While Supreme Ruler 2010 offers a high level of modability, the range of data that can be changed and the choices during scenario design can be somewhat daunting. Nonetheless, the thrill of playing a map you have created is usually more than worth the effort. Over the next few sessions we will show you the benefits of diving into this work by taking you through the creation of a custom scenario. This process includes a number of mapediting tools and techniques, many of which can be applied separately to existing scenarios to create custom versions. Some sessions may also cover optional tools, which you may come back to as you become more familiar with the process or will perhaps omit entirely. The fact that scenarios are divided into so many parts allows for editing one part while borrowing the rest from existing scenarios. Default files for elements like tech tree and equipment file also offer shortcuts to scenario creation.

Continue with the tutorial ...

Grouping Regions is the easiest and quickest way to customize your game. Taking an existing scenario and grouping regions together can greatly change the dynamics of a map. Imagine playing in Europe, which is by design a 31 player map, and changing the playing field. With custom groupings you can put regions together and then play from the combined larger region. Instead of playing as Portugal, you can now play as the new region of Portugal AND Spain against any other grouped or ungrouped regions in the same map.

• You can finish playing a map sooner by starting with grouped regions.
• Some groupings will make it harder to play and some will make it easier. Giving a player two disconnected regions may prove to be more of a challenge. And, grouping two regions that already share a border may make it easier.
• See documentation provided with SR2010 for details on creating your custom groupings and visit our forums for support from the Supreme Ruler community.

Missions are single player games that have objectives that must be met to achieve a victory. These objectives can include:
- capturing a command unit,
- winning an election vote,
- defending your nation by a certain date,
- capturing a city, base, etc (by using the victory hex setting,
- and many more victory conditions.

• You can name your missions and create custom stories, and opening emails: a good place to state your mission objectives.
• Some missions can even be created by grouping regions together and then setting things in motion.
• Missions can also be created with treaties in place between regions and other starting conditions are customizable.
• We intend to release a new mission (or two) with each update, so if you have a good idea for a mission, let us know and maybe we'll create it for you.

Once you have mastered region groupings and creating missions your next challenge will be scenario design.

• You can use existing satellite imagery provided in the game or you can use your own imagery. The imagery doesn't have to be satellite imagery.
• You can use an existing scenario and modify it in several ways.. You can draw new borders, place or remove units and upgrades, rename cities. Whatever you desire.
• By spending time doing research for your scenario you can make it as accurate as possible. Or, you can be creative and come up with your own borders, and regional statistics to add a challenge to the map you are designing.
• If you have new ideas you can start with a new scenario. Choose you imagery, define the dimensions and paint the terrain. Then define your regions by drawing in some borders and add some population, cities and other upgrades. There's quite a bit more to it than we've outlined here but with the help of the documetation we have provided and the support you are bound to find on our forums, you'll be making maps in no time.

• A common Mod for the game is to add custom units. While the game already contains over 2000 entries, the file supports more than double this number and some units where only omitted due to lack of verifiable data. Fictional units are also popular such as super tanks or undetectable submarines.

• When making a custom equipment file, it is suggested to start with the existing list and append additional units to it. Some key things to be careful for;
- The “unique number” at the beginning of each line must not be duplicated or the second occurrence of this number will overwrite the first entry during import
- Certain data is optional such as engine horsepower or gun size
- Certain data may be zero for some units such as submerged attack for tanks or missile capacity for infantry.
- Certain data is required before the entry will be “imported” as valid by the game such as Fuel values and movement values.
- Certain data will stand out as an incorrect picture or no attack values.

• Data for creating units can be found at many common military enthusiasts’ websites.

The most current equipment list to use as a base for modding can be downloaded here.