A mod is a modification or an unofficial expansion of a game. Mods are usually divided into three categories: total conversion mods, which are mods that create entirely new games; partial conversion mods, which are mods that add new content to the original game; and unofficial patches, which are unofficial mods created by the community to fix a bug not fixed by the developers or to balance the gameplay.
Most, if not all, of the completed mods of the Act of War series are a modification of Act of War: High Treason, and are either partial conversions or unofficial patches. There were several attempts to create total conversions for both Act of War games (such as Anacondria: Rising), but all of the total conversion mods in development were defunct, possibly due to lack of motivation by the community.
Mod files for Act of War: High Treason are complied within the .aowmod file, and the .aowmod files located in the "Mods" folder can be executed by using the Mod Manager.