1. Bug Fix (by Alex Zhao)
2. Better Camera Mod
3. Unique Unit Pack – Elite Armors
4. Make Them Unique (MTU) – Core
5. MTU – Respec Characters Submod
6. Puzzle Illustration (character art)
7. TROM – The Rule of Might (overhaul)
8. TROM + MTU Compatibility Patch ✅
New units, unit rebalances, and battle overhauls (like Radious’ Total War Mod or Unit Balance - Realistic) must be carefully sequenced. A common crash occurs when two unit mods try to assign the same internal unit ID.
Before you start dragging and dropping, memorize these three rules. They solve 90% of crash issues.
Changes to the user interface, camera zoom, graphics presets, and lighting do not affect database tables like units or buildings. They are highly compatible and can safely load after core scripts.
If your game crashes on launch or when starting a campaign:
Disclaimer: Three Kingdoms modding has slowed since the end of official support, but many major mods like TUP remain active. Always check the "Last Updated" date on the Steam Workshop; mods not updated for the latest game patch may require a specific "Legacy" version of the game to run.
In Total War: Three Kingdoms, your mod load order determines which game files take priority when multiple mods attempt to change the same data. Because the game loads mods from top to bottom, mods placed lower in the list will overwrite those above them, effectively having "higher" priority. The Core Hierarchy: Recommended Load Order Structure total war three kingdoms mod load order
While every mod list is unique, following this general structure—from top (loads first, lower priority) to bottom (loads last, higher priority)—will resolve the majority of crashes and conflicts: Foundational Mods & Core Objects
Place utility mods like The Gathering: Core Object here. These often provide the framework for other mods to function. Major Overhauls
Large-scale changes like TROM (The Rule of Might) or Radious should be placed here. They rewrite many game systems, so they need to load before more specific "tweaks". Character & Unit Additions
Mods like Make Them Unique (MTU) or Total Unique Pack (TUP) follow. If using a "TROM + TUP" patch, ensure it is placed below the main TROM files to properly bridge them. Visual & UI Enhancements
Place Puzzle Illustration, reskins, or UI tweaks toward the bottom to ensure their art assets are the ones that appear in-game. English Translation Packs New units, unit rebalances, and battle overhauls (like
If you are using mods originally in other languages (like certain TUP or Wu Kingdaissance components), place the English Pack directly below the main mod to ensure it overwrites the original text. Compatibility Patches & Sub-mods
Always place patches (e.g., "Mod A compatibility for Mod B") below both original mods. This ensures the patch has the final word on any shared data. Essential Tools for Managing Mods
Total War: Three Kingdoms , managing your mod load order is critical because the game typically loads data from top to bottom, meaning mods at the
of your list often take priority and overwrite those above them if they contain the same file names. Core Load Order Logic
While many modders name their files alphabetically to ensure they load correctly by default, complex overhauls require manual adjustment. Use the following general structure to minimize crashes and conflicts: Changes to the user interface, camera zoom, graphics
Load from the top down:
Bottom-most mod wins when two mods edit the same file.
Let’s apply this to a realistic, stable mod list for a player who wants a harder, more beautiful, but vanilla-adjacent campaign.
If you place the TROM + MTU Patch above TROM, the patch won’t work. If you place MTU below TROM, you’ll lose TROM’s character skill tweaks. The order above is correct.
Managing the mod load order in Total War: Three Kingdoms involves a few steps: