diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 59f12a8..4543a32 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -5,35 +5,16 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.25)
 project(Novus)
 
 set(CMAKE_AUTOMOC ON)
-
 set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 17)
 
+list(APPEND CMAKE_MODULE_PATH ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake)
+
 find_package(Qt5 COMPONENTS Core Widgets Concurrent CONFIG REQUIRED)
 
 include(FetchContent)
 
 add_subdirectory(extern)
 
-find_package(fmt QUIET)
-
-if(TARGET fmt::fmt)
-    message("Using system library for fmt")
-
-    set(LIBRARIES fmt::fmt ${LIBRARIES})
-else()
-    message("Using built-in fmt")
-
-    FetchContent_Declare(
-            fmt
-            GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/fmtlib/fmt
-            GIT_TAG        master
-    )
-
-    FetchContent_MakeAvailable(fmt)
-
-    set(LIBRARIES fmt::fmt ${LIBRARIES})
-endif()
-
 # macos
 if(APPLE)
     set(USE_STANDALONE_WINDOW TRUE)
@@ -44,7 +25,7 @@ add_subdirectory(exdviewer)
 add_subdirectory(armoury)
 add_subdirectory(argcracker)
 add_subdirectory(explorer)
-add_subdirectory(bonedecomp)
+#add_subdirectory(bonedecomp) # not yet ported to physis
 add_subdirectory(parts)
 add_subdirectory(common)
 add_subdirectory(mdlviewer)
diff --git a/argcracker/src/main.cpp b/argcracker/src/main.cpp
index 2bfc6b1..4d94503 100644
--- a/argcracker/src/main.cpp
+++ b/argcracker/src/main.cpp
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
 
 #include <QString>
-#include <fmt/core.h>
+#include <QDebug>
 
 #include <physis.hpp>
 
@@ -74,13 +74,13 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
 
     uint32_t bottom = TickCount() - tickRange;
 
-    fmt::print("Beginning to crack {}...\n", toCrack);
+    qInfo() << "Beginning to crack" << toCrack << "...";
 
     for(uint32_t i = bottom; i < TickCount(); i++) {
         QString decrypted = decryptGameArg(i, toCrack);
 
         if(decrypted.contains(knownArg)) {
-            fmt::print("Decrypted successfully: {}\n", decrypted.toStdString());
+            qInfo() << "Decrypted successfully:" << decrypted;
             return 0;
         }
     }
diff --git a/armoury/include/gearview.h b/armoury/include/gearview.h
index c60e3b9..1e7a1e1 100644
--- a/armoury/include/gearview.h
+++ b/armoury/include/gearview.h
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 #include "mdlpart.h"
 #include <QComboBox>
 #include <QWidget>
-#include <fmt/format.h>
 #include <physis.hpp>
 
 struct ModelInfo {
@@ -20,13 +19,8 @@ struct GearInfo {
     Slot slot;
     ModelInfo modelInfo;
 
-    std::string getMtrlPath(int raceID) {
-        return fmt::format(
-            "chara/equipment/e{gearId:04d}/material/v{gearVersion:04d}/mt_c{raceId:04d}e{gearId:04d}_{slot}_a.mtrl",
-            fmt::arg("gearId", modelInfo.primaryID),
-            fmt::arg("gearVersion", modelInfo.gearVersion),
-            fmt::arg("raceId", raceID),
-            fmt::arg("slot", physis_get_slot_name(slot)));
+    std::string getMtrlPath(const std::string_view material_name) const {
+        return physis_build_gear_material_path(modelInfo.primaryID, modelInfo.gearVersion, material_name.data());
     }
 };
 
diff --git a/armoury/include/mainwindow.h b/armoury/include/mainwindow.h
index f681d88..dac260d 100644
--- a/armoury/include/mainwindow.h
+++ b/armoury/include/mainwindow.h
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 
 #include <QComboBox>
 #include <QMainWindow>
-#include <fmt/format.h>
 #include <physis.hpp>
 #include <unordered_map>
 
diff --git a/armoury/src/gearview.cpp b/armoury/src/gearview.cpp
index 5580d57..427cd71 100644
--- a/armoury/src/gearview.cpp
+++ b/armoury/src/gearview.cpp
@@ -227,24 +227,8 @@ void GearView::reloadModel() {
             for (int i = 0; i < mdl.num_material_names; i++) {
                 const char* material_name = mdl.material_names[i];
 
-                // std::string mtrl_path =
-                // loadedGear.gearInfo->getMtrlPath(201);
-                std::string mtrl_path = fmt::format(
-                    "chara/equipment/e{gearId:04d}/material/"
-                    "v{gearVersion:04d}{}",
-                    material_name,
-                    fmt::arg("gearId", gear.modelInfo.primaryID),
-                    fmt::arg("gearVersion", gear.modelInfo.gearVersion));
-
-                int bodyCode = 1;
-
-                // skin path
-                std::string skinmtrl_path = fmt::format(
-                    "chara/human/c{raceCode:04d}/obj/body/b{bodyCode:04d}/"
-                    "material/v0001{}",
-                    material_name,
-                    fmt::arg("raceCode", physis_get_race_code(fallbackRace, fallbackSubrace, currentGender)),
-                    fmt::arg("bodyCode", bodyCode));
+                const std::string mtrl_path = gear.getMtrlPath(material_name);
+                const std::string skinmtrl_path = physis_build_skin_material_path(physis_get_race_code(fallbackRace, fallbackSubrace, currentGender), 1, material_name);
 
                 if (physis_gamedata_exists(data, mtrl_path.c_str())) {
                     auto mat = physis_material_parse(cache.lookupFile(mtrl_path.c_str()));
@@ -273,15 +257,7 @@ void GearView::reloadModel() {
             std::vector<physis_Material> materials;
             for (int i = 0; i < mdl.num_material_names; i++) {
                 const char* material_name = mdl.material_names[i];
-
-                std::string skinmtrl_path = fmt::format(
-                    "chara/human/c{raceCode:04d}/obj/face/f{bodyCode:04d}/"
-                    "material{}",
-                    material_name,
-                    fmt::arg("raceCode", physis_get_race_code(currentRace, currentSubrace, currentGender)),
-                    fmt::arg("bodyCode", *face));
-
-                fmt::print("oops: {}", skinmtrl_path);
+                const std::string skinmtrl_path = physis_build_face_material_path(physis_get_race_code(currentRace, currentSubrace, currentGender), *face, material_name);
 
                 if (physis_gamedata_exists(data, skinmtrl_path.c_str())) {
                     auto mat = physis_material_parse(cache.lookupFile(skinmtrl_path.c_str()));
@@ -303,15 +279,7 @@ void GearView::reloadModel() {
             std::vector<physis_Material> materials;
             for (int i = 0; i < mdl.num_material_names; i++) {
                 const char* material_name = mdl.material_names[i];
-
-                std::string skinmtrl_path = fmt::format(
-                    "chara/human/c{raceCode:04d}/obj/hair/h{bodyCode:04d}/"
-                    "material/v0001{}",
-                    material_name,
-                    fmt::arg("raceCode", physis_get_race_code(currentRace, currentSubrace, currentGender)),
-                    fmt::arg("bodyCode", *hair));
-
-                fmt::print("oops: {}", skinmtrl_path);
+                const std::string skinmtrl_path = physis_build_hair_material_path(physis_get_race_code(currentRace, currentSubrace, currentGender), *hair, material_name);
 
                 if (physis_gamedata_exists(data, skinmtrl_path.c_str())) {
                     auto mat = physis_material_parse(cache.lookupFile(skinmtrl_path.c_str()));
@@ -333,15 +301,7 @@ void GearView::reloadModel() {
             std::vector<physis_Material> materials;
             for (int i = 0; i < mdl.num_material_names; i++) {
                 const char* material_name = mdl.material_names[i];
-
-                std::string skinmtrl_path = fmt::format(
-                    "chara/human/c{raceCode:04d}/obj/ear/e{bodyCode:04d}/"
-                    "material/v0001{}",
-                    material_name,
-                    fmt::arg("raceCode", physis_get_race_code(currentRace, currentSubrace, currentGender)),
-                    fmt::arg("bodyCode", *ear));
-
-                fmt::print("oops: {}", skinmtrl_path);
+                const std::string skinmtrl_path = physis_build_ear_material_path(physis_get_race_code(currentRace, currentSubrace, currentGender), *ear, material_name);
 
                 if (physis_gamedata_exists(data, skinmtrl_path.c_str())) {
                     auto mat = physis_material_parse(cache.lookupFile(skinmtrl_path.c_str()));
@@ -361,13 +321,7 @@ void GearView::reloadModel() {
             auto mdl = physis_mdl_parse(mdl_data.size, mdl_data.data);
 
             const char* material_name = mdl.material_names[0];
-
-            std::string skinmtrl_path = fmt::format(
-                "chara/human/c{raceCode:04d}/obj/tail/t{bodyCode:04d}/"
-                "material/v0001{}",
-                material_name,
-                fmt::arg("raceCode", physis_get_race_code(currentRace, currentSubrace, currentGender)),
-                fmt::arg("bodyCode", *tail));
+            const std::string skinmtrl_path = physis_build_tail_material_path(physis_get_race_code(currentRace, currentSubrace, currentGender), *tail, material_name);
 
             if (physis_gamedata_exists(data, skinmtrl_path.c_str())) {
                 auto mat = physis_material_parse(cache.lookupFile(skinmtrl_path.c_str()));
diff --git a/bonedecomp/src/main.cpp b/bonedecomp/src/main.cpp
index 6c53f6e..d6eb747 100644
--- a/bonedecomp/src/main.cpp
+++ b/bonedecomp/src/main.cpp
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 #include <QJsonDocument>
 #include <QJsonObject>
 #include <QProcess>
-#include <fmt/format.h>
 #include <magic_enum.hpp>
 
 #include "gamedata.h"
diff --git a/exdviewer/src/mainwindow.cpp b/exdviewer/src/mainwindow.cpp
index a13bb2d..80bf50e 100644
--- a/exdviewer/src/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/exdviewer/src/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 #include <QMenuBar>
 #include <QTableWidget>
 #include <QUrl>
-#include <fmt/core.h>
 #include <physis.hpp>
 
 #include "exdpart.h"
diff --git a/explorer/src/filetreewindow.cpp b/explorer/src/filetreewindow.cpp
index a122bfe..8d02feb 100644
--- a/explorer/src/filetreewindow.cpp
+++ b/explorer/src/filetreewindow.cpp
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@ FileTreeWindow::FileTreeWindow(GameData* data, QWidget* parent) : QWidget(parent
         addPath("exd/" + QString(nameLowercase.c_str()) + ".exh");
 
         auto exh = physis_gamedata_read_excel_sheet_header(data, sheetName);
-        for (int j = 0; j < exh.page_count; j++) {
-            for (int z = 0; z < exh.language_count; z++) {
-                std::string path = physis_gamedata_get_exd_filename(nameLowercase.c_str(), &exh, exh.languages[z], j);
+        for (int j = 0; j < exh->page_count; j++) {
+            for (int z = 0; z < exh->language_count; z++) {
+                std::string path = physis_gamedata_get_exd_filename(nameLowercase.c_str(), exh, exh->languages[z], j);
 
                 addPath(("exd/" + path).c_str());
             }
diff --git a/mdlviewer/src/mainwindow.cpp b/mdlviewer/src/mainwindow.cpp
index 8316ba3..554139f 100644
--- a/mdlviewer/src/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/mdlviewer/src/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
 #include <QMenuBar>
 #include <QTableWidget>
 #include <QUrl>
-#include <fmt/core.h>
 #include <physis.hpp>
 
 #include "aboutwindow.h"
diff --git a/parts/mdl/mdlpart.cpp b/parts/mdl/mdlpart.cpp
index c85be9d..def0bb5 100644
--- a/parts/mdl/mdlpart.cpp
+++ b/parts/mdl/mdlpart.cpp
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
 #include <QVulkanInstance>
 #include <QVulkanWindow>
 #include <QWindow>
-#include <fmt/core.h>
 #include <glm/gtc/quaternion.hpp>
 #include <glm/gtc/type_ptr.inl>
 
diff --git a/renderer/CMakeLists.txt b/renderer/CMakeLists.txt
index e86822c..e7fed0a 100644
--- a/renderer/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/renderer/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ endif()
 
 add_library(renderer src/renderer.cpp ${EXTRA_SRC})
 target_include_directories(renderer PUBLIC include)
-target_link_libraries(renderer PUBLIC Vulkan::Vulkan fmt::fmt physis z glm::glm ${EXTRA_LIBRARIES})
+target_link_libraries(renderer PUBLIC Qt5::Core Vulkan::Vulkan physis z ${EXTRA_LIBRARIES})
 target_compile_definitions(renderer PUBLIC GLM_FORCE_RADIANS GLM_FORCE_DEPTH_ZERO_TO_ONE)
 
 if(USE_STANDALONE_WINDOW)
diff --git a/renderer/src/renderer.cpp b/renderer/src/renderer.cpp
index 3829c43..5aace5f 100644
--- a/renderer/src/renderer.cpp
+++ b/renderer/src/renderer.cpp
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 
 #include "renderer.hpp"
 
+#include <QDebug>
 #include <array>
-#include <fmt/core.h>
 #include <fstream>
 #include <glm/gtc/matrix_transform.hpp>
 #include <glm/gtx/transform.hpp>
@@ -33,8 +33,7 @@ DebugCallback(VkDebugUtilsMessageSeverityFlagBitsEXT messageSeverity,
               VkDebugUtilsMessageTypeFlagsEXT messageType,
               const VkDebugUtilsMessengerCallbackDataEXT* pCallbackData,
               void* pUserData) {
-
-    fmt::print("{}\n", pCallbackData->pMessage);
+    qInfo() << pCallbackData->pMessage;
 
     return VK_FALSE;
 }
@@ -199,7 +198,7 @@ Renderer::Renderer() {
 
     createDummyTexture();
 
-    fmt::print("Initialized renderer!\n");
+    qInfo() << "Initialized renderer!";
 }
 
 bool Renderer::initSwapchain(VkSurfaceKHR surface, int width, int height) {
@@ -437,7 +436,6 @@ void Renderer::render(std::vector<RenderModel> models) {
             VK_NULL_HANDLE, &imageIndex);
 
     if (result == VK_ERROR_OUT_OF_DATE_KHR) {
-        fmt::print("error out of date\n");
         return;
     }
 
@@ -499,7 +497,6 @@ void Renderer::render(std::vector<RenderModel> models) {
 
             const auto h = hash(model, material);
             if(!cachedDescriptors.count(h)) {
-                fmt::print("Caching descriptor for hash {}\n", h);
                 if (auto descriptor = createDescriptorFor(model, material); descriptor != VK_NULL_HANDLE) {
                     cachedDescriptors[h] = descriptor;
                 } else {
@@ -840,7 +837,7 @@ VkShaderModule Renderer::loadShaderFromDisk(const std::string_view path) {
     std::ifstream file(path.data(), std::ios::ate | std::ios::binary);
 
     if (!file.is_open()) {
-        throw std::runtime_error(fmt::format("failed to open shader file {}", path));
+        qFatal("Failed to open shader file: %s", path.data());
     }
 
     size_t fileSize = (size_t) file.tellg();
@@ -1187,7 +1184,7 @@ VkDescriptorSet Renderer::createDescriptorFor(const RenderModel& model, const Re
 
     vkAllocateDescriptorSets(device, &allocateInfo, &set);
     if (set == VK_NULL_HANDLE) {
-        fmt::print("Failed to create descriptor set!");
+        qFatal("Failed to create descriptor set!");
         return VK_NULL_HANDLE;
     }