What Happens When You Leave a Server in ARK: Survival Evolved?
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In the unforgiving world of ARK: Survival Evolved, survival is a constant struggle. One crucial question on every player’s mind, especially beginners, is: What happens when you leave the server? The short answer is this: it depends on the server type and your precautions, but generally, your character persists in the game world even when you’re offline. Let’s delve deeper into what this means for your survival journey.
When you log out of an official online server in ARK, your character remains in the world, asleep, and vulnerable. This is part of the game’s persistence mechanic. Your character, the structures you’ve built, and your tamed creatures all remain exactly where you left them. This makes the game world feel truly dynamic and continuous, but also carries a risk: While you’re logged out, you’re essentially an easy target for other players and even wild creatures.
It’s crucial to understand the distinction between different server types and their implications for your offline safety. Here’s a more detailed look:
Online Official Servers: A Dangerous Nap
On official public servers, the in-game world is always active and changing, whether or not players are logged in. When you log out, your character remains in place, meaning it can be attacked, killed, and looted. Here’s what you need to consider when logging off:
- Vulnerability: Your unconscious character becomes a static target. Other players can easily attack, kill, and loot you.
- Lootable: Everything in your inventory is up for grabs if you’re killed.
- Persistence: Everything you’ve built, tamed, and harvested will remain.
- Safety: You must take precautions such as storing your items in a secured location, logging out in a hidden area, or inside a well-defended structure.
- Auto-Saving: ARK servers automatically save periodically, so your progress is generally safe in terms of data. Server admins can also use the
saveworldcommand to force an immediate save.
Non-Dedicated Servers: Tethered to the Host
A non-dedicated server is essentially a local session hosted on a player’s computer. Here’s how logging out works in this setup:
- Host Dependency: In a non-dedicated server, your game is tied to the host’s game. When the host logs out, the server closes, and the game saves. This means your character and world progress is generally safe because the world itself ceases to exist until the host restarts it.
- Tethering: Non-dedicated servers have a tether distance, meaning players are restricted in how far they can move from the host.
- Character Safety: While the host is active, your character behaves the same way as on an online server, vulnerable while logged out.
- Saving: Non-dedicated servers save when the host shuts down the game; no separate save command is usually needed.
- Limited Reach: Only players nearby, usually on the same LAN, can connect to a non-dedicated server.
Single-Player Mode: Your Safe Haven
In single-player mode, you’re essentially in charge of the game world.
- Complete Control: When you log out of single player, the game pauses, and nothing happens in your absence.
- Safety: No other players or wild dinos will move and all game events will pause.
- Automatic Save: The game will save upon closing, and your progress will be exactly where you left off when you log back in.
- Complete Control: Single-player gives you full freedom of how your game plays out.
Best Practices for Logging Out
No matter which server you’re on, it’s vital to log out safely. Here are some tips:
- Secure Your Belongings: Always store your valuable items in a locked chest or container before logging off.
- Find a Safe Place: Log out in a secure structure or a hidden location.
- Lock Your Base: Make sure your base is secure before logging out.
- Tame Dinos: Tamed dinosaurs can serve as good deterrents for both wild dinos and other players.
- Be Prepared: Always assume someone or something will find you while you’re offline.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To further clarify the nuances of logging out and server types in ARK, here are 15 frequently asked questions:
1. Does my character persist when I log out of an official ARK server?
Yes, your character remains in the game world, vulnerable to attack while you’re offline. Your belongings and structures remain in place, too.
2. Do ARK servers automatically save?
Yes, ARK servers automatically save periodically. Admins can also force an immediate save using the saveworld command.
3. What happens if I log out of a non-dedicated server?
On non-dedicated servers, the server shuts down when the host logs off, and the game saves, thereby protecting your progress while the server is off.
4. Is my character safe when I log off in single-player mode?
Yes, when you log off the single-player game pauses entirely, and you are completely safe and will resume exactly where you were.
5. What is the difference between a dedicated and non-dedicated server?
Dedicated servers are hosted on a separate machine or program and run 24/7. Non-dedicated servers use your machine as both the client and server, limiting the range of other players via a tether.
6. Can I be killed while logged out on an official server?
Yes, other players or wild creatures can kill you while you’re offline, so securing yourself before logging off is essential.
7. Do non-dedicated servers save?
Yes, non-dedicated servers save automatically when the host closes the game.
8. What does “tether” mean in non-dedicated ARK servers?
The term “tether” refers to the distance limit of other players in a non-dedicated session to the host player. Players can not move too far from the host.
9. Can I transfer my character between different servers?
Yes, you can transfer your character between different official servers, although it will be a fresh start in terms of the server’s landscape.
10. Is ARK a subscription-based game?
No, ARK: Survival Evolved doesn’t have a traditional subscription fee. However, expansion packs may come at a cost. The new remaster is a separate game that is being sold rather than a free upgrade.
11. How can I recover my ARK server if something goes wrong?
You can restore a server by using backups. You can usually access these from your server control panel, or the game’s built in restore feature.
12. Can I be affected by a DDoS attack in ARK?
Yes, DDoS attacks are a real concern in ARK and can disrupt servers by overwhelming them with traffic.
13. Is it safe to log out of an ARK server?
Logging out of a server can be risky if you don’t take proper precautions to ensure your safety while offline.
14. Can I transfer single player progress to a non-dedicated server?
Yes, you can easily transition between single-player and hosting a non-dedicated server as they use the same save file.
15. Is ARK free?
ARK: Survival Evolved is permanently free to keep if you had claimed it when it was given away on Steam. The new remaster ARK: Survival Ascended, however, is not a free upgrade.
Conclusion
Understanding what happens when you leave an ARK server is crucial for survival. Whether you’re playing on an official server, a non-dedicated server, or in single-player mode, knowing the risks and taking appropriate precautions will help you survive and thrive in this challenging world. Remember to always secure your belongings and find a safe place before logging off. By doing so, you’ll significantly increase your chances of returning to your survivor and continuing your adventure.