (e.g. a built tower).
     private void CollectTargets(Vector3i center, int radiusH, HashSet<Vector3i> into)
     {
-        int v = this._cfg.RenderDistanceVertical;
-        int skirt = this._cfg.SurfaceShellSkirtBelow;
-
         for (int dx = -radiusH; dx <= radiusH; dx++)
         for (int dz = -radiusH; dz <= radiusH; dz++)
         {
             int cx = center.X + dx;
             int cz = center.Z + dz;
 
-            (int minH, int maxH) = this.SurfaceHeightRange(cx, cz);
-            int shellBot = ChunkMath.FloorDiv(minH, VoxelChunk.Size) - skirt;
-            int shellTop = ChunkMath.FloorDiv(maxH, VoxelChunk.Size);
-            ChunkStreamer.AddColumn(into, cx, cz, shellBot, shellTop);
+            int top = this.SurfaceTopChunk(cx, cz);
+            AddColumn(into, cx, cz, 0, top);
 
-            ChunkStreamer.AddColumn(into, cx, cz, center.Y - v, center.Y + v);
+            // Player-built structures can rise above the surface; load any edited
+            // section above the column top so they remain visible.
+            for (int cy = top + 1; cy < WorldConstants.WorldHeightChunks; cy++)
+            {
+                Vector3i pos = new(cx, cy, cz);
+                if (this._world.ModificationStore.HasDiff(pos)) into.Add(pos);
+            }
         }
     }
 
@@ -203,11 +211,23 @@ public sealed class ChunkStreamer : IDisposable
             into.Add(new Vector3i(cx, cy, cz));
     }
 
-    // Min/max terrain surface height across a chunk column's 16×16 footprint,
-    // sampled at the four corners and the centre (catches slope spread cheaply).
-    private (int min, int max) SurfaceHeightRange(int cx, int cz)
+    // Chunk Y of a column's loaded top: the terrain surface chunk, raised to the
+    // sea-level (waterline) chunk for submerged columns, and clamped to the world
+    // ceiling. The bottom of a loaded column is always bedrock (cy 0).
+    private int SurfaceTopChunk(int cx, int cz)
+        => Math.Min(
+            WorldConstants.WorldHeightChunks - 1,
+            Math.Max(
+                ChunkMath.FloorDiv(this.SurfaceTopHeight(cx, cz), VoxelChunk.Size),
+                ChunkMath.FloorDiv(WorldConstants.SeaLevel, VoxelChunk.Size)));
+
+    // Max terrain surface height across a chunk column's 16x16 footprint,
+    // sampled at the four corners and the centre (cheap bound on the column's
+    // top). Cached per column. The bottom of the loaded stack is always bedrock,
+    // so only the top is needed.
+    private int SurfaceTopHeight(int cx, int cz)
     {
-        if (this._surfaceRangeCache.TryGetValue((cx, cz), out (int min, int max) cached))
+        if (this._surfaceTopCache.TryGetValue((cx, cz), out int cached))
             return cached;
 
         int x0 = cx * VoxelChunk.Size;
@@ -217,18 +237,13 @@ public sealed class ChunkStreamer : IDisposable
         int xm = x0 + VoxelChunk.Size / 2;
         int zm = z0 + VoxelChunk.Size / 2;
 
-        int h0 = this._surfaceHeightAt(x0, z0);
-        int h1 = this._surfaceHeightAt(x1, z0);
-        int h2 = this._surfaceHeightAt(x0, z1);
-        int h3 = this._surfaceHeightAt(x1, z1);
-        int h4 = this._surfaceHeightAt(xm, zm);
+        int max = Math.Max(
+            Math.Max(this._surfaceHeightAt(x0, z0), this._surfaceHeightAt(x1, z0)),
+            Math.Max(Math.Max(this._surfaceHeightAt(x0, z1), this._surfaceHeightAt(x1, z1)),
+                     this._surfaceHeightAt(xm, zm)));
 
-        int min = Math.Min(Math.Min(h0, h1), Math.Min(Math.Min(h2, h3), h4));
-        int max = Math.Max(Math.Max(h0, h1), Math.Max(Math.Max(h2, h3), h4));
-
-        (int min, int max) range = (min, max);
-        this._surfaceRangeCache[(cx, cz)] = range;
-        return range;
+        this._surfaceTopCache[(cx, cz)] = max;
+        return max;
     }
 
     private void DrainCompleted()
@@ -258,17 +273,30 @@ public sealed class ChunkStreamer : IDisposable
         }
     }
 
+    // The loading screen waits on this. It only needs the VISIBLE surface around
+    // spawn to be ready — gating on the full bedrock column would block on the
+    // deepest chunks, which carry the lowest load priority in the whole render
+    // volume and stream in last (minutes for tall mountain spawn columns). Those
+    // deep chunks are occluded at spawn and arrive shortly after.
     private void UpdateSpawnReady()
     {
         if (this._spawnReady || !this._spawnAnchorSet) return;
 
-        var spawnTargets = new HashSet<Vector3i>();
-        this.CollectTargets(this._spawnAnchor, this._cfg.SpawnReadyRadiusHorizontal, spawnTargets);
-
-        foreach (var pos in spawnTargets)
+        int hs = this._cfg.SpawnReadyRadiusHorizontal;
+        Vector3i a = this._spawnAnchor;
+        for (int dx = -hs; dx <= hs; dx++)
+        for (int dz = -hs; dz <= hs; dz++)
         {
-            if (this._failed.Contains(pos)) continue;
-            if (!this._ready.Contains(pos)) return;
+            int cx = a.X + dx;
+            int cz = a.Z + dz;
+            int top = this.SurfaceTopChunk(cx, cz);
+            int bottom = Math.Max(0, top - SpawnReadyDepthChunks);
+            for (int cy = bottom; cy <= top; cy++)
+            {
+                Vector3i pos = new(cx, cy, cz);
+                if (this._failed.Contains(pos)) continue;
+                if (!this._ready.Contains(pos)) return;
+            }
         }
 
         this._spawnReady = true;
@@ -324,9 +352,9 @@ public sealed class ChunkStreamer : IDisposable
             new(0, -1, 0), new(0, 1, 0),
             new(0, 0, -1), new(0, 0, 1),
         };
-        foreach (var off in offsets)
+        foreach (Vector3i off in offsets)
         {
-            var neighbor = pos + off;
+            Vector3i neighbor = pos + off;
             if (this._ready.Contains(neighbor)) this._dirty.Add(neighbor);
         }
     }
@@ -354,13 +382,13 @@ public sealed class ChunkStreamer : IDisposable
         if (chunk == null) return;  // got unloaded between MarkDirty and now
 
         NeighborSnapshots neighbors = this.SnapshotNeighbors(pos);
-        VoxelChunk snapshotChunk = ChunkStreamer.CopyChunk(chunk);  // worker reads from copy
+        VoxelChunk snapshotChunk = CopyChunk(chunk);  // worker reads from copy
 
         this._inFlight++;
 
         IChunkMesher mesher = this._mesher;
         BlockRegistry registry = this._registry;
-        var completed = this._completed;
+        ConcurrentQueue<ChunkJobResult> completed = this._completed;
 
         this._executor.Submit(() =>
         {
@@ -379,7 +407,7 @@ public sealed class ChunkStreamer : IDisposable
 
     private static VoxelChunk CopyChunk(VoxelChunk source)
     {
-        var copy = new VoxelChunk();
+        VoxelChunk copy = new();
         for (int x = 0; x < VoxelChunk.Size; x++)
         for (int y = 0; y < VoxelChunk.Size; y++)
         for (int z = 0; z < VoxelChunk.Size; z++)
@@ -394,13 +422,13 @@ public sealed class ChunkStreamer : IDisposable
         NeighborSnapshots neighbors = this.SnapshotNeighbors(pos);
         this._world.ModificationStore.TryGetDiff(pos, out IReadOnlyDictionary<int, ushort>? diff);
 
-        var job = new ChunkJob(pos, neighbors, diff);
+        ChunkJob job = new(pos, neighbors, diff);
         this._inFlight++;
 
         IChunkMesher mesher = this._mesher;
         BlockRegistry registry = this._registry;
-        var generate = this._generate;
-        var completed = this._completed;
+        Func<Vector3i, VoxelChunk> generate = this._generate;
+        ConcurrentQueue<ChunkJobResult> completed = this._completed;
 
         this._executor.Submit(() =>
         {
@@ -409,7 +437,7 @@ public sealed class ChunkStreamer : IDisposable
                 VoxelChunk chunk = generate(job.Pos);
                 if (job.Diff != null)
                 {
-                    foreach (var (idx, id) in job.Diff)
+                    foreach ((int idx, ushort id) in job.Diff)
                     {
                         int lx = idx / (VoxelChunk.Size * VoxelChunk.Size);
                         int ly = (idx / VoxelChunk.Size) % VoxelChunk.Size;
@@ -436,7 +464,7 @@ public sealed class ChunkStreamer : IDisposable
         {
             VoxelChunk? c = this._world.GetChunk(p);
             if (c == null) return null;
-            var copy = new ushort[VoxelChunk.Size * VoxelChunk.Size * VoxelChunk.Size];
+            ushort[] copy = new ushort[VoxelChunk.Size * VoxelChunk.Size * VoxelChunk.Size];
             for (int x = 0; x < VoxelChunk.Size; x++)
             for (int y = 0; y < VoxelChunk.Size; y++)
             for (int z = 0; z < VoxelChunk.Size; z++)

World/WorldGen/BiomeMap.cs

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+using VoxelEngine.Core;
+
 namespace VoxelEngine.World.WorldGen;
 
 public sealed class BiomeMap
@@ -5,32 +7,51 @@ public sealed class BiomeMap
     private readonly NoiseSource _noise;
     private readonly VoronoiCells _cells;
     private readonly BiomeRegistry _biomes;
+    private readonly Configuration _cfg;
 
-    public BiomeMap(NoiseSource noise, VoronoiCells cells, BiomeRegistry biomes)
+    public BiomeMap(NoiseSource noise, VoronoiCells cells, BiomeRegistry biomes, Configuration cfg)
     {
         this._noise = noise;
         this._cells = cells;
         this._biomes = biomes;
+        this._cfg = cfg;
     }
 
     public int CellId(float worldX, float worldZ) => this._cells.Nearest(worldX, worldZ).Id;
 
     public IBiome BiomeAt(float worldX, float worldZ)
+        => this.BiomeForCell(this._cells.Nearest(worldX, worldZ));
+
+    // Climate -> biome, sampled at the cell centre so the biome is constant
+    // across the cell.
+    public IBiome BiomeForCell(VoronoiCells.Cell cell)
     {
-        VoronoiCells.Cell cell = this._cells.Nearest(worldX, worldZ);
-        // Sample climate at the cell center so the biome is constant across the cell.
         float temperature = this._noise.Temperature(cell.CenterX, cell.CenterZ);
         float elevation = this._noise.Continent(cell.CenterX, cell.CenterZ);
         float forest = this._noise.Forest(cell.CenterX, cell.CenterZ);
-        return BiomeMap.Classify(temperature, elevation, forest, this._biomes);
+        return Classify(temperature, elevation, forest, this._biomes, this._cfg);
+    }
+
+    // The biomes of the two nearest cells plus how far inside the nearer cell the
+    // point sits (SecondDist - FirstDist, in blocks; 0 exactly on the border).
+    // TerrainSampler uses this to ease height across biome borders.
+    public readonly record struct BiomeBlend(IBiome Near, IBiome Far, float BorderDistance);
+
+    public BiomeBlend NearestTwo(float worldX, float worldZ)
+    {
+        VoronoiCells.NearestPair p = this._cells.NearestTwo(worldX, worldZ);
+        return new BiomeBlend(
+            this.BiomeForCell(p.First),
+            this.BiomeForCell(p.Second),
+            p.SecondDist - p.FirstDist);
     }
 
     // Pure climate -> biome lookup. Thresholds in noise units (~[-1,1]).
-    public static IBiome Classify(float temperature, float elevation, float forest, BiomeRegistry biomes)
+    public static IBiome Classify(float temperature, float elevation, float forest, BiomeRegistry biomes, Configuration cfg)
     {
-        if (elevation > 0.25f) return biomes.Mountains;          // high ground
-        if (temperature > 0.33f) return biomes.Desert;           // hot, low
-        if (temperature > -0.33f && forest > 0f) return biomes.Forest; // temperate, wooded
+        if (elevation > cfg.MountainsElevationThreshold) return biomes.Mountains;          // high ground
+        if (temperature > cfg.DesertTemperatureThreshold) return biomes.Desert;            // hot, low
+        if (temperature > cfg.ForestTemperatureThreshold && forest > cfg.ForestDensityThreshold) return biomes.Forest; // temperate, wooded
         return biomes.Plains;                                    // temperate/cold, low
     }
 }

World/WorldGen/BiomeRegistry.cs

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using VoxelEngine.Core;
 using VoxelEngine.World.Blocks;
 using VoxelEngine.World.WorldGen.Biomes;
 
@@ -10,11 +11,11 @@ public sealed class BiomeRegistry
     public IBiome Mountains { get; }
     public IBiome Forest { get; }
 
-    public BiomeRegistry(int seed, BlockRegistry blocks)
+    public BiomeRegistry(int seed, BlockRegistry blocks, Configuration cfg)
     {
-        this.Plains = new PlainsBiome(seed, blocks);
-        this.Desert = new DesertBiome(seed, blocks);
-        this.Mountains = new MountainsBiome(seed, blocks);
-        this.Forest = new ForestBiome(seed, blocks);
+        this.Plains = new PlainsBiome(seed, blocks, cfg);
+        this.Desert = new DesertBiome(seed, blocks, cfg);
+        this.Mountains = new MountainsBiome(seed, blocks, cfg);
+        this.Forest = new ForestBiome(seed, blocks, cfg);
     }
 }

World/WorldGen/Biomes/DesertBiome.cs

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using VoxelEngine.Core;
 using VoxelEngine.World.Blocks;
 
 namespace VoxelEngine.World.WorldGen.Biomes;
@@ -5,21 +6,23 @@ namespace VoxelEngine.World.WorldGen.Biomes;
 public sealed class DesertBiome : IBiome
 {
     private readonly FastNoiseLite _detail;
+    private readonly Configuration _cfg;
 
     public string Name => "Desert";
     public SurfacePalette Surface { get; }
 
-    public DesertBiome(int seed, BlockRegistry blocks)
+    public DesertBiome(int seed, BlockRegistry blocks, Configuration cfg)
     {
+        this._cfg = cfg;
         this._detail = new FastNoiseLite(seed + 101);
         this._detail.SetNoiseType(FastNoiseLite.NoiseType.OpenSimplex2);
-        this._detail.SetFrequency(0.015f);
+        this._detail.SetFrequency(cfg.DesertDetailFrequency);
         this.Surface = new SurfacePalette(blocks.Sand, blocks.Sand, blocks.Stone);
     }
 
     public float SampleHeight(NoiseSource noise, float worldX, float worldZ)
-        => WorldConstants.SeaLevel + 4f * noise.Continent(worldX, worldZ)
-                                   + 1.5f * this._detail.GetNoise(worldX, worldZ);
+        => WorldConstants.SeaLevel + this._cfg.DesertContinentAmplitude * noise.Continent(worldX, worldZ)
+                                   + this._cfg.DesertDetailAmplitude * this._detail.GetNoise(worldX, worldZ);
 
     public IBlock TopBlock(int worldY) => this.Surface.Top;
 }

World/WorldGen/Biomes/ForestBiome.cs

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using VoxelEngine.Core;
 using VoxelEngine.World.Blocks;
 
 namespace VoxelEngine.World.WorldGen.Biomes;
@@ -5,21 +6,23 @@ namespace VoxelEngine.World.WorldGen.Biomes;
 public sealed class ForestBiome : IBiome
 {
     private readonly FastNoiseLite _detail;
+    private readonly Configuration _cfg;
 
     public string Name => "Forest";
     public SurfacePalette Surface { get; }
 
-    public ForestBiome(int seed, BlockRegistry blocks)
+    public ForestBiome(int seed, BlockRegistry blocks, Configuration cfg)
     {
+        this._cfg = cfg;
         this._detail = new FastNoiseLite(seed + 103);
         this._detail.SetNoiseType(FastNoiseLite.NoiseType.OpenSimplex2);
-        this._detail.SetFrequency(0.03f);
+        this._detail.SetFrequency(cfg.ForestDetailFrequency);
         this.Surface = new SurfacePalette(blocks.Grass, blocks.Dirt, blocks.Stone);
     }
 
     public float SampleHeight(NoiseSource noise, float worldX, float worldZ)
-        => WorldConstants.SeaLevel + 6f * noise.Continent(worldX, worldZ)
-                                   + 4f * this._detail.GetNoise(worldX, worldZ);
+        => WorldConstants.SeaLevel + this._cfg.ForestContinentAmplitude * noise.Continent(worldX, worldZ)
+                                   + this._cfg.ForestDetailAmplitude * this._detail.GetNoise(worldX, worldZ);
 
     public IBlock TopBlock(int worldY) => this.Surface.Top;
 }

World/WorldGen/Biomes/MountainsBiome.cs

@@ -1,32 +1,34 @@
+using VoxelEngine.Core;
 using VoxelEngine.World.Blocks;
 
 namespace VoxelEngine.World.WorldGen.Biomes;
 
 public sealed class MountainsBiome : IBiome
 {
-    private const int SnowLine = 96;
     private readonly FastNoiseLite _ridged;
     private readonly IBlock _stone;
     private readonly IBlock _snow;
+    private readonly Configuration _cfg;
 
     public string Name => "Mountains";
     public SurfacePalette Surface { get; }
 
-    public MountainsBiome(int seed, BlockRegistry blocks)
+    public MountainsBiome(int seed, BlockRegistry blocks, Configuration cfg)
     {
+        this._cfg = cfg;
         this._ridged = new FastNoiseLite(seed + 102);
         this._ridged.SetNoiseType(FastNoiseLite.NoiseType.OpenSimplex2);
         this._ridged.SetFractalType(FastNoiseLite.FractalType.Ridged);
-        this._ridged.SetFractalOctaves(4);
-        this._ridged.SetFrequency(0.01f);
+        this._ridged.SetFractalOctaves(cfg.MountainsRidgedOctaves);
+        this._ridged.SetFrequency(cfg.MountainsRidgedFrequency);
         this._stone = blocks.Stone;
         this._snow = blocks.Snow;
         this.Surface = new SurfacePalette(blocks.Stone, blocks.Stone, blocks.Stone);
     }
 
     public float SampleHeight(NoiseSource noise, float worldX, float worldZ)
-        => WorldConstants.SeaLevel + 10f * noise.Continent(worldX, worldZ)
-                                   + 45f * this._ridged.GetNoise(worldX, worldZ);
+        => WorldConstants.SeaLevel + this._cfg.MountainsContinentAmplitude * noise.Continent(worldX, worldZ)
+                                   + this._cfg.MountainsRidgedAmplitude * this._ridged.GetNoise(worldX, worldZ);
 
-    public IBlock TopBlock(int worldY) => worldY >= MountainsBiome.SnowLine ? this._snow : this._stone;
+    public IBlock TopBlock(int worldY) => worldY >= this._cfg.MountainsSnowLine ? this._snow : this._stone;
 }

World/WorldGen/Biomes/PlainsBiome.cs

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using VoxelEngine.Core;
 using VoxelEngine.World.Blocks;
 
 namespace VoxelEngine.World.WorldGen.Biomes;
@@ -5,21 +6,23 @@ namespace VoxelEngine.World.WorldGen.Biomes;
 public sealed class PlainsBiome : IBiome
 {
     private readonly FastNoiseLite _detail;
+    private readonly Configuration _cfg;
 
     public string Name => "Plains";
     public SurfacePalette Surface { get; }
 
-    public PlainsBiome(int seed, BlockRegistry blocks)
+    public PlainsBiome(int seed, BlockRegistry blocks, Configuration cfg)
     {
+        this._cfg = cfg;
         this._detail = new FastNoiseLite(seed + 100);
         this._detail.SetNoiseType(FastNoiseLite.NoiseType.OpenSimplex2);
-        this._detail.SetFrequency(0.02f);
+        this._detail.SetFrequency(cfg.PlainsDetailFrequency);
         this.Surface = new SurfacePalette(blocks.Grass, blocks.Dirt, blocks.Stone);
     }
 
     public float SampleHeight(NoiseSource noise, float worldX, float worldZ)
-        => WorldConstants.SeaLevel + 6f * noise.Continent(worldX, worldZ)
-                                   + 2f * this._detail.GetNoise(worldX, worldZ);
+        => WorldConstants.SeaLevel + this._cfg.PlainsContinentAmplitude * noise.Continent(worldX, worldZ)
+                                   + this._cfg.PlainsDetailAmplitude * this._detail.GetNoise(worldX, worldZ);
 
     public IBlock TopBlock(int worldY) => this.Surface.Top;
 }

World/WorldGen/CaveCarver.cs

@@ -74,9 +74,9 @@ public sealed class CaveCarver
         int chunkBaseY = chunkPos.Y * VoxelChunk.Size;
         int chunkBaseZ = chunkPos.Z * VoxelChunk.Size;
 
-        int chunkCellX = CaveCarver.FloorDiv(chunkBaseX, cellSize);
-        int chunkCellY = CaveCarver.FloorDiv(chunkBaseY, cellSize);
-        int chunkCellZ = CaveCarver.FloorDiv(chunkBaseZ, cellSize);
+        int chunkCellX = FloorDiv(chunkBaseX, cellSize);
+        int chunkCellY = FloorDiv(chunkBaseY, cellSize);
+        int chunkCellZ = FloorDiv(chunkBaseZ, cellSize);
 
         for (int cdx = -radius; cdx <= radius; cdx++)
         for (int cdy = -radius; cdy <= radius; cdy++)

World/WorldGen/NoiseSource.cs

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+using VoxelEngine.Core;
+
 namespace VoxelEngine.World.WorldGen;
 
 // Seeded wrapper over FastNoiseLite. All Get* methods return roughly [-1, 1].
@@ -7,23 +9,23 @@ public sealed class NoiseSource
     private readonly FastNoiseLite _temperature;
     private readonly FastNoiseLite _forest;
 
-    public NoiseSource(int seed)
+    public NoiseSource(int seed, Configuration cfg)
     {
         this._continent = new FastNoiseLite(seed);
         this._continent.SetNoiseType(FastNoiseLite.NoiseType.OpenSimplex2);
         this._continent.SetFractalType(FastNoiseLite.FractalType.FBm);
-        this._continent.SetFractalOctaves(4);
-        this._continent.SetFrequency(0.0035f);
+        this._continent.SetFractalOctaves(cfg.ContinentOctaves);
+        this._continent.SetFrequency(cfg.ContinentFrequency);
 
         this._temperature = new FastNoiseLite(seed + 1);
         this._temperature.SetNoiseType(FastNoiseLite.NoiseType.OpenSimplex2);
         this._temperature.SetFractalType(FastNoiseLite.FractalType.FBm);
-        this._temperature.SetFractalOctaves(3);
-        this._temperature.SetFrequency(0.0015f);
+        this._temperature.SetFractalOctaves(cfg.TemperatureOctaves);
+        this._temperature.SetFrequency(cfg.TemperatureFrequency);
 
         this._forest = new FastNoiseLite(seed + 2);
         this._forest.SetNoiseType(FastNoiseLite.NoiseType.OpenSimplex2);
-        this._forest.SetFrequency(0.02f);
+        this._forest.SetFrequency(cfg.ForestFrequency);
     }
 
     public float Continent(float x, float z) => this._continent.GetNoise(x, z);

World/WorldGen/TerrainSampler.cs

@@ -1,38 +1,40 @@
+using VoxelEngine.Core;
+
 namespace VoxelEngine.World.WorldGen;
 
 public sealed class TerrainSampler
 {
-    // Box-blur radius (in blocks) applied to the biome-height field to smooth
-    // biome borders. A full (2R+1)x(2R+1) kernel at 1-block spacing bounds the
-    // per-block height change to ~maxBiomeHeightDiff / (2R+1), preventing cliffs.
-    // A sparse kernel does NOT bound it (axis-aligned borders flip several samples
-    // at once), so the kernel must be dense.
-    private const int BlendRadius = 6;
-
     private readonly NoiseSource _noise;
     private readonly BiomeMap _biomes;
+    private readonly Configuration _cfg;
 
-    public TerrainSampler(NoiseSource noise, BiomeMap biomes)
+    public TerrainSampler(NoiseSource noise, BiomeMap biomes, Configuration cfg)
     {
         this._noise = noise;
         this._biomes = biomes;
+        this._cfg = cfg;
     }
 
     public int HeightAt(float worldX, float worldZ)
     {
-        // For each kernel point find the biome THERE, but evaluate its height AT the
-        // column. Averaging blurs the hard biome borders into smooth transitions.
-        float sum = 0f;
-        int count = 0;
-        for (int dz = -TerrainSampler.BlendRadius; dz <= TerrainSampler.BlendRadius; dz++)
-        for (int dx = -TerrainSampler.BlendRadius; dx <= TerrainSampler.BlendRadius; dx++)
-        {
-            IBiome biome = this._biomes.BiomeAt(worldX + dx, worldZ + dz);
-            sum += biome.SampleHeight(this._noise, worldX, worldZ);
-            count++;
-        }
-        float avg = sum / count;
-        int h = (int)System.MathF.Round(avg);
-        return System.Math.Clamp(h, 0, WorldConstants.WorldHeight - 1);
+        // Blend the two nearest biomes' heights (each evaluated AT this column) by
+        // how deep inside the nearer cell we are: exactly on the border they mix
+        // 50/50, easing to 100% of the nearer biome over BiomeBlendWidth blocks.
+        BiomeMap.BiomeBlend blend = this._biomes.NearestTwo(worldX, worldZ);
+        float hNear = blend.Near.SampleHeight(this._noise, worldX, worldZ);
+        float hFar = blend.Far.SampleHeight(this._noise, worldX, worldZ);
+
+        float fracFar = 0.5f * (1f - SmoothStep01(blend.BorderDistance / this._cfg.BiomeBlendWidth));
+        float avg = hNear * (1f - fracFar) + hFar * fracFar;
+
+        int h = (int)MathF.Round(avg);
+        return Math.Clamp(h, 0, WorldConstants.WorldHeight - 1);
+    }
+
+    // Hermite smoothstep on [0,1].
+    private static float SmoothStep01(float t)
+    {
+        t = Math.Clamp(t, 0f, 1f);
+        return t * t * (3f - 2f * t);
     }
 }

World/WorldGen/VoronoiCells.cs

@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ public sealed class VoronoiCells
 
     public Cell Nearest(float x, float z)
     {
-        int gx = (int)System.MathF.Floor(x / this._cellSize);
-        int gz = (int)System.MathF.Floor(z / this._cellSize);
+        int gx = (int)MathF.Floor(x / this._cellSize);
+        int gz = (int)MathF.Floor(z / this._cellSize);
 
         float bestDist = float.MaxValue;
         int bestId = 0;
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ public sealed class VoronoiCells
         {
             int cgx = gx + ox;
             int cgz = gz + oz;
-            float jitterX = VoronoiCells.Jitter(cgx, cgz, this._seed);
-            float jitterZ = VoronoiCells.Jitter(cgx, cgz, this._seed + 9871);
+            float jitterX = Jitter(cgx, cgz, this._seed);
+            float jitterZ = Jitter(cgx, cgz, this._seed + 9871);
             float cx = (cgx + jitterX) * this._cellSize;
             float cz = (cgz + jitterZ) * this._cellSize;
             float dx = cx - x, dz = cz - z;
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ public sealed class VoronoiCells
             if (dist < bestDist)
             {
                 bestDist = dist;
-                bestId = (int)VoronoiCells.Hash(cgx, cgz, this._seed);
+                bestId = (int)Hash(cgx, cgz, this._seed);
                 bestCx = cx;
                 bestCz = cz;
             }
@@ -45,8 +45,48 @@ public sealed class VoronoiCells
         return new Cell(bestId, bestCx, bestCz);
     }
 
+    public readonly record struct NearestPair(Cell First, Cell Second, float FirstDist, float SecondDist);
+
+    // The two nearest cells to (x,z) with their (Euclidean) distances. Used to
+    // ease terrain height across the border between adjacent biome cells. Same
+    // 3x3 jittered-grid search as Nearest — the two closest centres always fall
+    // within that neighbourhood for jitter in [0,1).
+    public NearestPair NearestTwo(float x, float z)
+    {
+        int gx = (int)MathF.Floor(x / this._cellSize);
+        int gz = (int)MathF.Floor(z / this._cellSize);
+
+        float best = float.MaxValue, second = float.MaxValue;
+        Cell bestCell = default, secondCell = default;
+
+        for (int oz = -1; oz <= 1; oz++)
+        for (int ox = -1; ox <= 1; ox++)
+        {
+            int cgx = gx + ox;
+            int cgz = gz + oz;
+            float jitterX = Jitter(cgx, cgz, this._seed);
+            float jitterZ = Jitter(cgx, cgz, this._seed + 9871);
+            float cx = (cgx + jitterX) * this._cellSize;
+            float cz = (cgz + jitterZ) * this._cellSize;
+            float dx = cx - x, dz = cz - z;
+            float dist = dx * dx + dz * dz;
+            Cell cell = new((int)Hash(cgx, cgz, this._seed), cx, cz);
+            if (dist < best)
+            {
+                second = best; secondCell = bestCell;
+                best = dist; bestCell = cell;
+            }
+            else if (dist < second)
+            {
+                second = dist; secondCell = cell;
+            }
+        }
+        return new NearestPair(bestCell, secondCell,
+            MathF.Sqrt(best), MathF.Sqrt(second));
+    }
+
     private static float Jitter(int x, int z, int seed)
-        => (VoronoiCells.Hash(x, z, seed) & 0xFFFFFF) / (float)0x1000000; // [0,1)
+        => (Hash(x, z, seed) & 0xFFFFFF) / (float)0x1000000; // [0,1)
 
     private static uint Hash(int x, int z, int seed)
     {

World/WorldGen/WorldConstants.cs

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ namespace VoxelEngine.World.WorldGen;
 
 public static class WorldConstants
 {
-    public const int WorldHeightChunks = 8;
-    public const int WorldHeight = WorldConstants.WorldHeightChunks * VoxelChunk.Size; // 128
-    public const int SeaLevel = 64;
+    public const int WorldHeightChunks = 32;
+    public const int WorldHeight = WorldHeightChunks * VoxelChunk.Size; // 512
+    public const int SeaLevel = 256;
 }

World/WorldGen/WorldGenerator.cs

@@ -7,9 +7,7 @@ namespace VoxelEngine.World.WorldGen;
 
 public sealed class WorldGenerator
 {
-    private const int FillerDepth = 3;
-    private const float CellSize = 96f;
-
+    private readonly Configuration _cfg;
     private readonly BlockRegistry _blocks;
     private readonly BiomeMap _biomeMap;
     private readonly TerrainSampler _terrain;
@@ -17,17 +15,20 @@ public sealed class WorldGenerator
 
     public WorldGenerator(int seed, BlockRegistry blocks, Configuration cfg)
     {
+        this._cfg = cfg;
         this._blocks = blocks;
-        NoiseSource noise = new(seed);
-        VoronoiCells cells = new(seed, WorldGenerator.CellSize);
-        BiomeRegistry biomes = new(seed, blocks);
-        this._biomeMap = new BiomeMap(noise, cells, biomes);
-        this._terrain = new TerrainSampler(noise, this._biomeMap);
+        NoiseSource noise = new(seed, cfg);
+        VoronoiCells cells = new(seed, cfg.BiomeCellSize);
+        BiomeRegistry biomes = new(seed, blocks, cfg);
+        this._biomeMap = new BiomeMap(noise, cells, biomes, cfg);
+        this._terrain = new TerrainSampler(noise, this._biomeMap, cfg);
         this._caves = new CaveCarver(seed, blocks, cfg);
     }
 
     public int SurfaceHeightAt(int worldX, int worldZ) => this._terrain.HeightAt(worldX, worldZ);
 
+    public string BiomeNameAt(int worldX, int worldZ) => this._biomeMap.BiomeAt(worldX, worldZ).Name;
+
     public VoxelChunk Generate(Vector3i chunkPos)
     {
         VoxelChunk chunk = new();
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ public sealed class WorldGenerator
             for (int y = 0; y < VoxelChunk.Size; y++)
             {
                 int worldY = baseY + y;
-                chunk[x, y, z] = WorldGenerator.BlockAt(worldY, height, biome, this._blocks);
+                chunk[x, y, z] = BlockAt(worldY, height, biome, this._blocks, this._cfg.SurfaceFillerDepth);
             }
         }
 
@@ -54,13 +55,13 @@ public sealed class WorldGenerator
         return chunk;
     }
 
-    public static ushort BlockAt(int worldY, int surfaceHeight, IBiome biome, BlockRegistry blocks)
+    public static ushort BlockAt(int worldY, int surfaceHeight, IBiome biome, BlockRegistry blocks, int fillerDepth)
     {
         if (worldY > surfaceHeight)
             return worldY <= WorldConstants.SeaLevel ? blocks.Water.Id : blocks.Air.Id;
         if (worldY == surfaceHeight)
             return biome.TopBlock(worldY).Id;
-        if (worldY >= surfaceHeight - WorldGenerator.FillerDepth)
+        if (worldY >= surfaceHeight - fillerDepth)
             return biome.Surface.Filler.Id;
         return biome.Surface.Under.Id;
     }