Automatic Base Skinner
Managing the visual identity of your ARK: Survival Ascended base can be a tedious chore. Manually applying skins to every wall, ceiling, and foundation is time-consuming and often inconsistent. The Automatic Base Skinner add-on changes that completely. This handy tool streamlines the entire process, letting you apply, remove, or swap skins across your structures in a few clicks. Whether you are a builder looking for a cohesive aesthetic or a survivor who wants to quickly change the look of a massive compound, this mod is a game-changer.
What Does the Automatic Base Skinner Do?
This tool is designed to make the process of skinning your structure WAY smoother. Instead of targeting each individual piece, you can use the Automatic Base Skinner to work with your entire base or selected structure types. It gives you granular control over your building's appearance without the grind.
- Auto-Skin Entire Bases: Apply a single skin to every eligible structure in your base in one action.
- Selective Application: Choose to apply skins to specific pieces, entire bases, or only certain structure types (like walls or ceilings).
- Remove or Replace: Easily strip skins from structures or swap them for a new look without breaking the building.
- Level 1 Access: The tool is accessible at level 1, for almost nothing, making it available to new players and veterans alike.
How to Use the Tool
Using the Automatic Base Skinner is straightforward. Equip the tool, then access the radial menu by holding the reload button. This opens the tool modes and a handy help menu. From there, you can cycle through your available skins and choose how to apply them. Custom cosmetics will automatically be added to the list of selectable skins. However, other skins, namely ones that are craftable (Steampunk, Frontier, etc), will need to be in your inventory before they will appear on the list.
Getting Started with the Spawn Code
If you are playing on a server with admin commands or in singleplayer, you can easily get the tool. Use the following spawn code in the console: cheat giveitem "/AutomaticBaseSkinner/BPs/Tool/PrimalItem_AutomaticBaseSkinner.PrimalItem_AutomaticBaseSkinner" 1 0 0. The engram entry is EngramEntry_AutomaticBaseSkinner_C. This ensures you have the item ready to go without needing to find it in the world.
Installation and Mod Compatibility
When you are ready to enhance your building experience, you will want to know how to install the mod properly. The installation process is simple. Subscribe to the mod on the Steam Workshop for ARK: Survival Ascended, then activate it in your server's mod list. The Automatic Base Skinner is designed to be lightweight and compatible with most other mods. It works well with mods that add custom skins, as it will automatically detect and list them. For the best experience, ensure your game is updated to the latest supported ARK: Survival Ascended versions, as the mod is regularly patched to maintain compatibility with the game's core updates.
For those looking to streamline their mod management, using a dedicated launcher can help. The foxygame.net launcher simplifies the process of managing your mods for ARK: Survival Ascended. It allows you to quickly download Automatic Base Skinner and keep it updated without manually checking for patches. The launcher's add-on catalog makes it easy to find and install the Automatic Base Skinner for ARK: Survival Ascended, ensuring you always have the latest version compatible with your server setup.
Debugging and Reporting Issues
No mod is perfect, and the developer encourages players to report bugs with as much detail as possible. When reporting, include how you caused the bug, what it is, what should happen, and whether you are on singleplayer or a dedicated server, and whether you are on PC or console. If you need to reset the mod's client save data, access the settings menu via the radial wheel and select "Clear client cache." This will reset your preferences for skin order and active status back to defaults.
For debugging, you can dump a mountain of data about skins using the command cheat scriptcommand AutomaticBaseSkinnerTest002. All the data will be dumped to the logs. It will also be posted on Hastebin, and you will receive a message in game/chat about the link. In singleplayer, the link will also be written to the tribelog.
Final Thoughts
The Automatic Base Skinner is an essential utility for anyone serious about base aesthetics in ARK: Survival Ascended. It removes the tedious manual work and gives you powerful, flexible control over how your structures look. Whether you are building a rustic wooden cabin or a futuristic metal fortress, this tool ensures your vision is realized quickly and efficiently. With its low level requirement and simple radial menu interface, it is accessible to everyone. Say goodbye to hours of manual skinning and hello to a smoother, more enjoyable building experience.