Modding Support

Greetings, Corsairs!

Today is a historic day for modding in our project. As promised, we are officially opening access to the game's code. We have always believed that the life of this wonderful series is prolonged by a dedicated and unfading modding community.

Open Scripts

Starting today, the current version on Steam comes with an open Program folder. This means unlimited modding is available to you: you can change old logic or add completely new content to the game. But here in Age of Pirates, we have some features that differ from our big brother Caribbean Legend:

• We have only one script folder - it has become much easier to navigate, without the need to duplicate changes across multiple dialogue files.

• We moved all localization into separate.ini text files. Now you don't need to dig into the script code to translate the game or edit dialogues. (however, you will need an IDE for convenient navigation)

• The build will update automatically soon, opening all files for editing.

Tools and GitHub

Instructions on how to upload mods to Steam are available here. But we also want the entry threshold for authors to be minimal, therefore:

1. We have opened a public GitHub repository. If you want to help us with optimization or bug fixes - send your Pull Requests.

2. In our Discord, we will post our own plugin for working with the AoP code based on IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition along with a detailed setup guide.

3. We plan to turn our Discord server into a full-fledged knowledge base for modding. Within a month, we will start posting plugins and other development tools there, forming a complete mod-kit.

The New Order of Things

This is a fairly serious topic, so let's establish new rules of engagement.

For Players:

• Risks: Any mod carries the risk of bugs and crashes. Install them at your own risk.

• Tech Support: If a modded game lags or crashes - contact the mod author. We do not fix builds "broken" by mods.

• Support: Give likes in the Workshop! This is the best incentive for authors to develop the platform.

For Content Creators:

• Stability: The game does not yet have a modular system, so we recommend using the Whale Mod Loader. Also keep in mind that any of our official patches can break your mod.

• AddedMonetizationYou have the right to monetize your creations in any way, provided that the mod is available for download in our Steam Workshop .

• Conflicts: If your mod conflicts with someone else's - negotiate compatibility yourselves.

• Prospects: If your work is outstanding, we are open to discussing its integration into the main game.

• Copyright: Violating someone else's copyrights will lead to the mod's removal from the platform.

Developers' Commitments

We are also changing our approach to make it more convenient for you:

1. Patch Transparency: Every change will be accompanied by news. Patches might be released a bit less frequently but will become more predictable for modders.

2. AddedLegacy BranchesEvery major patch (starting from 1.0.3) will be available in a separate Steam branch. You will be able to play on the old version with your favorite mods while their authors prepare updates.

3. Refusal to Fix Saves: This is now a low priority for us, as even with encrypted scripts, there were traces of debuggers or hacking programs being used. If your save is broken (including due to mods or third-party programs), try reaching out to the community on Discord or the modder directly.

4. We will periodically select the best mods and highlight them in our official news.

Why Now?

The main reason for opening the scripts specifically in version 1.0.3 is the upcoming stable update 1.1.0 which will arrive in about a month, and the community has played enough of the current version and is eager to create and improve their favorite game. We encourage such zeal and want to support everyone in their endeavors in every possible way.

Recommended Mods

While you are preparing your massive expansions, we recommend checking out a couple of excellent works:

• An increase in the number of available main characters from the well-known modder View on Steam View on Steam

• For those who are not fond of the original Flying Dutchman model. View on Steam

• We can't help but note the efforts of the Chinese community in improving the translation thanks to Miria, which we will try to add in version 1.1.0 View on Steam

Hoist the sails, gentlemen. The Golden Age of Piracy is now truly yours!