Getting your mod(s) to work on a dedicated server. [Tutorial and Tips/Tricks]

[Mez]

So I have a lot of experience troubleshooting servers, configs, and mod/ark updates. I currently maintain a couple servers with several mods and I have got to tell you, it is a huuuuuge amount of work to even get it to work, and once you do your journey is just starting. So here is a tutorial-ish, tip-based, wall of information for anyone trying to get a modded server to work. It will also function as a brief, albeit fractional description for how Ark servers, configs, and mods interact.

I have worked, to an extent, with various mod devs, some devs here on the forums, and the Ark Server Manager (ASM's) dev. So basically, this is a summation of the information I have obtained from all these wonderful people as well as the summation of my own experiences in both Ark and server-hosting for over a decade.

There are a number of ways to host a dedicated server. You can do it via proxy (hosting company), via ASM (Ark Server Manager)(a proxy/local file maintenance method) maintained by Cliff Hudson, via the 'official' Server Launcher(a proxy/local file maintenance method), via local file maintenance, and via the in game GUI which can be reached through the host option in game. Each has their pros/cons. Which method you use will determine GREATLY your approach.

I will not give a tutorial for every single method. That would literally be like writing a short novel. Instead I will try to impart to you my brief tidbits on each as well as the information/understanding you need to get whatever method you use to work. Of course this still requires you to understand the basics of server hosting, I will not teach you how to host a server, open ports, or other various technical things. This guide assumes you have that knowledge or will get it elsewhere.

General Information that is (for the most part) universal.
Mod stacking or Priority:
This seems complicated, but for the most part is not. Basically, whenever two mods change the same thing (engram, smithy, fabricator, dinosaur changes, etc) the mod with the higher priority will prevail and the lower priority change will be discarded. So even though the mods may be almost completely different, if they have conflicting changes..priority determines which happens first. In some instances this may lead to larger problems, for the most part only that one change will be discarded. There are eccentricities to this, but that is too complicated and goes to how the game was coded and how modding works in particular currently.

Command Lines and Config Options for loading mods:
So there are lots of options for loading mods. Here are the ones I have found throughout Ark's development thus far.
ModId - Deprecated, don't use.
MapModId - **Update** now works!
GameModIds - Works, one of the three main ways to load mods.
GameUserSettings.ini [Server Settings] ActiveMods - Works, one of the three main ways to load mods.

So ModID should not be used currently. ModID I believe is entirely deprecated and has been replaced with GameModIds.

So GameModIds and ActiveMods function in much the same way despite being in two very different locations, so here are some examples with explanations.

start ShooterGameServer.exe TheIsland?GameModIds=485826143,481514565,479295136?listen -server -log

This is a command line (.bat) for one of my servers.
start ShooterGameServer.exe - This executes the server to start.
TheIsland - this loads the generic map TheIsland (Some mods will actually require you to load their 'map/mod' file. They will often have tutorials, but the generic formula is /Game/Mods/[ModNumber]/*.umap. Simply search the mod folder for *.umap and it will show you the word you need to enter (typically)

For example, Vanilla with Sprinkles would be 'start ShooterGameServer.exe /Game/Mods/481514565/VanillaWithSprinkles?GameModIds=481514565....etc'

Now, despite popular consensus that GameModIds=Mod1,Mod2,Mod3 is sufficient, in some instances you will need to add the ActiveMods= line to your [Server Settings] section of GameUserSettings.ini.

'Word on the street' is that doing just one of these is sufficient, but given the lack of any semblance of structure and the constant development of the game try both of them independently, and then try BOTH together.

Specific method tips!

ASL (Ark Server Launcher) - This is ideal for hosting multiple mods as it has direct synchronization with the workshop, allowing you to directly install mods to your server without manually downloading them on a client every time you want to update. Insure that your mods are in the right priority order that you want, and make sure they have the cloud icon (installed/updated) and the green check mark (activated) are next to each mod.

With every other method you will need to manually install the mod from your client and move it into the respective server folder for each mod update. There are plenty of tutorials on where these files are, I am not going over the basics.

ASM (Ark Server Manager by Cliff Hudson) - This is ideal for hosting a single mod or vanilla server. In fact, it is vastly superior to ASL for everything BUT multiple mods. This has been polished and offers more GUI-based modification of your config options and requires FAR less technical know-how than the alternatives.

Proxy (host) - This is probably the single hardest way to do this, as some proxies offer proper FTP support and some don't, or some shade of gray in-between. Soon the ASL and ASM (I believe) may offer support for RCON and accessing your proxy servers from home. Nonetheless your experience with this method will differ GREATLY. Sorry I cannot offer too much more advice than I already have on this topic. It really varies so drastically.

General - Further I recommend NOT installing the mods on the client, especially if you don't want to be updating your servers mod constantly. Recommend your members to unsubscribe and delete their content/mods. I hate HATE the idea of unsubscribing to a mod you use, but fact is a single update by any mod author, will update the clients mods and make them unable to connect to your server. The more mods, the more frequently this happens. I cannot tell you how often I have read someone asking a mod developer to stop updating their mod so often so they did not have to update their servers mods 2x+ a day.

Also, I highly recommend looking at the tutorials available on any mod you are using. If you see any of the deprecated commands being used, don't use them...Nonetheless, try to adhere to whatever method they used to load the mod (GameModIdss, or ActiveMods, or both; or loading it as a map, etc)

Troubleshooting Tips -
Start from scratch, use both activemods and GameModIds, with all mods. If that fails (freezes or won't let you connect, there are various symptoms) cut down to 1 mod (the primary one) and add one more mod in at a time. Most 'big' mods work no the latest versions. Unfortunately it is very much trial and error based. However, considering the things I mentioned above should narrow down your troubleshooting series...greatly.


If there is something you feel I am missing, something you feel that is inaccurate, or otherwise please mention it. I wrote this up all at once, but I am still 99.9% confident in my accuracy. That being said, I am human. :P I will make addendums and maybe tidy it up at some point.

If you need assistance personally with setting up a server, feel free to post and ask for help. I am busy, but I will do my best to try and help. Failing that, I am sure others can try and help as well!

Thanks!
-z`

[Mister Oogway]

Good information, thank you. Deserves a sticky or a place in the wiki

[Mez]

Oh just a note, if you are using ASL or ASM, they automate some of the command line generation. So make sure your command line does not already have the change desired before adding it in manually.

[Mez]

Originally posted by anielrebirth:

Good information, thank you. Deserves a sticky or a place in the wiki

Heh, it might need refined, recolored, and restructured to go on a sticky/the wiki. :P Nonetheless, thank you!

[Cryogenic]

Hey, how do i set priority for a mod, specificly difficulty 34++

[Mez]

You set your priority using either the servers launch parameters, or ActiveMods= gameusersettings.ini. The priority is chronological. The first mod number = top, the last mod number = last. Alternatively if you use the official launcher, click the mod and it has an up and down arrow for priority (this gives you a GUI representation to change the aforementioned methods)

[Mez]

Well, it was something I wrote primarily for the devs, and they actually thanked me for it...so it isn't for naught. :D It is also useful for others, and in fact...everything in here remains true except for mapmodid now works.

[Ricky]

Great read. Thank you for posting.

[Cryogenic]

Originally posted by z`:

You set your priority using either the servers launch parameters, or ActiveMods= gameusersettings.ini. The priority is chronological. The first mod number = top, the last mod number = last. Alternatively if you use the official launcher, click the mod and it has an up and down arrow for priority (this gives you a GUI representation to change the aforementioned methods)

Thank you so much bro, didn't even notice that arrow XD, awesome page fyi, had some relly helpful info :)

[Mez]

Awareness bump!

[Zadranth]

Thanks for the first complete explanation on modding Ark I seen found today. Lifesaver!

[Mez]

<3 need any help pm me or throw a steam friend invite I can help you troubleshoot whatever if I'm not too busy.

I intend on making a new tutorial soon spreading tips and tricks to avoid stacking issues for mod developers! Right now it's a very serious issue. Many mod developers are misunderstanding the nature of a TC and using it as an easy way out, or modifying core functionalities unnecessary causing stacking issues etc..and it really has to go. Modding can be so much more than it is.

[Rob]

i have been having many issues getting mods to work. thank you for the tips! i have them working now.

everything says to use the command line. i have contacted a couple of mod creators and they say use the command line.

i removed the command line entry and tried the ini file instead and now they all work no issues.

another thing i noticed, which does not seem to be on any tutorial (am i being dense?), is how to actually download the mods and get them in an uploadable state.
just subscribing is not enough. someone on the forums mentioned connecting to a server that has the mod installed - though i noticed this is not always possible.

so i found that if i subscribe and start a single player (or non-dedicated host), and enable mods before starting the session. THEN i can upload the mods from shootergame/content/mods with the [ModIDNum].mod file! spent ages looking for this thing as all the tutorials say "subscribe then upload to your server!". but this is not the case at all. subscribing alone does not do anything helpful.

i so hope a better method for installing and updating mods is added to the game soon.

[Mez]

After you subscribe try restarting steam. This will tell it to check for updates to your subscribed mods. If that fails try checking your auto-update feature in steam.

Honestly, if you are going to use mods in ark...get the official launcher. It has direct integration with the workshop and makes everything INSANELY easier. I run both my server and my game client on the same computer at about 9-10GB ram usage, give or take. As for an uploadable state, I'm unsure. When someone connects to your server they should automatically download the mods onto their client and subscribe them. This has always worked 100% of the time for me, but then again I never use local hosting so I am a tad uncertain.

One more thing worth mentioning..do NOT start your server until the mods are fully downloaded on steam, it should say downloads have completed at the bottom.

But yeah, seriously get the official launcher. It can seem a weeee bit daunting at first, but if you are at all familiar with the config options (assuming you change these) and writing command lines (you will need to enter some information into boxes that would otherwise go directly into the command line, it makes modding a cinch. You can alter priority by clicking an up or down arrow, update it at the click of a button, browse the workshop for mods and visit their pages, activate or deactivate installed mods (this adds them to the GameModIds= function in the command line) etc. Also, just as a matter of thoroughness after you alter priority, open your command line, there's a button at the bottom of the official launcher for it, and copy your GameModIds=###. Just the numbers though. Then go under Rules & Gamplay, then Raw.ini, it will default to gameusersettings.ini and then click the top option on the left, it should be ServerSettings, and at the bottom of the right box that appears will be a new empty cell. Click this type in ActiveMods and in the box to it's right paste in the numbers.

Do this anytime you modify priority; I know it sounds like a lot of steps but it literally takes like 5 seconds.

Thanks for taking the time to read all this :D

[DarkMoonKit]

Hi there z' I have sent you a friend request and in need of assistance with my mod collection and some mods wont load, if you could assist me it be great!

[Desertworld]

Originally posted by XxCorruptxX:

Hi there z' I have sent you a friend request and in need of assistance with my mod collection and some mods wont load, if you could assist me it be great!

this thread is nearly 1 year old.. download the automod updater by oNdsen (https://steamcommunity.com/app/346110/discussions/0/405691491118044836 )
just change the paths you need and start it.. any mod is updated and installed