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[UNSUPPORTED] Better Element (Open Source)

Element, Element Shard, and Element Dust all made "better" by enabling cross-ARK transfers and lossless conversions between vanilla and "better" items.

github://dweomer-ark/BetterElement[github.com]

My goals with this mod are to make Better Element transferable and as usable as vanilla Element. Currently supported uses (that I have tested):

• powering tek armor, including the shoulder cannon (functions exactly like vanilla)
  
• dragging onto these tek weapons to use as ammo (implemented as new ammo types):
  
  • tek bow (shard)
    
  • tek pistol
    
  • tek railgun
    
  • tek rifle
    
  • tek sword
• taming feroxes!
  
• feeding enforcers! (dust)

Please report bugs and/or unmet expectations by opening a discussion!

Better Element, Shards, and Dust are all lighter than their vanilla counterparts (it's magic tech, get over it).

But also 100% transferable and convertible to and from Vanilla and Better variants:

• Better Element, Shards, and Dust can all be transferred intra-cluster both in your inventory and as ARK Data at any upload-capable terminal (yes, I am aware that vanilla Element Dust was already transferable)
  

  BE WARNED: attempting to transfer to a server in your cluster that does not have this mod installed, with Better Element or Shards in your inventory, will result in such ceasing to exist. When in doubt, upload it before transferring your toon.

All conversions are lossless and reversible with no intermediate spoiling items (such as with refined/unstable element and shards from vanilla).

Vanilla Conversions

These are exact match recipes from Vanilla to Better and vice versa.
Available in Player and Tek Replicator (including S+) inventories.
Auto-unlocked at level 1.

• Vanilla Element ➡️ Better Element @ 1:1 (reversible)
  
• Vanilla Element Shard ➡️ Better Element Shard @ 1:1 (reversible per 100)
  
• Vanilla Element Dust ➡️ Better Element Dust @ 1:1 (reversible per 200)

Better Conversions

These are permissive match recipes from Vanilla or Better to Better.
Available at level 1 in Tek Replicator (including S+) inventories.

• Any Element ➡️ Better Element Shard @ 1:100 (reversible to better)
  
• Any Element Shard ➡️ Better Element Dust @ 1:10 (reversible to better)
  
• Any Element Dust ➡️ Better Element @ 1000:1 (reversible to better)

• EngramEntry_BetterElement_C
• PrimalItemResource_BetterElement_C
• cheat gfi BetterElement 1 0 0
• cheat giveitem "Blueprint'/Game/Mods/BetterElement/Items/PrimalItemResource_BetterElement.PrimalItemResource_BetterElement'" 1 0 0

• EngramEntry_BetterElement_ToVanilla_C

• EngramEntry_BetterElementShard_C
• PrimalItemResource_BetterElementShard_C
• cheat gfi BetterElementShard 100 0 0
• cheat giveitem "Blueprint'/Game/Mods/BetterElement/Items/PrimalItemResource_BetterElementShard.PrimalItemResource_BetterElementShard'" 100 0 0

• EngramEntry_BetterElementShard_ToVanilla_C

• EngramEntry_BetterElementDust_C
• PrimalItemResource_BetterElementDust_C
• cheat gfi BetterElementDust 1000 0 0
• cheat giveitem "Blueprint'/Game/Mods/BetterElement/Items/PrimalItemResource_BetterElementDust.PrimalItemResource_BetterElementDust'" 1000 0 0

• EngramEntry_BetterElementDust_ToVanilla_C

So, after watching Syntac's Ultimate ARK (Island, Scorched, Aberration, Extinction, Gen1) and Fjordur play-throughs, and subsequently feeling empowered to complete all of the maps solo, I've spun up my own PVE cluster and am re-playing through all story content (and DLC).

I've also started watching his latest cluster series that he started a couple years back and noticed the Transferable Element that is rolled into the Ultra Stacks mod that they use there. Well, I've had my fill of stack mods and I just don't like 'em. But also, I've had my fill of the pervasively obscene hobbling of ARK gameplay to ameliorate PvP concerns. So, I took a look at the source for Transferable Element (after prototyping this) and don't really like the author's approach (I am kinda persnickety, you may have noticed). I'll also take just about any excuse to fiddle with ARK and make it more playable for me and my friends and family. And, so, here we are.