Co-op (Floris_Evolved) mod setup guide without manual port forwarding

Guide on how to setup the Floris_Evolved mod without doing any manual port forwarding in your router settings

Introduction

Recently, me and my buddy tried to setup this co-op mod for Warband called "Floris_Evolved", and we had some exhausting difficulties, especially with the port forwarding part. We noticed that the official installation guide (official mod page and a youtube video, with the louda55 jazz playing in the background) is kind of clunky and outdated. We've spent quite a bit of time to get this mod working, and thought that it would be correct to share our experience and knowledge in a guide to make this process easier for our fellow Warband enthusiasts in the future.

Setup

1. Install "Mount & Blade: Warband" via Steam
2. Download "Floris Evolved 1.10 Installer" and "Floris Evolved 1.11b Patch _Hot Fix_" from here
3. Launch "Floris_Evolved_1.10_Installer" and install
4. Extract the "Patch_1.11b" folder, then copy the "Floris_Evolved" folder from the extracted "Patch 1.11b" folder and paste it to your Warband modules folder: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\MountBlade Warband\Modules". Make sure you replace the existing "Floris_Evolved" folder there
5. Download and install "ZeroTier" application from here[www.zerotier.com]. This will replace the need for you and your friend to port forward the 7240, 7241 and 7242 ports manually in your router settings. This application is an alternative to the more known "Hamachi". The reason we use "ZeroTier" is that "Hamachi" doesn't work properly with "Mount & Blade: Warband" mods
6. Once you downloaded "ZeroTier", launch it. A small "ZeroTier" application icon will appear under your hidden icons
7. Now decide which one of you and your buddy will be playing the campaign, and which one of you will be joining the battles as one of the party soldiers. The one that plays the campaign will always be hosting the server before the battle begins
8. Once you decided, the one who is going to be the host needs to go to the "ZeroTier" website and sign up. Once you done that, log in to your user in the "ZeroTier" website
8. You should now be in the "my.zerotier.com" page and should be able to see the "Create A Network" button. Press on it
9. A new network should appear under your created networks. Press on it and you will be taken to the network modification page
10. In the "Settings" tree, "Basics" branch, you should be able to see the "Access Control" setting. Select "Public"
11. Copy the "Network ID". You can find it at the very top of the page you're currently at
12. In your Windows taskbar, under the hidden icons, press on the "ZeroTier" application icon and select "Join New Network", then paste in the "Network ID" you copied previously
13. Once you done that, send the copied "Network ID" to your buddy. They have to do the "Step 12", too
14. Now launch the mod with the "Floris_Evolved" icon that was created on your desktop (IMPORTANT: from now on, when you want to play the mod, both you and your buddy has to launch Warband only with this icon. The mod will not work if you launch Warband via Steam. However, if you want to simply play Warband on your own, feel free to launch it via Steam)
15. In case it asks you for the activation key, use the key that you used to activate your Warband copy on Steam, or any other Warband activation key that you have (or find it)
16. Once the mod launches, the host needs to select the "Start A New Game" option. Create your character, then go through the classic "bandit ambush" tutorial. Once you've done that and you're able to free roam the Warband map, press "Camp", then "Mod Options" and turn on the "Enable Battle Time" option (remember, only the host needs to do this, as they're the only one who plays the campaign)
17. Now, whenever you're in a dialogue where you're about to start a battle, press the "Give Me Time To Save" option. This will save the game right before your battle. Then prompt the dialogue again and press the "Setup Multiplayer Battle" and then the "Quit Game (Will Not Save)" option. Then select "Multiplayer", then "Host A Game", then "Start Map"
18. Once you hosted the server, select your faction and the troop that you want to control (you will probably want to control the main troop that you're playing the campaign with, and your buddy, who is joining, will want to play the second best)
19. Your buddy should join the server by pressing "Multiplayer", "Join A Game", then change the "Source" to "Local Area Network". They should then be able to see the hosted server. Once they joined, press "Start Battle", and the battle will start
20. Once the battle is over, press "Esc" button, then "End Battle". In the main Warband menu, press "Load Game", then select your save. Once you're back to your campaign, you will be at the same place you've been before battle. Press on the same opponent that you had your battle with, then select "Use Multiplayer Battle Results". The results of the battle that you just played on the hosted server will be loaded and the outcome will be shown on your campaign screen
21. From here on, you should be good to go!

Parting words

If there are any errors or if you have any questions, please leave a comment. We also might update this guide with more visual stuff (images, videos) in the future.

I hope this helps! Good luck and make sure to drink from as much skulls as possible.

[Zoran]

Thanks for writing this guide, spent like 2 hours trying to figure it out and this really helped ♥

[Hak]

Yes, i fixed the issue. If anyone reads, you need to create rule through windows firewall for udp, 7240 port if you are host.

[j]

what's up, Hak! did you set the Access Control of the ZeroTier Network to "Public"? also, does your friend's Address and IP appear under the "Members" list in the Network settings?

[Hak]

I'm sure we connected to zeroTier with my friend but server is not showing up, i tried dedicated server and manual server inside the game, it doesnt shows on local area network. Any solutions?

[eq]

Hey D0m, using your own activation code might not work. Try to find the code that works somewhere on the internet (youtube videos, forums), one of those codes will surely work.

[Here's.. Jonny]

When I boot the game through the Floris_Evolved icon on my desktop, the game asks me for an activation code, upon inputting the code I receive 'Acitivation Denied!' and the same if I attempt to activate 'manually' through the link - any ideas??

[Asseasiedistrucc]

Great guide, thank you so much.