EP XPMOD Information
Posted: 28 Oct 2017, 06:41
As a new feature of EP4, XPMOD can now be launched from EP Launcher Tools, or directly from age3xpmod.exe (bundled with EP installation).
I would like to share some details here on how EP implements the XPMOD functionality, and why it is the best implementation around. I consider the file swapping technique (ex. ESO-A) to be an unsafe method. Moving files around seems to be a common cause of permission errors or red flags for antivirus software. Messing with original RE data in this manner can potentially cause RE to become nonfunctional, or permanently stuck in XPMOD-mode. This is something I absolutely want to avoid on EP, which is why I was wary of including this feature in the way it's traditionally been utilized.
And this is why I took a different approach. Instead of creating logic for swapping the files, which couldn't ever realistically work in 100% of cases, I've created a new, separate exe launcher for the XPMOD, based on standard RE TAD launcher. This means that the XPMOD bundled with EP works very similarly to EP/TR patches, in that it acts as an expansion-style mod, loading its own data. Therefore, by using EP XPMOD (be it from EP Launcher Tools, or directly from age3xpmod.exe), you run no risk of negatively affecting any other version of AoE3 that you have currently installed. Furthermore, there's also nothing you need to "toggle off" after using the EP XPMOD. This is actually a significant improvement in convenience as well, both for new players (who might find a toggle confusing), and for veteran players who want to help the newbies out (and deserve the most convenient way to do that).
Bottom line: the recommend way to get XPMOD for anyone should from now on be installing EP. It is safer and more convenient than any other implementation currently available on the market.
Yet in case you do find an issue with EP XPMOD, you can let us know in this thread!
I would like to share some details here on how EP implements the XPMOD functionality, and why it is the best implementation around. I consider the file swapping technique (ex. ESO-A) to be an unsafe method. Moving files around seems to be a common cause of permission errors or red flags for antivirus software. Messing with original RE data in this manner can potentially cause RE to become nonfunctional, or permanently stuck in XPMOD-mode. This is something I absolutely want to avoid on EP, which is why I was wary of including this feature in the way it's traditionally been utilized.
And this is why I took a different approach. Instead of creating logic for swapping the files, which couldn't ever realistically work in 100% of cases, I've created a new, separate exe launcher for the XPMOD, based on standard RE TAD launcher. This means that the XPMOD bundled with EP works very similarly to EP/TR patches, in that it acts as an expansion-style mod, loading its own data. Therefore, by using EP XPMOD (be it from EP Launcher Tools, or directly from age3xpmod.exe), you run no risk of negatively affecting any other version of AoE3 that you have currently installed. Furthermore, there's also nothing you need to "toggle off" after using the EP XPMOD. This is actually a significant improvement in convenience as well, both for new players (who might find a toggle confusing), and for veteran players who want to help the newbies out (and deserve the most convenient way to do that).
Bottom line: the recommend way to get XPMOD for anyone should from now on be installing EP. It is safer and more convenient than any other implementation currently available on the market.
Yet in case you do find an issue with EP XPMOD, you can let us know in this thread!
After using it, close the game and launch whatever patch you want to be on.