Rules.ini

The rules.ini (naming variations for expansions) is the core file of C&C modding. As indicated by the name, it contains the "rules" of the game – the properties of every object, weapon, warhead, etc. in the game. For any C&C game from Red Alert to Yuri's Revenge, this is the main modification file. For Generals and everything else based on the SAGE engine, the INI-system is more complex and wide-spread.

Disregarding the side functions of the other various INI files (like ai.ini or art.ini), there is no way to make any changes to the game other than what the rules.ini allows for¹. Not everything in the game is customizable. Features that cannot be modified are called "hardcoded" features.

File Locations

Game	Location	Notes
Red Alert	redalert.mix → local.mix
Tiberian Sun	tibsun.mix → local.mix	The patches add a new rules.ini to patch.mix
Firestorm	expand01.mix	rules-equivalent is called firestrm.ini, the mix also contains a new rules.ini for regular TS.
Red Alert 2	ra2.mix → local.mix
Yuri's Revenge	expandmd01.mix	Called rulesmd.ini, for mission disk.
Mental Omega	expandmo99.mix	Called rulesmo.ini, for Mental Omega.

Footnotes

¹ ↑ An exception to this would be pd's RockPatch.

See Also

• Art.ini
• Sound.ini
• CSF
  • CSF File Format
• Hardcoded features
• Rules(md).ini Sections
• Rules(md).ini Flags
• Lists of Applicable INI Flags