Curiosity
In the sprawling, dangerous world of ARK: Survival Ascended, your tamed creatures are more than just tools or mounts; they are companions. Yet, for all their utility, they often stand motionless like statues, staring blankly into the void. The Curiosity add-on changes all of that, breathing life into your tribe by giving your dinos a sense of awareness and personality. This mod transforms the static experience of base-building and resource gathering into a living, breathing ecosystem where your creatures react to the world around them.
What Does Curiosity Add to the Game?
At its core, Curiosity for ARK: Survival Ascended is an expansion of the vanilla "random look" feature. While the base game introduced a basic version of this in update 5.5, this mod takes the concept to a new level. It replaces the existing system with a more dynamic and intelligent algorithm. Unmounted creatures will now actively scan their environment, focusing on points of interest. You might see a Raptor staring intently into the dense forest, a Triceratops examining a nearby structure, or a pack of Direwolves acknowledging each other with subtle head movements. This creates a far more organic and engaging atmosphere around your bases and outposts.
Furthermore, the mod enhances the follower behavior. When you have a creature set to follow you, it will now actively look towards you or the target it is following. This small detail makes the bond between survivor and dino feel much more tangible. If you ever find this behavior distracting on a specific tame, you can simply disable "Ally Looking" in the creature's radial menu to revert it to standard behavior.
Key Features and Customization
One of the strengths of this mod is its flexibility. It is designed to be lightweight and highly configurable, allowing server admins and single-player users to tailor the experience to their hardware and preferences. Here are some of the standout features:
- Dynamic Look Targeting: Creatures scan for and focus on structures, other dinos, and environmental points of interest.
- Follower Awareness: Tamed creatures actively look at the target they are following.
- Performance-Friendly: Includes an exception list to exclude high-population or low-benefit creatures like fish and insects.
- Full INI Configuration: Adjust scan ranges, intervals, and look frequency to balance server load and visual effect.
Configuration and Performance
The mod offers a robust configuration file to fine-tune its behavior. The [Curiosity] section allows you to control everything from the ScanRange (default 150 meters) to the LookFrequency and LookIntervalMin/Max timers. For servers with heavy populations, you can adjust the FlyingSwimmingLookMultiplier to reduce the effect on aquatic and aerial creatures, ensuring that performance remains stable. The ExceptionList is particularly useful; by default, it excludes creatures like Coel, Piranha, and Cnidaria, but you can customize it to include any dino by using its Creature ID tag.
For those managing a dedicated server, ensuring mod compatibility is key. This add-on is designed to work seamlessly with the current generation of ARK: Survival Ascended. It is compatible with most quality-of-life and building mods, as it only manipulates the AI look behavior. If you are using a mod that alters creature animations, you may need to test for conflicts, but the developer has included a PreventBuffClassesWithTag array for modders to ensure compatibility.
How to Install and Download
Getting started with this add-on is straightforward. To download Curiosity, navigate to the CurseForge page or the in-game mod browser. The mod ID is 1167541. Once you have found it, subscribing is the first step. For players using the foxygame.net launcher, the process is even smoother; the launcher features a dedicated add-on catalog where you can find and install Curiosity with a single click, and it handles version compatibility automatically, so you don't have to worry about mismatched updates.
After you have subscribed, you need to ensure it is activated. For single-player, simply enable the mod in the "Mods" section of the main menu before loading your save. For dedicated servers, you will need to add the mod ID to your server's ModInstaller list. The standard how to install process involves updating your server's GameUserSettings.ini file. Once active, the mod works immediately, requiring no additional in-game setup beyond tweaking the INI values if you wish to change the defaults.
Is Curiosity Right for Your Server?
This mod is an excellent choice for players who value immersion and the "living world" feel. It is a light expansion that does not add new items or creatures, making it a safe addition to almost any modded setup. Whether you are a solo player building a mountain retreat or an admin running a massive PvP cluster, the subtle life it brings to your dinos enhances the visual storytelling of your ARK experience. The performance cost is minimal, especially with the default exception list active, making it a no-brainer for those who want their bases to feel inhabited.
In conclusion, Curiosity is a brilliant, understated mod that fixes a major immersion gap in ARK: Survival Ascended. It makes your tames feel like living creatures rather than AI puppets. The ability to configure every aspect ensures that it fits your playstyle, whether you want hyper-aware guard dogs or just a few subtle head movements. Download it today and watch your base come alive.