General Info

Structure Decay Timers

General Info, Players

The following is a list of structure decay times.  Any structure that has been allowed to decay for 15 days  will be destroyed by the admin team without prior warning, see Abandoned Structures for more information.
Note; Time is in actual, not in-game, days

Thatch

16

Wood

32

Adobe

32

Stone

48

Metal

64

Tek

80

Some items, such as decorations, railings, and torches may decay at 16 days regardless of the material listing (stone, wood, tek).

Ban hammer

Prejudicial Conduct and Harassment

Bannable Offenses, Players

Definitions

Prejudicial Conduct is defined as, any conduct that seeks, directly or indirectly, to denigrate an individual or group based on their skin pigmentation, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other arbitrary characteristic.

Harassment is defined as any repeated conduct which seeks to annoy or intimidate any player.

 

Servers and Social Spaces

Conduct that fits the above definition is not permitted on any server, or in any of the social spaces, falling under the Ark FTW banner, including; Game Chat, Discord, Facebook, or the Xbox Club.

 

Player Names, Tames, and Tribe Names

Neither your player, tame, or tribe names are permitted to consist of any element that may be considered racist, sexist, or otherwise expresses prejudicial sentiment towards any individual or group based on the arbitrary characteristics of that individual or group.

 

External Mediums

The use of any external medium to engage in such conduct directed towards any individual actively engaged on our servers or in our social spaces is not permitted. These spaces are meant to be a respite from the dumpster fires currently raging around all of us, and we will not allow you to engulf these spaces in those same flames. We don’t care how much melanin your skin has, which God you pray to, who you love, or what your politics are. In these spaces, we are all about dinosaurs and ensuring that everyone who has trusted us with their play-time is able to enjoy themselves.

Theft

Bannable Offenses, Players

Definition

Theft is considered to be the intentional taking of any resource, dino, equipment, or consumable not owned by the player who took the item(s).  This includes fertilized or unfertilized eggs and gacha crystals.

Prohibitions

  1. You are not permitted to take any item or dino that does not belong to you without permission from the owner
  2. You are not permitted to exploit any mechanic or glitch in order to gain access to a structure belonging to any player
  3. You are not permitted to take any loot earned from any boss fight you did not gather the resources to initiate

Griefing

Bannable Offenses, Players

Definition

Griefing is considered to be an intentional act that results in another player suffering a loss of resources, structures, dinos, equipment; or, where the player is killed.

Prohibitions

  1. You are not permitted to intentionally drag any aggressive dino to a structure or dino belonging to someone else
  2. You are not permitted to fill any structure or build area belonging to another player with dinos of any temperament
  3. You are not permitted to drown unconscious players
  4. You are not permitted to pick up players not in your own tribe without permission from the player

Building Rules

Base Sizes

Building, Players

Base Limit

Each tribe is allowed 1 base, outpost and water pen per server (map). See specifics about outposts and water pens below.

Render

Your base may not be larger than you are capable of rendering.  You should be able to see every structure comprising your main base from ground level at the center-most point of your footprint.

Dead Spots

While we understand that people like to build, and build big, we must temper that understanding with the limitations of playing on a console.  If your base is large enough, it can cause other players to crash or may cause some rather severe performance issues for those near your base.  If your base causes a significant amount of lag or causes players flying over or around it to crash, you will be required to scale your base back.  If a base becomes too large it can impact overall server performance, and that is not something we will permit.

Outposts

Building, Players

Each tribe is permitted to have one outpost specifically for the purpose of resource collection.  This outpost may be no larger than 6 foundation pieces by 6 foundation pieces in total area, and no higher than 7 walls high. **NOTE: Teleporter pads do not fit within the outpost size limits.

Genesis Exception

You may use one type of Sea Platform as an outpost if you do not already have a base built on a platform.  The height limits for platform outposts are up and down the height of one behemoth gate.  If you build your outposts on a platform, you may not build an outpost in any of the biomes.

 

Land and Water Routes

Building, Players

You may not obstruct land or water routes, where there is no alternative way around in the immediate area.  An example would be the large stone bridge on Ragnarok.  If you plan to build in such an area, you must leave a means for players to travel across the bridge—leaving your gates unlocked would be one method.

Traps

Building, Players

All traps and spike walls not within or connected to your base footprint must be cleared after use.  Structure pickup is always enabled on this cluster, so there is no valid excuse for leaving a trap or spike walls after they have been used.

 

Turret Towers/Mob Grinders

Any structure used to kill dinos, such as turret towers, are considered traps and must be picked up after each use

Admins will destroy all traps they come across without further warning.  Lost resources/structures will not be replaced

Water Pens

Building, Players

Land Pens

You may build a water pen for the purposes of storing and breeding water dinos.  This pen is not required to be built inside of your base foot print, but may not be built within render of another base structure.  Water pens may be no larger than 3 behemoth gates by 3 behemoth gates in total area.

 

Alternatively, you can use an ocean platform as your water pen as well.

 

Underwater Pens

You may build a water pen under the oceans so long as the pen meets the following build requirements:

  1. Does not block any dino, loot, or resource spawn
  2. Does not block any cave entrance or water route
  3. Is not greater in size that 6Wx6Dx6H vacuum compartments
  4. The top and botton are not more than 1 vacuum compartment high
  5. The build must contain at least one behemoth gate to allow the center of the pen to be filled with water

You may build within either the top or bottom layer anything you need to store and breed your dinos: teleporter, troughs, fridges, and so on.  These pens are intended and to be used to house water dinos, not as outposts or secondary bases under water.

Below you will find pictures illustrating how underwater pens should be built.  We have imposed these restrictions to ensure that massive structures do not clog the waterways, and to ensure that all players who would benefit from these pens have the space necessary to build one.

If you require a larger space underwater for storing/breeding your water dinos, you will need to relocate your entire base underwater or use a land pen.

  

If we find that you are using these pens as secondary base/outpost locations or have violated any of the above restrictions, we will destroy the pen without any forewarning.

Distance Between Bases

Building, Players

You may not build within 30 foundations of another player.  Players found to be within this distance to another player will be required to modify their bases or move entirely, depending on the circumstances.

To measure the distance you must remain from another player, do the following:

  1. Activate a foundation piece against the player’s structure closest to where you wish to build
  2. Walk backward in the direction you intend to build until the foundation silhouette is green.
  3. Place the foundation piece at the boundary
  4. Snap 20 foundations to the foundation at the boundary

The 20th foundation is the closest you will be permitted to build to the other player.

 

Building-In

It should go without saying that you may not build around another player’s base to deliberately build them in.

If we received a complaint that a player is built too close to another, the newcomer to the area will be required to relocate to 30 foundations away.  If we cannot make contact with the second player, as sign will be posted giving that player 48 hours to contact us or relocated.  If the second player does not contact us within 48 hours, their base will be destroyed without further warning.  If the second player refuses to relocate, their base will be destroyed without further warning.  If we are unable to verify who was in the area first, both players will be required to adjust their footprints to accomodate the 30 foundations of space required between bases.

Pillaring

Building, Players

You are not permitted to use any type of structure spam to block access to, or to prevent other players from building in an area, without clear intentions to build in that area.

If it is noted that construction has not begun within 7 days, the admins will destroy the structure spam without further warning.

Abandoned Structures

Building, Players

Stone and Above

Any structure that has been allowed to decay for 15 days will be destroyed without prior warning.

 

BOB Structures

Any thatch, wooden, or partial structure which has been allowed to decay for more than two days may be destroyed without prior warning.

 

Circumventing Structure Decay Timers

Building, Players

Structures are automatically destroyed by the server according to the timers listed on the Structure Decay Timers page.  You may not engage in any exploit meant to circumvent this mechanic in order to claim items or dinos that would have otherwise been destroyed.

If the admins become aware that you have taken anything that would have been destroyed by autodecay, we will destroy all items, dinos, and anything bred with those cliamed dinos.  If this behavior happens a second time, you will be banned.

Resource Rules

Rich Resource Areas

Players, Resources

You may not build on or block access to any area contaiing more than 5 resource nodes of the following types:

  • Metal
  • Crystal
  • Obsidian
  • Any other rare resource

You may not build close enough to resource rich areas to prevent the resources from spawning.

Use the following link to determine if you are planning to build in a resource-rich area: Ark Resource Maps

Use the following link to determine if you are planning to build in a resource-rich area: Ark Resource Maps

If you are found to have built in a resource rich area, or are blocking access to such an area, we will politely ask you to relocate—once.  If you refuse to move, or we are unable to make contact with you, the obstructing pieces of your base will be destroyed without warning.  We will not replace any structures or resources lost.

Oil Nodes and Gas Veins

Players, Resources

Oil nodes and gas veins are considered to be community resources.  You are not permitted to block access to these resources, particularly oil nodes.

If we come across any locked collectors, we will claim and unlock them.  Neither the collector nor the resources required to craft it will be replaced.

Tribe Rules

Divorces

Players, Tribes

If a tribe chooses to dissolve, the individual members will take only what belongs to them.  Resources are to be divided equally among tribe members according to the number of members in the tribe, or as otherwise agreed upon.  You may not keep items or dinos that belong to a member of your tribe that wishes to leave.

In the event that admins have to become involved, we will split all tribe assets according to the listed owner, or by dividing all assets according to the number of members in the tribe.  Tribe structures will be awarded to the listed owner, or will be destroyed following the successful dissolution if the entire tribe is to be dissolved.

Insiding

Players, Tribes

Definition

Insiding is considered to be an instance where one or more tribe members take or destroy tribe assets in a malicious manner.

Prohibitions

  1. When exiting a tribe you are only permitted to take what belongs to you, all other tribe assets belong to the tribe you are exiting
    1. if there are only two members of a tribe, or the number of members leaving would effectively dissolve the tribe, follow the process outlined in Dissolutions.
  2. You may not destroy structures, kill dinos, or in any way cause any damage to a tribe you are exiting.

Tribe Leaders:  You are ultimately responsible both for who you invite into your tribe and controlling tribe ability to destroy/unclaim.  We will make our best effort to recover what was stolen, but nothing killed, destroyed, or that is otherwise unrecoverable will be replaced via admin command.

Any violation of this rule will result in your immediate ban, and everything you stole will be returned to the tribe you left.

Tribe Mergers

Players, Tribes

You are free to merge tribes at will, however, the newly merged tribe may only have one base, one outpost, and one water pen.  You will be required to consolidate all tribe structures.

If we find that structures are allowed to remain for more than 7 days following a merger, we will destroy the structures violating this rule without prior warning.  Admins will not replace any loses resulting from the violation of this rule.

Dino Rules

Circumventing Dino Decay Timers

Dinos, Players

Dinos are destroyed automatically by the server if they are abandoned (left unrendered by the player/tribe) for more than 15 days.  You may not engage in any exploit to circumvent this mechanic in order to claim dinos that would otherwise have decayed.

If the admins become aware that you have claimed decayed dinos, we will destroy everything you’ve claimed as well as any dinos that have been bred with the claimed dinos.  If we find that you have done this a second time, you will be banned.

Creatures Left Breeding

Dinos, Players

Dinos may not be left on breeding while the player/tribe is offline.  Leaving dinos on breeding has a negative impact on performance, particularly when the eggs being laid can hatch on their own.  Additionally, unattended eggs create conditions conducive to, and which encourage, theft.

In the event that admins come across dinos that are left breeding with no player/tribe online, they will cryopod and impound the dinos.  In order to get the dinos back, the affected players/tribes will need to submit a ticket.

Parking

Dinos, Players

You are not permitted to leave your dinos in any of the following areas:

  • Obelisk pads
  • Community teleporters
  • Another player’s base
  • Caves
  • Blocking access to any community structure

If admins become away that your have left a dino at any of the above, the dino will be immediately sent to the impound lot.

If your dino is sent to the impound lot, you will need to locate a community structure, teleport to the imound lot, and retrieve the dino on your own.  Admins will not retrieve impounded dinos for you.

Abandoned Dinos

Dinos, Players

If the admins become aware of any abandoned or wandering dinos, we will do the following:

  • Broadcast once to the server
  • Announce once in Discord

If we do not receive a response within 10 minutes, the abandoned or wandering dinos will be sent to the impound lot.

If your dino is sent to the impound lot, you will need to locate a community structure, teleport to the imound lot, and retrieve the dino on your own.  Admins will not retrieve impounded dinos for you.

Replacements

Proof

Players, Replacements

Proof will be required in any instance, regardless of circumstance, where the admins have to replace characters, items, dinos, or resources.  If no proof can be provided, no replacements will be provided.

Proof of Cause

You will need to provide proof of what occurred to cause the loss, apart from public Rollbacks and Transfer Errors

Proof of Loss

You will need to provide proof of what you had on you at the time the loss occurred.  Admins will only replace what you have proof of.

Types of Proof

Admins will only accept the following types of proof

  • Video

Exceptions

The only exceptions to the above are as follows

  1. Character Loss
    1. pictures of the character information (XP, ID, and so forth) will always be accepted as proof when replacing characters.
  2. Rollbacks resulting in character loss
    1. pictures of the inventory just prior to the loss, which will be verified through your Xbox captures, will serve as an acceptable form of proof
  3. Transfer errors resulting in a crash
    1. pictures of the inventory just prior to the loss, which will be verified through your Xbox captures, will serve as an acceptable form of proof

There is no circumstance where admins will ever accept word-of-mouth proof, even from another admin.

Obtaining Proof

Your Xbox is capable of taking both screenshots and pictures, as is the Xbox Gamebar if you are playing on Win10.  It is preferable that you use either of these to obtain your proof.  You can also use a cell phone to capture proof, so long as we can clearly see the cause and what you lost.

Submitting Proof

To submit proof you should use GameDVR to submit Xbox or Win10 Gamebar footage, and attach any cell phone footage directly to your ticket response.

It should be noted that the above is a departure from our previous method of handling certain situations where proof cannot be readily obtained; specifically, rollbacks and transfer errors.  As a consequnce of growing community sentiment that we are showing favoritism when providing replacements in these instances, we have decided to establish a bright line where proof is concerned.   We did not advertise that replacements would be provided in these instances due to heavy abuse in the past.  The consequence of having an internal SOP for handling these situations has been abuse of the admins. So, the above will apply in all situations where replacements are requested.

Rollbacks

Players, Replacements

Rollbacks Explained

Rollbacks occur periodically when the server restarts, and virtually any time the server fails to load the world-state file (when the server is at Day 1 with nothing on it).  In simple terms, a rollback is essentially traveling back through time.  Everything that was on the server is in the exact state it was at that time.  So, if the server rolls back 5 minutes,  the world is in the exact state it was in 5 minutes ago.  The rollback period is often much greater, usually a number of hours, due to the fact that the world-state files don’t save every 25 minutes are they are supposed to.  Rather, they tend to save every 2 or more hours.

Dinos, Items, and Resources

Anything that you’ve done during the rollback period is undone.  If you tamed something, it is out there roaming around still, and everything you used is back where it was.  If you pulled anything out of storage boxes, those items are back where they were.  If you harvested resources, those resources are back in the world.  In almost every situation, nothing is actually lost during a rollback, it has simply been reverted to its previous state.  As a consequence, we do not replace anything lost during a rollback.  This includes crafted items, tamed dinos, and harvested resources.

Transfers

Loss will typically only occur if you have transferred to a server during the rollback period.  If you transfer to Ragnarok and the server rolls back 30 minutes, your character and everything on it are likely going to be gone.  These are the only instances were admins will provide replacements during a rollback.  As with everything else, proof must be provided before admins will issue replacements.

It is always advisable to take screenshots or recordings of your inventory before transferring to any other server.  Failure to do so may result in your losing items, dinos, and resources.

Transfer Errors

Players, Replacements

Transfer Errors Explained

Transfer errors occur when, like the name suggests, there is en error when you transfer between servers.  In most instances, transfer errors result in the total loss of your character and all items in your inventory.  Other times, the powers-that-be will send you to another server nekkid.  I could get into the cause, but it’s a bunch of technical jargon that has nothing to do with us or anything we employ on the cluster.  Let’s just blame WC for their shitty AWS and move on.

Characters, Items, Tekgrams, and Dinos

We will provide replacements for anything you can provide proof of having on you prior to transferring.

  • Experience
  • Dinos
  • Armor
  • Weapons
  • Tekgrams
  • Yada Yada

No, your best mate BeachBoB6969 cannot vouch for what you had on your or which boss fights you’ve completed.

Your Xbox and Xbox Gamebar can capture the transfer from start to finish, so it is advisable that you open your inventory prior to transferring to ensure that it is captured completely.