Welcome to modding in Age of Empires III!
Mods in Age of Empires III fall into three distinct categories: Custom Scenarios, Custom Maps and Data Mods.
Custom Scenarios
Custom scenarios are created using the Scenario Editor, which is accessed from in-game.
Scenarios can be created for a range of different purposes. For example, they can be used to test game strategies, create scenes for screenshots and tell stories. The scenarios created from the editor can contain any asset present in the game. Using the Scenario Editor, players can generate custom content from existing assets and simple scripting through the use of triggers.
For documentation, see: Custom Scenarios
Custom Maps
Custom maps are randomly generated maps that are created using an XS script file.
Custom maps can be used in Multiplayer and Skirmish lobbies.
For documentation, see: Custom Maps
Data Mods
Data mods make modifications to the game data and can do a whole variety of things: from adjusting unit stats, to changing the visual appearance of things or displaying different text in the game.
For documentation, see: Data Mods
Have additional questions about modding? You can ask questions and talk with other mod creators in the following places: