If I make a non-dedicated server on the same map as I play single player, will all my process in single player get deleted?

[I_Exist]

So I have a singleplayer account set up on The Island. One of my friends recently got ark and since we can play together, I thought it might be a good idea to start off on The Island. But if I host a non-decicated session on The Island, will all my singleplayer stuff still be there? Or will it get deleted? Is it possible to have like, The island in my singleplayer mode where all my stuff is still there, but also have a non-decicated session where we completely start fresh?
I apoligize for the amount of questions, and hope it isn't too confusing to read

[RandomTurtle]

To try providing some info:
- A "Non-Dedicated Session is not the same as a Non-dedicated Server.
- If you start a Non-dedicated session on a map, all your stuff from single player will still be there, you'll even be your single player character.
- If you really want to have to different "The Islands" it is possible. It would be easiest if your friend hosted The Island however if they wanted to play it single player they would then have all your multiplayer stuff on the map. However if you wanted to host it, you can but it's hassle:
You'd need to go into the game files, find the folder that houses all the save data for "The Island", copy that folder and stash the copy somewhere safe. Remove the Island data so you start fresh. Then when you want to switch back to single player, copy your multiplayer world. Back that up, then delete it put your single player back in.

Depending on how far you are it might be worth playing with them on your single player map. Or downloading a free map and playing that. You could also transport materials/items/tames across maps if you wish.

Basically in short, You get 1 map file shared between "single player" and "Non dedicated session" per person, for each map you own.

[🦊 Hermit]

Originally posted by randomturtle01:

- A "Non-Dedicated Session is not the same as a Non-dedicated Server.

What's the difference? I've always understood them to be the same thing...

But Turtle is correct OP, single player and non-dedicated share the same save file, so if you hosted a session you would be on your single player character. Swapping out the saves or getting your friend to host would be your only options if you wanted to do non-ded.

However I would recommend looking into hosting a dedicated server on your home machine for the multiplayer. This would be a separate save file as you describe, and it would remove the annoying tether distance between players, allowing you both to explore across the map without having to stay close to each other. Also, it would avoid a number of other single player/non-ded bugs which do not exist in the dedicated save type.

Hosting a dedicated process next to your client doesn't take too many computer resources, so long as you have 16GB RAM and moderate hardware you should be able to do it without issues. My 8 year old rig can do it fine (I7 4790k, GeForce GTX 970).

[Egobyte83]

If you want two separate versions of the same map, one for single player and one for co-op, you can save two separate save folders for each. Play single player, log off, go to the ARK folder/ShooterGame/ then copy the "Saved" folder and paste it somewhere else, label it something like "Saved - Single player". Then delete the "Saved" folder in the Shootergame folder. When you host a non dedicated session, the game will automatically create a new "Saved" folder and everything on the map will be wiped/reset so you'll start out fresh from scratch. When you are done playing with your friends and close that session, repeat the process, this time labelling the backed up folder "Saved - Non-Ded" or "Saved - Multiplayer" or something like that. Then depending on what you wanna do, you just take the corresponding folder and copy-paste it back into the shootergame folder every time, renaming it "Saved" and overwriting whatever is currently in there.

But that is too much of a hassle for me. I repeatedly switch between single-player and non-dedicated session and use the same stuff for everything. Since I have all the save-data on my computer, I usually host and have my friends connect to my computer for co-op play. But I can freely play the same map in single player whenever I want to, and my friends' stuff is still there when I do. Then, when we decide to play together again, I just host the same map with the same save data as a non-dedicated session again and they can pop in. Easy peasy!

What I wonder, though, is... when I am playing single player, are my friends' dinos on hold in regards to needs? Cause I have been playing a lot of single player and been fearing that my friends' dinos would eventually run out of food and starve to death cause they aren't there to take care of them, but it's like their needs are frozen in place.

[Zera_Fox]

Originally posted by 🦊 Hermit:

Originally posted by randomturtle01:

- A "Non-Dedicated Session is not the same as a Non-dedicated Server.

What's the difference? I've always understood them to be the same thing...

They are the same thing, a Non-Dedicated session is both SP and/or open to other players to join using your SP (Local game) files.
Non-Dedicated = Tether
Dedicated = No Tether
This is the easiest way to tell the difference when playing. SP/Non-Dedicated play will always have the Tether due to the design implemented to cut back on resource needs for said single process.
Lots of people will run a private Dedicated instance (separate process) on their machine at the same time they play so there is No Tether and less SP related issues due to the way the game functions in SP/Non-Dedicated sessions.
The fact that both the game and the server processes are on the same machine have nothing to do with whether or not the session itself is Non-Dedicated or Dedicated.

Why turtle said they aren't the same thing or otherwise thinks that they're different doesn't make sense to me at all. Unless they're only picturing the "processes run per machine" thing I mentioned above.
SP is both Non-Dedicated and Non-Server. Non-Dedicated Server is still a "SP game" but with the option opened up for more (Like a LAN game in Minecraft for example).

[Egobyte83]

Originally posted by Zera_Fox:

Originally posted by 🦊 Hermit:

What's the difference? I've always understood them to be the same thing...

They are the same thing, a Non-Dedicated session is both SP and/or open to other players to join using your SP (Local game) files.
Non-Dedicated = Tether
Dedicated = No Tether
This is the easiest way to tell the difference when playing. SP/Non-Dedicated play will always have the Tether due to the design implemented to cut back on resource needs for said single process.
Lots of people will run a private Dedicated instance (separate process) on their machine at the same time they play so there is No Tether and less SP related issues due to the way the game functions in SP/Non-Dedicated sessions.
The fact that both the game and the server processes are on the same machine have nothing to do with whether or not the session itself is Non-Dedicated or Dedicated.

Why turtle said they aren't the same thing or otherwise thinks that they're different doesn't make sense to me at all. Unless they're only picturing the "processes run per machine" thing I mentioned above.
SP is both Non-Dedicated and Non-Server. Non-Dedicated Server is still a "SP game" but with the option opened up for more (Like a LAN game in Minecraft for example).

Gotta ask, do you happen to know the answer to my question at the end of my post?

[🦊 Hermit]

When a part of the map is not loaded in, the creatures in it are in stasis and effectively do not exist (or are in suspended animation). So they do not actively consume food or starve.

However the game does still count the amount of time between them going into stasis, and the moment they are loaded back in by, for example, a player flying past on a bird overhead. And at the point that they are loaded back in, it will subtract the estimated amount of food from their stats that they would have used during that time, and the amount of health they would lose if their food bar was empty and they were starving. If in that calculation their health drops below zero, they will instantly die on loading in.

So creatures can be left for a while before they would be in danger of death. But if left for an excessively long time, then yes, there is a chance of mass death the moment somebody gets close and loads them in from stasis.

[Egobyte83]

Originally posted by 🦊 Hermit:

When a part of the map is not loaded in, the creatures in it are in stasis and effectively do not exist (or are in suspended animation). So they do not actively consume food or starve.

However the game does still count the amount of time between them going into stasis, and the moment they are loaded back in by, for example, a player flying past on a bird overhead. And at the point that they are loaded back in, it will subtract the estimated amount of food from their stats that they would have used during that time, and the amount of health they would lose if their food bar was empty and they were starving. If in that calculation their health drops below zero, they will instantly die on loading in.

So creatures can be left for a while before they would be in danger of death. But if left for an excessively long time, then yes, there is a chance of mass death the moment somebody gets close and loads them in from stasis.

Thanks ^^ Needed to have that confirmed