How to start a mod via desktop shortcut?

[MattPilot]

Anybody know how to load Civ4 with a mod preloaded?

It sucks if i have to start up the game, choose a mod, restart the game, and then play.

Same with savegame files. You can't play your modded games safegames without reloading the entire game.

[Chronovore]

In the base directory for the game there is a shortcut called "_Civ4Config". Open that and go down to the [CONFIG] section. Go down a little farther and you'll see


; Specify a Mod folder (Mods\Mesopotamia), '0' for none
Mod = 0

This is where you can set the default mod and it will load every time you start Civ4. If you want to change it back just set it to 0 again.

[MattPilot]

hmm... is it not possible to create a desktop shortcut where you add a "-mymod" line after the .exe path?

[Chronovore]

Not that I know of, but perhaps there is a way to specify an ini file? I don't have enough knowledge of the command line options (or if there even are any).

If you can specify an ini file than you could have several inis for your mods and have shortcuts that point to the inis to start a mod on game startup.

[Dale]

There's a command line option for the exe so you can create shortcuts direct into mods:

mod="MODS\MyMod"

Just had it confirmed for you.

Dale

[DemonFox]

Dale,

Can you start more than one mod this way? Perhaps something like
mod="MODS\MyMod; MODS\MyMod2"

[Dale]

No. Civ4 does NOT support the loading of two seperate mods together. The potential for conflicting files is too great. EG: Do you take Civ4UnitInfos.xml from mod1 or mod2?

Dale

[Backpack]

ahhh, but wouldn't it be nice if it was able to take them in order, process each file, then let each Mod in order override declarations of previously loaded ones.

It may not work with generic mods, but all mods written to a 'standard' could be loadable that way.... now all someoen has to do is write a wrapper mod that can load things like that.