Designer's Mod for Age of Empires III Patch 1.09

Updates from patch 1.08

1. This version is updated for patch 1.09 and so far is the most expansive to date!
2. You will notice two cabin objects. One is very shiny when bloom is activated. I have added another that will look normal when bloom is active.
3. Sziggi's RPG Mod with several interesting objects including God Power 2.
4. I have added a few new props including the Dutch port props.
5. HC TestHouse is now visible.
6. The Wall Tower is now visible.

I will give you two procedures for install. Both are very simple, but one way will make ESO play a lot easier to do.

Step by step installation basic

1. Be sure your game is updated to patch 1.09.
2. Be sure to untick the "read only" selection in properties of the existing proto.xml and stringtable.xml.
3. Proto.xml - place in X:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires III\data where X is the drive onto which AOE3 is installed. Typically, this is the C drive.
4. Stringtable.xml - place in X:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires III\data where X is the drive onto which AOE3 is installed. Typically, this is the C drive.
5. All Art folders and their contents - place in X:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires III\Art where X is the drive onto which AOE3 is installed. Typically, this is the C drive.

Step by step Installation-Swap Files (Recommended for large Mods)

At first glance, the installation of this mod seems intimidating to those that have never modded their game. Following these procedures will ensure a painless and safe installation. And allow easy uninstallation for ESO play.

Backing up your game files

1. Be sure your game is updated to patch 1.09.
2. Create a folder on your desktop and name it AoE3 Swap files.
3. Create two more folders inside the AoE3 Swap files folder and name one folder DM1.09 and the other folder AoE3 Vanilla
4. Now open up My Computer and navigate to local disk:(usually C)\Program files\Microsoft Games.
5. You will now see a folder called Age Of Empires 3. This is your core game files. Right click on this file and select copy.
6. Open the new folder that you created on your desktop in the AoE3 Swap files called DM1.09, Right click again and select paste. You have now backed up all the Age Of Empires 3 core game files.
7. Now you may mod the copied files or the original files. That is totally up to you and what you are comfortable with. For purposes of keeping you feeling safe, the following steps illustrate modding the copied files.
8. IMPORTANT!!! Do not rename the Age of Empires 3 core game file folder(s).

Installing the proto.xml file

1. Open the copied Age Of Empires 3 folder that is located in the new AoE3 Swap files\DM1.09 folder you created earlier.
2. Look for a folder called data and open it.
3. Find the file called proto and right click on this file. Select properties and you will see a check box that says read only. Make sure this box is unchecked.
4. Now simply replace this file with the proto file included in the Designer's Mod download.

Installing the stringtable.xml

1. Open the copied Age Of Empires 3 folder that is located in the new AoE3 Swap files\DM1.09 folder you created earlier.
2. Look for a folder called data and open it.
3. Find the file called stringtable and right click on this file. Select properties and you will see a check box that says read only. Make sure this box is unchecked.
4. Now simply replace this file with the stringtable file included in the Designer's Mod download.

Installing the art folders

1. Open the copied Age Of Empires 3 folder that is located in the new AoE3 Swap files\DM1.09 folder you created earlier.
2. Look for a folder called Art and open it.
3. Now simply place all of the art folders included in the Designer's mod download into the Art folder.

Last Step

1. IMPORTANT!!! Do not have both Age of Empires 3 core game folders in the same folder at any time. One could copy over the other. This will not ruin your game, but it may mean that you have to reinstall the game. This is why I had you make two subfolders in the Swap files folder.
2. Now go to My Computer\local disk(usually c):\Program files\Microsoft games and move the Age of Empires 3 folder into AoE3 Swap files\AoE3 Vanilla
3. Move the Age of Empires 3 folder located in AoE3 Swap files\DM1.09 into My Computer\local disk(usually c):\Program files\Microsoft games.

Uninstall

This is the best part of the previous procedure. To uninstall the mod so you can play ESO, simply swap the core game files back.

1. Take the modded core game files from My Computer\local disk(usually c):\Program files\Microsoft games and move the modded Age of Empires 3 folder into AoE3 Swap files\DM1.09.
2. Take the original core game files from AoE3 Swap files\Vanilla and move into My Computer\local disk(usually c):\Program files\Microsoft games.

Important for The War Chiefs x-pack

This mod will work for the original campaign with TWC installed but you must use the AoE3 original campaign disc and open the game with the original AoE3 icon.

Special note:If you have installed The War Chiefs x-pack, there will be a protox.xml and a stringtablex.xml in addition to the proto.xml and strigtable.xml in the data folder of the core game files. Do not replace these files with the Designer's Mod proto and stringtable.

Credits