How to Configure your ARK: Survival Evolved Server

The following basic guide will show you how to configure your  ARK: Survival Evolved Server Game Server

Note: We suggest you stop your server prior to making these changes

____________________________________________________________________

There are three methods to configuring your server. The first one is via the "Configuration Editor" view in the Game panel. This is recommended for ease of use.

Secondary to this, Ark Remote is a fantastic tool for advanced users wishing to easily handle Engrams and such.

Thirdly, there is RAW text edit for users wanting direct access to files.


Method 1 - Configuring via "Configuration Editor" view

 

To configure your ARK: Survival evolved server, you must first log into the Game Panel and access your server.


From there, you can go into the "Configuration Files" section as shown

 

 

 

Once there, click "Configuration Editor" view on GameUserSettings.ini or Game.ini for general settings.

Both files hold the important configuration settings that control every aspect of your ARK server





Game.ini also holds very important configuration settings.

Once edited, click save and start your server







Method 2 - Using Ark Remote


Ark Remote is an advanced intuitive GUI for editing all Ark settings and mods

Firstly set up ARK Remote as detailed in this guide
______________________

Edit Server Settings under "Server"

Press LOAD FROM.INI to load the existing server configuration

Once editing is complete press WRITE INI FILES to save the server configuration





Edit Gameplay Settings under "Rules & Gameplay" - "General" - "Gameplay"




__________________


Edit Rules for Survival of the Fittest, Players, and Dinos under "Rules & Gameplay" - "General"





__________________


Edit Server Rules under "Rules & Gameplay" - "General" - "Server"

__________________



Edit Player Levels in "Rules & Gameplay" - "Player Levels"







__________________


Edit Engram costs and levels in "Rules & Gameplay" - "Player Levels"





__________________



Edit Dino Levels in "Rules & Gameplay" - "Dino Levels"




__________________


Edit Dino Spawn Multipliers in "Rules & Gameplay" - "Dino Spawns"





__________________


In the Raw.ini advanced users can enter commands directly into the .ini file






__________________


Under "Mods" you can search for mods and add them in one click to the Server.
Updates are one click too.

For further information on adding mods you can use our guide:
Adding Mods to your Ark Server










Method 3 - Direct Text editing

 

 

 

Configuring the core settings (GameUserSettings.ini)

 

To configure your ARK: Survival evolved server, you must first log into the Game Panel and access your server.


From there, you can go into the "Configuration Files" section.

 

 

and edit the GameUserSettings.ini

 

Scroll down to the bottom and you will see "[ServerSettings]" proceed to edit the settings to what you want.

remove any duplicates and configure how you want.

 

Here is an example, The Server name (SessionName) and ServerAdminPassword, ServerPassword have been highlighted for you.

GameUserSettings.ini

There is "an .ini" Generator you can use also: http://ini.arkforum.de/

Option	Value Type	Default	Effect
Options which can be added under [ServerSettings] and configured accordingly in the GameUserSettings.ini file.
alwaysNotifyPlayerJoined	boolean	False	Players will always get notified if someone joins the server
alwaysNotifyPlayerLeft	boolean	False	Players will always get notified if someone leaves the server
allowThirdPersonPlayer	boolean	False	Enables 3rd Person view
globalVoiceChat	boolean	False	Voice chat turns global
ShowMapPlayerLocation	boolean	False	Show each player their own precise position when they view their map
noTributeDownloads	boolean	False	Disables downloading characters from other servers
proximityChat	boolean	False	Only players near each other can see their chat messages
serverPVE	boolean	False	Disables PVP, enables PVE
serverHardcore	boolean	False	Enables Hardcore mode (player characters revert to level 1 upon death)
serverForceNoHud	boolean	False	HUD always disabled
DisableStructureDecayPvE	boolean	False	Disable the gradual (7 days) decay of player structures
DisableDinoDecayPvE	boolean	False	Disable the gradual (7 days) decay of dinosaur ownership. Without this set to true, every dinosaur can be claimed by any player.
AllowFlyerCarryPvE	boolean	False	Permit flying dinosaurs to pick up other dinosaurs and players when mounted by a player in PvE
MaxStructuresInRange	integer	Unknown	Specifies the maximum number of structures that can be constructed within a certain (currently hard-coded) range.
DifficultyOffset	float	Unknown	Specifies the difficulty level.
ServerPassword	string	None	If specified, players must provide this password to join the server.
ServerAdminPassword	string	None	If specified, players must provide this password (via the in-game console) to gain access to administrator commands on the server.
SpectatorPassword	string	None	To use non-admin spectator, the server must specify a spectator password. Then any client can use these console commands: requestspectator <password> and stopspectating. See patch 191.0 for more information and hotkeys.
DayCycleSpeedScale	float	1.0	Specifies the scaling factor for the passage of time in the ARK, controlling how often day changes to night and night changes to day. The default value1 provides the same cycle speed as the singleplayer experience (and the official public servers). Values lower than 1 slow down the cycle; higher values accelerate it. Base time when value is 1 appears to be 1 minute real time equals approx. 28 minutes game time. Thus, for an approximate 24 hour day/night cycle in game, use .035 for the value.
NightTimeSpeedScale	float	1.0	Specifies the scaling factor for the passage of time in the ARK during night time. This value determines the length of each night, relative to the length of each day (as specified by DayTimeSpeedScale. Lowering this value increases the length of each night.
DayTimeSpeedScale	float	1.0	Specifies the scaling factor for the passage of time in the ARK during the day. This value determines the length of each day, relative to the length of each night (as specified by NightTimeSpeedScale. Lowering this value increases the length of each day.
DinoDamageMultiplier	float	1.0	Specifies the scaling factor for the damage dinosaurs deal with their attacks. The default value 1 provides normal damage. Higher values increase damage. Lower values decrease it.
PlayerDamageMultiplier	float	1.0	Specifies the scaling factor for the damage players deal with their attacks. The default value 1 provides normal damage. Higher values increase damage. Lower values decrease it.
StructureDamageMultiplier	float	1.0	Specifies the scaling factor for the damage structures deal with their attacks (i.e. spiked walls). The default value 1 provides normal damage. Higher values increase damage. Lower values decrease it.
PlayerResistanceMultiplier	float	1.0	Specifies the scaling factor for the resistance to damage players receive when attacked. The default value 1 provides normal damage. Higher values decrease resistance, increasing damage per attack. Lower values increase it, reducing damage per attack. A value of 0.5 results in a player taking half damage while a value of 2.0 would result in taking double normal damage.
DinoResistanceMultiplier	float	1.0	Specifies the scaling factor for the resistance to damage dinosaurs receive when attacked. The default value 1 provides normal damage. Higher values decrease resistance, increasing damage per attack. Lower values increase it, reducing damage per attack. A value of 0.5 results in a dino taking half damage while a value of 2.0 would result in a dino taking double normal damage.
StructureResistanceMultiplier	float	1.0	Specifies the scaling factor for the resistance to damage structures receive when attacked. The default value 1 provides normal damage. Higher values decrease resistance, increasing damage per attack. Lower values increase it, reducing damage per attack. A value of 0.5 results in a structure taking half damage while a value of 2.0 would result in a structure taking double normal damage.
XPMultiplier	float	1.0	Specifies the scaling factor for the experience received by players, tribes and dinosaurs for various actions. The default value 1 provides the same amounts of experience as in the singleplayer experience (and official public servers). Higher values increase XP amounts awarded for various actions; lower values decrease it.
PvEStructureDecayPeriodMultiplier	float	1.0	Specifies the scaling factor for the decay rate of player structures in PvE mode. The specific effect(s) of this option and its range of valid values are unknown as of this writing.
PvEStructureDecayDestructionPeriod	Unknown	0	Specifies the time required for player structures to decay in PvE mode. The specific effect(s) of this option and its range of valid values are unknown as of this writing.
TamingSpeedMultiplier	float	1.0	Specifies the scaling factor for dinosaur taming speed. Higher values make taming faster.
HarvestAmountMultiplier	float	1.0	Specifies the scaling factor for yields from all harvesting activities (chopping down trees, picking berries, carving carcasses, mining rocks, etc.). Higher values increase the amount of materials harvested with each strike.
HarvestHealthMultiplier	float	1.0	Specifies the scaling factor for the "health" of items that can be harvested (trees, rocks, carcasses, etc.). Higher values increase the amount of damage (i.e. "number of strikes") such objects can withstand before being destroyed, which results in higher overall harvest yields.
ResourcesRespawnPeriodMultiplier	float	1.0	Specifies the scaling factor for the respawn rate for resource nodes (trees, rocks, bushes, etc.). Lower values cause nodes to respawn more frequently.
PlayerCharacterWaterDrainMultiplier	float	1.0	Specifies the scaling factor for player characters' water consumption. Higher values increase water consumption (player characters get thirsty faster).
PlayerCharacterFoodDrainMultiplier	float	1.0	Specifies the scaling factor for player characters' food consumption. Higher values increase food consumption (player characters get hungry faster).
PlayerCharacterStaminaDrainMultiplier	float	1.0	Specifies the scaling factor for player characters' stamina consumption. Higher values increase stamina consumption (player characters get tired faster).
PlayerCharacterHealthRecoveryMultiplier	float	1.0	Specifies the scaling factor for player characters' health recovery. Higher values increase the recovery rate (player characters heal faster).
DinoCharacterFoodDrainMultiplier	float	1.0	Specifies the scaling factor for dinosaurs' food consumption. Higher values increase food consumption (dinosaurs get hungry faster).
DinoCharacterStaminaDrainMultiplier	float	1.0	Specifies the scaling factor for dinosaurs' stamina consumption. Higher values increase stamina consumption (dinosaurs get tired faster).
DinoCharacterHealthRecoveryMultiplier	float	1.0	Specifies the scaling factor for dinosaurs' health recovery. Higher values increase the recovery rate (dinosaurs heal faster).
DinoCountMultiplier	float	1.0	Specifies the scaling factor for dinosaur spawns. Higher values increase the number of dinosaurs spawned throughout the ARK.
AllowCaveBuildingPvE	boolean	False	If set to True, allows building in caves when PvE mode is also enabled. (Patch 194.0)
BanListURL	URL	"http://playark.com/banlist.txt"	Use the official global ban list, or point to any online ban list that you want. Must be enclosed in double quotes. (Patch " 201.0)
PvPStructureDecay	boolean	false	Turns off structure decay on PvP servers.
PerPlatformMaxStructureMultiplier	float	1.0	Higher number increases (by percentage) max number of items place-able on platform saddles and boats.
MaxPlatformSaddleStructureLimit	integer	unknown	Change the maximum number of platformed-creatures/rafts allowed on the ARK (a potential performance cost). (Patch 212.1)

You will then be able to change those accordingly and restart your server and those settings should apply.
This works for V171.1 and above.