This is how to create a start icon setup for any mod setup you want to play without having to use a mod manager or put anything in your resources or dsloa folders. These instructions are using XP as the operating system. For the most part it would be the same on 98 or ME, and should be the same on 2000.
For this example I will be using a mod setup to work in LoA, with all the places I am going to refer to are in the default installation. This will be the method to install the Abstraction siegelet, this method works for any mod setup.
1. First open this folder: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Dungeon Siege.
2. Create a new folder in this folder and call it Abstraction.
3. Now put the files you want associated with it in that folder.
4. Copy the address for this folder: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Dungeon Siege\Abstraction
5. Right click on your Dungeon Siege Legends of Aranna start icon and copy it.
6. In the open desktop right click there and pick paste shortcut.
7. Right click on the new start icon (it will have the same name as the one you copied) and pick rename, in this case let's call it Abstraction.
8. Right click on it again but this time pick properties.
9. You will see the target line will read: "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Dungeon Siege\DSLOA.exe" by the way the original DS target line will read: "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Dungeon Siege\dungeonsiege.exe"
10. We need to change that line to: "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Dungeon Siege\DSLOA.exe" res_paths=Abstraction Now you dont need to but I like to make my target line: "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Dungeon Siege\DSLOA.exe" res_paths=Abstraction nointro=true this is so you dont have all the start screens you have to press escape through. I actually have a bit more in my target line but that is not for this tutorial.
11. Now for fun lets give this a new icon look. Press the change icon button and pick whatever you want, I will use this:
There you go now we have a nice start icon:
The Abstraction icon will start your game up using the folder we created as well as using the standard resources and dsloa folders. Since you have the folder just for the Abstraction files when you use the regular ds start icon or the dsloa start icon they will not use any of the Abstraction files. Nothing to turn off with a mod manager or to move around. This will work for all mod setups you want to use. Just use the same process, you just need to make sure you create a folder in the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Dungeon Siege directory, and then to add this line, res_paths=New_folder_name to your target line in the start icons properties.