Mods don’t play for me

What am I doing wrong

jhpkelsey @aol.com

I have downloaded some mods, put them in mod folder, changed value from 0 to 1, enabled MOD’s in game and all that is Butkus.  No joy.  77 year old guy trying to survive Covid lockdown and even my 24 year old grandson is stumped.  Any help for an old soldier would be appreciated..  also can’t build a ship over 330 size - is that the game backstop?  Hope someone can help.  Stay safe and thanks.

32,096 views 17 replies
Reply #2 Top

Went to Mods folder and redid all I had downloaded and resynced the mods but don’t see any of them when I start a new game.  Stumped.

Reply #3 Top

You changed a value from 0 to 1, so I guess that means you edited the prefs.ini file to enable mods.  You then went into the game and enabled mods.  That wouldn't be possible if you had already enabled them when you changed the 0 to 1.  Maybe you disabled them instead.  Check again.

If that doesn't work, check your My Games directory to see if you have a GalCiv3 directory or a GC3Crusade directory or both.  If you have both, everything you do should be in the GC3Crusade directory.  Maybe you have been doing everything right but doing it in the wrong directory.

When you resynced the mods, I guess you clicked on the button labeled Resync Mods.  That has nothing to do with mods.  It is used to resync content that you subscribed to in the workshop.  I think "Resync Mods" is used because it's much shorter than "Resync Workshop Content", but it is an unfortunate choice of words.

If the problem still exists, maybe you didn't unzip the mod correctly.  In the mods folder there should be a folder that is the same name as the mod.  Opening that folder should show one or more folders.  The possible names of these folder are core, game, text and possibly other names.  If you don't have this structure, something was done wrong.

If nothing has worked, please list the mods and where you got them.  I'm still wondering if you mean mods or something from the workshop.

Reply #4 Top

First I want to thank you for your patience with old man.  I really like the game and while I can play it presently just would like to see what the mods produce.  I have Mods from Nexus that appear That each appear as separate folders in my mod folder and see to have extracted properly.  I went back to check the prefs.ini line and can’t find it but see a line that says Enable Mods-1 under game play.  Thanks for the tip on Resync Mods - wasted time there.  I do NOT have a GCCrusades 3 folder.  I went to the My Games folder and GC III is there with the correct folders underneath My reset prefs is 0 - is that correct?  You are probably tired of me now 😩🍷

Reply #5 Top

Ok - found the GC III Crusades file - now confused as to which one my Icon opens up when I click on it but prefs file is the same as msg before and back to square one

Reply #6 Top

Here are the Mods:  

colonization Events 1.4 for Crusade

Crusade anamalies

Example Mod

GalCiv3ShipDesignExpansionPack

KF Artifacts

KF Farming

KF Shipyard Missions

Macs Larger Planets

Planet Features

pPlanet Traits

Planetary Diversity

Red Earth Mod

Star Types

Terrforming Plus

 

Reply #7 Top

I'm now convinced you have extracted the mods correctly and have them in a mods folder.  I'm not sure I understand which mod folder.

I get the impression you have two folders for the game in your My Games directory, one named GalCiv3 and the other GC3Crusade.

Since you are trying to use mods for the Crusade expansion, I have to assume you have that expansion and maybe more.

Which version of the game do you have?  The main title/menu screen will tell you.

If you do have Crusade or Intrigue or Retribution or more than one of them, you need to be using the Mods directory in Documents\My Games\GC3Crusade for all your mods.  The game will ignore the GalCiv3 directory if the GC3Crusade directory exists.

It's possible that some of the mods you want to use won't work correctly with the version of the game you have and cause strange results during a game, so keep that in mind.

Until we get mods working, you should ignore the prefs.ini file.  Use the Options menu in the game to turn mods on or off.  The ResetPprefs=0 is correct and shouldn't be changed.

Finally, I don't think 77 is all that old.  I'm 72, and most of the time I don't think I'm old.:D  

Reply #8 Top

I agree with Old-Spider. I think the most likely problem is that you've put the mods in the folder for the base game when you have Crusade. Check the first paragraph of the wiki I linked earlier to get the correct folder for Crusade.

Reply #9 Top

Last night about 2 I realized how dumb my emails must sound.  I know the prefs.ini is the whole list of codes - duh.  So here is the gist - I have two GC3 folders - on just plain GC3 that all the mods and current game saves to and one GC3 Crusade that does not show any game past 2017.  When I click on the game icon to start a new game i am assuming it uses the GC3 file to open as I have no specific start game icon for Crusade.  I have the exact same mod folder in both and the same mods enabled in prefs.ini. Appreciate all you have done to educate me but may have exhausted your good nature.

Reply #10 Top

My thanks to you both - checked everything you suggested and started a new game (I have all updates and playing Retribution).  Nothing changed when I started the game and do not see any evidence of Mods.  My thanks for your advice and assistance but this is probably something I can’t just overcome.  FYI my be 77 but still in the fight 😋. 30 years in Army and never quit.  Just not tech savvy to overcome whatever the problem is.  At least I can still play the base game.

Jim

Reply #11 Top

If you still haven't tried placing your mods in the Crusade folder, try doing so.  Just because you don't think it is being accessed, that is indeed the folder being accessed.

Reply #12 Top

Quoting AdamMG, reply 11

If you still haven't tried placing your mods in the Crusade folder, try doing so.  Just because you don't think it is being accessed, that is indeed the folder being accessed.
End of AdamMG's quote

Starting with the Crusade expansion, the game uses the GC3Crusade directory in your Documents\My Games directory.  It completely ignores the GalCiv3 directory in your Documents\My Games directory.  I know you report that your saves show something different, but that's not possible unless something is very messed up.

Copy all your mods from Documents\My Games\GalCiv3\Mods to Documents\My Games\GC3Crusade\Mods, then start a new game.  Make sure you play enough turns to be sure the mods are working or not working.  If you're 100% sure they still aren't working, there are a few more things to try.

Reply #13 Top

To all - did exactly as you said and all are in the correct  GC3 Crusades Mods folder - will try a new game tomorrow and see what happens.  Will advise.  Many thanks.  Jim 

Reply #14 Top
Also when you start the game resync the mods. Main menu bottom middle.
Reply #15 Top

Tried a new game 7 times - it crashes each time - interesting that I can play a saved game.  Guess I will have to uninstall and start over- wow this has been a real interesting exercise.

Reply #16 Top

If all that worked then ignore this advice, but if it doesn't. Try this having a computer it only uses one file of the same name. A file with the same name will overwrite the old file. Check your mod folders. See if different folders have files with the same name. If they do files are being overwritten. Most likely the file in the last folder 8s the tile being used for files with the same name. The only solution I know to this is to combine all the changes from the original game files in the mod files with the same name. Remember I understand programming, not modding.

Reply #17 Top

In addition to what the Admiral said, please list the mods you are using. Some mods (and I'm thinking now about mods that include custom ship parts) have caused problems.