First launch and settings - JakeKen25/Privateer GitHub Wiki

First Run Configuration appears before initial setup is complete. Confirm the following locations and backup options.

• Rule the Waves 3 location: the game installation folder containing Data. A typical Steam location is C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Rule the Waves 3.
• Save game location: the parent Save folder containing Game1, Game2, and the other slots. A typical location is C:\Users\<name>\Documents\My Games\Rule the Waves 3\Save.
• Create backups: enabled by default. This controls whether an in-place save retains a complete copy of the original campaign folder.
• Backup location: optional. Leave it blank to retain backups beside the original save folder, or choose a separate directory. Turning backups off disables the location controls.

Privateer checks the standard Steam installation and current user's Documents save locations. It fills a field only when the standard folder exists; use Browse for other drives, Steam libraries, or custom locations.

Select Save configuration to finish setup. Skip for now postpones it, so the dialog may appear again on the next launch.

Open Settings at the bottom right of the main window to change these preferences later. In Settings, Apply saves preferences immediately; Cancel leaves them unchanged. These preferences are separate from campaign edits.

In the 1.0.1 Beta prerelease, Ship Spawner's Import from SDF file uses these settings for its two source choices:

• Custom designs: the Custom Files folder beside the configured Save folder. Select Save, not Custom Files, in Settings. If this setting is blank, Privateer derives the location from the loaded campaign.
• Installed designs: the Designs folder inside the configured game installation. Set Rule the Waves 3 location to the game root, not its Designs subfolder.

If a folder is missing, Privateer shows its expected location so you can correct Settings. The importer supports current SDF exports and the common older layout used by installed ship designs; unknown layouts and non-ship designs remain unsupported. SDF import is experimental across ship types, especially carriers. Back up the campaign and verify imported ships in RTW3.

Enable Dark mode in Settings and choose Apply. The theme changes immediately and is remembered on the next launch. Clear the checkbox and Apply to return to light mode, the default. Cancel leaves the theme unchanged.

The main window, managers, text areas, menus, and striped tables use the selected theme. Windows-owned file pickers, message dialogs, and title bars may follow the Windows theme instead. This preference does not change game saves.

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