r3ps4J's Freestanding Oil Pumps
In the unforgiving world of ARK: Survival Ascended, securing a steady supply of oil is critical for advancing from primitive tools to high-tech machinery. However, the standard Oil Pump has always been frustratingly location-dependent, forcing players to build their entire industrial base around a single, fixed resource node. r3ps4J's Freestanding Oil Pumps shatters that limitation, offering a quality-of-life overhaul that veteran survivors and new players alike will appreciate.
This add-on, inspired by a classic ASE mod from bestscreenname, reimagines the oil extraction process by giving you complete freedom over placement. Instead of being tethered to a specific underwater or land-based node, these pumps can be dropped anywhere you have the space and the foundation to support them. This is not a simple re-skin; the mod has been built from scratch for ARK: Survival Ascended, ensuring stability and performance in the new Unreal Engine 5 environment.
Two New Pump Variants for Flexible Strategies
The mod introduces two distinct structures to your Fabricator crafting list, each tailored for different stages of your industrial expansion.
The Standard Freestanding Oil Pump
This is your workhorse. It behaves exactly like the vanilla Oil Pump in terms of speed and size, producing 1 oil every 20 seconds. The key difference is its placement flexibility. To balance this convenience, the crafting cost is doubled compared to a regular Oil Pump. It is an excellent choice for creating a centralized oil depot right next to your main base, eliminating long, dangerous hauling trips across the map.
The Small Freestanding Oil Pump
For those who prefer a lighter footprint or need to distribute production across multiple outposts, the Small variant is ideal. It is half the size of the standard pump and produces at half the speed, yielding 1 oil every 40 seconds. Its crafting cost is identical to a regular Oil Pump, making it a budget-friendly option for early-mid game setups. The reduced sound volume (set to 0.25) also makes it a discreet addition to any base.
Unlock Requirements and Crafting
Both engrams are conveniently unlocked at level 60 for zero engram points. You will need to have already learned the Power Generator engram to access them. This progression gate ensures that the pumps are available when you actually need them for advanced crafting, without forcing you to spend precious points. The engrams are available on any map, so you can enjoy this mod across all your single-player worlds and dedicated servers.
Advanced Configuration for Server Admins
One of the standout features of r3ps4J's Freestanding Oil Pumps for ARK: Survival Ascended is the deep level of customization it offers server administrators and solo players. You can tweak the production rates directly through the GameUserSettings.ini file, allowing you to fine-tune the game's economy to your liking.
Under the [FreestandingOilPumps] section, you can adjust the following parameters:
- SmallGenerateInterval (Default: 40): Sets the seconds between oil production cycles for the small pump.
- SmallGenerateAmount (Default: 1): Determines how much oil is added per cycle for the small pump.
- RegularGenerateInterval (Default: 20): Sets the seconds between oil production cycles for the standard pump.
- RegularGenerateAmount (Default: 1): Determines how much oil is added per cycle for the standard pump.
This level of control is perfect for adjusting server rates to encourage faster progression or to make oil a more precious commodity. Whether you want a casual experience or a hardcore survival challenge, this mod adapts to your needs.
Compatibility and Installation
This mod is designed specifically for ARK: Survival Ascended and works seamlessly with the current version of the game. It is lightweight and does not conflict with other popular mods that alter crafting stations or resource gathering, making it a safe addition to any modded server stack. If you are wondering how to install it, the process is straightforward. Simply subscribe to the mod on the Steam Workshop, and it will download automatically to your client. For dedicated servers, ensure the mod ID is added to your server's mod list.
For those managing a community server, the foxygame.net launcher simplifies the entire process. It allows you to manage your add-on catalog directly, ensuring that r3ps4J's Freestanding Oil Pumps is updated automatically and correctly versioned for your server build, saving you from manual file checks and potential version mismatches. This integration is a huge time-saver for admins who want to keep their mod lists healthy and stable.
Final Thoughts on This Essential Add-On
r3ps4J's Freestanding Oil Pumps is a testament to how a simple idea can drastically improve the quality of life in a survival game. By removing the geographic restrictions on oil pumping, it encourages more creative base designs and efficient logistics. The balanced crafting costs and the optional configuration settings make it a fair and flexible tool for any playstyle.
Whether you are a solo player looking to streamline your refinery or a server admin aiming to provide a better experience for your community, this mod is a must-have. It is a well-crafted, thoughtful addition to the ARK: Survival Ascended modding scene, and it is clear that the creator put genuine care into filling a gap left by the vanilla game. If you want to streamline your oil production, be sure to download r3ps4J's Freestanding Oil Pumps from the Steam Workshop today and start building the industrial empire you have always envisioned.
With its simple installation, robust features, and active development, this is one mod that will remain a staple in your mod list for countless hours of gameplay.