ARK: Survival Evolved

ARK: Survival Evolved

ARK: RIOT'S KAIJU ARK
Testing mod across maps
I love this mod, as it adds some real threat and challenge when playing single-player PVE like I do.

As a result, I did some testing across most, if not all, of the maps to see how well spawning and kaiju behaviour works, so that the author can, if still supporting it, investigate issues.

I only used this "basic" mod, none of the other monster addons. To locate and watch the kaiju from afar I used Awesome Spyglass and Creature Finder Deluxe. Lifesavers.

Some cheesing was sometimes required, to avoid total loss of life and property. (or because I hate some maps, see below) :P

The Island (with and without Island CIE mod)

My first test. Ended very badly when I used the blueprint spawn for Rodan *right on top of my main base*. Died, and it wiped out everything. Thank goodless for backups.

Rolled back. After a while Godzille and Rodan spawned on their own and moved about. Never saw Gidhorah or Mecha.

No Simple Spawners used

Scorched Earth

Rodan spawned almost immediately and flapped about from watching from afar. Didn't see any of the others spawn.

No Simple Spawners used

Aberration

Hate that map, mostly skipped. Can't see where the kaiju wouild spawn in the claustrophobic hellhole anyway.

No Simple Spawners used

Extinction

Still ongoing. No spawns so far, which is disappointing: where better than a wasteland Earth?

May use Simple Spawners to make something happen

Valguero

One of my main maps, but so far haven't seen anybody spawn without using Simple Spawners.

Ragnarok

Other main map, but no "natural" spawns.

Did some significant testing with Simple Spawners.

Got Godzilla, Rodan and Gidhorah to spawn with it, but they always just stand idle unti either despawn timer - or approach them.

Approaching can be suicidal: first they stand there until you approach within about 300m, give or take; They then have a huge aggro radius and the flying two will follow you forever, so I had use my fastest flyer and angle away from my base until they lost interest.

While Godzille and Rodan behave fairly well, Gidhorah is a one-kaiju extinction event, killing everything in sight. You can watch spawn numbers go down with Creature Finder Deluxe.

SS made it pop 500m or so away from my main base once, and I had to fall back on god mode and luring it away or repeat the experience from The Island at the beginning.

Lost Isle

Didn't use SS, but got Rodan, Godzille *and* for the first time Mechagodzilla to spawn. (note: I did not at that time have the MG mod installed!)

Here too, they just stand idle and won't move until I get into aggro range. Which was "easy", as Mecha popped 400m from base.

There is a very weird bug with MG: it's only visible when about 350m away and anything further it's just invisible. Compare this to the others who are visible from miles. I was able to test this by moving a few steps forwards and backwards: now you see it, now you don't.

Like Gidhorah very destructive on flora and fauna, killing everything. Moving very erratically.

Fjordur

Saw no natural spawns, but got Godzilla and Rodan with Simple Spawners. Again, just standing idle and not moving until you move into aggro range.

Bit annoying that pattern, as I reproduced it just about everywhere.

Summary

Depending on your map, the kaiju will spawn without Simple Spawners. Sometimes moving properly by themselves, sometimes just status until aggro'd. Very weird.

Overwll Rodan seems most spawn-happy, then Big G and, on only one map, Mecha. Gidhorah never popped without Simple Spawners.

Hope this helps someone and let's the author investigate, if they still care.
Last edited by Marakai666; 12 Mar @ 11:28pm
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Showing 1-3 of 3 comments
berandom 12 Mar @ 6:45pm 
ragnarock ghidora mechagodzilla and destroya are the ones that spawn for me
Originally posted by berandom:
ragnarock ghidora mechagodzilla and destroya are the ones that spawn for me

Do they move at spawn for you? I'm befuddled why they just stand there until I approach them.

Also, I assume you mean "spawn naturally" as opposed to using Simple Spawners? I wonder why this is so inconsistent, not the least going by the user comments.

I'm going to add the other kaiju mods and see what happens on Ragnarok (lots of space there - other maps can feel really cramped when you get Gidhorah 500m from your main base).
Last edited by Marakai666; 12 Mar @ 8:15pm
Marakai666 12 Mar @ 10:40pm 
Some further testing on Ragnarok with the added mods for:


  • Destroyah
  • Super Godzilla
  • MUTO
  • Mosura
  • Gigan

No "natural" spawns, even after a full dino destroy/refresh. I let my server just run for several hours, just to see if something eventually happens.

However, Simple spawners work for all.

Once again, they all stand still/idle until you do a one time approach and run for it, then they keep moving until despawn.

I get the same now you see 'em, now you don't effect that I'd seen with Mechagodzilla on Crystal Isles: if you flip in and out of about 250-300m range, then

  • Mosura
  • Destroyah
  • MUTO

just go invisible, whereas the others you can see for miles.
Last edited by Marakai666; 12 Mar @ 11:24pm
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