Embedded Files
current game version: 1.5.0.0.3 (all mods confirmed working)
IMPORTANT: If you enabled Steam Cloud or if you don't know whether Steam Cloud is enabled on your computer, make sure to check out the notes about Steam Cloud at the end of this guide! There's a very high risk of Steam Cloud accidentally overwriting your saves if you don't take special precautions!
Here's the new and improved guide for backing up and duplicating your saves in Ranch of Rivershine, as well how to work around the 3 savegames limit! If you are worried about your savegame breaking from an update or aren't sure about a decision you make ingame, or any other reason, I'll show you how to access the .sav files that the game uses to save your progress.
Note: This guide is for Windows computers. I don't own a Mac so unfortunately I can't assist with those.
Before you start, make sure to close the game while you do anything with the files. Only open the game again once you're done.
Step 1: Finding your current existing saves.
Step 1: Finding your current existing saves.
Rivershine lets you have up to 3 saves. I for example have 2 saved games.
The game keeps your savefiles in a hidden folder of your computer's file system. You can find it pretty easily if you open your file browser (Windows Explorer), and click into the address bar (marked in red on the image above), delete all the text in there and write %appdata%. Press Enter on your keyboard and you'll see that the location changes to the AppData->Roaming folder.
Go up one level in the folders and you'll see Local, LocalLow, and Roaming. You want the Local folder.
Go to Local->TheRanchOfRivershine->Saved->SaveGames. In there you will see .sav files. They correspond to the save slots in game - I have two saves so I have the files SaveSlot01 and SaveSlot02. (I have file extensions turned on in my Explorer settings, so they show up as SaveSlot01.sav etc.)
Step 2: Back up savefiles.
Step 2: Back up savefiles.
Before you mess with your saves in any way, you will want to make a backup, in case something goes wrong. For that, create a new folder anywhere on your computer - it works if you make one on your Desktop, but you can also make a new folder directly inside the SaveGames folder. Call it something like "Backups". Now select your existing savefiles and right click->Copy or just press Ctrl and C. Then, go inside your Backups folder and right click->Paste, or Ctrl and V. An alternative, less safe way to do this is to rename the savefiles to something like SaveSlot01_backup, and so on. (It's less safe ESPECIALLY if you use Steam Cloud. Sorry to keep going on about this but it's important.)
Step 3: Copy and rename a savefile to duplicate.
Step 3: Copy and rename a savefile to duplicate.
If you want to turn one savegame into two, you simply copy one of the files again, but this time paste it directly into the SaveGames folder. This only works if you have less than 3 savegames currently. If you have 3 already, read the part of the guide about breaking the 3 savefiles limit!
In my example, I have only 2, so slot 3 is free. I copy the file SaveSlot02 and rename it to SaveSlot03.
If you start the game now, it will recognize the third file as a savegame.
The really great thing about this is that even though the files are identical right now, they are actually independent from each other - you can play either one and the progress on each file will get saved to the respective file only as if you started a completely new game.
(As you can see, my first save is further ahead than my second save, but originally, my second save was simply a copy of the first one that I made in the same way as I described here.)
Step 4: Get more save slots than 3.
Step 4: Get more save slots than 3.
There is no "real" way to break the 3 saves limit, HOWEVER you can "park" your savefiles elsewhere if you want to make additional ones and then swap them out as you like.
THIS IS SUPER DANGER TERRITORY IF YOU USE STEAM CLOUD. READ FURTHER BELOW FOR SAFELY USING STEAM CLOUD WHEN YOU MANUALLY MESS WITH YOUR SAVES.
The idea and process is simple - you rename the savefile to a slot above 3, which the game then ignores. You can also rename them to anything else that is not SaveSlot01, SaveSlot02, or SaveSlot03. So for example, you can choose more descriptive filenames. You don't have to keep these files in the SaveGames folder either, in fact it's probably safer if you move them to a different folder elsewhere. Same as with the Backups folder, really.
In the example screenshot 6, I renamed them to SaveSlot04 and SaveSlot05. Once you want to use them again, you just have to copy your current 3 "active" savefiles to a different folder and then delete them - then you take the additional "inactive" savefiles and rename them to be SaveSlot01, SaveSlot02, or SaveSlot03 again. The game will happily use them as your current active saves.
ABOUT STEAM CLOUD - IMPORTANT INFO SO YOU DON'T LOSE YOUR SAVES!
ABOUT STEAM CLOUD - IMPORTANT INFO SO YOU DON'T LOSE YOUR SAVES!
If you have Steam Cloud enabled, you will (most likely) see an additional file in your SaveGames folder - it's called steam_autocloud.vdf or just steam_autocloud. Steam Cloud will attempt to synch and restore your savefiles everytime you open or close the game. If this is the case on your computer, you will look at screenshot 7 below and use this button to delete savefiles and this button only.
Only after a file inside the SaveGames has been deleted in this way, it will not re-appear and mess with your savefiles. Once a savefile has been deleted with the Delete button inside the game, it's truly gone from the SaveGames folder and you can safely copy/paste/duplicate/swap the files in there.
EVEN OTHER FILES INSIDE THE SAVEGAMES FOLDER WILL BE OVERWRITTEN BY STEAM CLOUD. IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO JUST RENAME THE FILES TO SOMETHING ELSE IF YOU ARE LEAVING THEM INSIDE THE FOLDER.
This is an obligatory disclaimer that I am not responsible for any data loss or other mishaps that may happen to your computer and saves while you follow this guide, even if you follow the steps correctly. There is always a risk involved with handling sensitive files like that, so please do it responsibly and be aware of that risk.
This is an obligatory disclaimer that I am not responsible for any data loss or other mishaps that may happen to your computer and saves while you follow this guide, even if you follow the steps correctly. There is always a risk involved with handling sensitive files like that, so please do it responsibly and be aware of that risk.
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