Originally posted by Cockpuncher:

This should be easy with Thunderstore mod manager, because it allows to run modded or vanilla game without any mod deleting/disabling/etc.

To be honest the best option is that everyone has the same mods. With Thunderstore it's easy, because you just export mod list key, give it to your friends, they import keys and download your mod list.

But other solutions like Vortex might be problematic. For example we play with difficulty mods (enemies up to 5 stars). Due to some problem with Vortex my mod got disabled. The effect wast that enemies spawned, they had up to 5 stars, but I was able to see only 2 stars - 3 or more stars were displayed as no star. I died in 15 minutes killed by 3 or 4 star zombie in 2 hits because I've ignored him as no star mob.

This is why mods are problematic in games. The game was developed with THEIR concept in mind, not yours.

Originally posted by Dyanosis:

This is why mods are problematic in games. The game was developed with THEIR concept in mind, not yours.

Very silly remark. Game is far too easy after one playthrough and would get boring soon. With increased difficulty mods (for stronger enemies, bosses, better raids) and QoL fixes (like slope combat, map share) I can still have some good time with the game. So the concepts don't change, but the balance gets much better. If I rely only on developers' concepts, I would forget about this game some time ago.

This should be easy with Thunderstore mod manager, because it allows to run modded or vanilla game without any mod deleting/disabling/etc.

To be honest the best option is that everyone has the same mods. With Thunderstore it's easy, because you just export mod list key, give it to your friends, they import keys and download your mod list.

But other solutions like Vortex might be problematic. For example we play with difficulty mods (enemies up to 5 stars). Due to some problem with Vortex my mod got disabled. The effect wast that enemies spawned, they had up to 5 stars, but I was able to see only 2 stars - 3 or more stars were displayed as no star. I died in 15 minutes killed by 3 or 4 star zombie in 2 hits because I've ignored him as no star mob.

Yeah, my group is kinda working around to that. We've been playing Vanilla including the "grind", but as we work well together as a team and we are *explicitly* trying to keep the game a bit slow as to savor it, this isn't a problem for us. I'm not sure how it'll go after we defeat the 5th boss if Hearth & Home isn't out yet. I must admit I do tease them when they mention or complain about something, "There's a mod for that, here's the link." They shout back, "NO MODS!" This after a bad time with too many mods to keep Ark Survival going.

A great deal of what you get out of the game is what you and your friends put into it. If you are all on the same page, and that page has mods, that's great. The Server Op needs to set that up and everyone ELSE follows that lead. I'm hoping you are part of a great crew like mine and this isn't a problem.

Some mods don't need the server to have the mods, such at textures, timers, and stuff that don't change any stats, just visuals. I use a colorblind mod and a clock mod on non modded servers for instance no issues.

O.o Reaaaaaallllly? I didn't know that was possible! I'll have to check into it. I frequently do this with Minecraft servers, though this simply isn't possible with Ark Survival servers. Thank you for the heads up, so I can look further into this. :)

playing this game with mods is trash,.

if friends join they need to install those modes
then if they go play on other servers or their own singleplayer game it messes up their saves
which is why i said this game needs steam workshop so its easy to mod,

and to give the game replayablitily
cause after u finish it thers literally nothin to do

if they play on your modded server then they can have the same mods but not the other way around. the server is the one to control mod use or no mods. presonally, i hate valheim vanilla. it's too grindy which takes away the fun factor for me. i have my own modded server and it's the only way i can play valheim. never going back to vanilla.

no had a friend who had to uninstall and do a fresh new no mod version to join us.