Eddy's Vanilla Enhanced Plus
If you have spent any significant time in ARK: Survival Ascended, you know the mid-game grind all too well. You are constantly waiting for the Industrial Forge to melt metal, running back and forth to storage boxes, and desperately wishing your Fabricator was just a little bit smaller so it would fit in your base's hallway. Eddy's Vanilla Enhanced Plus is the mod that directly addresses these pain points, transforming the game's core crafting and storage mechanics into a streamlined, customizable experience. It does not add new story content or creatures; instead, it makes the vanilla structures you already know and use work the way you always wanted them to.
This mod is a comprehensive overhaul of the structures that form the backbone of any ARK base. It enhances everything from the humble Campfire to the mighty Tek Replicator, offering significant quality-of-life improvements that save you time, space, and resources. For players looking to build more efficiently and spend less time babysitting their crafting queues, this is an essential addition to your mod list. The core philosophy is simple: keep the vanilla aesthetic and balance, but remove the friction that comes with using these structures at scale.
Core Enhancements: Speed, Space, and Size
The three pillars of Eddy's Vanilla Enhanced Plus are faster crafting, larger inventories, and adjustable structure sizes. These features are not just minor tweaks; they fundamentally change how you plan your base layout and manage your resource processing. You will find that a single enhanced structure can replace multiple vanilla ones, freeing up valuable floor space and reducing the overall power footprint of your base.
Faster Crafting and Larger Inventories
One of the most immediate benefits you will notice is the significant boost to crafting speed. The Enhanced versions of stations like the Fabricator and Smithy process items noticeably quicker than their vanilla counterparts. This speed increase is complemented by a substantial bump in inventory capacity. No more constantly emptying your Forge or worrying about your Preserving Bin filling up while you are out on a taming run. These larger inventories are adjustable via INI settings, allowing you to fine-tune the capacity to match your server's resource rates and your personal play style.
Adjustable Structure Size
The standout feature of this mod is the ability to change the physical size of structures while placing them. When you see the green preview hologram, you can now scale the structure down to 50% of its original size, or even down to 25% for massive structures like the Industrial Forge. This is a game-changer for base design. You can now fit a Chem Bench into a tight corner, or tuck an Industrial Forge into a dedicated crafting room without having to build an entire warehouse around it. If you want to go bigger, an INI setting allows for structures to be scaled up as well, giving you complete control over your base's aesthetic and functionality.
Expanded Functionality and Structure List
Beyond the core stat changes, Eddy's Vanilla Enhanced Plus adds new functionality to existing structures. The Smithy, for example, now includes the wood and stone tiers of structures in its crafting menu, along with several items that are typically crafted in the player's inventory. The Fabricator gains the ability to craft metal tier structures. This centralization of crafting recipes reduces the need to run back and forth between different stations, streamlining your entire production line.
The mod also introduces a unique conversion feature. You can convert vanilla items to their VE+ versions and vice versa directly within the Smithy. This ensures you are never locked out of using a specific structure if you run out of resources to craft the enhanced version. The current list of supported structures is extensive and includes:
- Beer Barrel, Campfire, and Cooking Pot
- Chem Bench and Fabricator
- Fireplace, Forge, and Industrial Forge
- Grinder and Industrial Cooking Pot
- Meat Spoiler and Mortar and Pestle
- Tek Replicator and Smithy
- Air Conditioner and Compost Bin
- Crop Plots and Generators (including Tek Generator)
- Preserving Bin and Tree Sap Tap
- Bookshelf and Large/Small Storage
- Vault
For players who prefer a hassle-free setup, using the foxygame.net launcher makes managing this mod a breeze. The launcher's integrated add-on catalog allows you to locate and install Eddy's Vanilla Enhanced Plus for ARK: Survival Ascended with a single click, ensuring you get the correct version for your game build without manual file downloads. It also helps track mod updates, so you always have the latest features and fixes.
INI Settings and Customization
The mod is designed to be highly configurable. All the major features, including inventory size multipliers, crafting speed, and the minimum and maximum size scaling, can be adjusted through INI settings. This allows server administrators and single-player users to tailor the mod to their exact preferences. You can make the mod as subtle or as powerful as you like, ensuring it fits seamlessly into your existing game balance. The default settings are well-tuned for a standard experience, but the power to change them is always there.
Compatibility and Known Issues
Eddy's Vanilla Enhanced Plus is designed to work with the current versions of ARK: Survival Ascended. It is a client-side and server-side mod, meaning it works in both single-player and on dedicated servers. As with any mod, it is always recommended to check for the latest version to ensure compatibility with the most recent game patches. The mod is also designed to be compatible with other popular building and QoL mods, though it is always wise to test new combinations on a local server first.
One known issue, which the mod author is actively working on, is that snap points on structures do not scale with the size adjustment. This means that while a structure may be visually smaller, it will still snap to other structures as if it were full size. This is a minor inconvenience that can be worked around with careful placement, but it is something to be aware of when planning your build. The author has also stated that lighting improvements are on the roadmap for future updates, along with more structures and features.
Conclusion
Eddy's Vanilla Enhanced Plus is an indispensable mod for any ARK: Survival Ascended player who values efficiency and base-building freedom. By enhancing the core structures with faster crafting, larger inventories, and the unique size-adjustment feature, it solves many of the game's most persistent annoyances. Whether you are a solo survivor looking to optimize a small base or a tribe leader managing a massive industrial complex, this mod offers the tools to make your life easier. If you are looking to elevate your ARK experience, this is a must-have addition to your mod collection.