A Pirate's Life (Boats, Guns, Plunder)

[Vortexergy]

I recently got back into playing ARK and decided to be a pirate; built a ship, sail around, get supply drops and once in a while fight off some nasty dinos. This is on a PvE server.

It's hella fun, so I'm really just looking for advice/tips on some items (including if there's a better thread/site for info).

Is there any way to tow/move two rafts at the same time?

I've been using a Shotgun to fend off dinos trying to board my ship when plundering (yes, I plunder with the best of them!). It's been working out greatly for me. I know guns generally aren't used for PvE, but besides the Shotgun are any other ones useful? I imagine the Longneck would be.

What about weapon structures? I'm looking to build a cannon, but are they useful against dinos? If not, are any of the other ones useful?

That's all I got for now, thanks in advance!

[-Smirnoff-]

Originally posted by Ondusi:

I recently got back into playing ARK and decided to be a pirate; built a ship, sail around, get supply drops and once in a while fight off some nasty dinos. This is on a PvE server.

It's hella fun, so I'm really just looking for advice/tips on some items (including if there's a better thread/site for info).

Is there any way to tow/move two rafts at the same time?

I've been using a Shotgun to fend off dinos trying to board my ship when plundering (yes, I plunder with the best of them!). It's been working out greatly for me. I know guns generally aren't used for PvE, but besides the Shotgun are any other ones useful? I imagine the Longneck would be.

What about weapon structures? I'm looking to build a cannon, but are they useful against dinos? If not, are any of the other ones useful?

That's all I got for now, thanks in advance!

Get yourself a mastercraft fabricated sniper rifle and you will enjoy every minute of using it! ;)

[Jage]

This sounds hella fun. I hope someone has some good answers.

[Uomovero]

cannon can knock out titanosaur so yea and you cant move 2 rafts at the same time (sadly) sword revolver is good weapon in my opinion and best tame mezopitecus and dimorfodon (not sure about name)

[Hobgoblino the III]

fab shotgun imo the ar is the best i know it has the best dps of guns it also has the cheapest ammo it will kill anything except gigas titanos and bosses

if you are rich you can put a minigun turret on a raft if you can give it ammo it will kill anything including gigas easily plus its fun to wipe out entire beachs :D

you cannot link rafts

cannons are hard to use and really just good for taming golems imo

try some riot armor and sword and riot sheild you will slaughter most anything except gigas and above :)

[bigmoe808]

Well of course you need a pistol! Need to be able to whip that Flintlock out and put a few caps in someone's ass so they know you mean business.

Btw, for role playing effect, don't call your shotgun a shotgun; call it a Blunderbuss or Blunder Buster

Always have flares around when you plunder at noon or night.

And no, can't tow a second raft.

Cannons would only be useful against other rafts and beach houses, and since this is PVE you're out of luck in that regard.

Since you cant do that, but probably want to stay in character, get a balista. Still useful against animals at least, could kill an argent with well placed shots. Go sharking even.

Try that.

[-Smirnoff-]

Originally posted by ArkaiusNexus:

Originally posted by #Smirnoff:

Get yourself a mastercraft fabricated sniper rifle and you will enjoy every minute of using it! ;)

You sure? I've actually had one of those (Ascendant) in my game... but didn't seem useful for the amount of upkeep.

Now a fabricated shotgun (or compound bow)... that's where the money is at.

Since cross in middle of screen they are very usefull!
Probably you are right about cost of upkeep, but as I use it mostly in pvp, they are great for sniping as well as close distance!

[Vortexergy]

Thanks for the great replies everyone! Lots of useful info.

Too bad about the towing; I've seen other people ask about it here and there it seems, so maybe one day down the road.

And it looks like I'll eventually go into a potential plan I had, based on everyone's responses; which is Black Ops/Tactical raiding. I love the pirate theme (yes, I do call it a blunderbuss and I always have flares aplenty!), but since the cannon doesn't sound effective and Mini gun/Fab. Shotgun sound better overall, I'll probably do that.

Question though; since I'm playing on a Official Server, do BP's for higher tier Fabricated Shotguns show up? Or do any of the newer items show up in Supply Drops? Don't know if they've improved it since I last played.

Till then, time to plunder more booty!!

[Hobgoblino the III]

Originally posted by Ondusi:

Thanks for the great replies everyone! Lots of useful info.

Too bad about the towing; I've seen other people ask about it here and there it seems, so maybe one day down the road.

And it looks like I'll eventually go into a potential plan I had, based on everyone's responses; which is Black Ops/Tactical raiding. I love the pirate theme (yes, I do call it a blunderbuss and I always have flares aplenty!), but since the cannon doesn't sound effective and Mini gun/Fab. Shotgun sound better overall, I'll probably do that.

Question though; since I'm playing on a Official Server, do BP's for higher tier Fabricated Shotguns show up? Or do any of the newer items show up in Supply Drops? Don't know if they've improved it since I last played.

Till then, time to plunder more booty!!

your probably gonna have to check caves or mostly underwater loot crates

[Brax]

You can tame a mosasaur or plesiosaur to build a base on, it's almost the same as having a raft follow behind a raft. Also rock golems sink to the bottom making handy mobile underwater storage and defence.

[bigmoe808]

Originally posted by Brax:

You can tame a mosasaur or plesiosaur to build a base on, it's almost the same as having a raft follow behind a raft. Also rock golems sink to the bottom making handy mobile underwater storage and defence.

I was going to say something like the this as well, was worried about them coming in the shallows.

[Lich Lord]

Early game raft out of wood, Use door frames on your middle two support walls or windows to give it that cannon hatch rp look. Use ceilings to create the curved shape from under the water. For weapons a Bow placed Ballista works well, Cannons on the sides, once you get good at aiming them they are very effective against Rexes and anything bigger than a trike really.

Late game convert it to metal, put auto turrets in the sides, convert it to a flat top with a ceiling hatch door to land your birds on and store inside(air craft carrier style) Or keep a horde of dimorphs down below to spew out on command.

Best of luck fellow pirate.

Oh a little tip, mid game stay south near the herb island for good metal spawns and venture into the swamp for a diplocalus, those make excellent oil farmers. Just take one down below, and keep it near to breath while you gather, no gear needed. Once you have a gen going with AC units you can head north and mine it off the snow rocks and be protected from all the rexes.