This is very exciting news! I've had a look around and picked mods which are not just popular but should push the limit of the workshop

- http://ron.heavengames.com/downloads/showfile.php?fileid=731 - Rise of Napoleon. This is a brilliant total conversion mod yet is simple to install, being entirely based in the mod folder
- http://ron.heavengames.com/downloads/showfile.php?fileid=1129 - Times of War. This is an improved campaign mod, though it also adds new graphics and edits some data files.
- http://www.moddb.com/mods/1939-1945-second-great-war-mod - 1939-1945 Second Great War. This WWII total conversion mod is mostly mod folder based, though it does replace certain data files. This is because some files such as interface.xml do not work properly inside the mod folder so the core file has to be replaced for things like custom icons to work.
- http://www.moddb.com/mods/terrain-flora-and-fauna-v-2 - Terrain 5 Extended. This mod is focused on improving terrain textures though it does also improve unit and building textures as well. This mod does not use the mod folder - it entirely replaces core files
- http://www.moddb.com/mods/world-in-conflict-a-rise-of-nations-tp-mod - World in Conflict. This is also a total conversion mod, which has a mod folder but also replaces core files and adds new files to core folders. For instance the art files are all placed in the main art folder rather than in the mod's art folder. It also has a custom script.
- http://www.moddb.com/mods/a-wrong-turn - A Wrong Turn. This is probably the most extensive total conversion mod given that it also makes changes to the UI, opening videos and a range of other things. I can't remember if this uses a mod folder or not, but either way it does replace a lot of core files.
- http://www.moddb.com/mods/kings-and-conquerors - Kings and Conquerors: The Hellenistic Era. This is my own mod, and although it is partially a mod folder-based mod it also replaces several core files, adds a custom script and replaces the Rise2.ini file which as you may know it located in a completely different location to the rest of the game files.

Hopefully this helps, let me know if you need me to clarify anything or find more mods for you to test.

Thank you. I'll get started on these immediately.

One question I have at this point is what determines whether a mod uses the dropdown list or not when starting a game?

Firstly, you need to have a folder called 'mods' in the main RoN directory. Then the mod needs to have its own folder within the mods folder. Lastly it needs to have a file called "info.xml" in that folder for it to actually show up on the list. The info.xml file is where information such as the mod's name, description and file list is stored.

I've just made a scenario that I tried uploading onto Steam, but the Publish function doesn't seem to be working at the moment. In addition the description box is a little too narrow, which isn't exactly conducive to typing a detailed description of what's in the mod.

I can recommend this earlier texture mod I made:

http://www.moddb.com/games/rise-of-nations/addons/egyptian-re-skin-pack

Here's a rather unique mod, which is probably better described as an addon:

http://www.moddb.com/games/rise-of-nations/addons/enb-mod-for-rise-of-nations-and-its-expansion - ENB mod. This is a graphics effect mod that adds its own files and I'm not sure if it even changes any original files.

Originally posted by super7700:

Firstly, you need to have a folder called 'mods' in the main RoN directory. Then the mod needs to have its own folder within the mods folder. Lastly it needs to have a file called "info.xml" in that folder for it to actually show up on the list. The info.xml file is where information such as the mod's name, description and file list is stored.

Alright, thank you. This will work really well with the Mod Manager we built.

Originally posted by Tyrannohotep:

I've just made a scenario that I tried uploading onto Steam, but the Publish function doesn't seem to be working at the moment. In addition the description box is a little too narrow, which isn't exactly conducive to typing a detailed description of what's in the mod.

I can recommend this earlier texture mod I made:

http://www.moddb.com/games/rise-of-nations/addons/egyptian-re-skin-pack

Okay, I'd recommend just waiting it out until we release the full mod manager, where we have an improved fix for this. The UI components in Rise have been more difficult to use than we are used to in other technologies.

Okay I just published a test mod for World in Conflict with disclaimers in the description because it won't work for anyone, including me until I write the code to load the new directory structure for it. And it could take awhile.

The original directory structure was:

• Rise of Nations\art\*
  
• Rise of Nations\Thrones and Patriots\data\*
  
• Rise of Nations\sounds\*
  
• Rise of Nations\mods\World In Conflict\tribes\*
  
• Rise of Nations\mods\World In Conflict\info.xml

The new directory structure is:

• Rise of Nations\mods\World In Conflict\art\*
  
• Rise of Nations\mods\World In Conflict\data\*
  
• Rise of Nations\mods\World In Conflict\sounds\*
  
• Rise of Nations\mods\World In Conflict\tribes\*
  
• Rise of Nations\mods\World In Conflict\info.xml

This should give you guys an idea of how mods will need to be converted. This way, no data will interfere with the original game data and that is the fundamental mantra of our mod manager. Now I just have to wire up the loader to pick up the data appropriately.

I made a mod about a decade ago called "The Great War" which was essentially a World War 1 modification to the game. It's actually hosted on RON Heavengames:

http://ron.heavengames.com/downloads/showfile.php?fileid=628&ci=646fc1511f1a254b5e658c8171272e1dYToxOntpOjA7YToyOntpOjA7czoxNDoiU2VhcmNoIFJlc3VsdHMiO2k6MTtzOjM4OiJsaXN0ZXIucGhwP3N0YXJ0PTAmYW1wO3NlYXJjaD1raW5ncm95MSI7fX0=

Would be great if you guys can test it and get it working again. I'd love to see my mini-creation from ten years ago run again!

Does the new structure allow for files such as interface.xml to work without replacing the core files? Also, new UI graphics files (eg iface_AS0_assets) can't be added either without replacing the old files.

You mention modding of replays. What exactly does this mean? Will there be a way to share to recorded games because I think that is something a lot of people would find useful to learn from as well as for enjoyment.

Morness, do U think we could add nations and units that actually work in multiplayer? Is that a possibility or is it out of the question?

Originally posted by super7700:

Does the new structure allow for files such as interface.xml to work without replacing the core files? Also, new UI graphics files (eg iface_AS0_assets) can't be added either without replacing the old files.

Yes, this is the idea :)

Originally posted by seifer008:

You mention modding of replays. What exactly does this mean? Will there be a way to share to recorded games because I think that is something a lot of people would find useful to learn from as well as for enjoyment.

Yes, sharing replays.

Originally posted by Beszedits:

Morness, do U think we could add nations and units that actually work in multiplayer? Is that a possibility or is it out of the question?

Mods and multiplayer have been very problematic. It is difficult to enforce that all players are using the same mods, but it should work in that case. I'm not familar with modding civs yet and I don't know how easy it is to add new civs in Rise.