How to limit number of players on server?

[Lord_Johnny]

I just got the game, and want to learn the game with a friend. As this would be the literal first time playing, I'm looking to have a small server just to learn how to actually play rather than anything else. Is there a way to limit the number of players that can be on the server?

[BlackDino]

there is. and you can have a whitelist so only your friends and you can join the server.

[Lord_Johnny]

And how would I go about doing that? Again, first time even logging into the game, so I'm terribly green at doing this.

[BlackDino]

depends on how your setting up your server. are you gonna rent or use a your own PC for it. Rented servers usually have the number of players and list in a setting. But if you are using your own PC might want to check some set up youtube videos.

[🦊 Hermit]

Are you looking to do dedicated or non-ded? The method for setting it up is slightly different depending on which you are using...

[War Kitten]

I run a small 8 person server that is PVE. Isle of Oddities, I'm the only one on my server and you and your friends are more than welcome to join!

[Lord_Johnny]

Not looking to rent a server at all. Like I said, the idea is to get where my friend and I could play together, learning as we go. To that end, I have no idea if Dedicated or Non-dedicated is better. I've got...maybe 20 minutes in the game, so I am starting from ground zero.

@War Kitten, that would be amazing. Not sure what I'd need for that to happen, but I'd be interested! Thank you in advance no matter what the outcome is!

[william_es]

Dedicated server is MUCH better.

A non-dedicated server is pretty much a single player game trying to pretend to be a server, and it can only do a pretty so-so job at that.

If on a non-dedicated, it's only loading one small section of the map, and all players need to remain in that one area.

Area is centered on the host, and if other players try to move far away, the game has to yank them back. The game can't load two completely different sections of the map at once, it's not designed to do that. All players have to stay in one area. This is called tethering. You can increase the tether range, but putting in some incredibly large number does not make the technical limitations go away.

Also if the host enters certain areas, like a cave or the water, it instantly teleports all other connected players to the host. Because those other areas require a new section of the map to be loaded, so it doesn't matter how large you try to set the tether range.

[william_es]

There's a program called Ark Server Manager that can make setting up and running an ark dedicated server really pretty easy.

I sort of recommend using a separate computer to run the server. Servers need less resources, they don't do graphics at all. It's possibly to run one on an old potato computer, and I've heard of people using laptops too.

If your computer can handle it, you can run the server and play ark on the same computer. I still don't recommend it.

[Lord_Johnny]

Thank you!