Welcome to the AML Expansion Overhaul!

This collecton of works includes several fixes, expansions and overhauls to the cosmetics and gameplay of X2. The collection uses a psuedo-customised load order embedded into modified files to enable compatibility between items that normally will not work, including but not limited to: AI packs, gameplay elements, cross-mod supports and various insanity of our own design. These are balanced across all difficulty levels to provide more depth and story, while increasing the campaign length so that a squad wipe doesn't end your campaign, yet nor can you solve every problem by rushing for weapon researches. You'll have to play smart in all aspects, as Advent will try to counter you, using the collective knowledge of everything it's learned from the X2 community; players and creators alike!!

The modules below contain within them all the necessary mods from the workshop for proper use of this Overhaul and Expansion.

CORE modules are neccessary. Subscribe to all things within the module. Do not skip items, you will break your game.
RECOMMENDED modules are not strictly necessary, but the O+E was explicitly designed to include them, and may be unstable or unbalanced (more than it already might be) without their inclusion in your playthrough.
OPTIONAL Modules can be added in whole or in parts - not neccessary for O+E function. These modules contents cumulatively add significant demand to GPU and RAM usage. The AML Character Pool will substitute missing Module 4 parts with base X2 parts.
EXPERIMENTAL Modules are modules that meet one of the following requirements; 1 - Currently being tested, 2 - Known to cause instability issues on some systems, 3 - Inconsistent bugs affecting some users. While the AML O+E includes compability for these mods, this is done as a courtesy with no assurance of quality or promises to assist issues arrising from their use.

If you wish to play with this mod pack you may download the complete INI set and installation instructions in a compressed .zip file that can be found at this link[k00.fr], and is updated regularly as needed. Last Update: 04/05/2025 // 05/04/2025 - IFHP. Password: 443734

This pack is designed to accommodate all players of all skill levels, from Casual Sunday afternoon players to Ironman Legendary livestream players. The game will automatically scale the new content to provide a challenge appropriate for that difficulty level, within the mechanics of each individual encounter with Advent (or anyone/anything else). For any queries, comments or thoughts on balancing, gameplay or questions, please post in the discussions tab so you're voice is not unheard.

IMPORTANT NOTES - DO NOT IGNORE:

The AML pack both requires the Alternative Mod Launcher available at GitHub[github.com]. The mod pack will not function with the base 2K launcher.

The AML pack contains around 80GB of content in it's full totality. This functionally triples the content of base X2 w/ WOTC. Because of this, load times and start up times can become extended on some machines if storing workshop content on a non M2/SSD drive, or using less than 32GB of Ram.

The AML launcher may show many mods as missing dependencies. These are false positives and safe to set as ignored, such as dependencies on Secondary Primaries which is replaced with True Secondary Primaries.

The AML pack will require the game to do heavy modification of various core files when the launcher first loads the new files. This can take up to 10 minutes even on higher end machines and may result in a not responding window that can not be ALT + TAB into to or out of. In case of this, please be patient (make tea, go toilet, talk to your family members) and wait for the game to load into the main menu. Once fully loaded the first time, on average the games load times are significantly shortened therein. [[For those curious, if Task Manager is open before the game is loaded from the launcher, you can monitor the games load progress by watching the RAM tab: if it freezes for more than 5 minutes, the game has frozen and needs to be closed manually using task manager (an infrequent problem for HDD users usually resolved with a reload)]].

Lastly, we would like to extend personal gratitude and thanks to all those below, who've helped make the X2 community the best it can be (this list is not exhaustive, we simply couldn't thank everyone within the character limit):

∑3245 + Xenesthis - Prolific modelling and asset creators.
Astral Descend + NotSoLoneWolf - Part of the Covert Infiltration team, which AML O+E relies heavily on. Had to put up with Ley Shade asking stupid questions on Discord, a lot.
Aziero, eligablesquid007 + Steelhawk ^S^ - Support with persistent IRL mental health issues.
DerBK - Creator of the 'Better' series, and teacher of AI configuration coding.
Hudson Savage - Coding support, creator of many items, Amods and crates that AML is balanced around. All around awesome person.
Iridar, RealityMachina, robojumper + Veehementia - Creators of so much content it would be impractical to list. AML O+E wouldn't exist without much of the content they've created.
eclipsezr - Creator of the majority of map updates, new biomes, and the foundation of shenannigans used within the map generator.
MrShadowCX - Home of the Hive, Bio Division, and many more. Fear the shadows...
NightNinja54 - Creator of many factions and the reworked sitrep system.
ReshiKillim - Creator of the Syusa missions, AHW content and original inspiration for the AML O+E.
RedDobe - Prolific creator and community contributor to much of the content within AML O+E, including the Yellow Alert system, Faction relation reworks and Mass Effect porting.
RustyDios - Patient mentor, creator of PEXM and many reduxs. AML O+E wouldn't exist without their guiding hand and hardwork on behalf of the whole community.
Stukov81 - Friend, streamer, like-minded not-a-modder, and reason anything in AML O+E is actually organised in a reasonable way. Watch their stream here[www.twitch.tv]
TeslaRage - Creator of the LockBox system and many, many bridges.

For similar projects with their own balancing-concepts please see the esteemed Mod Jam, punishing Stukov's War and Rain's Enemy Rebalancing.