ARK configuration instructions often fail at the file boundary: the value is valid, but it was placed in a section the game does not read for that setting. This guide covers ordinary static ASA configuration files. ASE shares many setting names, but file locations and supported options can differ. Hosting panels, launch arguments, mods and event overrides need separate review.
Where are the INI files?
Start inside the installation actually running your world, then open ShooterGame/Saved/Config. A Windows dedicated server normally uses WindowsServer. Local ASA installations commonly use Windows; older ASE single-player instructions often mention WindowsNoEditor. Do not create a second folder just because a tutorial names it: inspect the folders generated by your own installation. A hosting provider may instead expose both files through its configuration editor.
If several installations exist, confirm the executable path or the hosting panel’s active instance before editing. Back up both files, stop the server cleanly and wait for the process to exit. Editing while the game is running can cause the old in-memory values to overwrite your changes on shutdown.
GameUserSettings.ini: general server rates
Common XP, taming and harvesting multipliers belong under [ServerSettings]. Do not confuse this section with client graphics settings or another mod’s section in the same file. A larger speed or amount multiplier generally increases the corresponding rate; different systems still need separate tests.
[ServerSettings] XPMultiplier=2 TamingSpeedMultiplier=5 HarvestAmountMultiplier=3
These lines are an example, not a complete file or a promise that a 5x server uses the same value for every system. Keep existing passwords, session settings and mod sections. Never share a full configuration publicly without removing credentials.
Game.ini: breeding rates and imprint controls
The breeding options below belong under [/script/shootergame.shootergamemode]. Higher hatch and mature speeds shorten their stages; lower mating and cuddle intervals shorten the waits. Copying a speed value into an interval field reverses the intended effect.
[/script/shootergame.shootergamemode] MatingIntervalMultiplier=0.25 EggHatchSpeedMultiplier=10 BabyMatureSpeedMultiplier=10 BabyCuddleIntervalMultiplier=0.1 BabyImprintAmountMultiplier=1 BabyImprintingStatScaleMultiplier=1 BabyFoodConsumptionSpeedMultiplier=1
This is a starting configuration for testing, not a universal 100% imprint preset. BabyImprintAmountMultiplier controls progress gained from each care interaction. BabyImprintingStatScaleMultiplier controls the strength of imprint-related stat bonuses, not how quickly the care meter fills. BabyFoodConsumptionSpeedMultiplier controls baby food drain; reducing it does not remove inventory capacity or spoilage constraints.
Check an existing file without losing unrelated settings
Open the Server Settings Generator, paste each file into its named input and review the reported issues. The checker covers the tool’s supported scalar multipliers, not every ARK option. Unknown keys, mod settings and repeated array entries remain untouched and are not declared valid.
Resolve supported duplicate keys, repeated sections, wrong placement and invalid numbers manually before exporting. Then load the supported values. Missing values retain the form’s current values: review all ten fields before copying or downloading the output. Export applies every supported form value while retaining unrelated lines. Keep the original backup so you can compare and restore it.
Why do the rates differ from the numbers I entered?
First check whether the hosting panel regenerated the file, whether a setting is duplicated and whether the world loaded the edited instance. Single Player Settings can add boosts on top of configured values. The generator does not infer that checkbox, launch arguments, event rates or mod behavior from an incomplete file.
For imprinting, use the Imprint Calculator with the same settings and species. A request must occur before adulthood, and rounding can matter near the last care window. Compare a fast-growing creature with a slow-growing one rather than promising that one combination works for every species.
Verify after restart
Start the server, wait for a completed world startup and repeat one measurable action: harvest a known node, earn XP from the same activity or start a fresh breeding timer. Compare against the previous rate. Use newly started timers for validation rather than assuming an already growing baby will be recalculated as expected.
If the change fails, restore the saved files and retry one family of settings at a time. The checker can detect specific text-level mistakes; it cannot confirm a running server’s effective settings or replace an in-game test.
References and scope
Setting placement and meanings were reviewed against the ARK Official Community Wiki configuration reference. Imprint timing limitations are described in the imprinting reference. These are documentation checks, not a claim that every server or mod combination was tested in game.
Continue with the server setup guide or estimate raising stock with the Baby Food Calculator.