How do you play this game exactly ?

[123]

So I've been playing the game for like 2k hours, pve only, but I never experience the endgame content like fighting boss, ascend, getting tek gears, breeding for high stats etc.

I usually just play, make a base, gather dinoes, and once the base has gotten big and the dinoes are many, I'll get bored because what's left is just chores to feed them.

Do I have to reach 100 first before ascending ?
Do I have to start from The Island ?

From what I gathered, this game is supposed to be played by moving around the maps, because different map gives different TEK gears, but if I go to other map, what will happen to my old base on the server that I am leaving, and what about the tribe ?

The game lacks information from INSIDE the game, everything has to be searched from the wiki, google, youtube or forum.

[whacky wayne]

ive had this game for almost 3 years and never had a boss fight....

[ISStruth]

This is why pvp

[Ancient]

Originally posted by Nintendo:

Do I have to reach 100 first before ascending ?

Yes. Ascension levels are 101-130 by default.

Originally posted by Nintendo:

Do I have to start from The Island ?

No, but it is advised to start with the bosses there a) because they tend to be easiest and most straightforward fights and b) to get the core tekgrams like the tek structures, teleporter and generator. Here's a table that lists which difficulty bosses drop which tekgrams: https://ark.gamepedia.com/Engrams#Tekgrams

Though you can get some of the bosses on other maps, it's generally harder. The Center features an arena where both Broodmother and Megapithecus must be defeated at the same time. Likewise, Ragnarok features an arena where both the Manticore and the Dragon must also be defeated together.

Originally posted by Nintendo:

From what I gathered, this game is supposed to be played by moving around the maps, because different map gives different TEK gears, but if I go to other map, what will happen to my old base on the server that I am leaving, and what about the tribe ?

When you upload to a new server, you can bring your character and a limited number of items and dinos. Any uploaded items will be available for download to any other compatible ARK server for 24 hrs, after which they are deleted, so you want to act quickly and get them downloaded to another server before that.

The items and dinos you bring with you eases the transition from one server to another. You can essentially begin taming and farming extra dinos and resources at your current location which will be meant to help you have a jump start when you get to your target server. You can of course usually bring dinos back with you, but there is a 24hr cooldown before you can transfer an uploaded dino again so don't upload one you might need immediately because while you can come back, the dinos must wait on the cooldown to return. IIRC, Aberration server transfers are one way, dinos from there can leave but you cannot bring dinos there. So when you go to an Ab server, it's just you and any items you brought so you should plan accordingly so you are prepared to start out on foot and begin acquring tames once you have a foothold there.

Tribe ownership is maintained on the original server so you can always return and your stuff will still be there, however, structure and PvE dino decay will still happen if there is no one else in the tribe to log in there and refresh the timers. If you're solo in a tribe, you will have to transfer back to the original server periodically to refresh the timers yourself. There is no cooldown for survivor transfers, so you can return to an obelisk in your new server, upload and go back whenever you'd like. You just have to log in momentarily to a server to refresh the timers, then you can turn right around and go back.

For structures, the decay timer is based on each structure's tier:
Thatch: 4 days
Wood: 8 days
Stone: 12 days
Metal: 16 Days
Tek: 35 Days

The dino decay timer is 8 days.

Since some workbenches and things like crop plots are still considered wood tier, even if the rest of your base is stone/metal, and because of the 8 day dino decay timer it's best to always plan to return every 8 days to refresh the timers.

[123]

Originally posted by Ancient:

Originally posted by Nintendo:

Do I have to reach 100 first before ascending ?

Yes. Ascension levels are 101-130 by default.

Originally posted by Nintendo:

Do I have to start from The Island ?

No, but it is advised to start with the bosses there a) because they tend to be easiest and most straightforward fights and b) to get the core tekgrams like the tek structures, teleporter and generator. Here's a table that lists which difficulty bosses drop which tekgrams: https://ark.gamepedia.com/Engrams#Tekgrams

Though you can get some of the bosses on other maps, it's generally harder. The Center features an arena where both Broodmother and Megapithecus must be defeated at the same time. Likewise, Ragnarok features an arena where both the Manticore and the Dragon must also be defeated together.

Originally posted by Nintendo:

From what I gathered, this game is supposed to be played by moving around the maps, because different map gives different TEK gears, but if I go to other map, what will happen to my old base on the server that I am leaving, and what about the tribe ?

When you upload to a new server, you can bring your character and a limited number of items and dinos. Any uploaded items will be available for download to any other compatible ARK server for 24 hrs, after which they are deleted, so you want to act quickly and get them downloaded to another server before that.

The items and dinos you bring with you eases the transition from one server to another. You can essentially begin taming and farming extra dinos and resources at your current location which will be meant to help you have a jump start when you get to your target server. You can of course usually bring dinos back with you, but there is a 24hr cooldown before you can transfer an uploaded dino again so don't upload one you might need immediately because while you can come back, the dinos must wait on the cooldown to return. IIRC, Aberration server transfers are one way, dinos from there can leave but you cannot bring dinos there. So when you go to an Ab server, it's just you and any items you brought so you should plan accordingly so you are prepared to start out on foot and begin acquring tames once you have a foothold there.

Tribe ownership is maintained on the original server so you can always return and your stuff will still be there, however, structure and PvE dino decay will still happen if there is no one else in the tribe to log in there and refresh the timers. If you're solo in a tribe, you will have to transfer back to the original server periodically to refresh the timers yourself. There is no cooldown for survivor transfers, so you can return to an obelisk in your new server, upload and go back whenever you'd like. You just have to log in momentarily to a server to refresh the timers, then you can turn right around and go back.

For structures, the decay timer is based on each structure's tier:
Thatch: 4 days
Wood: 8 days
Stone: 12 days
Metal: 16 Days
Tek: 35 Days

The dino decay timer is 8 days.

Since some workbenches and things like crop plots are still considered wood tier, even if the rest of your base is stone/metal, and because of the 8 day dino decay timer it's best to always plan to return every 8 days to refresh the timers.

Ah I see, thanks for the informations.

So if Ascension is done at lv 100+ by killing bosses, then before reaching 100 I shld do the breeding for building the army, right ? So after hitting 100 then I'll be ready for boss fight ?

That means tek gears is super endgame content like for when we have reached lv100, because during all of my playthru I never have lv 100 character.

So BOSS = for Ascension+Tek Gear, need lv 100, below lv 100 is just casual play.

[Trigger Zero]

I would highly recommend Ark Smart Breeding program if you want to do some serious breeding for bosses, and watching youtube videos on how to properly breed for mutations. It's easy to really mess your bloodline up if you don't do it properly. having 12312 / 21324 mutations isn't an accomplishment xD

[Eldrum]

The normal bosses on the island are usually done BEFORE ascension. You have to beat the island’s final fourth boss to ascend.

Engrams for TEK are obtained through normal bosses, ascension implants are obtained by defeating the FINAL boss.

You don’t have to be lvl 100 to fight bosses. Easiest boss on the island you can fight is gamma (easy) broodmother which is avalible at lvl 30.

These rules are different for expansion packs like Scorched Earth and Aberration. For both of those you get tek engrams AND an ascension implant (dependent on boss difficulty).

Free DLC like Ragnarok and The Center do NOT give you ascension levels for beating their bosses but they do (center will in future) give tek engrams.

Also if you’re confused ascension implants just increase your max level beyond 100. They’re the most endgame thing ARK has to offer.

I hope this helps.

-Eldrum

[123]

Originally posted by 123:

The normal bosses on the island are usually done BEFORE ascension. You have to beat the island’s final fourth boss to ascend.

Engrams for TEK are obtained through normal bosses, ascension implants are obtained by defeating the FINAL boss.

You don’t have to be lvl 100 to fight bosses. Easiest boss on the island you can fight is gamma (easy) broodmother which is avalible at lvl 30.

These rules are different for expansion packs like Scorched Earth and Aberration. For both of those you get tek engrams AND an ascension implant (dependent on boss difficulty).

Free DLC like Ragnarok and The Center do NOT give you ascension levels for beating their bosses but they do (center will in future) give tek engrams.

Also if you’re confused ascension implants just increase your max level beyond 100. They’re the most endgame thing ARK has to offer.

I hope this helps.

-Eldrum

I see, thx for the info, so the island is actually where I should start if I want to play more seriously to experience endgame.

-------------------------------------




So from what I gathered now, since when I go to other server my tribe will stay there and it is considered as starting a new tribe on different land, I can actually just find a tribe that's already established and combine resources and forces with this local tribe.

Like now, I have established a base on Aberration server, if I can find a tribe on The Island that is recruiting and it doesnt have a base yet on Aberration, it would be better if we join forces and resources, right ? So I am in his tribe when I go to The Island x server, and he will be in my Tribe when he goes to Aberration y server. Is this correct ?

[GreenMan]

Nope. Tribes do not transfer between servers, you'd have to join his and vice versa between maps.

[Vesuvius]

Originally posted by Nintendo:

Originally posted by 123:

The normal bosses on the island are usually done BEFORE ascension. You have to beat the island’s final fourth boss to ascend.

Engrams for TEK are obtained through normal bosses, ascension implants are obtained by defeating the FINAL boss.

You don’t have to be lvl 100 to fight bosses. Easiest boss on the island you can fight is gamma (easy) broodmother which is avalible at lvl 30.

These rules are different for expansion packs like Scorched Earth and Aberration. For both of those you get tek engrams AND an ascension implant (dependent on boss difficulty).

Free DLC like Ragnarok and The Center do NOT give you ascension levels for beating their bosses but they do (center will in future) give tek engrams.

Also if you’re confused ascension implants just increase your max level beyond 100. They’re the most endgame thing ARK has to offer.

I hope this helps.

-Eldrum

I see, thx for the info, so the island is actually where I should start if I want to play more seriously to experience endgame.

-------------------------------------




So from what I gathered now, since when I go to other server my tribe will stay there and it is considered as starting a new tribe on different land, I can actually just find a tribe that's already established and combine resources and forces with this local tribe.

Like now, I have established a base on Aberration server, if I can find a tribe on The Island that is recruiting and it doesnt have a base yet on Aberration, it would be better if we join forces and resources, right ? So I am in his tribe when I go to The Island x server, and he will be in my Tribe when he goes to Aberration y server. Is this correct ?

Its the same character... you dont leave your tribe when you go to another map... so to join another tribe you would still need to leave yours.

[Vesuvius]

Originally posted by GreenMan:

Nope. Tribes do not transfer between servers, you'd have to join his and vice versa between maps.

Hmmm... even in a cluster?

[123]

Originally posted by GreenMan:

Nope. Tribes do not transfer between servers, you'd have to join his and vice versa between maps.

I know that tribe is not transferred , thats why we can even keep each of our own tribe, and yes I join his, and he join mine, so if I or he go to Aberration then we'll both in my tribe, but if I or he go to The Island, then we will both be in his tribe. That's even better.

[123]

Originally posted by Vesuvious:

Originally posted by Nintendo:

I see, thx for the info, so the island is actually where I should start if I want to play more seriously to experience endgame.

-------------------------------------




So from what I gathered now, since when I go to other server my tribe will stay there and it is considered as starting a new tribe on different land, I can actually just find a tribe that's already established and combine resources and forces with this local tribe.

Like now, I have established a base on Aberration server, if I can find a tribe on The Island that is recruiting and it doesnt have a base yet on Aberration, it would be better if we join forces and resources, right ? So I am in his tribe when I go to The Island x server, and he will be in my Tribe when he goes to Aberration y server. Is this correct ?

Its the same character... you dont leave your tribe when you go to another map... so to join another tribe you would still need to leave yours.

ah i see, so what tribe am I when I go to another server I have never been ? for example I am in tribe ABC in Aberration Server, if I go to The Island server, am I still in ABC ???

[Vesuvius]

Originally posted by Nintendo:

Originally posted by Vesuvious:

Its the same character... you dont leave your tribe when you go to another map... so to join another tribe you would still need to leave yours.

ah i see, so what tribe am I when I go to another server I have never been ? for example I am in tribe ABC in Aberration Server, if I go to The Island server, am I still in ABC ???

I may be mistaken if GreenMan is right. But it may be different on a cluster.

[Vesuvius]

Here's what i found wich confirms what GreenMan said.

Summary: It seems you might be able to go back and forth without loosing access to your tribe back in the "island" but there is a chance that you might be locked into the rank you were before the transfer, with potentially no admin-ownership options. Im not sure how this changes for a 1-man tribe but from my experience, its likely your tribe wouldnt "disband", but rather get stuck as an "unowned" tribe until you come back to the server -> I am extrapolating but i believe this because when i transfered my character back I immediately got put back into my tribe with the appropriate rank - my second in command said they did not "defacto" receive my "ownership" status/permissions when i left - it was just left in a vaccum (there were admins but no one was tribe owner for the 3 hours my character wasnt in the server)

Details: I am a tribe owner with 6 other people in official (Island). I transfered to SE yesterday to check it out (looking back it was a bit impetuous and dumb but oh well). I was not allowed to transfer any items. The transfer menu differs from the upload menu in the beacons (its one the same screen, just on a different tab than the "upload character"). In that tab in the beacon menu, you are told about the "you will drop all your items upon transfer" and are shown a list of SE servers, you pick one and you are immediately disconnected from your server and connected to the SE one. You are brought to the "pick a spawnpoint" screen. Once you do your character spawns with your level and engrams, no items and no tribe affiliation. From there you CAN go back by going to a beacon and uploading your char (you still have other tab in the same beacon menu, but that screen only shown SE servers). Once uploaded, you can disconnect, in main menu pick another/your previous TheIsland server and select "download character" instead of creating one. In my instance, i was returning to my previous server, so i was immediately able to select spawnpoints from my tribe's locations (as soon as i selected download character). I spawned in our base, as a tribe member with access corresponding to my correct rank in the tribe activation permissions, levels and engrams, BUT without admin access to modify permissions (couldnt select anything in tribe management - it shown the "create a new tribe" option ....i dont know what happens if you do attempt to create one while already being part of a tribe, i didnt try). Instead i killed myself and when i respawned this time, i still had my rank and engrams/level but now i also had my correct admin rights as well (as "owner" of the tribe)

Hope this is useful to some of you

[123]

Originally posted by Vesuvious:

Here's what i found wich confirms what GreenMan said.

Summary: It seems you might be able to go back and forth without loosing access to your tribe back in the "island" but there is a chance that you might be locked into the rank you were before the transfer, with potentially no admin-ownership options. Im not sure how this changes for a 1-man tribe but from my experience, its likely your tribe wouldnt "disband", but rather get stuck as an "unowned" tribe until you come back to the server -> I am extrapolating but i believe this because when i transfered my character back I immediately got put back into my tribe with the appropriate rank - my second in command said they did not "defacto" receive my "ownership" status/permissions when i left - it was just left in a vaccum (there were admins but no one was tribe owner for the 3 hours my character wasnt in the server)

Details: I am a tribe owner with 6 other people in official (Island). I transfered to SE yesterday to check it out (looking back it was a bit impetuous and dumb but oh well). I was not allowed to transfer any items. The transfer menu differs from the upload menu in the beacons (its one the same screen, just on a different tab than the "upload character"). In that tab in the beacon menu, you are told about the "you will drop all your items upon transfer" and are shown a list of SE servers, you pick one and you are immediately disconnected from your server and connected to the SE one. You are brought to the "pick a spawnpoint" screen. Once you do your character spawns with your level and engrams, no items and no tribe affiliation. From there you CAN go back by going to a beacon and uploading your char (you still have other tab in the same beacon menu, but that screen only shown SE servers). Once uploaded, you can disconnect, in main menu pick another/your previous TheIsland server and select "download character" instead of creating one. In my instance, i was returning to my previous server, so i was immediately able to select spawnpoints from my tribe's locations (as soon as i selected download character). I spawned in our base, as a tribe member with access corresponding to my correct rank in the tribe activation permissions, levels and engrams, BUT without admin access to modify permissions (couldnt select anything in tribe management - it shown the "create a new tribe" option ....i dont know what happens if you do attempt to create one while already being part of a tribe, i didnt try). Instead i killed myself and when i respawned this time, i still had my rank and engrams/level but now i also had my correct admin rights as well (as "owner" of the tribe)

Hope this is useful to some of you

So you went to SE and you were not in affiliation with any tribe, but if you go back to the island, you will go back to your original tribe.

That's even perfect. If you join forces with a tribe already established on SE then it'd save a lot of time, and if any of the people from the tribe you join on SE go to The Island, he can also use your base, this of course assuming that the people are compatible.

So for example, like now I'm on Aberration, if we join forces, then if I go to the island you recruit me, but if you go to aberration I recruit you, am I correct ?