How to install the AGCEEP on your computer
Note: If requested, I will happily delete this post from this thread.
Step one: Install EU2
Insert your game CD into a CD-ROM drive. A menu should pop up inviting you to install the game; if it doesn't, try viewing the CD drive.
It avoids MANY problems to uninstall your EU2 game and then reinstall from the CD, so I recommend you do it. Make a copy of your config.eu file if you like before you uninstall.
Step two: Install patches
Download an official patch for EU2 from Paradox. After downloading, open the file (it is an executable) or double-click on it.
An InstallShield Wizard will appear, and after a short time should invite you to hit 'next' to install the patch. You must agree to their terms to do so. It will then locate your EU2 game automatically and ask you to confirm the directory (hit 'Browse' if it somehow fails to do so, then find the directory yourself). After hitting 'next' again, it will automatically install the patch. After it finishes, hit 'finish' to close the Install program.
There are many places online to find patches; see my signature for the latest complete patch. AGCEEP is designed to work with the 1.08 patch (latest).
Step Three: Install Beta Patch
Download a beta patch from the links provided on the Paradox forums. Install it.
Beta patches include small changes that are being tested before being included (or not) in an official patch. Beta patches do not substitute for regular patches. That means you must still install the official patch (usually 1.08) before you install a beta patch.
You should install one of the latest beta patches; they are available from the forum (stickyed). At least April 2004 is needed to play the AGCEEP properly.
Step Four: Install AGCEEP
Download the AGCEEP file from the AGCEEP website. After downloading, open it (or double-click on the file) to bring up the AGCEEP Setup program. It should automatically locate your game; click 'next' to have it start. When it finishes, it will ask you if you want to have a shortcut on your desktop; this is optional but makes loading the game easier. It will also ask you which start menu you would like the AGCEEP in. You can ignore this if you don't understand it, as you won't need this to play. After hitting 'next', a final screen will pop up with a checked box asking if you want to run the AGCEEP. If you hit 'next', the installer will close and the game will begin. Otherwise, unclick the box.
Step Five: Install graphics mods (OPTIONAL)
If desired, download and install graphics mods such as the shields and flags mods in my signature (the EGUFSM). These mods usually require you to download the file, then open it with an extractor program such as 'WinZip' before extracting all the files within to your Europa Universalis 2 directory. Individual mods will vary.
Step Six: Play the AGCEEP!
To play an AGCEEP game, you must double-click on the 'AGCEEP' icon, not the 'Europa Universalis 2' icon that was installed with the game. The same goes for the Start Menu, if you load your games that way.
After selecting the icon, the Bink Video Player should show two movies (you can skip them by hitting ESC), then load the title screen of Europa Universalis.
After it finishes loading, you should see the two AGCEEP scenarios on the left, and a large number of shields (20) listed for each.
If you see the original scenarios on the left (e.g. Napoleon's Ambition, Fantasia, etc.) you have loaded EU2, not the AGCEEP mod.
I hope this helps!
