Since version 1.5.6.000 - Unofficial Patch 1.5 supports a new option under the Map tab: "Check to DISABLE Crowns System & Leaders in game (1.5)".
In rare cases, the status of this option is incorrectly stored in game saves or playback files. Unfortunately, due that this option was added using the assembly methods to the compiled game process, it won't always work perfectly fine, that's why some simple steps from users are needed in order to fix it.
1. Download a program called HXD from: https://mh-nexus.de/en/downloads.php?product=HxD20
2. After you install or run the portable version of HXD, click on "File" -> "Open" (or use CTRL+O hotkey).
3. Select your game save file, or a playback file from one of the following folders:
EE2:
Documents\Empire Earth II\savegame_MP
Documents\Empire Earth II\savegame_SP
Documents\Empire Earth II\playback
EE2 AOS (expansion pack):
Documents\Empire Earth II The Art of Supremacy\savegame_MP
Documents\Empire Earth II The Art of Supremacy\savegame_SP
Documents\Empire Earth II The Art of Supremacy\playback
3a. Please note: If you're doing it for the first time, it's recommended to create a backup copy of your game save or the playback file.
4. At the beginning of the opened file , you will see the following text:
- LChunkFile
This is when the crowns system is ENABLED in game.
- 2022-09-25_18-13-32_HxD_-_[DDOKUMENTYEmpire_Earth_IIplayback(2022_09_2.png (81.61 KiB) Viewed 4283 times
- LChunkFil5
This is when the crowns system is DISABLED in game.
- 2022-09-25_18-13-27_HxD_-_[DDOKUMENTYEmpire_Earth_IIplayback(2022_09_2.png (80.5 KiB) Viewed 4283 times
You can edit the byte "e" to "5", or "5" to "e" to change the status of option "DISABLE Crowns System & Leaders in game (1.5)" on the existing .sav or .e2s files.
When you finish, click "File" -> "Save" (or simply CTRL+S hotkey).
5. After that you can load the saved game, or watch a playback file with the fixed crowns system status.