This is a beginners guide for modding AoM Retold. This only includes the bare basics to start modding AoMR, so it is not a detailed guide for more advanced modding. Finding data.bar Right click "Age of Mythology: Retold" in your steam library games list, click "manage", then "browse game files". From there, go to: "Program Files (x86) Steam steamapps common Age of Mythology Retold game data" This is where you will find the "data.bar" file. (You can make a backup of this, for easy access. With every new update, you will have to do this again, though, so if you find this unnecessary, you dont have to do this) Opening data.bar and editing files within Here is the tool you need to open .bar files: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MiUzxQO8g-LkaeneV-VlZtsAugs3Ssq9/view Open the data.bar file with the resource manager. In here you will find the proto and techtree files (and much more) In order to edit them, you will have to extract these files with the "auto decompress compressed files" and "auto convert .xmb files to .xml" options ticked on. If you open files with any text editor; and if you see text instead of strange symbols, (the strange symbols means it is a compressed file) then you know that it was extracted correctly. Also make sure you extract them to the location you want them. I recommend a folder on your desktop, as a backup, just in case. (you will have to extract these files every update, but this time, you must do this, otherwise you cant edit the files) What is each file used for? Proto is for all the unit stats. Techtree is for all the age-ups, upgrades, relics, and more. For easier searching inside the proto/techtree files, you can place " name: " before any main entry you search for. For example: name:"archaicagegaia" -------------------------------------------------------------- God Power files are separate: there is one for each faction. These files contain *almost* all the code for God Powers; the only exception being GP cooldowns, which are in the techtree file. For example: Gaia Forest cooldown is under "archaicagegaia", and Tartarian Gate cooldown is under "mythicagehekate" (when extracting godpowers files, and converting them to .xml files, they will become .godpowers files; so f.e. "atlantean.godpowers") Playing with your mod To play with your mod, you will need to put your files in the correct folders. You can find the location ingame, by clicking on "mods" at the top of the main menu, then click on "mod manager" button in the bottom left of the screen, then select (any) one of your subscribed mods, then click on the "open directory" button. (again, bottom left) ---------------------------------------------------------- The resource manager should automatically extract files with the correct folder structure, but i will show the correct folder structure; and where to place your modded files: C: Users USERNAME Games Age of Mythology Retold 76561198153794031 mods local MODNAME game data gameplay ( => proto.xml / techtree.xml) For god powers, the files go into MODNAME game data gameplay god_powers ---------------------------------------------------------- If done correctly, you should find your mod in the ingame mod manager. Your (local) mod should even be enabled, by default. (the button to enable/disable it should be blue, instead of green) For testing, i recommend disabling all other mods, unless you want to see if it is compatible with other mods. Once you are satisfied with your mod, you may want to upload it. To do so, you have to open your mod manager, find your mod in the list and select it, then click on "view" in the bottom right corner; then click on "publish your mod". (again, bottom right) (this button will only appear if you selected your own "local" mod; when selecting a subscribed mod, the button will say "remove mod" instead) Merging There is also a "merge" method, that only overwrites specific lines of code. This is meant to make mods compatible with others. Changing the proto/techtree files and putting them in your mod, (in other words: the method i explained above) will make them incompatible with any other mod that also does this, as they overwrite the same files. (proto and techtree files) The merge method circumvents this. Another major advantage is that you wont have to update your mod, every time AoM:R receives an update. (unless it affects something you did) This is an advanced technique, and to do this properly, you will need the files from data.bar anyways, to know which specific lines of code you want to overwrite. I will not explain how to do this, as it is more advanced; check out mods from other players that use this method, and see how they did this. This way you will learn faster.. :P (i may add this later, or make a separate guide for merging, as i am still figuring this out myself, by looking at mods from other people) Outro This should be enough info, to at least get you started with modding AoMR, with the resource manager. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- There is also a new tool for modding AoM Retold, made by CryShana: https://github.com/CryShana/CryBarEditor/releases Here is a guide for CryShana's modding tool: (it is also a more detailed guide, in general, and it includes merging) https://github.com/CryShana/CryBarEditor/blob/main/Documentation/Modding.md Cryshana also recently made a video guide for the CryBar Editor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJrri-7-8i4 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below. (i may not be able to answer all questions though.. just sayin') Anyways... Good luck, and have fun modding! :)