how do i install mods

Based on your OS, the Mods folder is located in:

Vista:
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\

XP:
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\

AppData is hidden by default, so be sure you have "Show hidden" enabled in explorer. You can also launch the game, and go to Options > Mods > Show mod path to see where it would be for you.

Then you extract the mods into that path, preserving all the folders. The game looks for folder names inside \Sins of a Solar Empire\Mods for the mod name. For example, a mod talled "Test" would be ...\Sins of a Solar Empire\Mods\Test and would show up as Test in-game.

Inside the specific mod folder you will need to have the same folder structure as the installation folder of the game. That is, you will need to have various folders: GameInfo, String, Textures, Window, etc etc - whatever comes with the mod.

Generally, most mods are packaged so that you only need to extract into the general ...\Sins of a Solar Empire\Mods path and it will be fine. Just make sure your WinZip/WinRar is set to extract folder names, which should be on by default.

I looked in my Application Data folder and there is no folder labeled "Ironclad Games" What do I do in this case?

assuming you have sins 1.181/entrenchment 1.041,  the Mods NEED to be placed here for xp
C:\Documents and Settings\'user name'\Local Settings\Application Data\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Mods-v1.181
C:\Documents and Settings\'user name'\Local Settings\Application Data\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Mods-entrenchment v1.041

or here for vista/windows 7
C:\Users\'user name'\AppData\Local\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Mods-v1.181
C:\Users\'user name'\AppData\Local\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Mods-Entrenchment v1.041


NOTE the first two folders after the 'user name' are hidden , so to see them you must first click on 'tools' then 'folder options', then 'view', then click on 'show hidden files& folders' then click ok, then you will be able to browse your want to the folder. I suggest when you find the folder that you create a shortcut to it on the desktop

NOTE 2 the 'user name' in the above paths is your WINDOWS login user name, eg Administrator

and if the mod you want to use is from an EARLIER sins/entrenchment version place the mod in the mods folder FOR THAT version eg mods-entrenchment v1.03, then download and run my mods updater from the latest version archive which will have the same number as the vanilla sins version number, and AFTER updating the mod(s) to the current version for any mods of pre 1.04 entrenchment ALSO run the manifest maker on brush and ENTITY manifests on EACH of the mods

harpo

oh wow thanks. I was looking in the wrong place. The mod ive downloaded, does it have to be "un-zipped", or whatever the appropriate term is for it, and then placed in the mod folder?

yes

I put them into the game specific folders and they showed up but the game stopped responding when i said accept but when i put them all in the general mod folder and remove them from the others they dont show up.  what should i do?

http://soase.weebly.com/placing-mods.html

What mod for what expansion?