So, a little how-to with JSGME and MadRussian mod.
1. First, you have to download JSGME from the respective site (
http://www.users.on.net/~jscones/software/products-jsgme.html), and install it. You have 2 possibilities, to install it in a central folder (ie, Programs) and create a shortcut for each game that you want to mod, or install it directly in the Histwar root folder. That´s what I did (pic1); it will ask you if you want you to create a desktop shortcut, you should do it; then the first time you run it, it asks you if you want to create the MODS folder (you should say OK), and that's it.
Notice that besides some new files (including JSGME.exe), a new folder is created in the Histwar root folder:
MODS. It is empty initially.
2. In the case of MadRussian's mods, all you have to do is unzip the respective zipped folder (Ex: "MadRussianTerrain") to the MODS folder, and that's it.
3. For other mods, the most important is to create a correct folder substructure inside this MODS folder (this is not necessary if the mod creator provides a zip file with the correct folder structure, like MadRussian). You have to create inside the MODS folder a folder for each mod. THEN, you have to create an "empty" subfolder tree exactly similar to the game's one, leading to where the modded files should reside
Then, you have to unzip the modded files to the correct subfolder.
4. Finally you run JSGME.exe (you should have an appropriately named shortcut in your desktop).
The first thing you should do is to create a snapshot of the original game's files. You can do this even right after installing JSGME, before creating any mod. If you created already a mod, it will show on the "available mods" column on the left. (see pic). You just have to select it and cklick the arrow to move it to the right column ("Activated mods"). Voila. Your mod is active. You want to revert back to the original files ? you just click it back to the left column.
The most important steps are nº 2 and 3. They become much easier if the mod creator makes a zip with the subfolders already in place (in this case, Madrussian has already done this, thanks.) Then we just need to unzip it directly to the MOD folder in Histwar, and it's ready to go.
Hope this helps.
I really feel that in games that do not have a "proprietary" mod management scheme, JSGME is extremely useful. Maybe it should be used by the HWLG mod community ?
(PS: the snapshot JSGME creates is complete. So, if after you create one, you play, make screenshots, etc, the save files,spyboard file, pics, etc, will show up as discrepancies, but that is expectable, not to worry)
Regards
(PS: Grog has made a nice walk-through, picture-heavy, here:
http://napbc.freeforums.org/post16092.html#p16092)