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Decided to make a thread for the first two Age of Wonders games, since I am one of the people (at GoG) still playing PBEM in 2020. This will be a convenient repository of all the most relevant mods, bugfixes, utility programs, modding tools, and will hopefully recruit for some PBEMs too. Can always use new players.
IMPORTANT STUFF
Fix for the AoW1 showscene crash
https://github.com/int19h/aow-patch/releases
The unofficial, but universally acclaimed 1.4 patch for AoW2. A must-have that restores basic features such as racially unique priests, as well as refining all sorts of minor things like quest rewards.
http://aow2.heavengames.com/downloads/showfile.php?fileid=661
The MPE mod for AoW2. Like AoW1's Warlock's Ruleset, this mod has .exe changes no-one else understands how to do, includes the best modding tool, and has loads of fixed bugs and added mechanics. An absolute must-have. Installs atop 1.4 IIRC.
http://aow2net.azurewebsites.net/MPE/Changes#2.0.0.mod
Performance improvement for aow2 on Windows 10
https://github.com/narzoul/DDrawCompat/releases
MULTIPLAYER FOR AOW1 AND AOW2
AOW1 MODS AND MODDING:
LESS IMPORTANT THINGS:
IMPORTANT STUFF
Fix for the AoW1 showscene crash
https://github.com/int19h/aow-patch/releases
The unofficial, but universally acclaimed 1.4 patch for AoW2. A must-have that restores basic features such as racially unique priests, as well as refining all sorts of minor things like quest rewards.
http://aow2.heavengames.com/downloads/showfile.php?fileid=661
The MPE mod for AoW2. Like AoW1's Warlock's Ruleset, this mod has .exe changes no-one else understands how to do, includes the best modding tool, and has loads of fixed bugs and added mechanics. An absolute must-have. Installs atop 1.4 IIRC.
http://aow2net.azurewebsites.net/MPE/Changes#2.0.0.mod
Performance improvement for aow2 on Windows 10
https://github.com/narzoul/DDrawCompat/releases
MULTIPLAYER FOR AOW1 AND AOW2
Age of Wonders 1 Discord Server
https://discord.gg/sAF2G6p
Age of Wonders 2 Discord servers
https://discord.gg/dz3mvfrycS
https://discord.gg/ZSssHQmvMF
The PBEM Wrapper, which works for AoW1, AoW2:WT, AoW2:SM, and the AoW2:SM MPE mod. Treats each separately. If you have problems using it, RTFM first, but feel free to ask me, as there as many details one can run into.
http://aow.heavengames.com/downloads/showfile.php?fileid=1122
Here is a youtube tutorial I made showing how to install it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj12JJ9d-7o
https://discord.gg/sAF2G6p
Age of Wonders 2 Discord servers
https://discord.gg/dz3mvfrycS
https://discord.gg/ZSssHQmvMF
The PBEM Wrapper, which works for AoW1, AoW2:WT, AoW2:SM, and the AoW2:SM MPE mod. Treats each separately. If you have problems using it, RTFM first, but feel free to ask me, as there as many details one can run into.
http://aow.heavengames.com/downloads/showfile.php?fileid=1122
Here is a youtube tutorial I made showing how to install it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj12JJ9d-7o
AOW1 MODS AND MODDING:
DevEdit, the AoW1 modding tool.
http://aow.heavengames.com/downloads/showfile.php?fileid=1222
Guide for how to hex edit Age of Wonders 1
https://aow.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/forums/display.cgi?action=ct&f=14,2663,,60
My own Ziggurat Engine Mod, which is now being used and patched by a multiplayer community on the discord.
Despite trying to improve balance, it also introduces some more diverse unit designs and many thematic additions.
Combines standard old ruleset modding with hex editing of AOWEpack.dpl, as seen in AoW+ and AoWx.
http://aow.heavengames.com/downloads/showfile.php?fileid=1231
AoW+, a 2020 hex edit of the game engine. The guy doing this is a Singleplayer-only type, so it's not to my taste, but it does make the campaign WAY more interesting to play. This kind of .exe mod can be mix-and-matched with ruleset file changes
http://aow.heavengames.com/downloads/showfile.php?fileid=1224
http://aow.heavengames.com/downloads/showfile.php?fileid=1230
New hex edit mod, AoWx by IniochReborn.
Should be more fun / less 'gritty' than AoW+, and has better balance concepts in general.
http://aow.heavengames.com/downloads/showfile.php?fileid=1222
Guide for how to hex edit Age of Wonders 1
https://aow.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/forums/display.cgi?action=ct&f=14,2663,,60
My own Ziggurat Engine Mod, which is now being used and patched by a multiplayer community on the discord.
Despite trying to improve balance, it also introduces some more diverse unit designs and many thematic additions.
Combines standard old ruleset modding with hex editing of AOWEpack.dpl, as seen in AoW+ and AoWx.
http://aow.heavengames.com/downloads/showfile.php?fileid=1231
AoW+, a 2020 hex edit of the game engine. The guy doing this is a Singleplayer-only type, so it's not to my taste, but it does make the campaign WAY more interesting to play. This kind of .exe mod can be mix-and-matched with ruleset file changes
http://aow.heavengames.com/downloads/showfile.php?fileid=1224
http://aow.heavengames.com/downloads/showfile.php?fileid=1230
New hex edit mod, AoWx by IniochReborn.
Should be more fun / less 'gritty' than AoW+, and has better balance concepts in general.
Old map pack / campaign / mod thread from 2012:
https://rpgcodex.net/forums/threads/age-of-wonders-community-content-pack.79063/page-2
Warlock's Ruleset, the most important AoW1 mod traditionally. Includes .exe modifications no-one else knew how to do for 19 years, until AoW+ came along in 2020 that is.
http://aow.heavengames.com/downloads/showfile.php?fileid=810
Lighthawk's Ruleset, which adds a lot of special named units, AFAIK, and builds on Warlock's Ruleset.
http://aow.heavengames.com/downloads/showfile.php?fileid=825
Thirsk's AoW Enhanced.
http://aow.heavengames.com/downloads/showfile.php?fileid=1177
Scroll of Swiftness, a utility to add extra hotkeys to the game. Courtesy of a fellow Codexer, Lagi.
http://aow.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/forums/display.cgi?action=ct&f=14,2658,,60
Lagi's edits to certain graphics for AoW, such as putting stripes on the Salamander so it doesn't look like a yellow blob, making the Frostling flag teal instead of a blue so faded it looked like the grey indie flag, and a snowy graphic for dwarven hamlets, which previously looked the same as on grassland (triggered me so much when I noticed it).
https://af.gog.com/forum/age_of_wonders_series/age_of_wonders_1_new_graphics?as=1649904300
The Unofficial Patch 1.5, sequel to 1.4. I haven't properly tried it out yet, not sure if it's a musthave like 1.4, but it certainly adds a great deal of new graphics for places and units. It was planned to be gigantic, and was eventually released 10 years later with 30-40% completion and no changelog (which makes me rage).
http://aow.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/forums/display.cgi?action=ct&f=29,5651,,60
Upatch 1.5, but as an MPE submod. I did mention MPE's excellent, very good modding tool, right? I only noticed this while making this list, as it was released a couple days ago. Looks like it's time to try out UPatch 1.5.
http://aow2.heavengames.com/downloads/showfile.php?fileid=1197
Upatch 1.6 is in the works - on this discord server https://discord.gg/UU9AExk7pW
The Groll is active in these aow2 servers and is making new maps - huge news as he is an exceptional mapmaker.
https://rpgcodex.net/forums/threads/age-of-wonders-community-content-pack.79063/page-2
Warlock's Ruleset, the most important AoW1 mod traditionally. Includes .exe modifications no-one else knew how to do for 19 years, until AoW+ came along in 2020 that is.
http://aow.heavengames.com/downloads/showfile.php?fileid=810
Lighthawk's Ruleset, which adds a lot of special named units, AFAIK, and builds on Warlock's Ruleset.
http://aow.heavengames.com/downloads/showfile.php?fileid=825
Thirsk's AoW Enhanced.
http://aow.heavengames.com/downloads/showfile.php?fileid=1177
Scroll of Swiftness, a utility to add extra hotkeys to the game. Courtesy of a fellow Codexer, Lagi.
http://aow.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/forums/display.cgi?action=ct&f=14,2658,,60
Lagi's edits to certain graphics for AoW, such as putting stripes on the Salamander so it doesn't look like a yellow blob, making the Frostling flag teal instead of a blue so faded it looked like the grey indie flag, and a snowy graphic for dwarven hamlets, which previously looked the same as on grassland (triggered me so much when I noticed it).
https://af.gog.com/forum/age_of_wonders_series/age_of_wonders_1_new_graphics?as=1649904300
The Unofficial Patch 1.5, sequel to 1.4. I haven't properly tried it out yet, not sure if it's a musthave like 1.4, but it certainly adds a great deal of new graphics for places and units. It was planned to be gigantic, and was eventually released 10 years later with 30-40% completion and no changelog (which makes me rage).
http://aow.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/forums/display.cgi?action=ct&f=29,5651,,60
Upatch 1.5, but as an MPE submod. I did mention MPE's excellent, very good modding tool, right? I only noticed this while making this list, as it was released a couple days ago. Looks like it's time to try out UPatch 1.5.
http://aow2.heavengames.com/downloads/showfile.php?fileid=1197
Upatch 1.6 is in the works - on this discord server https://discord.gg/UU9AExk7pW
The Groll is active in these aow2 servers and is making new maps - huge news as he is an exceptional mapmaker.
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