Show us how you manage your plugin folder
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TakemeThere, in SC4 - Custom Content
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Basically, it depends on what the mod is supposed to override. Sounds trivial, but it's really the rule to go by.
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Most mods will override in-game content (default content, Maxis content, 'Vanilla' content). In-game content loads with the game and, hence, before any plugin whatsoever. So if a mod overrides in-game content, it is sufficient to place it somewhere in your plugins folder.
Example 1: Terrain. Your terrain mod overrides what? Yup, Maxis terrain. Maxis terrain loads with the game. Plugins load after. So loading order is absolutely irrelevant for your terrain mod. Just relax, place it anywhere you want.
Example 2: Day 'n' Nite modd. This mod overrides what? Yup, Maxis nigth settings. I mean, how many night mode alteration mods do you have exactly? 10? 5? 3? No, only one. So place it anywhere and you're fine.
However, there are also mods that override other mods. This - and only this! - is where loading order is relevant at all.
Example 1: Uniform Streetlighting Mod (USL). The USL overrides what? Streetlights. Where do we have these? In the vanilla game, sure. BUT we also have these in the NAM! Indeed, the STEX description explicitly states: "USL adds new and replaces existing in-game and NAM T21 network lots responsible for appearance of street and roadsides, avenue medians, roadside light poles etc. " So it overrides the game and the NAM. To override the game, any location in your plugins folder would be fine. But to override the NAM, it needs to load after the NAM. So here you need to make sure that NAM loads before USL.
Example 2: Maxis Tree HD replacement. What does it override? Maxis trees. So put it anywhere and you're fine. What if you used other mods that override Maxis trees, though? Think about the SFBT Street Tree Mod, which overrides Maxis street trees with Cycledogg trees. If you want to keep the SFBT STreet Tree Mod, but have the trees replaced by HD girafe/Orange trees, you need to make sure that the SFBT Street Tree Mod loads first and the Maxis Tree HD Replacement mod after.
So you see, it's all just some basic common sense. Many mods out there are offered with a lot of zzz's where it's not needed. Sometimes it's just so the mod doesn't vanish somewhere among your other stuff. Follow the rule sketched above, and you should be fine.
All that zzz business has been blown up to insane proportions and turned into some kind of holy cult or wizardry, and now people feel insecure when the underlying pattern is actually dead simple.
Likewise, I recommend you ditch the totally unintuitive folder naming convention, all that senseless Z and underscore juggling:
Was that "zzzzz_____Mod" or "zz________Mod"? Or maybe "zzzzzzzzz____Mod"? Wait, how many underscores do I have? What I see last in the Windows Explorer loads first in game, or was it the other way around? Is "_____" three or four underscores? How about this: z01_NAM
z02_[mod that needs to override the NAM]
z02_[other mod that needs to override the NAM]
z02_[third mod that needs to override the NAM]
z03_[mod that needs to override both the NAM and any or all of the "z2" mods] Basically, you just sort by priority, and it's literally as easy as 1-2-3, PLUS it is shown in the Windows Explorer in exactly the same order as it is loaded by the game, and it is totally transparent and intuitive. You can also use numbers like z10-z20-z30, and if you need to wedge something between z10 and z20, you just use "z11". ------------------------- In your example, loading order should be like this: Maxis HD Tree Replacement: irrelevant, UNLESS you want it to override other stuff. Network Addon Mod: don't touch, the NAM guys know what they are doing and the installer needs to find it. SPAM: irrelevant UNLESS you use a traffic simulator that conflicts with the NAM z__NAM: unfortunate that the underscore juggling begins here, but leave it. Simfox Day'n'Nite mod: irrelevant. Terrain: irrelevant. USL: needs to load after NAM (and "z__NAM", to be sure - you could use "zz01__NAM" to be sure it loads after, and start using numbers starting from "zz01_" from this point onwards) Weather: I dunno what it does, honestly. My guess is that it's actually irrelevant, but it might have to load after your terrain mod. I hope this post was at least a bit helpful. My key point is that all this stuff is not some kind of dark magic, and it's made way more complicated than it needs to be.
Was that "zzzzz_____Mod" or "zz________Mod"? Or maybe "zzzzzzzzz____Mod"? Wait, how many underscores do I have? What I see last in the Windows Explorer loads first in game, or was it the other way around? Is "_____" three or four underscores? How about this: z01_NAM
z02_[mod that needs to override the NAM]
z02_[other mod that needs to override the NAM]
z02_[third mod that needs to override the NAM]
z03_[mod that needs to override both the NAM and any or all of the "z2" mods] Basically, you just sort by priority, and it's literally as easy as 1-2-3, PLUS it is shown in the Windows Explorer in exactly the same order as it is loaded by the game, and it is totally transparent and intuitive. You can also use numbers like z10-z20-z30, and if you need to wedge something between z10 and z20, you just use "z11". ------------------------- In your example, loading order should be like this: Maxis HD Tree Replacement: irrelevant, UNLESS you want it to override other stuff. Network Addon Mod: don't touch, the NAM guys know what they are doing and the installer needs to find it. SPAM: irrelevant UNLESS you use a traffic simulator that conflicts with the NAM z__NAM: unfortunate that the underscore juggling begins here, but leave it. Simfox Day'n'Nite mod: irrelevant. Terrain: irrelevant. USL: needs to load after NAM (and "z__NAM", to be sure - you could use "zz01__NAM" to be sure it loads after, and start using numbers starting from "zz01_" from this point onwards) Weather: I dunno what it does, honestly. My guess is that it's actually irrelevant, but it might have to load after your terrain mod. I hope this post was at least a bit helpful. My key point is that all this stuff is not some kind of dark magic, and it's made way more complicated than it needs to be.
Short and sweet about loading order.
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