How can I have 2 saves per map?

[dragonsphotoworks]

I play this as well as my kid. We each want own save when we play. So engrams and lvl are set per user. Is there any way to have 2 saves per map?

[Zac's Dad]

On PC - You can archive ( ZIP / RAR ) up the entire save folder - followed by an unzip of the other guy's files into the save folder. It may be best to clear the save folder after you know you have it archived and before you place the other guys files in there.

Practice that though -- you don't want a crying kid cuz his game was lost.
Many of us do this - in case we goof up real bad - we can come back to the archived files.

Archiving the whole folder will save your specific engrams and map markers and such.

I read between your lines and am assuming that only one person is playing at a time on the computer.

[dragonsphotoworks]

Sorry I took for granted only one per pc. I should of stated oops :-) But yes only one player at time on pc.

It would be come a massive annoyance quickly. As we swap players through out the day as well. Maybe 2 or more times a day. Id buy another copy of ark... but ark and all DLC bit much to spend again.

[Liralen]

You could also run dedicated servers which allow you to specify different save locations. We use Ark Server Manager, which isn't that hard to set up, if you can specify ports on your router. Unfortunately, how to do that differs between routers.

[dragonsphotoworks]

How does this work? As in what does it do? I can adjust router as its sitting next to me :-) But how would I use these so kid can play on same map with own avatar? NOT at same time as atm only one pc is setup.

[Liralen]

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=468312476

We use Ark Server Manager to run multiple servers simultaneously. In your case, you don't need to do that, but rather could use ASM's inherent ability to specify different locations for the server save files. You could set up one server profile for you, and another for your son. Instead of using your external IP, you'd probably want to use the internal IP of the PC you are running ASM on (it can be the same PC you're playing Ark on, or another PC in your household).

[ErikRedbeard]

If there's only one steam account then having two characters on the same map (as in able to see each others stuff) isn't possible since characters are linked to the steam account in question.

Using an ARK server as stated above will allow you two saves but they will be completely individual to each other.


So are you trying to get both to play on the exact same map (as in tames/structures and all). Or both their own instance of the map?

[dragonsphotoworks]

Ah ok i will check guide thank you :-)

Argh I didnt word well it seems. We have 1 steam account. And two people play ark ONE at a time. We take turns on pc. I want own separate game, buildings, dino, avatar. Kid wants same as well. The problem is we both like same map. Island... So when I tame and level dinos. She wants own dinos and buildings and avatar as well. So while using same map. We want every thing of our own only on map.

So if I build a large dino pen and taming area. She doesnt want it on her map. Same way for me with her stuff. We like the others constructions lol Just want to do every thing on our own.

So:
1 pc
1 Steam account
1 map

but want 2 copies of game save so each has own world to play in.

I hope this clears it up better.

[Liralen]

Yes, that's what I understood you to mean. A dedicated server can run multiple maps simultaneously, or you can run them one at a time. You would set up server using your saved files and then create another server using your daughter's game files by specifying different different directories on your hard drive/SSD.

In principle, when you want to play, you start up your server, and when it's your daughter's turn to play, you shut down your server and then start her server. While you can, of course, run them simultaneously - it's general use condition - you don't need to in your case.

[dragonsphotoworks]

Getting her a pc set up at some point. Problem will be GPU... So might take while. Ill try your suggestion. Be a bit as no time atm :-/ Have errans to run bah Hunny do list never ends does it? lol :-)

[Liralen]

Originally posted by dragonsphotoworks:

Getting her a pc set up at some point. Problem will be GPU... So might take while. Ill try your suggestion. Be a bit as no time atm :-/ Have errans to run bah Hunny do list never ends does it? lol :-)

Yeah, getting GPU's at MSRP is a problem, and may be getting worse. I bought my husband an RTX 2070 Super for 500 USD for his birthday a few months before Covid, then after Covid my old GTX 1070 (Nvidia founder's edition) costs a lot more. Seriously crazy prices for GPUs these days.

However, I can attest that the GTX 1070 can run Ark just fine, but then again, I have always turned off some affects, like bloom and other stuff that I find annoying. But I think you're doing the right thing by sharing your PC with your daughter.

[dragonsphotoworks]

Hmm what i understood from the guide is its for online servers. We cant do that as we are on satellite internet. And I didnt see way do offline, but was lot to read so might of missed it lol

[dragonsphotoworks]

Seems i responded earlier on wrong thread as dont see post oops!

I was saying i have the cases to put more pcs together. But what they need is either motherboard/CPU and/or G{U depending on rig lol couple have good enough CPU and ram for ark. but not the GPU. And prices atm too high.

As for covid.. i am iffy on it. "Not illness side i mean effect on production". Considering MOST factories now a days are automated....

[Liralen]

Originally posted by dragonsphotoworks:

As for covid.. i am iffy on it. "Not illness side i mean effect on production". Considering MOST factories now a days are automated....

While there are supply issues, I suspect the issue is more related to increased demand - more people working or attending school from home, more people who are avoiding public gatherings and so are using their computers for entertainment instead, more people who find bitcoin mining more appealing than they might have before Covid, etc.

[Liralen]

Originally posted by dragonsphotoworks:

Hmm what i understood from the guide is its for online servers. We cant do that as we are on satellite internet. And I didnt see way do offline, but was lot to read so might of missed it lol

A server is a server, whether accessible only within your network or outside. There are a lot of good reasons to use servers only within a network. In Ark's case, using dedicated servers will avoid some notorious bugs that happen in single player (like resources not respawning if you log out before they respawn.)

While it's true that Ark Server Manager is usually used by people who want to run servers so they can play with people who don't live in their homes, that does not mean that is the only way to operate an Ark server, or any server for that matter. Just use your internal IP, rather than external.

But if you find it easier to keep doing what you've been doing, that's cool. I was only trying to answer your Opening Post, which requested methods for having different save locations for a map.

[dragonsphotoworks]

Miss understand my reply. I meant I dont know how to do it for offline server :-) I plan to do as you suggested. Im just little confused is all :-)