Q: How do I install the mod?

Once you've downloaded the .zip/.rar file from the Balance Mod website, you want to extract the file to your Space Empires GameTypes folder. All mods for SE:V are placed here:

    ..Space Empires V\GameTypes\

If you are using the steam version of Space Empires V, your install may be buried deep in a folder like this:

    C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\SpaceEmpiresV\SE5\GameTypes\Balance Mod v125+

If you extracted the mod correctly, the Balance Mod will have its own folder in the GameTypes folder. Inside the Balance Mod folder, you'll have a few files plus some subfolders such as Data, Empires, and Pictures.

    ..Space Empires V\GameTypes\Balance Mod v1XX+

The Balance Mod folder name usually includes its version "series". A series is a group of versions that all use the same mod folder (ie v120+) and are considered savegame/PBW compatible. Versions of the mod that break savegame compatibility get a new folder name. Savegame breakers are every 5th version, such as v1.15 or v1.20 etc.

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Q: How do I play SE:V using the mod?

After loading Space Empires V, when you select to start a New Game or use Quick Start you'll be presented a list of Game Types to choose from. To use the Balance Mod, select "Balance Mod v1.XX" to load the mod's data files. That's it. The game will now use the mod's data files. When you go to load a Balance Mod saved game, the mod's data files will automatically be loaded with the saved game.

If when you selected New Game or Quick Start, you received a message that the game couldn't find "Mod_Info.txt" with a file path, then you have not installed the mod correctly. Check to see if your Balance Mod folder is in the proper place as shown in the image above.

Please note that saved empire files, game setups and maps created in the standard version or another mod are not valid for the Balance Mod and will give you an error if you try to use them! It's a good idea to prefix your specific Balance Mod saved empire/setup/map files with "BM" or some other indicator. The Balance Mod v125+ series includes its own folders for save game setups, empires and maps to avoid this issue!

Q: How do I add a custom race to the Balance Mod?

There are two ways to go about adding a custom race to the Balance Mod:

1. If you have already installed the custom race to your default Empires folder then create a new folder in the Balance Mod Empires folder with the exact same name and copy the file [Race Name]_AI_Main.txt to that folder. Edit the following set of lines in [Race Name]_AI_main.txt to one of the 3 choices below:

    AI Script File                                := Default\Default_Main_Script.csf
    AI Script Empire Setup File                   := Default\Default_Setup_Script.csf

    AI Script File                                := Default\Default_Aggressive_Main_Script.csf
    AI Script Empire Setup File                   := Default\Default_Aggressive_Setup_Script.csf

    AI Script File                                := Default\Default_Defensive_Main_Script.csf
    AI Script Empire Setup File                   := Default\Default_Defensive_Setup_Script.csf

This will tell the AI to use one of the Balance Mod's default AI files with the ship set, making sure it works properly with the mod when the race is randomly selected as an AI opponent.

2. If you haven't installed the custom race to your default Empires folder, you can install it directly to your Balance Mod's Empires folder and then make the change to the [Race Name]_AI_Main.txt file as described in option 1. Note that the custom race will not be available for selection in the standard game if you choose this method.