Creating a Mod Folder for AE

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> The War Room >> Creating a Mod Folder for AE

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Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 1/9/2012 3:52:21 PM

John 3rd

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I've wondered just how many players get frustrated in the steps it takes to create a new AE Folder for playing a Mod? At times it has seemed to me that installing a new Mod can be rather odd, somewhat complicated, and downright frustrating for those who are not computer literate. I certainly fit this category and would like to open this Thread with a 'how to' step-by-step guide to installing a Mod within the AE system.

For my purposes I am going to install the freshly completed Reluctant Admiral 4.0 Mod. The Mod has been brought into the realm of Da Babes compatible by the hard work of JWE. The RA and Perfect War design team have great respect for our fellow Modders who created the Da Babes and it seemed only right to use a good portion of their well researched work to move RA onto. Additionally the Da Babes creators have graciously allowed RA to become a page on their excellent website and we salute them for that.

I suppose that the first step in a player choosing a Mod is to have an idea of exactly which ones are out there and what they are all about. Once experienced with AE I think it is only natural for a player to gravitate in some direction of preference for play. People become Allied or Japanese Fan Boys and want to explore 'what ifs' for later games. After that is seems to me that they then move towards either a more historical 'what if' or a slightly more fantasy bent for there game playing interests. It is truly unfortunate that Matrix has not set-up some sort of specific pages or forum area for a detailed listing of the Mods that are out there and available for play. Back in the WitP days that was accomplished by a fantastic site created by several of the early Modders, however, to my knowledge nothing comparable has been done after the advent of AE. Attempts have been made but nothing has been sustained. Perhaps that is something to think about...

Choosing your Mod is a very personal decision and I strongly recommend you contacting one of the designers for your queries if you have any. Each Modder began there creation, I believe, with some form of strong vision for what they wanted achieved. For RA purposes the desire for creating a Mod arose from WitP discussion between myself, FatR, and BK over different choices that the Japanese could have made with their 4th Circle Building Plan in 1938. Once AE came out that discussion transformed itself into a 'what if' of Adm Yamamoto Isoroku having a much greater influence over the Kaigun in the last three years prior to the war. The rest grew from that. Individuals jumped into the discussions and the Mod began to take shape as a semi-historical enhanced Japanese Navy 'what if.' For me I wanted something between Scenario One (pure vanilla history) and the massively enhanced Scenario Two where the Navy AND Army gain a great amount of strength. This is where we have tried to place RA.

OK. Back to the process.

Once the Mod has been chosen, A player needs to create a new AE Folder. The reason for this is that a lot of these Mods have their own artwork and changes made to scenario files that needs to be overlaid on a 'blank slate' of AE.

1. Take your original AE game Disk (if you bought the physical copy) or download the game to create a new Folder. I just did this. These are the Matrix games I have installed:

Make sure you rename the Folder to something appropriate.

2. You will need to update the vanilla install by downloading the newest update to AE. This is done by assessing the Matrix Site and downloading the latest 'official' upgrade.

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< Message edited by John 3rd -- 1/9/2012 3:54:13 PM >

_____________________________

Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.

Reluctant Admiral Mod:
https://sites.google.com/site/reluctantadmiral/

Post #: 1

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 1/9/2012 3:56:38 PM

John 3rd

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From: La Salle, Colorado
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Argggg. I just got called into work and won't be able to finish this step-by-step walk through today. Can anyone explain where to find the 'official' AE Updates and do a description of how to download them? If not, I will continue this when I get home tonight. Sorry for getting started and not being able to finish.

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Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.

Reluctant Admiral Mod:
https://sites.google.com/site/reluctantadmiral/

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Post #: 2

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 1/10/2012 3:41:54 PM

John 3rd

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Have some time so lets keep moving with an install. Once you have installed a pure vanilla copy of AE and named AE it for whatever you want it to be then go back to the main page of the Forum and look about 1/2 down the page for a Thread named AE Gets Major Update, click, and then use the Hot Link to get where you need for the newest download/update for the game. NOTE: These are official AE Updates and not the fine work that has been occurring with the Betas. This is what you should see:

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< Message edited by John 3rd -- 1/10/2012 3:42:44 PM >

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Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.

Reluctant Admiral Mod:
https://sites.google.com/site/reluctantadmiral/

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Post #: 3

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 1/10/2012 3:48:12 PM

John 3rd

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Once you click the link it takes you to this page. Click the download and you get the newest OFFICIAL Patch. It will take a while to download.

Attachment (1)

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Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.

Reluctant Admiral Mod:
https://sites.google.com/site/reluctantadmiral/

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Post #: 4

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 1/10/2012 4:19:03 PM

John 3rd

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From: La Salle, Colorado
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You now have an up to date pure vanilla AE Folder. Now you can overlay your chosen Mod into the Folder. Many Mods contain new artwork and other features that will now overwrite the 'standard' AE files. Go to the Mod Site you have chosen. In our case this is Da Babes. Finding the Da Babes site can be a little interesting since there is no dedicated page to just the AE Mods. I usually just find a Post by JWE and click the hot link at the bottom of his post.

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Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.

Reluctant Admiral Mod:
https://sites.google.com/site/reluctantadmiral/

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Post #: 5

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 1/10/2012 4:24:12 PM

John 3rd

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Clicking the link you brings you to Da Babes Site. All there work and Reluctant Admiral is located here:

Attachment (1)

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Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.

Reluctant Admiral Mod:
https://sites.google.com/site/reluctantadmiral/

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Post #: 6

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 1/11/2012 3:26:24 PM

John 3rd

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Once at the Babes site, go to the RA page the player needs to do three downloads:

1. The Scenario
2. Extended Map
3. Stacking limits

The first two are available on the RA page. Click on the Babes hotlink to get to the Google Page for RA. Read the Scenario Description and move to page two. This where you can get #1 and #2:

Attachment (1)

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Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.

Reluctant Admiral Mod:
https://sites.google.com/site/reluctantadmiral/

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Post #: 7

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 1/11/2012 3:30:19 PM

John 3rd

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Once those two are downloaded to the desktop move to your final stage of Stacking Limits. This file is located at the bottom of the Babes site and is simple to download. It is a fast one. Page looks like this:

Attachment (1)

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Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.

Reluctant Admiral Mod:
https://sites.google.com/site/reluctantadmiral/

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Post #: 8

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 1/11/2012 3:34:43 PM

John 3rd

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After doing this yesterday, I will amend something a say that HERE is where you now need to install the latest Beta done by MichaelM. The problem with Betas is that they overwrite some of the work done in Mods. It depends on how extensive the Mod is but JWE assured me that you MUST do your Beta install FIRST before the map and everything else. Sooooooooo...go to Tech Support section of the Forum and find the 'Beta---Patch Six' Thread from MichaelM. It is at the bottom of the very long first entry in the Thread. Download and install it to the new folder you've created for the Mod.

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Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.

Reluctant Admiral Mod:
https://sites.google.com/site/reluctantadmiral/

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Post #: 9

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 1/11/2012 3:44:52 PM

John 3rd

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You are now in the Home Stretch!

The Folder is fully updated and you are prepared to enter the last of the files finishing the process. Steps:

1. Open the Scen 78 download of RA 4.0. You shall see 11 files that need to be placed in the Scenario sub-folder of the game. Simply upzip, see the files, and drag them into the Scenario Folder. There will be no 'copy and replace' notice since these are new files going into the game.

2. Open the Extended Map Zip File. There is an installation guide as well as the files. This is a two part process. All the files for the Art Work of the actual map goes into the Art Folder while the three remaining files are placed in the main directory. All of them will ask if you want to 'copy and replace.' Answer is YES!

3. In what could be a redundant move, upzip the Stacking Limits file and drag all three of those files into the main directory. I say this is redundant because I just noticed you can get the correct files on the first pass elsewhere but I am trying to keep this simple for computer idiots like me. Drag those three files into the main directory and copy/replace them.

You are now DONE!

When you click on the game you should goes through the opening, select your side, chose non-historical opening from preferences, drop down in the Scenarios to 78, click RA 4.0 (if you've downloaded the artwork you'll see all sorts of stuff), and anxiously await the game to open. Once it does simply begin looking around.

You will know if the Stacking Limits is working by simply covering Tokyo or some other location with your cursor. If things are working then you'll see what the limit is for the little window that normally appears here.

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Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.

Reluctant Admiral Mod:
https://sites.google.com/site/reluctantadmiral/

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Post #: 10

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 1/11/2012 4:00:26 PM

John 3rd

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If you Mod has any additional Art Work now is the time to install it. Ship Sides and Shils go to the appropriate files and are dragged into them without issue.

Special Art Work is then dragged over. For RA we had five new pieces done by SuluSea. These are titled:

ADetail078, JDetail078---The art for the Scenario Description
OpenLoadScreen_1024--for the Yamato Shot
UV_1024--Scenario Loading
StartGame_1024

Simply click and drag them into the main Art Directory: hit copy and replace.

The Mods have their own description and that is dragged into the Scenario Folder joining the earlier files you placed there.

NOW you are FINISHED!

Attachment (1)

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Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.

Reluctant Admiral Mod:
https://sites.google.com/site/reluctantadmiral/

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Post #: 11

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 1/11/2012 4:02:36 PM

John 3rd

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From: La Salle, Colorado
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It is my sincere hope that this step-by-step description helps new players. I am terrible with computers and have only learned it through help, trail and error. Good LUCK and enjoy the great work done by many dedicated Modders who sought to bring 'their' vision of World War Two in the Pacific to reality. Trust me---it is truly a labor of love creating a Mod.

BANZAI and Fair Winds...

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Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.

Reluctant Admiral Mod:
https://sites.google.com/site/reluctantadmiral/

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Post #: 12

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 2/5/2012 9:03:50 PM

John 3rd

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*BUMP*

Discussion elsewhere leads for this to brought back to the front page.

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Reluctant Admiral Mod:
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Post #: 13

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 2/9/2012 8:07:22 PM

John 3rd

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*Bump* for Soli Invictus.

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Post #: 14

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 2/9/2012 8:13:53 PM

SoliInvictus202

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and he is already working on the issue - hope to get it resolved ASAP!

thanks for the help John!

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Post #: 15

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 3/16/2012 5:10:47 AM

John 3rd

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*BUMP* for two new players.

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Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.

Reluctant Admiral Mod:
https://sites.google.com/site/reluctantadmiral/

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Post #: 16

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 6/18/2012 2:05:08 PM

John 3rd

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New Player Bump.

RA is now on version 4.5. This has been loaded the files SHOULD be current.

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Post #: 17

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 6/18/2012 3:26:14 PM

khyberbill

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I think I will wait for 4.65

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RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 6/19/2012 2:57:44 PM

John 3rd

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Hi Sir.

As far as I am concerned, RA work is complete for awhile. We had a flurry of stuff get worked on. Guess I got carried away going 4.3--4.4--4.5 within two weeks but I wanted to get the improvements done promptly.

My focus now shifts to creating an RA that starts in early-April 1942, This should be a fun challenge.

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Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.

Reluctant Admiral Mod:
https://sites.google.com/site/reluctantadmiral/

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Post #: 19

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 6/19/2012 3:17:49 PM

khyberbill

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Good Morning John,

No reason to call me sir, my father raised me to be a gentleman, it did not take an act of Congress.

I will try to convince my foe to upgrade to 4.5.

Good luck on your new mod.

Bill

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"Its a dog eat dog world Sammy and I am wearing Milkbone underwear" -Norm.

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Post #: 20

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 6/20/2012 6:24:44 PM

John 3rd

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From: La Salle, Colorado
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Thanks Bill. The upgrade is database centered so you should have no issues.

Once I've got the time making Spring 1942 start for RA should be a blast!

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Reluctant Admiral Mod:
https://sites.google.com/site/reluctantadmiral/

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Post #: 21

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 12/18/2012 3:45:51 AM

John 3rd

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BUMP.

Bringing this forward by request.

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Post #: 22

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 12/18/2012 5:30:40 PM

MAurelius

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thx a lot - perfect ;)

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RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 5/14/2013 11:13:44 PM

John 3rd

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BUMP (By Request)

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Post #: 24

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 5/14/2013 11:19:17 PM

morejeffs

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thanks!

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Post #: 25

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 8/19/2013 1:32:11 AM

John 3rd

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From: La Salle, Colorado
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Bump for the Playtesters.

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Reluctant Admiral Mod:
https://sites.google.com/site/reluctantadmiral/

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Post #: 26

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 8/20/2013 7:11:58 AM

Numdydar

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Please do not forget to also download all the new AI scripts that have been updated as well. These are NOT currently part of the last 'official' patch or betas as of thie postings date.

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Post #: 27

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 9/18/2013 6:32:11 PM

John 3rd

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From: La Salle, Colorado
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Brought this forward with the release of RA 6.0. Will be adding a few more screenshots.

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Reluctant Admiral Mod:
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Post #: 28

RE: Creating a Mod Folder for AE - 9/18/2013 6:41:28 PM

John 3rd

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Here is the Art Zip Folder for RA. Directions are on the screenshot. Want to thank SuluSea and Gary for their work in making these fantastic screens and ship art.