Stars ARK-scapades

[stargatedalek]

Giant vultures:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=785555035&searchtext=

Giant Archaeopteryx/more accurate raptors:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=787062802

Monster Hunter Tri Imports:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=816824313

Elite jugbugs (the other's aren't set to spawn):
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=783316664&searchtext=elite

There are a few other mods, but they are gameplay related rather than aesthetic (like structures plus), or changes made using .ini code.



I used to do things like this for Zoo Tycoon years ago, and while I'm waiting for a better recording mic I figured I might as well have a bit of nostalgic fun and do something similar for ARK seeing as I just started a new play through the other day.

The general area I'm going to be building my base within. I don't plan to incorporate the giant skeleton at all, it was just a very convenient landmark starting out when I kept dying from the heat and needed to find my items.



Nothing much, just enough to protect me from the weather when needed and has space for spawning and crafting. It also grounds the general aesthetic I'm going for, but I'll also be using adobe structures and some limited stone pieces once I have them available.




Work in progress taming pen. When done it will have catwalks along the outside and a gate. I'll probably upgrade the lower layer of walls to stone once I can.



And now for the sad and telling look into my thought process that is what I name creatures in ARK.

What better reference to start off a desert play through.



I got lazy in more ways than my typing here.



Yes I did refuse to name them after the other pair of cartoon mice.



It's hard to come up with non-cruel names for lystros, the poor things just sit there and passively generate exp.



I swear the F8 references were initially unintentional...



... because I started with Gilgamesh, since I took a risk going for a moderately powerful flyer early on and what better to name our desert MVP. This vulture still needs a name, if anyone wants to name him be my guest.

[Takama]

If I did not restrict myself to offline gameing, I would be all over this game.

[stargatedalek]

If I did not restrict myself to offline gameing, I would be all over this game.

I never use the multiplayer. It's unbalanced and is generally prone to abuse.

If you have a dedicated gaming pc (this game is horribly optimized, and that's unlikely to change quickly) I highly recommend it. Can't speak for the console versions themselves, but mods are a big part of the games appeal and those won't be coming to consoles.

[Takama]

so there is an Ofline mode?

[stargatedalek]

so there is an Ofline mode?

Yup, you can launch the game in singleplayer, or as a non-dedicated server so friends can join via invite.

[Takama]

DO you need to be connected to the Internet at all times no matter what mode your in?

[The Atroxious]

I never really had any interest in ARK before. It looked like like it was all gimmick and no substance to be honest, with some seriously wonky creature design going on. Now I'm having second thoughts. If this game has tameable, rideable vultures, I'm very interested.

[stargatedalek]

DO you need to be connected to the Internet at all times no matter what mode your in?

Nope, singleplayer doesn't require an internet connection, it's entirely hosted from your own PC. Although Steam in general works best if you have an internet connection at all times (not sure why you wouldn't), and running ARK in offline mode can cause bugs with the Steam workshop. It won't eat into your internets speed just to run it in singeplayer, but if you want mods you'll want it to be connected to the internet just to keep things smooth on startup.

I never really had any interest in ARK before. It looked like like it was all gimmick and no substance to be honest, with some seriously wonky creature design going on. Now I'm having second thoughts. If this game has tameable, rideable vultures, I'm very interested.

They tend to advertise the gimmicks because most of what they show is intended for active or returning players, but most of them end up playing very small roles. Lately they've been trying to make every new creature do something completely individual to keep it from feeling like it's a straight progression from one species to the next more powerful one, but very few of them do anything super important, so it doesn't obligate you to tame everything.

I can't speak for PVP (though I hear it's not great), but for me the game really shines in terms of variety. ARK's main selling point (especially among survival games) is it's sheer numerical potential gametime before running out of new things. I for one think the DLC is well worth it, the smaller map has biomes that blend together more realistically and it manages to use it's fewer creatures and higher difficulty to much greater effect.

Unfortunately those vultures aren't vanilla, the small ones are, but the large one was modded in. I set them to replace the vanilla Argentavis (which is an eagle for some reason...) in the game.ini, surprising amount of control just from the .ini, let alone mods.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=785555035&searchtext=

I also have these enlarged Archaeopteryx set to replace the vanilla Utahraptors (the JP raptors).
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=787062802

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=816824313
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=783316664&searchtext=elite

There are a few other mods, but they are gameplay related rather than aesthetic (like structures plus), or changes made using .ini code.