Ark: Optimal Industry Cooker Placement Guide
So, you're diving into the world of Ark: Survival Evolved and trying to figure out the best way to set up your industrial cooker? You've come to the right place, guys! This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to optimize your industry cooker placement, ensuring you're crafting those essential recipes efficiently and safely. Let's get cooking!
Understanding the Industry Cooker
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of placement, let's quickly recap what the industrial cooker is and why it's so important. The industrial cooker is basically the upgrade from the cooking pot. It allows you to craft a significantly larger amount of recipes at once, saving you a ton of time and resources. We're talking about things like kibble (essential for taming dinos), dyes, and even some consumable buffs. To use it, you'll need gasoline to power it, water, and the necessary ingredients for your chosen recipe. So, understanding this, you already know that the placement is very important for the functionality of the tool, but how do we find that perfect place?
Why Proper Placement Matters
The placement of your industrial cooker is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, efficiency is key. You want to minimize the travel time required to gather resources and start the cooking process. Secondly, safety is paramount. You don't want to place your cooker in a location that's easily accessible to raiders or wild dinos. Thirdly, resource availability is important. Proximity to water sources and resource nodes can significantly streamline your crafting operations. So, when you consider that, a good location can be on the river, so it is easy to get water. But it can be dangerous because there might be wild dinos there, such as crocodiles. So it is important to consider that too.
Location, Location, Location!
Choosing the right location is half the battle. Here are some factors to consider when deciding where to place your industrial cooker.
Secure Base
The most obvious choice is within the confines of your well-defended base. This provides the highest level of protection against both wild creatures and enemy players. Ideally, you'll want a dedicated crafting area within your base, away from the main thoroughfare, to minimize distractions and potential accidents.
- Pros: Maximum security, easy access to storage containers.
- Cons: May require transporting resources from distant locations, potential space constraints within your base. So, make sure you have enough space in your base.
Proximity to Water
Since the industrial cooker requires a water source, placing it near a river, lake, or ocean can be a game-changer. You can use a water intake pipe connected to a water reservoir to supply the cooker with a constant flow of water. This eliminates the need to manually fill water jars or canteens, saving you valuable time.
- Pros: Convenient water access, reduced manual labor.
- Cons: Increased risk of wild dino attacks, potential flooding during storms, and may be in danger for other players.
Resource Hotspots
Consider placing your cooker near areas with abundant resources, such as berry bushes, farming plots, or even resource nodes like metal or crystal. This can significantly reduce the time it takes to gather the necessary ingredients for your recipes.
- Pros: Reduced travel time for resource gathering, increased crafting efficiency.
- Cons: Higher risk of encountering aggressive dinos, potential competition from other players.
Hidden Locations
For those who prefer a more stealthy approach, consider placing your cooker in a hidden location, such as a cave or a secluded valley. This can provide excellent protection against raids, but it may also make resource gathering more challenging.
- Pros: Excellent protection against raids, surprise element.
- Cons: Potentially difficult access, limited space, and resource availability.
Step-by-Step Placement Guide
Alright, so now that you've considered the ideal location, let's get down to the actual placement. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth and efficient setup.
Step 1: Clear the Area
Before you place the industrial cooker, make sure the area is clear of any obstructions, such as rocks, trees, or other structures. You'll need a relatively flat surface to ensure the cooker is stable and functional. Use a pickaxe or axe to remove any unwanted obstacles.
Step 2: Lay the Foundation
It's always a good idea to place the cooker on a solid foundation, such as a foundation block or a platform. This will provide extra stability and prevent the cooker from sinking into the ground. If you're building on uneven terrain, use multiple foundations to create a level surface.
Step 3: Connect the Water Source
If you're placing the cooker near a water source, connect a water intake pipe to a water reservoir. Place the reservoir near the cooker and connect it with a water pipe. Make sure the reservoir is filled with water before you start crafting. This might require some planning in advance to ensure you have all the necessary materials and blueprints unlocked.
Step 4: Place the Cooker
Now, it's time to place the industrial cooker on the foundation. Make sure it's properly aligned and snapped into place. Once it's placed, you can't move it without destroying it, so double-check your placement before committing. You can use a blueprint to plan your building.
Step 5: Add Power
The industrial cooker requires gasoline to operate. Place gasoline in the cooker's inventory to power it up. The cooker will automatically consume gasoline as it crafts recipes. Make sure you have a steady supply of gasoline on hand to avoid interruptions.
Step 6: Organize Storage
Set up storage containers near the cooker to store your ingredients and crafted items. This will make it easier to manage your resources and streamline the crafting process. Label the containers clearly to avoid confusion. It can also make the experience easier and faster because you don't need to run around looking for the ingredients that you want.
Step 7: Test and Optimize
Finally, test the cooker to make sure everything is working correctly. Craft a small batch of a simple recipe to ensure the cooker is functioning as expected. Monitor the cooker's performance and make any necessary adjustments to optimize its efficiency. You can also try to upgrade it with better materials.
Tips and Tricks for Efficient Cooking
Here are some additional tips and tricks to help you maximize your cooking efficiency:
- Use Dedicated Crafting Tables: Place crafting tables, such as the mortar and pestle and the smithy, near the cooker to streamline the crafting process.
- Automate Resource Gathering: Use tames, such as the doedicurus for stone and the castoroides for wood, to automate resource gathering and keep your storage containers stocked.
- Learn Efficient Recipes: Focus on crafting recipes that provide the most value for your time and resources.
- Join a Tribe: Teaming up with other players can significantly increase your crafting efficiency and provide additional protection.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Here are some common mistakes to avoid when placing and using the industrial cooker:
- Placing the Cooker in a High-Traffic Area: This can lead to accidents and increase the risk of theft.
- Forgetting to Supply Water: The cooker will not function without a constant supply of water.
- Running Out of Gasoline: Always keep a backup supply of gasoline on hand.
- Ignoring Security: Protect your cooker from raids by building a secure enclosure.
Conclusion
So, there you have it! A comprehensive guide to optimally placing your industrial cooker in Ark: Survival Evolved. By following these tips and tricks, you can create a highly efficient crafting station that will help you tame dinos, craft powerful items, and survive the harsh world of Ark. Happy cooking, guys! Remember that this is a dangerous world, so stay safe!