The first thing to get out of the way and on the table before I start is that the Mods provided by Steam with the game won't work.

I've had several people on the steam forum asking about how to get them to work, but the simple answer is that you can't. Because as a general rule mods will not work on the standard scenario's provided with the game, and thats all you get when you buy the game.

Mods will only work on 'User Scenario's' and in Sandbox Games. So for example the Full_French_Campaign mod will work in a Sandbox Campaign, but it won't alter the size of the armies in any of the standard scenario's.

Likewise, the Expanded Toolbar might work in a sandbox scenario, but won't work in any of the standard scenario's.

In fact, the Expanded Toolbar Mod provided by steam is not the full mod, because the full mod (currently at version 5.4) provides much more than just an expanded toolbar. Most importantly the author of this mod has provided a full set of User Scenario's carefully duplicating all of the standard game scenario's so that you can use his mod and as many others as you like whilst playing the full range of scenario's listed in the main game menu.

I have no idea why steam packaged these mods with the basic game, but unfortunately they are a waste of space, and if you want to use mods with your game this is the way to do it.

The short answer is just about anywhere.

If one were to google 'scourge of war waterloo mods' you will find a whole list of websites and forums that have mods to download and if anyone wants to recommend a particular site then I shall be happy to add a link to it below.

For the time being though I am just going to link the two places where I have obtained my mods, as I know those work and are hassle free.

Originally posted by List of Recommended Mod Sources:

• NorbSoftDev Forum: Waterloo Modifications[www.norbsoftdev.net]
  
• Kriegsspiel News Forum - This provides mods for multiplayer games.[forum.kriegsspiel.org.uk]

Having found a mod that you want to use the first task is to download it to your computer.
The above image shows the download file for the full Expanded Toolbar Mod, which includes the complete set of User Scenario's mentioned above along with a whole host of other game improvements. I would personally recommend this as the first mod to go for, as not only does it improve the game, and make it easier to play, but it also provides you with a full set of User Scenario's for use with any other mods you decide to use later.

If you have never come across them before compressed file formats can be a bit daunting. There are a multitude of them (List of compressed file formats[fileinfo.com]), but essentially they all do the same thing. They compress the size of a file, by removing wasted space and encrypting the content so that it uses less disk space and can be downloaded faster.

You are only likely to run into a few of the many formats being used to compress mods.

• .7Z 7-Zip Compressed File
  
• .RAR WinRAR Compressed Archive
  
• .ZIP Zipped File

If you happen to come across a modder who has used something more bizarre, tell him to get real and stop being a berk.

To download the file simply click on its link on the website and follow the instructions (if any). Normally, it will just initiate your windows downloader and you will see a small confirmation box pop-up in the bottom left of your screen showing how long it will take to complete.

Originally posted by author:

Be wary if you try to download anything and start getting any sort of hassle. There are certain unscrupulous people out there who see the providing of mods as an opportunty to take advantage. If in any doubt quit the process and go find the mod somewhere else.

Once the mod file is downloaded and on your PC, the next task is to decompress it, and for that you will need to instal the appropriate decompression tool.

These should be free, and if they aren't then look elsewhere because you're probably on a scam site, and if you can't find a free one go back and moan at the mod developer to provide his work in a more sensible format.

Here are a few sites that look ok (though I provide no warranties)

• 7-Zip[www.7-zip.org]
  
• WinRAR[www.win-rar.com]
  
• WinZip[www.winzip.com]

If anyone has any trouble with these sites let me know and I'll remove them from this guide.

Once the decompression tool is installed (which is a one off process you should never need to do again), just click on the download and the appropriate decompression tool should leap into action and ask you where you want to put the extracted content of the file.

The answer to give to your decompression tool is in your Mod Folder.

But where is it you may ask?

The answer is that in common with all games purchased through Steam the Scourge of War Waterloo game folder can be found in C:\Program Files (x86)\steam\steamapps\common
Open this folder up and in it you will find a MOD folder. This is where all your Mod's need to go.
In fact, if you look you should find the two mods supplied by Steam are already in there, and before you do anything else you may as well delete the Expanded Toolbar folder as its useless and you are probably about to replace it with the full updated version.

Having tidied up the rubbish already present in this folder, tell your decompression tool to extract the contents of your newly downloaded mod into the C:\Program Files (x86)\steam\steamapps\common\Scourge of War Waterloo\Mods folder.
If your not a trusting soul like me, you might want to just look in the Mod folder and confirm that the mod is actually there. And here you can see all the mods I currently have installed in my Mod Folder.

Thats it, congratulations you have just installed a Mod.

Before you can use a Mod you must activate it in the Modification Menu of the game.

Here you can see my own Modification Menu with all the mods I have installed listed, and those I am actively using ticked.

Originally posted by author:

NOTE: Following a recent patch it should no longer be necessary to restart your game after Activating or Deactivating a Mod (or Mods). Any changes should now be registered immeditately and implemented as soon as you access a scenario.

Remember to Restart the Game.

It is important to remember that whenever the Activate or Deactivate a Mod (or Mods) you must Quit and Restart the game to implement the changes. The game engine only uses the Mod Menu when you launch the game to determine which if any mods you want it to load. So, if you change the Modifications Menu and go start into battle, the game will still have the mods you had selected when it was launched.

So, Remember to Restart after every modification change.

It's also important to remember that when the game engine launches and loads the mods you have activated it does so in the reverse order they appear in the menu list.

So, in my game as shown above the load order will be:

• 1st Smoke and Flare Mod
  
• 2nd Foot Guards Mod
  
• 3rd Explosion Effects Mod
  
• 4th Expanded Toolbar Mod
  
• 5th New Pointer Mod
  (Note: Though the Full French Campaign would have been next it isn't activated.)

This means that any changes made by one mod will be superceded if by another mod if it is higher up the list.

Originally posted by author:

So far example looking at my mod list, the New Pointer Mod because it is nearest to the top of the list will always be loaded last and will overwrite any changes made to the pointer by other mods. This ensuring that I always have my favourite pointer to use in the game.

Mods can be dragged and dropped up and down the list in the Mod Menu to allow you to decide which priority you prefer.

Thats really about it. It time to get oout there and start looking at mods.

My personal preference are mods that improve the immersion of the game, and that means Realism.

• More Blood
  
• More Smoke
  
• More Noise

If there was a mod that added heat I'd probably take it. One soldier wrote that on his battalion being ordered into battle we marched into an alien world where the smoke was so thick as to hide ones hand if held out from your body, and air so hot that it felt like walking into a furnace.

Have fun.

Kind Regards

Didz