Zarthan's Nanny
Raising baby dinosaurs in ARK: Survival Ascended is one of the most rewarding yet time-consuming parts of the game. You need to keep their food meters topped off, ensure they get their imprinting bonuses, and do it all on a strict schedule. For players managing large breeding operations, this can feel like a full-time job. The Zarthan's Nanny mod steps in to handle the tedious parts, giving you back your time to explore, build, or fight. This add-on introduces a dedicated in-game Nanny that manages the needs of your juvenile creatures automatically, making it an essential tool for any serious breeder.
What Does the Nanny Do?
At its core, the Nanny is a specialized structure that takes over the two most repetitive tasks in baby dino care: feeding and imprinting. Instead of running between troughs and babies, you place the Nanny nearby, and it handles the rest. It is designed to work seamlessly with your existing base infrastructure, pulling food from a nearby trough to ensure your newest additions are always satisfied.
Automatic Feeding and Food Maintenance
The Nanny’s primary function is to keep your babies' inventories stocked. It will actively pull food from a connected trough and attempt to maintain a set amount of food in each baby's inventory at all times. The default setting aims to keep 100 food in each baby, but this is fully configurable. The Nanny performs these checks every 45 seconds, ensuring that no baby goes hungry for long. This proactive approach means you can leave your base for extended periods without worrying about starvation events.
Imprinting Assistance
Beyond feeding, the Nanny also manages the imprinting process. As babies mature, they will request care or food. The Nanny will automatically fulfill these requests, providing the necessary imprinting bonuses that boost a dinosaur's stats once fully grown. This ensures that your bred creatures reach their maximum potential without requiring you to be online at the exact moment the request pops up.
Configuration and Customization
One of the standout features of Zarthan's Nanny for ARK: Survival Ascended is its flexibility. You aren't locked into a one-size-fits-all approach. The mod uses a simple INI configuration file that allows you to tailor the Nanny's behavior to your specific needs and server settings. This is crucial for players who run dedicated servers with custom rates or those who prefer a more hands-off approach.
- MaxNannyRadiusInFoundations=25 - This setting controls the maximum radius of the Nanny's operational zone, measured in foundation lengths. You can increase or decrease this to cover your entire hatchery or just a small pen.
- NannyCheckIntervalInSeconds=45 - This adjusts how often the Nanny scans nearby babies to check their food levels and imprint status. Lowering this number makes the Nanny more responsive but may increase server load slightly.
- NannyFoodAmountToMaintain=100 - This defines the target amount of food the Nanny will try to keep inside each baby's inventory. Adjust this based on the species you are raising, as larger dinos consume food much faster.
Additionally, the mod includes a visibility toggle. You can choose to make the Nanny and its range indicator visible or invisible, which is perfect for keeping your base looking clean without sacrificing functionality.
Compatibility and Installation
This mod is built specifically for the Unreal Engine 5 version of the game, ensuring it works flawlessly with the latest updates. It is compatible with most other QoL mods and stack mods, though it's always best practice to check for updates after major game patches. If you are looking to streamline your setup, using the foxygame.net launcher can simplify the process significantly. This launcher offers a one-click install for Zarthan's Nanny, and its add-on catalog automatically handles version compatibility checks, so you don't have to worry about manual file placement or broken mods after an update. This is especially handy for server admins who need to deploy the mod to multiple clients quickly.
How to Install the Mod
For those who prefer the traditional method, learning how to install is straightforward. You can subscribe to the mod on the Steam Workshop for your game client. For dedicated servers, you will need to add the mod ID to your server's mod list and restart the server to download the content. Once active, you will find the Nanny engram in your inventory or Smithy, ready to be crafted and placed. For a more streamlined approach, many players choose to download Zarthan's Nanny via the foxygame.net launcher, which manages the installation and keeps the mod updated automatically, ensuring you always have the latest version without manual intervention.
Is It Worth It?
If you are tired of the babysitting grind, this mod is a game-changer. It removes the most stressful part of breeding and allows you to scale up your operations significantly. Whether you are raising a single Rex or a whole army of Gigas, having a reliable Nanny ensures your babies get the food and attention they need to grow into strong, fully imprinted adults. The configurable range and food maintenance settings give you total control, making Zarthan's Nanny a must-have addition for any breeder's toolkit in ARK: Survival Ascended.