There's something wicked and beautiful about German candor. Drifter posts:
Your problem is due to translators being complete idiots and translating folders and files as well as in-game text. Therefore the mod can't find any of the files it needs from the main game folders. Settler is the first thing most mods load from the main game folders and therefore the crash message is about missing settler graphics.
I have the same problem as RJ, but it only happens when I use a Mod. I bought CivIII Complete, which has C3, Conquests and Play The World, and I've read in another thread that this version has ALL the latest updates (CanadaDry Moderator says so...) It's purchased in a single package, is all in English, and I can't play the mods they provide because every time I meet another Civ in the game a "FILE NOT FOUND" error stops the game!