The cards by topic
- Base Configuration: Network Settings and Base Config (server name, map, mod map, per-server mods).
- Shared Configurations: Passwords, Cluster, Global Chat, Mods.
- Player: Player Config, Player Role Settings, Player Stats.
- Dinos: Breeding, Dino Settings, Dino Stats, Max Wild Dino Level, Dino Class Restrictions, Dino Class Multipliers, Dino Spawn Weights, NPC Replacements.
- Resources: Crop Settings, Harvest Settings, Harvest Resource Multipliers, Supply Crates, Custom Levels.
- Items: Item Settings, Item Max Quantity, Item Stat Clamps, Item Crafting Costs.
- Engrams: Engram Overrides (Named), Engram Overrides (Index), Engram Auto Unlocks.
- Other: Launch Arguments and Custom Launch Settings.
- File: GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini, for any setting without a card.
Settings without a card
Add the line to the GameUserSettings.ini or Game.ini card. For example, a longer day goes into GameUserSettings.ini as DayCycleSpeedScale=0.5, with DayTimeSpeedScale and NightTimeSpeedScale for day and night on their own. When a setting is on a card and in a file card, the card wins.
Lists instead of class names
Cards that need a creature, item or engram, such as Dino Spawn Weights, Item Max Quantity or Engram Auto Unlocks, let you pick it from a list instead of looking up its blueprint class name.
Share cards between servers
Each shared card has a Config tab with its settings and a Sharing tab. Add other servers on the Sharing tab and they use the same card, on any of your machines.
When changes apply
ARK reads its settings when it starts. Changes you save while the server runs take effect at the next restart.
Guides for each topic
Questions
Where are GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini?
In the server's ShooterGame\Saved\Config\WindowsServer folder on Windows. With HaruHost you don't need to open them; their settings are on the cards, and the two file cards take anything else.
Can several maps share the same settings?
Yes. Add the maps on a card's Sharing tab; see clusters and shared settings.
Do the settings work the same on Linux?
Yes. Linux servers use the same Auto Config cards as Windows servers.