Beasts of Burden
ARK: Survival Ascended throws plenty of challenges your way, but few are as frustrating as the dreaded "over-encumbered" crawl. You have just cleared a massive metal node or wiped a rival tribe's base, only to find yourself waddling back to your base at a snail's pace. The Beasts of Burden add-on is the definitive solution to this problem, transforming eight of your favorite tames into true pack mules. This mod is not just about convenience; it is about fundamentally changing how you approach resource gathering and raid looting in the game.
What is Beasts of Burden for ARK: Survival Ascended?
This is a specialized mod that introduces a brand-new tier of saddles for eight specific creatures. These are not just cosmetic upgrades. Each B.O.B. saddle is crafted using a new resource called Resilient Leather, which is harvested from fallen creatures using a unique Carbide Hatchet. Once equipped, these saddles grant a massive 90% weight reduction for all items carried by the mount, alongside a 75% slower stamina drain. This combination allows you to haul thousands of pounds of resources without stopping to rest every few seconds.
The Eight Chosen Creatures
The mod focuses on a curated list of creatures that are already known for their utility. With the Beasts of Burden saddles, they become absolute titans of logistics. The supported creatures include:
- Phiomia
- Parasaur
- Morellotops
- Equus
- Iguanadon
- Paracer
- Dire Bear
- Woolly Rhino
Each of these creatures gets a unique saddle model designed to fit their physique, ensuring that your caravan looks as formidable as it is functional.
The New Resource: Resilient Leather
To craft these powerful saddles, you must first master the new gathering loop. You will need to craft a Carbide Hatchet from your inventory. This tool is specifically designed to harvest Resilient Leather from the corpses of any fallen creatures. This means your regular hunting trips for meat and hide will now also yield the crucial component needed for your B.O.B. saddles. It adds a satisfying progression step that encourages you to engage with the mod's content rather than simply spawning items in.
How to Install and Configure
Getting started is straightforward. To download Beasts of Burden, you simply navigate to the mod page on the Steam Workshop for ARK: Survival Ascended and click subscribe. After that, you need to ensure the mod is activated in your server's mod list. For those using a dedicated server, the process is similar. You can find the Beasts of Burden for ARK: Survival Ascended in the workshop, and the server will automatically download it for all connecting players.
For players looking for a more streamlined experience, the foxygame.net launcher offers a one-click install for Beasts of Burden, automatically handling version compatibility and updates so you can jump straight into the action without fussing over manual file placement. This is especially useful for single-player worlds where managing mod folders can be tedious.
Server Configuration (INI Settings)
The mod is highly customizable, allowing server admins to tweak the balance to fit their gameplay style. You can adjust the weight reduction and stamina drain multipliers via the GameUserSettings.ini file. The default settings are already well-balanced, but you have the freedom to make the saddles even more powerful or less impactful depending on your server's difficulty.
- WeightReductionMultiplier=0.1 (Default: 0.1 for 90% reduction, clamp 0.1 to 1.0)
- StaminaDrainMultiplier=0.25 (Default: 0.25 for 75% reduction, clamp 0.1 to 1.0)
- PreventSprinting=True (Set to false to allow normal sprinting movement)
These settings allow you to tailor the experience, whether you want a hardcore survival server where logistics are a challenge or a more relaxed environment where hauling is a breeze.
Why You Need This Mod
Imagine a metal run where you return to base with a full load of ingots without having to make three trips. Picture a raid where you can strip an enemy base clean of every last structure and storage box in a single sortie. The Beasts of Burden mod makes these scenarios a reality. The 90% weight reduction effectively means you can carry ten times the amount of loot compared to a standard saddle.
Furthermore, the 75% slower stamina drain ensures your mount can keep moving across the map without constant stops to regenerate energy. This is particularly crucial for the Paracer or Woolly Rhino, which are already slow; the stamina boost makes their long-distance travel much more bearable.
Compatibility and Final Thoughts
This mod is designed for the current generation of ARK: Survival Ascended, ensuring it works with the Unreal Engine 5 rendering and physics. It is compatible with most other mods, though you should always check for conflicts with mods that alter the same creatures or add similar saddle types. The add-on catalog in the foxygame.net launcher also helps you verify that Beasts of Burden is up-to-date with the latest game patches, preventing crashes and save corruption.
In conclusion, Beasts of Burden is an essential addition for any player who values efficiency. It removes the tedious grind of inventory management and allows you to focus on the exciting parts of ARK: Survival Ascended. Whether you are a solo survivor gathering resources or a tribe leader managing war logistics, these saddles will change your life. Say goodbye to the slow walk of shame and hello to the heavy haul.