So is the map always the same?

[LordBlade]

I was looking through some guides on getting started, and they all have the same map. Is it the same thing every time? Does anything get randomized?

If the map is the same, are there any recommended starting spots for a single player map?

Also, when making a new world, does the hunger/thirst settings for dinos affect training? Or does that only kick in once they're tame? Just a little confused with all the setting options.

[Myst?c]

thirts does nothing to dinos
map is always the same unless you use a procedurley generated map (not recommended in single player)
you could try joining a server, there are some nice ones

[garth033]

Is it the same thing every time? Does anything get randomized?

Yes and no. There are 2 static maps (3 IF counting DLC) and the option to create "Random" maps with procedural Ark generation.

If the map is the same, are there any recommended starting spots for a single player map?

If this is your first play through, and you are playing on The Island, I would recommend anywhere in the southern side of the island.

As to your final question.... good question... I've never played with those setting myself...

[🦊 Hermit]

If playing on the Island map, generally speaking the south is safer, north is more dangerous. The exception to this is the swamp, which covers a large area of the center-east of the map and is deadly.

If on the Center map, east is generally safer, but the further west you go the harder it gets. Exceptions here are the redwood island in the south, which is generally mid difficulty, and the lava isles to the north which are extremely dangerous.

[elijahwan]

herbavore island is to teh south east---no agressive dinos spawn there

[LordBlade]

So what about the settings affecting dinos? If you set them to no hunger, would they never get hungry enough to feed for training?

[StoneTiger]

If you change the dino hunger value. Making them get hungry faster decrease tame times as the lose food faster and eat faster. And slowing hunger rate increase taming times as they lose food points slower.

Also tamed dinos will need more to eat to stay full if you make them get hungry faster. Which in sp isn't so big of a deal as the game is paused when you exit, unlike a mp game server where it's running all the time