Improved Dino Loot
Every ARK: Survival Ascended survivor knows the frustration. You spend hours taming a powerful creature, only to find that its wild counterpart drops nothing but basic hide and raw meat. You might even run a brilliant creature mod, but its unique dinos yield rewards that feel completely underwhelming. This is exactly where Improved Dino Loot steps in, transforming the way you approach resource gathering and boss preparation.
This isn't just another loot tweak. It is a sophisticated system that allows you to add complex, custom loot templates to virtually any dinosaur in the game. The key philosophy here is "adding, not replacing." You are not overwriting the vanilla drop tables; instead, you are layering new, exciting rewards on top of the existing ones. This ensures that your game remains balanced while offering far more compelling reasons to hunt specific creatures.
Core Features That Set It Apart
What makes Improved Dino Loot for ARK: Survival Ascended such a versatile tool in your modding arsenal? It comes down to its seamless integration with both the base game and your existing mod list.
- Universal Dino Compatibility: It works flawlessly with vanilla dinos, from the humble Dodo to the mighty Giganotosaurus.
- Full Mod Dino Support: If you have a mod that adds a new creature, you can assign custom loot to that creature just as easily. This is a game-changer for mod pack creators.
- Item Flexibility: The loot sets can contain both vanilla items and items from other mods, giving you complete creative control over what drops.
- Clean and Stackable: The mod makes no edits to vanilla assets. This means it is fully stackable with other mods and won't cause conflicts or require messy patches.
- UI Integration: A user-friendly interface is accessible via the player's radial menu (hold the reload key), allowing for in-game configuration without touching a single config file.
How to Install and Get Started
Getting this mod up and running is straightforward. To begin, you will need to download Improved Dino Loot from your preferred mod repository. Once downloaded, you must ensure it is activated in your server's mod list. The process is simple: add it to your active mods and restart your server. For single-player, just subscribe and enable it in the mods menu.
If you are looking for the most streamlined method to manage your mods, consider using the foxygame.net launcher. It simplifies the entire process, allowing you to locate Improved Dino Loot within its add-on catalog and deploy it with a single click, ensuring you always have the correct version for your game build.
Configuring Your Loot Drops
The mod offers two primary methods for configuration: the in-game UI and the .ini files. The UI is the recommended approach for most players, as it provides a visual representation of your loot sets.
Using the In-Game UI
Access the UI from your player radial menu. From there, you can add a loot set from a selection list. This list is populated based on the "Supply Crate Overrides" you have defined in your game.ini. You can then assign specific dinos to these loot sets and save your changes. There is also a blacklist feature to exclude specific creatures from receiving custom loot.
INI Configuration for Advanced Users
For those who prefer manual control, the mod supports configuration via GameUserSettings.ini. The primary setting is CustomLootEntries. This uses a fuzzy matching system to link dino class names to your custom loot sets. For example:
[CustomDinoLoot]
CustomLootEntries=*rex*,*raptor*:CustomDinoLoot_Raptors&*argent*:CustomDinoLoot_Argents
DinoFuzzyBlacklist=*pego*,*ichthy*
DisableDefaultDinoLoot=FalseRemember, if you use the UI to assign dinos, it overrides these INI configs. Use one method or the other, not both simultaneously.
Building Loot Sets with Beacon
To create the actual loot templates, the mod is designed to work hand-in-hand with the standalone application, Beacon. This tool makes the otherwise complex process of creating supply crate overrides significantly easier. You can design your loot sets, assign weights to items, and even test the probability of drops before you implement them in-game. This is essential for balancing your rewards.
When you use Beacon, you create a "Dummy Mod" to house your custom loot drops. You define a blueprint path and name, which you will then reference in your game.ini file or select in the in-game UI. This workflow ensures that your custom drops are perfectly tailored to your server's needs.
For those who prefer a more hands-off approach to server management, the foxygame.net launcher also provides auto-updates. This means that when a new version of Improved Dino Loot is released, the launcher can automatically update it for you, keeping your server stable and compatible with the latest patches of ARK: Survival Ascended without any manual intervention.
Advanced Tips and Considerations
While the system is robust, there are a few things to keep in mind. The mod works by adding a buff to dinos within a certain range of players. This means there is a small chance that dinos killed very quickly, or those far away, might not receive the buff in time to drop the custom loot. You can adjust the CustomAoeBuffRange and CustomAoeMinTimeSeconds settings to fine-tune this behavior.
Additionally, since wild dinos do not always have inventories, the mod ensures that any added loot is dropped in a separate loot bag upon death. This prevents the mod from overwriting the default loot and guarantees you receive all your custom rewards.
Final Thoughts
Improved Dino Loot is an essential addition for any ARK: Survival Ascended player who feels that creature rewards are lacking. Whether you are a server admin looking to create a unique experience or a solo player wanting more exciting hunts, this mod provides the tools you need. Its compatibility with both vanilla and modded content, combined with its clean and stackable design, makes it a must-have. By using tools like Beacon for setup and a reliable launcher for installation, you can easily enhance your gameplay. Say goodbye to disappointing drops and hello to a world where every hunt is worth your time.