When I play 1776 I play it mostly in the 3D view but in my opnion the graphics are just awful.  I noticed that there is a graphics mod at Gamesquad which I downloaded but have not yet installed as I am uncertain about the procedure.  Specifically, from the Gamesquad site.

1776/1812/FIW Graphics : Extract these files to your main game directory, being sure to choose the "Use folder names" option

Looking at my install of 1776 I see a 1776 folder.  In this folder I see 6 more folders named from right to left, "Background" to "Snow".  Is the Campaign 1776 folder the main game directory?  How do you choose the Use folder names option?

Finally, a question for those of you who already have this graphics mod installed.  Will the installation of the mod mean that I will have to reinstall the game each time HPSSIMS releases an update and I wish to install the update?  Secondly, does the graphics mod significantly improve the 3D graphics?

Thanks in advance for any feedback and replies.

If you have already uncompressed the mod you downloaded and look in the folder that was created you will see a "Map" directory (it will contain a bunch of files inside along with a directory called "snow").  This "Map" directory contains modded files that will replace the stock ones in our "C:\HPS Simulations\Campaign 1776\Map" directory (your install location may vary...but hopefully you get the idea).  Make a backup of the "Map" folder in your original 1776 directory and then copy the "Map" directory of your uncompressed Mod (Alte Jenssen).  It will ask you if you want to overwrite the existing files...say yes (remember to backup your Map directory first in case you want to go back to stock!)  Start a game and enjoy your new map graphics!

You would do not need to reinstall the game If HPS releases an update.  If the HPS update replaces some of the map files you may have to re-install the graphics mod you downloaded to get those modded files back...but in my experience HPS does not update graphics files very often.

There are screen shots of the mod at the link you provided in your post...you will have to judge for yourself.

Hope this is somewhat clear and helps!

I just open up the zip folder and then copy and paste accordingly. However, what you might consider doing first is after seeing what folders your mod wants to change -go into the (in this specific case) 1776 folder and rename the folders that are going to be modified (before moving anything in there - E.G. I use #Map but anything works- as the point is to create a findable backup if you ever decide you need to use it.).

The Campaign 1776 folder is the main directory.

The last question is more of a generic mod procedureal question -in that it applies to any Tiller titles where you are using mods (come to think of it - even some others as well). Just becausea game update comes out doesn't always mean that you have to reload your mod; you'd only have to do that if the update changes your graphics by overlaying files on the mod. Many times that doesn't happen (although at the same time it does happen sometimes). Personally I don't bother unless I see something out of place -and then reload mods on an as needed basis, but others as a matter of routine just reload the mod after applying the update -just a matter of personal preference is all it amounts to.

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Edited- it looks like mostly what I wrote was what Gabeeg wrote - there are a few ways to do the same thing- I just don't bother with the 'extract' thing as I have found that it is an unnecessary extra step.