Beginner Tutorial

Step 1: Setup Game folders

Before you start working with the Editor you should set the Game-Path of the C&C Edition you want to edit by pressing the “Games” Button. There you can also add any Custom Mod Folder by pressing “Add custom Mod”

If you add a custom Mod, the Editor takes a Snapshot of the original ini-Files. More info about Original files handling.

Step 2: Locate the Game Files

  1. Find your C&C installation folder.
    • Example paths:
      • C:\Westwood\Tiberian Sun\
      • Or the folder where your mod is installed (if using a standalone mod).
  2. Locate the following files:
    • rules.ini – controls game logic, unit stats, weapons, building behavior, etc.
    • art.ini – handles graphical definitions like SHP animations, voxel models, and effects.
    • ai.ini – handles the artificial intelligence.

If these files don’t exist, the game might be reading from a .mix archive. You can create a new file in the C&C Rules Editor or you can extract them using tools like XCC Mixer.

Step 3: Understand File Structure Basics

rules.ini Sections:
  • [General] – Game-wide settings.
  • [VehicleTypes] – List of vehicles (same pattern for infantry/buildings).
  • [GDI], [Nod] – Faction-specific settings.
  • [XXX] – Individual unit/structure definitions.

Example unit:

[GDIAPC]
Name=APC
Image=APC
Armor=light
Primary=Minigun
Cost=600
art.ini Sections:
  • [XXX] – Matches the Image= tag from rules.ini.
  • Defines graphical settings like voxel files, animations, shadows.

Example:

[APC]
Voxel=yes
Remapable=yes

Step 4: Save and Test

  1. Save the INI files in the game-folder
  2. Launch the game.
  3. Play a skirmish or custom mission to test your changes.

Original files handling

The Rules Editor always shows the “original” values in a separate column. It takes these original values from the original file (you can see the path to the original file under the menu bar of the Rules Editor)