Cradle 5 Download:

Without further ado, the Cradle 5 mod is now available for Download from Dropbox (link):

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ejncjs3hoqwj24wdym6sp/Cradle5.zip?rlkey=eyghcq3f7qkrnirnmxlj1j0y7&st=hgimgziz&dl=0

Installation instructions are fairly simple:

1) Unzip the download into your CtP2 Game folder. If you did it properly, you will see a folder named "Cradle5" at the same level as the "Scenarios" or "ctp2_data" folders.

2) Inside the "Cradle5" folder you will see a file named "userprofile.txt", which needs to be copied into the ctp2_program\ctp\ directory. WARNING: You may want to preserve the userprofile.txt file which is already present in the ctp\ directory, so rename the existing one (to something like "userprofile (original).txt") BEFORE you copy in the new file.

3) Start up a session of CtP2 as you would normally, and it will automatically begin with the Cradle movie (hit <enter> to bypass) and start-up screen.

Additional Items:

- Cradle 5 does not have an instruction manual but there is a document called "Cradle5 posts at Apolyton" in the Cradle5/Documents folder. As the name implies it is a compilation of all the posts made to the Cradle 5 development thread at Apolyton, and is text searchable. In addition, the in-game "Great Library" includes detailed descriptions of all the many new units, features, and concepts.

- Inside the Cradle5 directory there is a file called "Cradle 5 Tech tree.bmp", which should prove very useful. It includes a "Legend" at the center/right/top of the document.

- Swap File System: The Swap File System is NOT present in this initial download of Cradle 5. It's designed to improve immersion by modifying text message and some graphics as a prelude to the Modern Era, and - once implemented - will be enacted by a single-click executable after the player has researched the "Age of Reason". This should have minimal impact on your game because either it will be included with a later "bug-fixed" version of Cradle5 or else (assuming no bug fixes) it will be save-game compatible with this version of Cradle5.

- Soundtrack: What would CtP2 be, without the music? The soundtrack is in the Cradle5 directory.