Creating a procedural map in ARK: Survival Evolved allows players to experience a dynamically generated world rather than a fixed, pre-designed one. This offers unique challenges and exploration opportunities every time you start a new map.
Understanding Procedural Generation in ARK
A procedural Ark refers to a map within the game ARK: Survival Evolved that is created through algorithmic generation rather than being hand-designed. This means terrain, resources, creature spawns, and geographical features are dynamically assembled based on a set of configurable parameters, providing endless replayability.
Steps to Create a Procedural Ark Map
There are two primary methods for generating a procedural map: creating one for a local game or configuring one for a dedicated server.
1. Generating a Procedural Map for a Local Game
This method is ideal for single-player experiences or for hosting a non-dedicated session for friends.
- Launch ARK: Survival Evolved: Start the game from your platform.
- Navigate to Local Game: From the main menu, select the "Local Game" option.
- Select "Create Procedural Ark": Within the local game settings, you will find an option specifically labeled "Create Procedural Ark." Click on this to begin the generation process.
- Configure Desired Settings: Before starting the game, a configuration screen will appear. Here, you can adjust various parameters that influence the map's generation. These settings often include:
- Map Size: Determine the overall scale of your procedural world.
- Terrain Features: Adjust the prevalence of mountains, valleys, plains, and water bodies.
- Resource Abundance: Control how common various resources (minerals, wood, berries) are.
- Dino Spawns: Influence the types and frequency of creatures that will appear.
- Difficulty: Set the overall challenge level of the environment and its inhabitants.
- Start the Game: Once you are satisfied with your chosen settings, initiate the game, and your unique procedural map will begin to generate.
2. Configuring a Procedural Map on a Dedicated Server
For multiplayer servers, the process involves adjusting server-side settings to enable procedural map generation.
- Switch Server to Advanced Mode: If your server is not already configured for advanced options, you will need to switch it to "Advanced Mode." This typically grants access to a wider range of configuration parameters necessary for custom map generation.
- Access Server Configuration: Depending on your server host or setup, you will need to access the server's configuration files (e.g.,
GameUserSettings.inior command-line parameters) or its web-based control panel. - Input Procedural Map Settings: Within the server's configuration, you will specify the necessary parameters for the procedural map. This often involves:
- Setting the
MapNametoProceduralARK. - Adding various procedural generation options as command-line arguments or entries in the
GameUserSettings.inifile. These settings mirror the ones available in local game creation, such asProceduralMapNumTotalRegions,ProceduralMapOceanBiomesSpawnWeight,ProceduralMapRiverBiomesSpawnWeight, and others that control the density and type of biomes, resources, and geographical features.
- Setting the
- Save and Restart Server: After applying your desired settings, save the configuration and restart your ARK server for the changes to take effect and for the new procedural map to generate.
Key Considerations for Procedural Maps
- Performance: Large or highly complex procedural maps might require more system resources for both clients and servers.
- Exploration: Every procedural map is unique, encouraging extensive exploration to discover its distinct features and challenges.
- Replayability: The ability to generate new worlds at will significantly enhances the game's long-term appeal.
By following these steps, you can successfully create and explore your own unique procedural worlds within ARK: Survival Evolved, whether for solo adventure or a shared experience on a dedicated server.
