Crashing/not responding before launch

[Adhs94]

Hi,
New to github and I am certain this would have happened before, built I have tried literally everything that has been recommended and I am still getting the same problems. I need someones help.

Redownloaded xcom 2 lwotc to play the game again.
Downloaded AML, launched and get met with the infinite loading crash.
Task manager shows that it attempts to use around 30% of memory for 15 seconds, and then just drops to 0, never to start the game.
When I open it without mods this doesn't seem to be a problem. can't play with mods, which is kinda the only reason I wanted to try it again.

Things i have tried to fix the issue:

1. Binary mod test. Have confirmed it is LWOTC or community highlander (only becuase I wouldnt bother trying lwotc without it)
2. verfied local files in steam
3. deleted config files
4. deleted and redownloaded the workshop content.
5. deleted and redownloaded AML
6. uninstalled and reinstalled the entire game.
7. uninstalled the steam workshop version of lwotc and highlander, deleted all other mods, downloaded them manually from GitHub, put in the xcomwarofthechosen/xcomgame/mods folder as suggested by the original installation walkthrough, and fixed AML to find mods from this new directory.
8. reverted everything back to original when that didn't work.
9. opened the game with the 2k launcher instead, incase this fixed any config problems.
10. enabled and disabled something called regenerateinis- in AML, though i didnt understand what this does.

I am at a loss as to what else I can try, becuase i wowuld loive to play long war of the chosen, but just cant seem to get it to run.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated