ARK: The Betrayed

Highlights (details below):
- Elvis has setup a Discord channel for The Betrayed servers: https://discord.gg/NN52jWT
- A new Extinction Core server will be launched using the Ragnarok map (replacing Iso Crystal server).
- The regular Ragnarok Server will be staying, but some Mod changes will be made.
- The Center will be sundowned, and, eventually, even the Island will need to be restarted.
- Future servers & DLC


Discord
=======
https://discord.gg/NN52jWT

This will become the main place to discuss the servers and get in contact with us, though the Steam group will also be maintained.

And, it works much better than Steam chat, especially for those of use that use multiple devices; I am always losing parts of conversations or having to close Steam chat to get a new chat to work.

Also, we can setup channels for specific servers/clusters, to make it easier for those players to communicate.


Extinction Core
================
We are currently running a test model of Extinction Core on a server that will be going in away in about 5 days, so you may want to try it out if you have a chance.

Around that time, the Iso Crystal server will be replaced with a long term Extinction Core PVE server, on the Ragnarok map.

Extinction Core is very challenging, so it is best for larger tribes and/or tribe alliances.

http://steamoss.com/groups/ark_the_betrayed#announcements/detail/1450576570261918236


Ragnarok Server
===============
So, a few notes about the current Ragnarok Server:

This will not get clustered with the existing Island/Center cluster, in part because of differences in the mod stacks. Also, as this server is not built over yet, I am hoping we will be able to advertise it with the other Ragnarok server(Core Extinction) and start to build a new community. I may also flip this from PVP to straight PVE, since Wildcard has fixed many of the issues with PVE; and we mods can do the rest(like dealing with someone that pillars a quarter of the map).

I am also planning on making some changes to the Mod stack, to reduce its size and also add in a little something to help with solo/small tribe play.

The following mods will be removed as they are either no longer being supported or there is something in the other mods that handles most of what a removed mod does, and sometimes much better.
Advanced Ark - 1.3GB
GateMod - DevKit Files - 97MB
Storage + - 77 MB
Echo's Stacking Sorage v2.2.3 - 73MB
Stargate Worlds [SGw] v2.2 (previously S... 208 MB

Now, to help with solo/small tribe game play, going to add two mods:
Weapons+ - 230MB - I will be re-balancing this on levels, engram cost, construction cost, and power.
Upgrade Station v1.8h - Still reviewing and testing, to make sure it fits in well. But, will give you the ability to upgrade most of the game weapons as you go along.


Center & Island
===============
I am still weighing options, but I do plan to sundown the Center server in the near future. No one is playing on it, or has played on it for a while. Even I only visit it to feed the animals.

However, for now, I will be keeping the Island, as any future updates to the game will usually hit there first. However, the time for that map is also limited, as some mods are becoming more out of date, are no longer supported, and/or the mod owner is looking to pull the mod. These at risk mods include: Many New Items, Advanced Architecture, Storage+, Pimp My Dino, and Gatemod.

However, eventually, I would like to restart this map, use the same mod stack as the Ragnarok map, and cluster them, so that it opens up all the boss battles, new content, and Ascension.

If either of the maps was being actively used, I would keep them going, but running a server for 1 or 2 players a month does not make much sense.

Both the Center and Island servers have have 115 days still on the clock, and I will being renewing again(Nitrado does some decent sales, so I stock up when they do). However, I will swap the Ragnarok and Center servers in the next few days, as the Ragnarok server has 20 days left on it.

So, the Center will sundown about 20 days from the date of this message.


Future Servers & DLC
====================
Currently, there are no other servers planned. Within the next 20 days, we will be down to 3 servers: Ragnarok Core Extinction, Ragnarok, and The Island.

However, if we can grow the community, new maps can be added and/or rotated.

And, when Wildcard releases new DLC, we will probably launch a new server for that. In those cases, the servers will be isolated, like we did with the Ragnarok server, so that everyone can start on equal footing and the server not be overrun/cheesed with high level characters and tames. Later, if the new server seems like something we really want to keep around, we will cluster it with the other servers.