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How to Edit ARK: Survival Evolved: A Comprehensive Guide for Survivors

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ARK: Survival Evolved is a dynamic game, offering players a vast prehistoric world to explore, build, and conquer. One of the key appeals of ARK is its customizability. Editing ARK, whether it be through server settings, mods, or configuration files, is essential for tailoring the game to your preferred play style.

Understanding the Basics of Editing ARK

Editing ARK involves several layers, each offering different levels of control and customization:

Server Settings: Modifying core gameplay rules and parameters, such as resource harvesting rates, creature spawn rates, and player experience gain.
Mods: Adding custom content like new creatures, structures, items, and gameplay mechanics.
Configuration Files: Making granular changes to almost every aspect of the game, from individual item stats to detailed creature behavior.
Appearance Customization: Adjusting the look of your survivor through various means.

Let’s delve into each of these aspects.

Editing Server Settings

Server settings are the easiest and most accessible way to tweak your ARK experience. This involves navigating to the server’s control panel, typically through your hosting provider, and modifying the ark.properties file.

Accessing the Ark.properties File

FTP File Access: Log into your server’s control panel and find the FTP File Access section.
Locate the File: In the FTP File Access, find the ark.properties file. This file usually contains the main server settings.
Edit the File: Click to edit the ark.properties file.

Modifying Server Settings

Within the ark.properties file, you can adjust numerous settings. Some common examples include:

DifficultyOverride: Changes the game difficulty, affecting creature levels.
HarvestAmountMultiplier: Increases or decreases the amount of resources harvested.
TamingSpeedMultiplier: Speeds up or slows down the taming process.
XPMultiplier: Adjusts the rate at which players gain experience.

Once you’ve made your changes, save the file, exit the FTP, and restart your server for the changes to take effect.

Incorporating Mods into Your ARK Experience

Mods significantly expand ARK’s gameplay possibilities. You can add everything from entirely new creatures and structures to quality-of-life improvements.

Finding and Subscribing to Mods

Steam Workshop: Open Steam and navigate to the ARK: Survival Evolved Workshop page.
Browse Mods: Explore the available mods and read their descriptions and reviews.
Subscribe to Mods: Click the “Subscribe” button on the mods you want to use. Steam will automatically download these mods.

Enabling Mods on Your Server

Access Server Settings: As described earlier, navigate to your server’s control panel and access the ARK Server Settings.
Active Mods Field: Enter the Workshop ID of each mod in the “Active Mods” field. Separate multiple mod IDs with a comma. You can find the Workshop ID on the Steam Workshop page for each mod.
Save and Restart: Save the changes and restart your ARK server.

Admin Commands for Mods

Some mods require you to use admin commands to activate their features or spawn items.

Becoming an Admin: Launch ARK and join your server.
Open Console: Press the Tab key to open the server console.
Enter Admin Command: Type enablecheats [Admin Password] and press Enter. Replace [Admin Password] with your server’s admin password.
Use Cheat Commands: Use the cheat giveitemnum [Item ID] [Quantity] [Quality] [Blueprint] command to spawn items from mods. You’ll need to find the item IDs from the mod’s documentation.

Deep Dive: Editing Configuration Files

For advanced customization, you can directly edit the GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini files. These files allow for incredibly specific modifications to the game’s behavior.

Locating the Configuration Files

The configuration files are typically located in the following directory on your server:

/ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer

Editing the GameUserSettings.ini File

This file controls various client-side and server-side settings, including:

PlayerStatsMultiplier: Modifies player stats like health, stamina, and weight.
StructureResistanceMultiplier: Changes the resistance of structures to damage.
ResourcesRespawnPeriodMultiplier: Adjusts how quickly resources respawn.

Editing the Game.ini File

The Game.ini file is used for more advanced settings, such as:

Custom Dino Spawns: Altering which creatures spawn in specific regions of the map.
Item Stack Size Multipliers: Increasing the maximum stack size of items.
Engram Modifications: Changing the cost and availability of engrams.

Important: Editing configuration files incorrectly can cause issues with your server. Always back up your files before making changes, and consult the ARK wiki or community forums for guidance.

Customizing Your Survivor’s Appearance

While not as extensive as other forms of editing, customizing your survivor’s appearance adds a personal touch to your gameplay.

Using the Appearance Change Ticket

The Appearance Change Ticket allows you to modify your survivor’s appearance, including facial features, hair style, and skin tone.

Acquiring Tickets: These tickets can be obtained through various means, such as gameplay rewards or purchasing them with Ancient Amber.
Using Tickets: Consume the ticket in your inventory to open the character customization menu.

Changing Skin Color

You can change your survivor’s skin color using the following admin command:

admincheat SetTargetPlayerColorVal [Region #] [Color #] (0,1)

Replace [Region #] with the region of the body you want to change (e.g., 0 for skin, 1 for hair), and [Color #] with the desired color ID.

Facial Hair Customization

Primal Pass holders can use Appearance Change Tickets to adjust their survivor’s facial hair.

ARK Editing FAQs

FAQ 1: How do I enable admin commands in ARK?

To enable admin commands, launch ARK, join your server, press the Tab key, and type enablecheats [Admin Password]. Replace [Admin Password] with your server’s admin password.

FAQ 2: Where are the config files located in ARK?

The config files are typically located at /ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer.

FAQ 3: How do I change mods in ARK?

To change mods, access your server’s control panel, go to the ARK Server Settings, and modify the “Active Mods” field with the Workshop IDs of the desired mods. Save the changes and restart the server.

FAQ 4: Can I have multiple characters in ARK?

Yes, you can create multiple survivors in a Single Player ARK. This allows you to learn all engrams or specialize each character for different tasks.

FAQ 5: How do I change my survivor’s name in ARK?

Use a Name Change Ticket. These can usually be used once a day.

FAQ 6: How can I change the lighting in ARK?

Use the gamma [value] command in the console. For example, gamma 5 sets the brightness to half the maximum value.

FAQ 7: How do I shave my face in ARK?

Craft scissors, equip them, and right-click. In the menu, select ‘Facial Hair’ to adjust your facial hair.

FAQ 8: What’s the difference between S+ and SS in ARK?

S+ is generally considered superior due to fewer bugs and better design choices. SS represents an older version of S+ and may contain more issues.

FAQ 9: What is God Mode in ARK?

God Mode makes you invulnerable to most damage, but you can still be affected by drowning, hunger, thirst, and other natural elements. To activate it, use the god command in the admin console.

FAQ 10: How do I edit a config TXT file?

Open the TXT file using a text editor like Notepad (Windows) or Nano (Linux), make the necessary changes, and save the file.

FAQ 11: What is the purpose of the Game Config File Editor?

The Game Config File Editor, often found within development environments like Visual Studio, helps developers manage and edit game configuration files more easily.

FAQ 12: What are S-Rank and F-Rank in games?

F-Rank typically describes the ability of an average member of a species, while S-Rank represents the upper limit or a superlative level of ability.

FAQ 13: Where are ARK mod files located on my computer?

Generally, mod files can be found under C:Program FilesSteamsteamappscommonARKShooterGameContentMods.

FAQ 14: What does the Games Learning Society focus on?

The Games Learning Society focuses on the intersection of games and learning, researching how games can be used for educational purposes and to promote engagement. You can learn more at GamesLearningSociety.org.

FAQ 15: How do I find the Workshop ID for an ARK mod?

The Workshop ID is found on the Steam Workshop page for each mod, usually in the URL or listed in the details section.

By understanding these editing techniques, you can tailor your ARK: Survival Evolved experience to suit your preferences, creating a unique and engaging gameplay experience. Enjoy exploring the prehistoric world with your personalized touch!