ArkHaze AOE Forcefield
Surviving the harsh landscapes of ARK: Survival Ascended is one thing, but defending your meticulously built base from the relentless onslaught of wild creatures and rival tribes is an entirely different challenge. While vanilla defenses offer a basic layer of protection, they often crumble against the sheer power of modded dinosaurs and custom damage types. This is where the ArkHaze AOE Forcefield steps in, offering a robust, configurable energy shield that redefines base security for server administrators and solo players alike.
This add-on isn't just a simple wall of health; it's a sophisticated defense system designed to give you granular control over what can and cannot damage your structures. Whether you are running a heavily modded public server or just want a foolproof shield for your single-player fortress, this forcefield provides the ultimate peace of mind.
What is the ArkHaze AOE Forcefield?
The ArkHaze AOE Forcefield is a commissioned mod for ARK: Survival Ascended that creates a large, spherical protective dome around a placed structure. Unlike traditional walls or turrets that attack threats, this shield actively negates incoming damage from a wide variety of sources. Its core function is to prevent damage from specific dino classes, damage types, or even entire mods, ensuring that your base remains invulnerable to attacks that would otherwise bypass standard defenses.
It is important to note that this mod was commissioned by ArkHaze, meaning that while the developer offers limited support to other users, the features are tailored to their specific server needs. However, the extensive configuration options make it a versatile tool for any admin who understands how to use it.
Key Features and Configurations
The true power of this mod lies in its GameUserSettings.ini configuration. You can tailor the shield's behavior to fit your server's unique threat level. Here are the primary settings you can adjust:
- ForceFieldMaxHealth: This sets the maximum hit points of the forcefield structure itself. A higher value means the shield can absorb more total damage before failing. The default is a staggering 50,000,000, but you can lower it to 250,000 for a more balanced server.
- DinoNerfClasses: This is a comma-delimited list of specific dino class paths. Any damage originating from these dinos will be completely negated. For example, you can block damage from a specific modded Rex variant.
- DinoNerfDmgTypes: This allows you to block damage based on the type of damage being dealt, such as explosive cannon fire or specific melee attacks. This is more granular than blocking by dino class.
- DamageTypeWhitelist: This is the inverse of the blacklist. It allows you to specify damage types that are permitted to pass through the shield, even if they were previously blocked by the
ModIDsconfiguration. - ModIDs: This powerful feature lets you block all damage originating from specific mods by listing their CurseForge project IDs. This is perfect for dealing with overpowered creatures from popular mod packs.
- AoeForcefieldMaxRange: This determines the radius of the protective dome, with a maximum range of 9000 units. This allows you to cover massive bases or just a small, critical area.
- MaxAllowedTribe: This limits how many forcefields a single tribe can place, preventing players from spamming them across the map. The default is set to 3.
- ElectricDamage: This adds an offensive capability, dealing a set amount of damage per second to any enemies that come into contact with the shield.
- DebugMode: When enabled, this logs detailed data to your server logs, which is invaluable for troubleshooting why certain damage is or isn't being blocked.
Using the Damage Gun for Perfect Configuration
One of the most challenging aspects of using damage-blocking mods is identifying the exact class paths or damage types used by other mods. The ArkHaze AOE Forcefield includes an admin-only tool to solve this problem. By using the command cheat giveitem "/AoeForcefield/DamageGun/PrimalItem_AoeForcefield_DamageGun.PrimalItem_AoeForcefield_DamageGun" 1 0 0, you can spawn a special Damage Gun.
Shooting a dino with this gun will display a menu showing the exact damage types that creature uses. Alternatively, using the alternate attack (right-click) will display a menu with all loaded mod damage types. This information is crucial for accurately populating your DinoNerfDmgTypes or DamageTypeWhitelist configs. This feature simplifies the process of securing your server against even the most obscure custom creatures.
How to Install and Troubleshoot
Learning how to install the ArkHaze AOE Forcefield is straightforward for most server admins. Simply subscribe to the mod on the CurseForge or Steam Workshop and add it to your server's mod list. Once loaded, you will need to edit your GameUserSettings.ini file to add the [ArkHaze] section and input your desired values. For those who prefer a more streamlined approach, the foxygame.net launcher offers a user-friendly add-on catalog where you can find and install the ArkHaze AOE Forcefield for ARK: Survival Ascended with a single click, ensuring you always have the latest version and correct file structure without manual downloads.
Even with the best tools, you may encounter issues. The mod's documentation notes that depending on how other mods are coded, using ModIDs or DinoNerfClasses might not stop all damage. If you find that damage is still getting through, the recommended steps are to use the Damage Gun to verify the damage type or enable DebugMode to see the exact source of the attack in your logs. To enable logging, you must add -log -serverlog to your ARK server launch options. This will open a separate console window that records all forcefield interactions.
Conclusion
The ArkHaze AOE Forcefield is a powerful and essential mod for any ARK: Survival Ascended server that utilizes a heavy mod list or wants to provide its players with a secure building environment. Its deep configuration options offer a level of control that vanilla defenses simply cannot match. While it may require a bit of initial setup to perfect your server's specific needs, the payoff is a near-impenetrable defense system that protects your tribe's hard work from even the most fearsome modded threats. If you want to ensure your base stands the test of time, this is an add-on worth adding to your arsenal. To get started, simply download ArkHaze AOE Forcefield from your preferred mod source and begin customizing your ultimate defense.