nwg

Hi Folks,

Those with more technical knowledge of ETW than me will probably laugh because the subject I'm going to discuss here might be common knowledge, however, I think there is significant enough confusion to warrant an observation:

I had a chance opportunity this evening to try and see if a complex mod pack based ETW mod would work in multiplayer games. The community at large, and myself til tonight, had formed an impression from the release status of ETW that the much talked about 'mod' pack format for modding files could not be used in multiplayer games. As a result we've mostly been forced to use the 'patch' pack format for modded ETW games. This works well enough but the fact is that mod packs are easier for modding teams to build, test and keep consistent. Patch pack mods mostly require other file changes and are generally more difficult for the modding teams to distribute to players _and_ have them work properly.

This afternoon via a chance encounter I was able to test "TROM" the large single player / campaign mod from the TWC. This mod in its full and fun state includes the following files:

trom_flags
trom_media
trom_battlesounds
mod_BSM_Light_2_for_TROM_1_5
trom_core_part2
trom_core_part1

All packaged in 'mod' pack format. Normally one would use Lt. Chambers "Mod Manager" to pull the individual files together into a working modded ETW game (however you can choose to modify user.empire_script.txt as well for equally good results).

With both machines on a LAN and using only the above files via Mod Manager an MP game was played right through and successfully with all the aspects of the mod apparently working as designed.

This is a big breakthrough in my world folks, it probably means this:

- Mod manager can be used to manage peoples mods and to more easily check for MP compatibility
- All (or at least _most_) of the existing mods that are out there in the community can be used for MP play so long as folks load the very same modding files into their games - as managed by "mod manager"

Best regards,
Moopere

This is now confirmed via a proper Steam based MP game (not only LAN). Should be a huge boost to modders who I know prefer the flexibility of the mod pack format.

Regards, Moopere