First of all:
1. Install the game.
2. Chek if your game is base/gold or deluxe
If you have
Base or gold version install this patch.
http://www.spaceempires.net/downloads-details-528-SE4_Deluxe_Patch_1.94.html
It will convert your base/gold version to fully patched stock 1.94 Deluxe
If you allready have
deluxe version install this patch
http://spaceempires.net/downloads-details-529-SE4_Deluxe_Patch_1.94.html#dldetails
and then this one
http://spaceempires.net/downloads-details-539-SE4_Deluxe_Patch_1.95.html#dldetails
Important: TO INSTALL 1.95 YOU MUST HAVE 1.94 INSTALLED
-good. Next things are mods and since many of mods have all kinds of shit that that does not comes with a stock youll need
IMAGE MOD pack.
http://imagemod.spaceempires.net/download.php
or download it from torrent
http://bt.spaceempires.net/torrents-details.php?id=72
its 69.11 MB so you should not wait a week to have it downloaded
and new
component pack V33
http://www.spaceempires.net/downloads-file-692.html
-now youll want to see beter stars nebulas space objects and such so you need
Fyron's Quadrant Mod
http://bt.spaceempires.net/torrents-details.php?id=6 torrent
or direct
http://www.spaceempires.net/home/downloads-file-506.html
Beside the 1.94 which is installer everything above should be extracted in a main space empires IV folder OVERWRITING ALL.. if it doesn't offers you to overwrite then you are probably extracting in the wrong place
Now, before you download any mod first download
Fyron's Mod Launcher v.0.23 it will make a life easier
http://spaceempires.net/downloads-file-600.html
and extract it to game folder.
with this little app you can
manage/start/load your mods and it requires .NET FRAMEWORK 2.0
which i think everyone have already.
MOD LIST
Allright, this one shuld be the most recent one with codex type challenging AI (Updated 24.FEB.2014)
ReStock Mod Version 5.0
http://files.spaceempires.net/user/2911/ReStock5.7z
(optional)to play
ReStock_Mod_Version_5.0 beside all that i mentioned above you will also need
Master of Orion II Music Mod
http://spaceempires.net/downloads-details-625-Master_of_Orion_II_Music_Mod.html#dldetails
if you like Star trek then this one is for you:
AST Mod v2.0
http://www.spaceempires.net/downloads-file-947.html
If you like diversity then
Dark Nova 4.29
http://spaceempires.net/downloads-details-862-Dark_Nova_4.29.html#dldetails
and if you want to play stock 1.95 ONLY without any improvement but with kick ass AI then
TDM-ReMod Pack 1.1
http://spaceempires.net/downloads-file-904.html
and last and oldest kick ass AI if you prefer Fighters/missiles/carriers
Carrier Battles Mod 1.7
http://spaceempires.net/downloads-details-729-Carrier_Battles_Mod_1.7.html#dldetails
allright. this should be more less everything with AI