Using mods and the Mod Manager
The text below explains how to use UPatch HD compatible mods (or "UP mods" in short) and the most important things about them.
If you need information on how to create such mods, select "Creating Mods" from "Help" above.
The Mod Manager and new modding system in UPatch HD allow you to install and use mods properly without affecting the original game installation, just like in modern games. As a result, you will always have clean game and you can easily switch between mods when you want, without reinstalling the game or losing Multiplayer/scenario/savegame compatibility.
Before using any mods, make sure you have the latest version of UPatch HD, old versions are not supported.
Mods included with UPatch HD:
Some useful mods are now included with the patch. You can select them directly from the Mod Manager (explained below).
- UPatch Improved AI - a mod by gestremd reworking AI strategies in Death Match and Random Map games in order to support the maximum population limit in Single Player.
- Balance from v1.0 - a mod restoring the gameplay and balance from Rise of Rome v1.0, including all gameplay/data bugs, but still keeping all extra features of UPatch (like custom resolutions).
- Balance from v1.0A - same as above but balance is from Rise of Rome v1.0A (also known as update 1.0c).
- Unlimited Farm Food - a mod with unlimited farm food + a combination between this and the above 2 mods.
- 2 mods setting the population limit in Single Player to 100/200. Note: This doesn't affect computer players like the first mod.
- No Scout Auto-attack - a mod disabling Scout auto-attacking (which is now on by default in the base game).
- No Shared Exploration - a mod that disables Shared Exploration (from the start of the game) and restores the "Writing" technology.
Installing mods:
Just extract the downloaded mod .zip file inside the Mods\ directory of your game. The mod should create its own folder there when extracted.
Activating (applying) a mod:
To activate a mod, open the HD Launcher (there is a shortcut on the Desktop and in the start menu) and select Mod Manager. Then select the mod from the dropdown list and click “Apply”. The game will always start with this mod applied until you select otherwise from the Mod Manager. If a mod is not visible in the Mod Manager (or not loaded by the game), then it’s not a valid UPatch HD mod.
How to see which mod is currently in use:
Apart from the Mod Manager and the Launcher, the mod currently in use is also shown in the game at secondary menus (the screens shown immediately after main menu).
Deactivating and deleting a mod:
If you want to deactivate the current mod and play without mods, go to the Mod Manager and select “<None>”. If you want to completely delete a mod, simply delete its folder from the Mods\ directory. If you delete a mod that’s currently selected in the Mod Manager, the game will ignore it and start without mods.
Mod scenarios, campaigns and save games:
- Non-balance mods and more complex mods have their own scenario, campaign and savegame folders inside the mod folder – this is where the game will save and load files from while the mod is active.
- Mods may include scenarios and campaigns created specifically for each mod, you can see them directly in the game when the mod is applied. The whole purpose of some mods may be to create custom scenarios/campaigns with modded content (“modded scenarios/campaigns”).
Multiplayer with mods:
You can play Multiplayer with mods the same way you play the original game, but only if all players in your multiplayer game have the exact same version of the mod and the exact same UPatch HD version.
Important things to remember when using mods:
- If you have any problems while using mods - report them to the mod author.
- Old mods and old mod tools are not compatible with UPatch HD. Only mods specifically created for UPatch HD 1.1 (Release 2 or later) are supported.
- Mods that modify or replace original game files, or affect any files outside the Mods\ directory, are not supported. If you want to use such, it’s at your own risk, but remember that you no longer have a clean UPatch HD and game installation.
- Mod language and game language have to be the same (you will see a message in the Mod Manager if that’s not the case). You can easily change your game language from the Launcher under Settings - Game Language.
- You can use only one mod at a time. Mixing mods is not possible (unless you edit and combine the mods yourself).
Additional information:
Scenarios, campaigns and other user files: game files created by more complex mods are often incompatible with the original game, that’s why they have their own scenario, campaign and savegame directories. These mods also have their own campaign progress data (for mods the file "game.nfo" is located under campaign\ directory).
If you want to use the original scenarios and campaigns with a mod, you can copy them to the mod’s directories, but they may not work properly with some mods (depends entirely on the mod).
You can also load a mod with a parameter/command line argument (added to the game shortcut or the Launcher shortcut) by specifying its name inside “<” “>” (like this <Mod Name>), mods from parameters take priority over applied mods if both are selected.
Please do not report to me any problems, which don't apply to the un-modded UPatch HD. If you have problems, make sure you have the latest UPatch HD version, remove all mods and check the Help section for solutions and instructions.
If you need information on how to create such mods, select "Creating Mods" from "Help" above.
The Mod Manager and new modding system in UPatch HD allow you to install and use mods properly without affecting the original game installation, just like in modern games. As a result, you will always have clean game and you can easily switch between mods when you want, without reinstalling the game or losing Multiplayer/scenario/savegame compatibility.
Before using any mods, make sure you have the latest version of UPatch HD, old versions are not supported.
Mods included with UPatch HD:
Some useful mods are now included with the patch. You can select them directly from the Mod Manager (explained below).
- UPatch Improved AI - a mod by gestremd reworking AI strategies in Death Match and Random Map games in order to support the maximum population limit in Single Player.
- Balance from v1.0 - a mod restoring the gameplay and balance from Rise of Rome v1.0, including all gameplay/data bugs, but still keeping all extra features of UPatch (like custom resolutions).
- Balance from v1.0A - same as above but balance is from Rise of Rome v1.0A (also known as update 1.0c).
- Unlimited Farm Food - a mod with unlimited farm food + a combination between this and the above 2 mods.
- 2 mods setting the population limit in Single Player to 100/200. Note: This doesn't affect computer players like the first mod.
- No Scout Auto-attack - a mod disabling Scout auto-attacking (which is now on by default in the base game).
- No Shared Exploration - a mod that disables Shared Exploration (from the start of the game) and restores the "Writing" technology.
Installing mods:
Just extract the downloaded mod .zip file inside the Mods\ directory of your game. The mod should create its own folder there when extracted.
Activating (applying) a mod:
To activate a mod, open the HD Launcher (there is a shortcut on the Desktop and in the start menu) and select Mod Manager. Then select the mod from the dropdown list and click “Apply”. The game will always start with this mod applied until you select otherwise from the Mod Manager. If a mod is not visible in the Mod Manager (or not loaded by the game), then it’s not a valid UPatch HD mod.
How to see which mod is currently in use:
Apart from the Mod Manager and the Launcher, the mod currently in use is also shown in the game at secondary menus (the screens shown immediately after main menu).
Deactivating and deleting a mod:
If you want to deactivate the current mod and play without mods, go to the Mod Manager and select “<None>”. If you want to completely delete a mod, simply delete its folder from the Mods\ directory. If you delete a mod that’s currently selected in the Mod Manager, the game will ignore it and start without mods.
Mod scenarios, campaigns and save games:
- Non-balance mods and more complex mods have their own scenario, campaign and savegame folders inside the mod folder – this is where the game will save and load files from while the mod is active.
- Mods may include scenarios and campaigns created specifically for each mod, you can see them directly in the game when the mod is applied. The whole purpose of some mods may be to create custom scenarios/campaigns with modded content (“modded scenarios/campaigns”).
Multiplayer with mods:
You can play Multiplayer with mods the same way you play the original game, but only if all players in your multiplayer game have the exact same version of the mod and the exact same UPatch HD version.
Important things to remember when using mods:
- If you have any problems while using mods - report them to the mod author.
- Old mods and old mod tools are not compatible with UPatch HD. Only mods specifically created for UPatch HD 1.1 (Release 2 or later) are supported.
- Mods that modify or replace original game files, or affect any files outside the Mods\ directory, are not supported. If you want to use such, it’s at your own risk, but remember that you no longer have a clean UPatch HD and game installation.
- Mod language and game language have to be the same (you will see a message in the Mod Manager if that’s not the case). You can easily change your game language from the Launcher under Settings - Game Language.
- You can use only one mod at a time. Mixing mods is not possible (unless you edit and combine the mods yourself).
Additional information:
Scenarios, campaigns and other user files: game files created by more complex mods are often incompatible with the original game, that’s why they have their own scenario, campaign and savegame directories. These mods also have their own campaign progress data (for mods the file "game.nfo" is located under campaign\ directory).
If you want to use the original scenarios and campaigns with a mod, you can copy them to the mod’s directories, but they may not work properly with some mods (depends entirely on the mod).
You can also load a mod with a parameter/command line argument (added to the game shortcut or the Launcher shortcut) by specifying its name inside “<” “>” (like this <Mod Name>), mods from parameters take priority over applied mods if both are selected.
Please do not report to me any problems, which don't apply to the un-modded UPatch HD. If you have problems, make sure you have the latest UPatch HD version, remove all mods and check the Help section for solutions and instructions.