DynastyOfDragons

I've already clarified that this creature isn't EXTREMELY high maintenance. You only need to attend to its needs every couple of hours as long as you are online. You have time to do other things and you don't need to be stressing over the Dread's rage. As for PvE, it's meant to be primarily used for OSDs, Element Veins, and Titan fights, and other types of missions such as the ones in the Genesis maps. I'm not going to argue that it isn't more PvP oriented, but it has its applications in PvE that player's will find utility in.

Reading through this, you actually have a lot of valid points! There are certain things I didn't think about when creating Dread that have opened my eyes here. That being said, I do feel some of these proposals strip Dreadnoughtus of some of its personality and identity, so I'll go in order of what you said and address them individually. 1. The maintenance mechanic is largely there as a means of balance but also gives Dread this personality as a big spoiled brat of sorts. A lot of dinosaurs in ARK lack real personality and feel more like generic tools, so I tried giving my sauropod some of that. It's not nearly as OP as I think a lot of people have been trying to make it out to be, as it would probably be only every couple of hours and it only activates when you're online so you don't have to no life taking care of it. 2. The Dreadnoughtus IS too big to be directly close to an OSD or Element Vein. However, you can position it in a way where it can thwart off incoming Corrupted while not directly hitting the structure you're attempting to defend, since its neck hitbox would most likely not make contact. 3. This is actually a change I WILL make for Dread, nerfing the amount of artillery slots it has available to it. 7 is quite a lot so bringing it down to 5 is not a super bad idea. The issue of small tribes being wiped by mega tribes is also a problem with the PvP system itself and not necessarily the creatures at the tribe's disposal. 4. I will update the effect of the TEK disable to be more clear. I had added the EMP was a way to tie it better with Extinction, and gave it an in-universe reason with it needing a defense mechanism to combat corrupted creatures and TEK machines in its environment. The TEK disable itself is only intended to be a few seconds long, to where players with good timing and execute maneuvers within the timeframe given to them by the disable itself, but it being a manner of skill and not substance. 5. Considering the Dreadnoughtus is an endgame creature, it being overtuned in the way it is isn't as bad as say something like Rhyniognathas or Shadowmanes. Its a massive creature with massive power behind it so it can be used effectively by tribes who know how to use their resources. There are also a notable amount of weaknesses such as its size and the maintenance mechanic that help add drawbacks to the listed abilities. I'm not a big fan of mega beasts with absolutely crazy ability sets, but I figured Dread and what's been proposed here would help the original storyline of ARK end on a bang. Again, a lot of valid points. I will make changes I feel make sense, and there are some others that I feel compromise what Dread in the end is supposed to be. Thank you for actually sensible feedback with explanation rather than just complaining!

It's directly mentioned in the mechanic section itself. "While it can be kept in a cryopod, its rage will increase the longer it remains in the cryopod. Sending it out won’t immediately trigger the rampage, but the next instance of ignoring its needs will do the trick." Originally, the anger would increase while inside the cryopod overtime and it would rampage on release if left long enough, but now it caps out at a point where it's borderline ready to throw down.

I will get around to editing it to make it smaller than Titano. Titanosaur SHOULD be the largest creature in the game based on its name alone, and it would help better distinguish Dread and Titano too. I intended for Dread to be smaller than Titano but the perspective of the Titano render makes it look smaller than it actually is.

I think whether it's breedable or not is really up to Wildcard. Personally, I would say YES to it being breedable, but it being a pain to raise. Giganotosaurus maturation time from Baby to Adult is 10 days on official settings, so expect about 20 days up to a Month with a Dreadnoughtus on Official Settings. Might seem like a long time, but this is a Titanosaur-level creature, so gotta keep it balanced.

You have the Early Bird role. You can remove this by commenting on multiple posts until it's removed. I believe the amount of total posts needed is 6?

Unlike the Titanosaur, Dreadnoughtus is not a temporary tame. Once you've tamed it, you'll keep it forever. HOWEVER, you have to keep track of its needs and desires through the Maintenance mechanic, meaning you'll need to feed it, bathe it, or let it sleep some. If you don't do what it asks of you, than it will go on a rampage and destroy everything in sight. It's a permanent tame with a huge drawback that balances out it's impressive strength.

Thanks for all the positive feedback everyone! LETS GET THIS BREAD!

GORGON'S LAST STAND. LETS GET THIS BREAD!

(living turret tower) Introducing Dreadnoughtus, the Terrestrial Battleship! Tags: sauropod, apex, herbivore, siege, artillery, late game, customizable saddle, maintenance, TEK disabler, OSDs, titan fights Art by RiskyBiscuits Commissioned by Tweee (thanks again!) (BACK FROM RAGNAROK NOW WITH CUSTOM ARTWORK AND UPDATED ABILITIES!) DISCLAIMER: PLEASE read through the entire submission before voting for this creature, since there may be mechanics and features you might miss if you vote on design alone. I also encourage you to do this for every other submission you see as well, so you can make a truly educated vote for what you would actually like to see in the game. If you have any feedback or ideas, leave a comment and I will address it (a Q&A is at the bottom of the post). @dynastyofdragons, @riskybiscuits0485, @sp_ce, @tweee, @grymmlee Common Name: Dreadnoughtus Species: Dreadnoughtus maximus Time: Late Cretaceous Diet: Herbivore Temperament: Territorial Wild: “Dreadnoughtus maximus is the undisputed emperor of the wasteland, towering over everything except for the very titans themselves. While they pay no mind to those beneath them, they are incredibly hostile towards other large creatures, including other Dreadnoughtus. The adrenaline coursing through their veins in the presence of a potential threat increases their physical strength and pain resistance to an astonishing degree. To handle creatures with ties to element, it has developed the ability to absorb the kinetic energy of their attacks and convert it into an elemental pulse that weakens corruption and even disables TEK for a period of time.” Domesticated: “When they aren’t harassing other creatures, Dreadnoughtus engage in a series of daily rituals, the order of which depends on the individual. If a survivor manages to assist them with even the most minute of tasks, they may gain their trust. A Dreadnoughtus is an utter war beast when tamed. It can be fitted with a special saddle, allowing for the attachment of up to five heavy artillery weapons, along with a harpoon located on the chest designed to pierce into and reel in opponents. The dinosaur itself can be a living weapon, regurgitating acid-covered cannonballs stored in its stomach at high velocity. However, I have a word of caution for any who plan on taming one of these giants. If their needs are neglected by their masters, they will eventually throw a cataclysmic temper tantrum.” Dreadnoughtus was downsized from its original proposed size because I feel the Titanosaur should still be the largest dinosaur in the game off of its name alone, and that I (and many others) think it looks better. Art by @NeonLaboratory, Comissioned by @AgentSparkle, Feat. Captain Hannah (@hannahhvtuber) Tamed: Actions: Primary Attack (, , ): Looking Straight, Left, or Right: A long and wide neck sweep that deals high damage and high knockback to creatures in front of it. Looking Down: A fast stomp attack that deals high damage but has little knockback. Looking Up: A fast upward neck sweep that deals little damage but knocks aerial targets far. Looking Behind: A long and wide tail swipe that deals high damage and high knockback to creatures behind it. Secondary Attack (, , ): Cannonballs and Food is used as ammo for this attack. The Dreadnoughtus vomits out one of the cannonballs in its stomach, with the ball drenched in stomach acid. The more the attack is charged, the faster the shot is fired and the more damage is dealt. This shot has the properties of a normal cannonball with an added acid effect akin to the Reaper’s Acidic Blood! status effect. Roar (C, , ): A bellowing roar that causes the Dreadnoughtus’ neck spines to glow. When taking damage, you build a meter. After the roar animation plays, the sauropod will release an AOE EMP in the area in front of it, dealing damage, weakening Corrupted creatures, and disabling TEK for a duration, all of which are scaled by the amount of damage received. For those concerned about the TEK disable, imagine a disable of 5 seconds tops. The roar goes on cooldown for 120 seconds. However, the roar is strictly cosmetic if not having taken any damage at all. Tertiary Attack (Space, , ): The front of the Dreadnoughtus’ saddle has a harpoon that fires out of the chest area. It pierces into creatures of all sizes for massive damage, and holding this attack will pull them towards the Dreadnoughtus. The size and weight of the creature determines the pull speed, and the creature must escape by continuously attacking. Sleeping Animation: Like a Shadowmane or Megalosaurus, the Dreadnoughtus has a sleeping animation that can be toggled when off of its back. Passive Abilities: Giantslayer: Dreadnoughtus gain a damage and defense buff in the presence of the following creatures: Astrocetus, Brontosaurus, Carcharodontosaurus, Diplodocus, Giganotosaurus, Gigantoraptor, Paraceratherium, Quetzal, Reaper (King and Queen), Rex, Rock Golem, Spino, Titanosaur, Magmasaur, Megachelon, Wyvern (all types) All Bosses (only Titans matter except for maybe SOTF since you can’t take them into arenas) ARK Additions: Acrocanthosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Deinosuchus, Deinotherium Gathering: Berries and fiber are gathered fairly decently. Wood and minerals are what it is more proficient at, however. What makes it all worth it is their incredibly high weight stat, even compared to similar sized creatures. It would be the best option in the game if it weren’t for its massive size preventing it from entering many areas. Marine Traversal: Dreadnoughtus can turn into a literal dreadnaught. It swims better than most creatures of its size, with many of its attacks and weapons intact. Like an Andrewsarchus, it can also sink and walk along the seafloor. A decently high oxygen stat allows them to sit below water for a long period of time. Heavy Artillery Saddle: The saddle of a Dreadnoughtus is unique due to its sheer customizability. There are a total of 5 equipment slots in the saddle. Turrets, ballistas, or cannons can be equipped. Cannons and ballistas are controlled manually, while turrets require gasoline in the dinosaur’s inventory to help fuel the saddle’s personal generator. 2 siege weapons on the neck, 2 on the shoulders, and 1 on the rump. Located on the chest is the previously mentioned drill-spear harpoon that resembles Monster Hunter’s Dragonator that is used directly by the driver. All riders are vulnerable except for the driver, protected in a car-like section of the saddle. Saddle References: ⚠ Maintenance ⚠: Dreadnoughtus are high maintenance creatures as mentioned earlier. This means providing constant care and attending to the dinosaur’s needs. If left ignored, the sauropod’s health will deteriorate, and its Health & Stamina Regeneration Rates will be reduced. Dreadnoughtus will actively rampage and destroy your base if it is neglected long enough. While it can be kept in a cryopod, its rage will increase the longer it remains in the cryopod. Sending it out won’t immediately trigger the rampage, but the next instance of ignoring its needs will do the trick. This is also only active when the tribe is online, so you don’t have to worry about waking up at 4:00 in the morning to take care of it. It is not meant to be an absolute drag on ARK players' lives and turning them into no-lifers, so imagine attending to its needs every couple of hours. It is not constant nor designed to be as punishing as a lot of players may think. Utility & Scenarios: PvE: Dreadnoughtus are specialized Titan killers through and through. Their fantastic stats in combination with their abilities and tools makes them great for Extinction’s boss fights, especially if an army of them are bred in the same manner Gigas typically are. They reduce the challenge of higher level OSDs and Element Vein runs, since their Giantslayer buff activates in the presence of Corrupted versions of particular creatures. On top of that, their EMP roar weakens Corrupted creatures, allowing for even more ease of completion. These sauropods may also find niches as actual sea-faring dreadnoughts or as gatherers of rare minerals, though that isn’t necessarily their primary purpose. Managing a Dreadnoughtus’ health is key for hostile confrontations, or you might find yourself on the other end of that neck. PvP: Now this is what Dreadnoughtus are designed to do. They find themselves at the top of the meta-game’s food chain, alongside the Giga and Carcha. Stats, abilities, and tools once again are incredibly useful in battles. Having survivors man multiple siege weapons mounted on the saddles turns the Dreadnoughtus into an almost unstoppable and completely destructive force. With enough turrets, ammo, and fuel, it may even become a mobile turret tower that guns things down before they even approach it. It’s terrifying in tandem with their ability to disable TEK. Their size is just about as big of a strength as it is a weakness, since it is a large target and has a hard time fighting in more claustrophobic spaces. Wild: The Dreadnoughtus is a rare spawn in the Wasteland, appearing in virtually any open space large enough for its sheer mass. Creatures the size of or larger than a Rex will attract its attention and it will aggro onto said creatures. They generally pay no mind to survivors and their tames unless they surpass the size threshold. Taming Process: The Dreadnoughtus is a massive animal that is incredibly high maintenance. They each have unique daily routines survivors can learn and adapt to accordingly. Helping a Dreadnoughtus go about their activities will develop trust and friendship between the survivors and the dinosaur. These activities include: Feeding: Feed the Dreadnoughtus vegetables or kibble. Toss a cannonball on the ground as a lure, getting the dinosaur to lower its head thinking it's a gastrolith. Then, you can feed it directly at its head. Playing: Help the Dreadnoughtus kill other dinosaurs and break structures in its territory until it is satisfied. Bathing: Clean the Dreadnoughtus of filth and parasites by using soap on its body. Sleeping: Protect the Dreadnoughtus as hordes of wild dinosaurs attempt to attack it. Enough damage from wild creatures will force the Dreadnoughtus to wake up and reduce taming effectiveness. Dreadnoughtus activities and needs rotate occasionally similar to a Moschops’ diet. Keep helping the dinosaur out until it completely trusts you. Conclusion: I personally think this concept for Dreadnoughtus would work well in the game, as a massive siege weapon that can tear through just about anything in its path. It would be one of the most powerful creatures a tribe could have except for the Titanosaur and Titans themselves, tying with the Giga and Carcha in strength. With the idea I have in mind, it would also be one of the more immersive creatures with a few of its mechanics. On Extinction specifically, the idea of a giant mobile creature with a Mad Max-style saddle fits well with the post-apocalyptic landscape. Overall, it is a fairly unique and absurd concept I’d love to see enter the game and act as the final send off to the unique and absurd original storyline of ARK. Have fun, survivors! ADDRESSING COMMENTS & CONCERNS: Q: Isn’t this just a glorified Titanosaur TLC? A: Some people have stated that Dreadnoughtus is a Titanosaur TLC, which I can see. It’s designed more to be its own creature, focusing on being a ranged attacker with its long neck and artillery, as opposed to the more brutish nature of the Titanosaur and Ark Addition’s Brachiosaurus. Titanosaurs also don’t spawn on Extinction, so Dreadnoughtus taking its place here doesn’t actively conflict with it the same way Carchar conflicts with the Giga. Q: Is it breedable? A: I think whether it's breedable or not is really up to Wildcard. Personally, I would say YES to it being breedable, but it being a pain to raise. Giganotosaurus maturation time from Baby to Adult is 10 days on official settings, so expect about 20 days up to a Month with a Dreadnoughtus on Official Settings. Might seem like a long time, but this is a Titanosaur-level creature, so gotta keep it balanced. Q: Don’t we already have enough sauropods? A: I agree the roster of sauropods is large, nearing theropod level. However, the majority of them are in an unusable state and are in dire need of a TLC. Q: This is just another “OP APEX GIGA KILLER!!!”, right? A: No, or not really. Dreadnoughtus is more designed to tackle the OSDs, Element Veins, and Titan boss fights on Extinction than to be a direct counter to Gigas and Carchars. That being said, the buff against creatures larger than a Rex does provide a unique advantage over the kings of PvP. In terms of its strength, the maintenance mechanic is built in as a drawback to prevent people using this creature so willy nilly. Q: Is the saddle the gimmick? A: I’ve heard people have concerns over when the gimmick of a particular submission is tied more to the saddle than the creature itself. The reason why the saddle plays a huge role in this Dreadnoughtus concept is to play on its name with “dreadnaught”, a type of battleship. With that in mind, why not make the saddle akin to a big gun ship? Isn’t that badass?! I also felt with a more “Mad Max” aesthetic, the saddle would fit just nicely onto Extinction, which itself is a wasteland. Q: What about PVE? A: I will not lie, Dreadnoughtus is a PvP focused tame. However, these same traits carry over to Extinction’s OSDs, Element Veins, and Titans like stated earlier. On top of that, it can be quite a good gatherer with its rate of collection and high weight stat. Q: Is it a temporary or permanent tame? A: Unlike the Titanosaur, Dreadnoughtus is not a temporary tame. Once you've tamed it, you'll keep it forever. HOWEVER, you have to keep track of its needs and desires through the Maintenance mechanic, meaning you'll need to feed it, bathe it, or let it sleep some. If you don't do what it asks of you, than it will go on a rampage and destroy everything in sight. It's a permanent tame with a huge drawback that balances out it's impressive strength.

I have my own suggestion for a different species of Hermit Crab, but I'd like to put these ideas here to possibly add on to what's been presented above: (customizable shell) Introducing Palaeopagurus, the Giant Hermit Crab Tags: crustacean, PvP, PvE, crafting, usable babies, health regen, climbing, better blueprints, resource farming, structure repair, taming assistant Common Name: Giant Hermit Crab Species: Palaeopagurus artis Time: Late Cretaceous Diet: Carrion-Feeder Temperament: Opportunistic Wild: “Palaeopagurus artis is a curious crustacean to say the least. Many people call them “Giant Hermit Crabs”, which is true… for the most part. They vary in sizes based on age, ranging from the height of a Dodo to that of a Tyrannosaurus. They never stop growing, a trait which forces them out of their shells when they get too large for them. They display intelligence I have never seen in crustaceans before, crafting shells out of various parts left over from dead animals and other materials in their environment. This is likely in part due to their nature as obligate scavengers, combing coastlines for any carcasses that may have washed up from the sea.” Domesticated: “Palaeopagurus appears to be too stubborn for a conventional tranq-and-feed method, so survivors need to get creative. Considering how much they enjoy crafting their shells, one may be able to gain the trust of a shellless individual by lending them the desired materials they wish to use. Once tamed, the hermit crab becomes the perfect engineer. Its knack for creating things is a characteristic tribes can use to gain improved equipment from blueprints that they collect. Blueprints themselves can also be improved by the crustacean, though there is a chance it may end up being a failure. It should also be noted that their saliva has the consistency of industrial glue, which is used to make their shells. Some survivors are aware of this, using it as an alternative to cementing paste or to repair damaged buildings.” Introduction: Greetings, survivors! I introduce to you the Palaeopagurus, otherwise known as the Giant Hermit Crab! Art by Nix Illustration The foundational ideas and selling points for this crustacean include: Changing roles from shoulder pet to mount based on age (never stops growing) Fully Customizable Saddle for different playstyles The ability to craft better equipment from blueprints The ability to improve the quality of blueprints Glue-like spit that can be used as a substitute for cementing paste or repair buildings Currently, the only crustacean in the game right now is the Karkinos. This is such an interesting group of invertebrate animals that are sorely lacking major representation in ARK. Palaeopagurus here is set to fix that issue with its inclusion on The Center, the closest thing we have to an official ocean map. Its swath of unique abilities also sets it apart from much of the existing roster, and will become a must have tame because of them. Tamed: Growth Mechanic: Unlike any other creature in the game, the Palaeopagurus doesn’t have defined life stages, rather being one life stage as soon as it is born. From here, it will never stop growing. This means it is usable as a shoulder pet while it's little and can be ridden when large enough, their stats increasing as well. However, its rate of growth will slow after a certain period of time, preventing it from reaching ridiculous sizes within unreasonable time. Shoulder Pet Actions: Thrown: When thrown off the shoulder, the crab deals damage and inflicts torpor on a target. Imagine chucking it like a dodgeball. Mount Actions: Primary Attack (, , ): The Giant Hermit Crab snips with its pincers as a basic attack. It harvests resources off of live targets. Secondary Attack (, , ): The Palaeopagurus performs a shoulder bash with high knockback, damage, and even torpor. Grab (C, , ): The Giant Hermit Crab can grab unconscious creatures and drag them, allowing for the taming process to be easier for certain creatures. The larger the crab, the larger the creatures it is able to grab. Climb / Guard (Space, , ): Tap: When near a vertical surface, the Giant Hermit Crab is able to scale them with ease. However, this drains stamina, and the larger the crab, the faster stamina drains. Hold: The Palaeopagurus retreats into its shell, entering a fortified state, which heavily reduces all incoming damage and reduces the duration of status effects. Passive Abilities: (All Phases) Harvesting: Giant Hermit Crabs can mine minerals with their bare claws, also getting 50% weight reduction on stone, metal, obsidian, & crystal. Crafting Effectiveness Stat: Like the Gacha, these hermit crabs have an upgradeable Crafting Effectiveness stat that takes the place of the Movement Speed stat. Rapid Regeneration: This crustacean gets the Argentavis’ Rapid Regeneration buff from eating corpses. Advanced Crafting: The Palaeopagurus’ inventory somewhat functions like a smithy, though instead of having learned engrams available, it requires blueprints. Said blueprints, when crafted in its inventory, cost less to make, are made faster, and are higher quality. All of this is affected by the previously mentioned Crafting Effectiveness stat. Blueprint Enhancement: Blueprints in the Palaeopagurus’ inventory can be converted into a higher quality form in a process akin to the ARK Additions Helicoprion, where the Crafting Effectiveness determines the success of the enhancement. This process requires the resources used to craft the item in its current state, just being redirected to upgrading instead. Failing the upgrade just means not receiving the product since you’ve already invested resources. You can also only upgrade a blueprint a certain amount of times based on the item quality. Primitive: 3 times Ramshackle: 3 times Apprentice: 3 times Journeyman: 2 times Mastercraft: 2 times Ascendant: 1 time Hermit Crab Glue: The crab’s sticky saliva, called Hermit Crab Glue, is passively produced in its inventory. It can be used as a substitute for Cementing Paste or can repair damaged structures, more being required for the level of damage. It is a mandatory ingredient for crafting the shell. Craftable Shell: Palaeopagurus don’t have saddles. Instead, they have a shell that can be crafted in their inventory. The cost of the shell scales with the age & size of the crab, the more resources the larger it gets. The shell’s armor stat scales with both level and Crafting Effectiveness. The best part about all of this is that it is completely customizable! 4 resource types are required for the shell, and which resource types you choose to mix & match are completely up to you. Thatch: 🠝Movement Speed, Fire Weakness Wood: 🠝Insulation, Fire Weakness Keratin: 🠝Physical Resistance, 🠟Insulation Chitin: 🠝Physical Resistance, 🠟Electricity & Element Resistance Flint: 🠝Movement Speed, 🠟Melee Damage Stone: 🠝Melee Damage, 🠟Movement Speed Metal: 🠝Electricity & Element Resistance, 🠟Movement Speed Obsidian: 🠝Insulation, 🠟Melee Damage Crystal: 🠝Electricity & Element Resistance, 🠟Insulation Element: 🠝Melee Damage, 🠟Physical Resistance Should also be noted that the shells have limited durability like a Roll Rat’s saddle, so be careful. Shell Concept inspired by: Utility & Scenarios: PvE: The Giant Hermit Crab is great for getting the best loot crafted from blueprints. With its Crafting Effectiveness stat, it will improve the quality of said blueprints before making the best out of the resources they have for the item. They are also generally good at harvesting and transporting resources, with weight reduction on minerals and the ability to climb. When out taming for creatures, the ability to drag unconscious bodies away from places of danger can be a real lifesaver. PvP: A wide range of attacks grants Palaeopagurus utility on the battlefield. A shoulder bash provides a way to provide distance between the crab’s tribe and the enemy. The ability to hunker down and hide in its shell for damage reduction makes it an excellent soaker to raid bases. If defending a base, the Hermit Crab Glue can be used to repair damaged structures and increase the longevity of the facility. The fully customizable shell also allows for experimentation and unique builds, allowing for the hermit crabs to adapt to any playstyle their masters desire. However, outside of these few things, the crab isn’t the best in terms of actually fighting and defending itself head on, more so acting in the support role to assist its allies. A limited lifetime on a crab’s shell also poses its own problems. Wild: Palaeopagurus spawn in the wild with a wide range of sizes depending on their age. They like to inhabit coastlines and shallow waters, especially in The Center’s central floating island and the underworld. They also spawn with different shells made of different materials, which is completely dependent on the environment. They are strict scavengers that search for carcasses in the surrounding area. Depending on their size, they may either hide away or fight other creatures that approach the carcass they’re eating from, including survivors. Taming Process: The Giant Hermit Crab loves to craft things with its claws since it makes its own shells, so lending it the resources to do so will allow you to tame it. Either find a crab that doesn’t possess a shell or destroy the shell of one that does by attacking it. From there, the crab will desire certain materials that go on rotation akin to a Moschops, and survivors must provide them with such. Once they’ve fully completed their shell, they’ll be tamed! Conclusion: In the end, Palaeopagurus is a creature that would bring a lot to ARK and fits well within the realm of The Center. A relatively balanced out crustacean with abilities leaning into the side of PvE, but still having a clear role with the PvP metagame. Hope you all enjoy it! Have fun, survivors! References (Accurate & Inaccurate):

(customizable shell) Introducing Palaeopagurus, the Giant Hermit Crab Tags: crustacean, PvP, PvE, crafting, usable babies, health regen, climbing, better blueprints, resource farming, structure repair, taming assistant Common Name: Giant Hermit Crab Species: Palaeopagurus artis Time: Late Cretaceous Diet: Carrion-Feeder Temperament: Opportunistic Wild: “Palaeopagurus artis is a curious crustacean to say the least. Many people call them “Giant Hermit Crabs”, which is true… for the most part. They vary in sizes based on age, ranging from the height of a Dodo to that of a Tyrannosaurus. They never stop growing, a trait which forces them out of their shells when they get too large for them. They display intelligence I have never seen in crustaceans before, crafting shells out of various parts left over from dead animals and other materials in their environment. This is likely in part due to their nature as obligate scavengers, combing coastlines for any carcasses that may have washed up from the sea.” Domesticated: “Palaeopagurus appears to be too stubborn for a conventional tranq-and-feed method, so survivors need to get creative. Considering how much they enjoy crafting their shells, one may be able to gain the trust of a shellless individual by lending them the desired materials they wish to use. Once tamed, the hermit crab becomes the perfect engineer. Its knack for creating things is a characteristic tribes can use to gain improved equipment from blueprints that they collect. Blueprints themselves can also be improved by the crustacean, though there is a chance it may end up being a failure. It should also be noted that their saliva has the consistency of industrial glue, which is used to make their shells. Some survivors are aware of this, using it as an alternative to cementing paste or to repair damaged buildings.” Introduction: Greetings, survivors! I introduce to you the Palaeopagurus, otherwise known as the Giant Hermit Crab! Art by Nix Illustration The foundational ideas and selling points for this crustacean include: Changing roles from shoulder pet to mount based on age (never stops growing) Fully Customizable Saddle for different playstyles The ability to craft better equipment from blueprints The ability to improve the quality of blueprints Glue-like spit that can be used as a substitute for cementing paste or repair buildings Currently, the only crustacean in the game right now is the Karkinos. This is such an interesting group of invertebrate animals that are sorely lacking major representation in ARK. Palaeopagurus here is set to fix that issue with its inclusion on The Center, the closest thing we have to an official ocean map. Its swath of unique abilities also sets it apart from much of the existing roster, and will become a must have tame because of them. Tamed: Growth Mechanic: Unlike any other creature in the game, the Palaeopagurus doesn’t have defined life stages, rather being one life stage as soon as it is born. From here, it will never stop growing. This means it is usable as a shoulder pet while it's little and can be ridden when large enough, their stats increasing as well. However, its rate of growth will slow after a certain period of time, preventing it from reaching ridiculous sizes within unreasonable time. Shoulder Pet Actions: Thrown: When thrown off the shoulder, the crab deals damage and inflicts torpor on a target. Imagine chucking it like a dodgeball. Mount Actions: Primary Attack (, , ): The Giant Hermit Crab snips with its pincers as a basic attack. It harvests resources off of live targets. Secondary Attack (, , ): The Palaeopagurus performs a shoulder bash with high knockback, damage, and even torpor. Grab (C, , ): The Giant Hermit Crab can grab unconscious creatures and drag them, allowing for the taming process to be easier for certain creatures. The larger the crab, the larger the creatures it is able to grab. Climb / Guard (Space, , ): Tap: When near a vertical surface, the Giant Hermit Crab is able to scale them with ease. However, this drains stamina, and the larger the crab, the faster stamina drains. Hold: The Palaeopagurus retreats into its shell, entering a fortified state, which heavily reduces all incoming damage and reduces the duration of status effects. Passive Abilities: (All Phases) Harvesting: Giant Hermit Crabs can mine minerals with their bare claws, also getting 50% weight reduction on stone, metal, obsidian, & crystal. Crafting Effectiveness Stat: Like the Gacha, these hermit crabs have an upgradeable Crafting Effectiveness stat that takes the place of the Movement Speed stat. Rapid Regeneration: This crustacean gets the Argentavis’ Rapid Regeneration buff from eating corpses. Advanced Crafting: The Palaeopagurus’ inventory somewhat functions like a smithy, though instead of having learned engrams available, it requires blueprints. Said blueprints, when crafted in its inventory, cost less to make, are made faster, and are higher quality. All of this is affected by the previously mentioned Crafting Effectiveness stat. Blueprint Enhancement: Blueprints in the Palaeopagurus’ inventory can be converted into a higher quality form in a process akin to the ARK Additions Helicoprion, where the Crafting Effectiveness determines the success of the enhancement. This process requires the resources used to craft the item in its current state, just being redirected to upgrading instead. Failing the upgrade just means not receiving the product since you’ve already invested resources. You can also only upgrade a blueprint a certain amount of times based on the item quality. Primitive: 3 times Ramshackle: 3 times Apprentice: 3 times Journeyman: 2 times Mastercraft: 2 times Ascendant: 1 time Hermit Crab Glue: The crab’s sticky saliva, called Hermit Crab Glue, is passively produced in its inventory. It can be used as a substitute for Cementing Paste or can repair damaged structures, more being required for the level of damage. It is a mandatory ingredient for crafting the shell. Craftable Shell: Palaeopagurus don’t have saddles. Instead, they have a shell that can be crafted in their inventory. The cost of the shell scales with the age & size of the crab, the more resources the larger it gets. The shell’s armor stat scales with both level and Crafting Effectiveness. The best part about all of this is that it is completely customizable! 4 resource types are required for the shell, and which resource types you choose to mix & match are completely up to you. Thatch: 🠝Movement Speed, Fire Weakness Wood: 🠝Insulation, Fire Weakness Keratin: 🠝Physical Resistance, 🠟Insulation Chitin: 🠝Physical Resistance, 🠟Electricity & Element Resistance Flint: 🠝Movement Speed, 🠟Melee Damage Stone: 🠝Melee Damage, 🠟Movement Speed Metal: 🠝Electricity & Element Resistance, 🠟Movement Speed Obsidian: 🠝Insulation, 🠟Melee Damage Crystal: 🠝Electricity & Element Resistance, 🠟Insulation Element: 🠝Melee Damage, 🠟Physical Resistance Should also be noted that the shells have limited durability like a Roll Rat’s saddle, so be careful. Shell Concept inspired by: Utility & Scenarios: PvE: The Giant Hermit Crab is great for getting the best loot crafted from blueprints. With its Crafting Effectiveness stat, it will improve the quality of said blueprints before making the best out of the resources they have for the item. They are also generally good at harvesting and transporting resources, with weight reduction on minerals and the ability to climb. When out taming for creatures, the ability to drag unconscious bodies away from places of danger can be a real lifesaver. PvP: A wide range of attacks grants Palaeopagurus utility on the battlefield. A shoulder bash provides a way to provide distance between the crab’s tribe and the enemy. The ability to hunker down and hide in its shell for damage reduction makes it an excellent soaker to raid bases. If defending a base, the Hermit Crab Glue can be used to repair damaged structures and increase the longevity of the facility. The fully customizable shell also allows for experimentation and unique builds, allowing for the hermit crabs to adapt to any playstyle their masters desire. However, outside of these few things, the crab isn’t the best in terms of actually fighting and defending itself head on, more so acting in the support role to assist its allies. A limited lifetime on a crab’s shell also poses its own problems. Wild: Palaeopagurus spawn in the wild with a wide range of sizes depending on their age. They like to inhabit coastlines and shallow waters, especially in The Center’s central floating island and the underworld. They also spawn with different shells made of different materials, which is completely dependent on the environment. They are strict scavengers that search for carcasses in the surrounding area. Depending on their size, they may either hide away or fight other creatures that approach the carcass they’re eating from, including survivors. Taming Process: The Giant Hermit Crab loves to craft things with its claws since it makes its own shells, so lending it the resources to do so will allow you to tame it. Either find a crab that doesn’t possess a shell or destroy the shell of one that does by attacking it. From there, the crab will desire certain materials that go on rotation akin to a Moschops, and survivors must provide them with such. Once they’ve fully completed their shell, they’ll be tamed! Conclusion: In the end, Palaeopagurus is a creature that would bring a lot to ARK and fits well within the realm of The Center. A relatively balanced out crustacean with abilities leaning into the side of PvE, but still having a clear role with the PvP metagame. Hope you all enjoy it! Have fun, survivors! References (Accurate & Inaccurate):

The top comment concept provides the ability to climb vertically more like a Thylacoleo due to its size

#TooKool4School baybeeeee

Had this creature in mind for Genesis 1, so that's why many of the things in here are Genesis 1 related. However, I believe these are still relevant to the current Palaeoctopus submission. (survivor invisibility) Introducing Palaeoctopus, the Crafty Camouflaging Cephalopod Tags: semi-aquatic, cephalopod, attacking with survivor, turret mode, weapon wielding, special meat, camouflage, hypnosis, shoulder pet Common Name: Palaeoctopus Species: Palaeoctopus chromimus Time: Late Cretaceous Diet: Piscivore Temperament: Opportunistic Wild: “I have yet to see a creature nearly as adaptable to its environment Palaeoctopus chromimus. It thrives in every single biome in the Genesis simulation, an incredible feat for a cephalopod. Its secret seems to be its amphibious nature, being able to live out of water for long durations of time. Palaeoctopus are also clever little buggers. They use color changing skin to either hypnotize prey or camouflage so well with their surroundings that they become invisible to the naked eye! I’ve also noticed they are particularly curious about man-made items like weaponry. They get spooked easily and spray a blinding ink when approached by creatures larger than them, so approach cautiously.” Domesticated: “The utility of color change cannot be stated enough. While on the shoulder of a survivor, it can grant its invisibility to them, though a weaker version of it. Hypnosis may come into great value in particular situations. It’s important to note survivors can find use in its intelligence and coordination as well. It can attack while on the back of survivors with tentacle or ink, and can even properly handle melee and ranged weaponry. A Palaeoctopus’ knowledge is contagious, and increases the rate of learning in other nearby organisms. Though I have yet to try it (nor the will to), I’ve heard Palaeoctopus meat is considered a fine delicacy by survivors and creatures alike.” Introduction: Greetings, survivors! I introduce to you the mimicking mollusk; the Palaeoctopus! The foundational ideas for this dinosaur include: Role as a shoulder pet that attacks with the user Camouflaging and invisibility Whip effect on melee attacks Ranged ink Ability to wield weapons ARK only has two cephalopods, one being the untameable Ammonite, and the other being the Tusoteuthis, which is locked to the water. Considering octopi are known to be able to survive on land for at least short durations, I propose this concept so that we may have better representation of cephalopods in ARK. The way this operates as a shoulder pet is also unlike anything that has been introduced to the game. Wild: Palaeoctopus can be found in every biome of the Genesis simulation where there are bodies of water, most commonly in the Ocean biome. It is most often seen swimming around, but it may also travel onto land where it is more vulnerable. It's an opportunistic predator that will lure in fish and shoulder pet-sized creatures with its hypnotic colors. Anything bigger than itself regardless of the danger will send it into a panic, spraying blinding ink and cloaking itself beyond visibility. Survivors will cause Palaeoctopus to panic on sight. However, if there are enough of them in the water, they may attempt to hypnotize you and attack you while you’re dazed. Taming Process: The Palaeoctopus is a curious critter, and finds man-made equipment quite fascinating. In order to tame it, it must be distracted with a weapon thrown into the water. Once it picks up and examines the weapon, it may be approached and fed Fish Meat. Taming speed and effectiveness is affected by both the quality of the gear and the quality of the food. Repeating the same weapon-type constantly will cause it to lose interest, so try giving it new things to examine when you can. This will cause it to spook and go invisible, dropping the weapon in the process. In the water, it will spray ink around it, while it doesn’t do this on land. While it may seem easier to perform this process on land, the Palaeoctopus is on a timer due to decreasing Oxygen outside of the water. Once it uncloaks, the process can be repeated until it is successfully tamed. When tamed, it no longer only eats Fish Meat. Tamed: Congratulations! You’ve successfully tamed a Palaeoctopus! This talented tentacular fella has several tricks up its sleeve that come in handy in your time on Genesis 1. Actions: Mounted Attacks: The Palaeoctopus will attack alongside the survivor it is riding depending on their weapon type. Melee: When using melee weapons, the Palaeoctopus attacks with its tentacles. This has a whip effect, knocking items out of a survivor’s hands. Ranged: When using ranged weapons, the Palaeoctopus will shoot out ink. The ink applied the effect of Tusoteuthis’ Squid Ink, hindering vision and slowing the target down. Colors: The Palaeoctopus can toggle between three set modes involving its color. Standard: No color gimmick. Camouflage: While off-shoulder, it will go Shadowmane-level invisible. While on-shoulder, it will grant Rock Drake-level invisibility to itself and the survivor. This drains stamina at a decent rate, and the invisibility will end once stamina is depleted. Hypnosis: Flashes colors that hypnotize creatures within close proximity to it. This drains stamina fast, and the hypnotic effect will end once stamina is depleted. Turret Mode: A turret mode like a Velonasaur can be toggled off back, either launching ink or shooting the ammo of an equipped weapon. Passive Abilities: Equipment Slots: Like a Mantis, the Palaeoctopus can equip weapons. However, it can also use ranged weapons like bows and guns. Equipping weapons into these slots will replace the effect of unarmed mounted attacks with the actual weapon’s properties. It can wear a helmet as well. XP Boost: All creatures, including survivors, will have their XP gain increased in their presence because of its sheer brain power. This also stacks with and enhances the Lystrosaurus’ unique effect. Palaeoctopus Meat: These cephalopods drop the unique Palaeoctopus Meat, which is essentially mutton-tier meat used primarily to tame aquatic and semi-aquatic carnivores, though quite effective on terrestrial ones as well. Many of its properties are the same as mutton, raw and cooked. Inky Death: Upon dying, it will expel all the ink from its body in a pool that slows down movement and attack speed. This also applies to the host its riding if killed on the shoulder. ⚠ Drowning on Land ⚠: When out of the water, the creature’s Oxygen stat will deplete gradually over time. This can be helped if you jump into a water source with it to refresh it, or have a source of water in its inventory like a Water Jar or Canteen. Utility & Scenarios: PvE: Palaeoctopus are useful in many ways for taming. Their ink attacks with ranged attacks like tranq arrows and tranq darts help slow creatures down, making them easier to hit and avoid. For passive tames, its cloak can provide cover as you approach a creature. Palaeoctopus Meat is great for getting the best taming effectiveness on water-dwelling creatures, and may come in a pinch if mutton isn’t readily available. A gradual increase to XP gain in their presence also ensures that dinosaurs and survivors level up fast and can prepare for particular activities sooner. With a ranged weapon equipped, it's possible Palaeoctopus may be the best shoulder pet to help in boss fights. Imagine having a shotgun, and then a second shotgun being fired by an octopus on your back. PvP: The Palaeoctopus’ cloaking ability will get the most mileage in PvP. Granting players temporary invisibility is incredibly powerful, and can result in some very interesting strategies and playstyles. The whip effect and ink on unarmed octopi is great in foot PvP with one-on-one confrontations. Equipping weapons onto the octopi increases the danger they pose with the increased damage they can put out. Hypnosis can help divert the attention of creatures and survivors away from a particular point-of-interest for a short period. Upon death, the ink pool immobilizing enemies can also be used to your advantage. When off back, the invisibility and the turret mode synergize to be fairly terrifying. There are some exploitable weaknesses, however. Limited stamina means many of its abilities are temporary, and players will need to keep that in mind. Starting to drown mid fight may also pose potential problems unless worked into your advantage by timing the formation of an ink pool. Lastly, it can be fired off of a survivor’s shoulder. Being a very frail squishy thing, it dies very quickly and can put the user into a disadvantageous position. Conclusion: Without a doubt one of the more unique directions to take a shoulder pet. Fairly strong in its toolkit while having weaknesses that can be exploited by players and AI alike that rounds it out as (mostly) balanced. The oceans devoid of interesting creatures and cephalopods have middling representation in ARK, so these can be fixed by Palaeoctopus’ inclusion into the game. Have fun, survivors! References (Other Species of Octopus for Inspiration):

I'm going to explain my reasoning as to why I don't think the Dire Otter is a good fit for ARK period. 1. We already have an otter in-game, and the difference between species of otters is far less significant or noticeable than say the different between Oviraptor and Gigantoraptor. While the otters need fantastical fins and attributes to make them even remotely different, Oviraptor and Gigantoraptor have unique characteristics like their size and dimensions that make them distinct as individual animals. 2. The abilities proposed here, aside from the Emote Buff, are ripped from pre-existing creatures that do nothing to change up or add anything unique to the game. Just my opinion, and just not a good pick considering it's clashing with what ARK has already established. Please don't force other people to vote for this either, seen it too many times on other platforms during Ragnarok.

This feels like better roll rat and I'm personally not a fan.

(big rideable glow pet) Introducing Kosmoceratops, the Starlight Ceratopsian! Tags: herbivore, ceratopsian, flashbang, support, healer, soaker, seeker allies, armor reduction Credit to Nix Illustration for Design Common Name: Kosmoceratops Species: Kosmoceratops lumitaurus Time: Late Cretaceous Diet: Herbivore Temperament: Territorial Wild: “It’s astonishing how well adapted some of the creatures in these caverns are. Kosmoceratops lumitaurus is the largest creature I’ve discovered thus far that produces that intense bioluminescent charge that keeps Nameless at bay… and attracts a private army of Chimaeram. Great… Whether it be dominance, ego, or just plain fun, these ceratopsians challenge not only other Kosmoceratops, but other threatening species as well, including survivors! They bow down in respect to those who can best them in a one-on-one spar. Any lunatics out there might be able to use this to their advantage.” Domesticated: “After gaining the respect of this starlight behemoth, survivors may find a variety of uses for them. They have a notable amount of durability thanks to their head armor, and they possess a glowing, corrosive saliva that melts through armor thanks to the plants it consumes. I think I’ll not have what they’re having, thank you. A large dinosaur that emits charge that repels Nameless and is immune to high concentrations of radiation makes it an excellent mount to traverse the lower reaches of these caverns. Introduction: Greetings, survivors! I introduce to you the flashbang bastion; the Kosmoceratops! The foundational ideas and selling points for this dinosaur include: Role as a mid-game support that can be used in endgame PvP Rideable glow pet Radiation and plant z immunity Ability to heal allies and blind enemies Ability to corrode and highlight enemies with bite attacks I personally think Kosmoceratops, or at the very least this concept, should be added to the game due to an oversaturation of apex predators in the PvP metagame as well as expanding upon one of the most unique (and one of my personal favorite) maps in the game. Ceratopsians in general need a little more love than just Triceratops and Pachyrhinosaurus. Adding this behemoth would help spice the meta up and give people more reason to play on ARK: Aberration. Wild: Kosmoceratops live in the malfunctioning ARK’s bio-luminescent marshlands and molten element canyons, being the only large herbivore found in the latter zone. They can spawn on their own or in herds of up to three members. They are naturally territorial, and will tend to gang up on large carnivores that pose a threat to them. Kosmoceratops tend to be more aggressive in these herds, so it is highly advised to avoid them whenever possible. While on their own they are still a force to be reckoned with, they behave in a slightly different manner… Like glow pets, Kosmoceratops produce a constant aura of charge which can repel Nameless and attract Seekers. Seekers aren’t naturally hostile towards these dinosaurs, respecting them as a source of food, and will typically assist them in combat. When low on health, the ceratopsian can emit a blinding light from its frill and horns to disorient threats before speeding away. Taming Process: To be tamed, this dinosaur must be separate from any herd or any Seekers. Having aggroed the herd prior won’t trigger the process. Once isolated, the process will begin when the Kosmoceratops performs an animation, blinking its frill lights and kicking up the dirt. The dinosaur is challenging you to a one-on-one spar. The frill constantly pulsating light faintly is a sign the Kosmo is undergoing the taming process. If any other creature or survivor interferes, regardless of friend or foe, the taming bar will return to 0. After dealing 75% of the dinosaur’s total health in the battle, it will bow down in exhaustion. Step forward and claim your reward. Tamed: Congratulations! You’ve successfully tamed a Kosmoceratops! Now with this bioluminescent barbarian in your hands, life in the caverns of the aberrant ARK should be much more convenient. Actions: Primary Attack (, , ): Click: A sweeping head attack with noticeable knockback. The Kosmoceratops can turn 180-degrees if looking backward. Hold: A charged bite attack that increases in damage the longer it is held. This bite leaves a unique status induced by the dinosaur’s saliva, which corrodes its way through health, armor, and even metal structures. The saliva itself is also bioluminescent, highlighting bitten enemies with a bright light that friends and foes can see. The duration of this status also scales with the attack’s wind up time. Secondary Attack (, , ): The range of this move scales with Charge Range / Melee Damage. Click: A violent flash of light erupts from the dinosaur’s frill, inducing the same effect as plant z fruit. This requires a large amount of charge to use. Hold: The ceratopsian’s light creates an aura of healing in front of itself, acting like the animal equivalent of a plant z. It heals at around the same rate, though drains charge fast. Taunting Roar (Click C, , ): The Kosmoceratops’s roar taunts wild and tamed creatures like a Magmasaur. However, its own defenses and damage are increased. Crouch (Press Space, , ): The Kosmoceratops hunkers down into a defensive state, taking significantly reduced damage at the cost of not being able to attack or move much at all. Passive Abilities: Charge Light: Kosmoceratops essentially operates like a giant, rideable glow pet! Much like the Bulbdog and its peers, Kosmoceratops’ stats also upgrade its charge light capabilities. Stamina correlates with Charge Capacity, Oxygen with Charge Regeneration, and Melee Damage with Charge Range. You can activate the charge light while mounted in the same way lifesteal can be enabled while riding a Desmodus. Batteries can also be charged within the dino’s inventory like a charge station, though at a slower rate. Seeker Symbiosis: Seekers will gather around Kosmoceratops, but won’t attack them or their rider. They instead become allies, attacking threats that get too close to their food source. Damage-to-Head Reduction: Like the Triceratops, the Kosmoceratops possesses damage reduction on its head, though not as effective. Gathering: Kosmoceratops can gather berries and minerals fairly well with its bite. However, it is most proficient at gathering element ore, and one of the best tools to mine the resource. Immunities: Kosmoceratops are immune to the effects of radiation and plant z fruits. Turn in Place: While not moving, a Kosmoceratops can turn to the direction the rider is facing similarly to Spinosaurus. Utility & Scenarios: PvE: Kosmoceratops are great for traversing the caverns of the aberrant ARK, though lacking a solid turn while sprinting. Riders can wander on Kosmo back to farm for rare materials in the lower reaches of the blue and red zones with their radiation immunity and charge light. Reapers and Nameless are repelled by their light, and Seekers are attracted to it, though becoming temporary allies with the dinosaur and their rider. Kosmoceratops are one of the best ways to retrieve Rock Drake eggs early on before getting replaced by Rock Drakes themselves for that niche. PvP: This ceratopsian is designed as a support class along with the likes of Daeodons, Yutyrannus, and Snow Owls. They aren’t very good at dealing a lot of damage, and they are far from the tankiest creature in the game. By blinding, highlighting, and taunting enemies and healing allies, the Kosmoceratops provides essential aid that could bring favor to a matchup, even if the dinosaur itself isn’t directly fighting. It also acts as a good soaker with the damage reduction it gets from its taunt, crouch, and head armor. Chargelight invalidates the presence of Reapers, removing more danger from potential confrontations. The lack of damage output is their greatest weakness, not being nearly as strong as other creatures of its size class. It lacks the tools to completely defend its blindspots, especially from faster tames like Deinonychus, Thylacoleos, and fliers. Conclusion: Outside of the obvious Triceratops comparisons, Kosmoceratops lacks much overlap in terms of utility and niche in a tribe’s roster. A very complex and strong creature, but balanced out by notable weaknesses that ensure it doesn’t usurp other dinos. It has been a while since we’ve gotten a creature designed to be a support in PvP, so I hope this works out for that niche! Have fun, survivors! References (Accurate & Inaccurate):

Ideally its not CONSTANTLY, but enough where it requires your attention

That's fine, I tried my best to balance it. I wanted to introduce unique mechanics on creature that could be used for raiding to spice things up apart from the constant gigas and carchars

Really an overall strong concept! Nothosaurus is a creature that would provide a lot for semi-aquatic playstyles. A hybrid of this main post and Jimmy's would be great to have.

I had the idea for a sauropod that was a battleship and went through with it. I do agree we have a lot of end game creatures, so I attempted to Dreadnoughtus as distinct as possible. It's more of a ranged attacker compared to its peers, and there is some attempt at balance with the mantinence mechanic. I have many ideas for later votes, and I felt a viking ship sauropod would fit best for Ragnarok.

I have not. Actually, this concept was originally planned got a potential Extinction vote, but reworked it to fit Ragnarok. Dreadnoughtus itself has been suggested several times in the past but this is the first time this specific concept has been.

Jurassic World Dominion and Prehistoric Planet were the main reasons I picked this dinosaur, yes. Recognizable name thats fresh in people's minds, and the "dreadnought" idea of a battleship applied to a sauropod just sounded radical to me.

Introduction: Greetings, survivors! I introduce to you the skyscraping sauropod; the Dreadnoughtus! The foundational ideas and selling points for this dinosaur include: Role as a late game juggernaut with heavy artillery Two taming methods; one passive and one violent Customizable saddle with turrets, cannons, and ballistas The ability to vomit cannonballs covered in stomach acid Damage and defense buff against other large creatures I personally think this concept for Dreadnoughtus would work well in the game, as a massive siege weapon that can tear through just about anything in its path. It would be one of the most powerful creatures a tribe could have except for the Titanosaurus and Titans themselves, tying with the Giga and Carcha in strength. With the idea I have in mind, it would also be one of the more immersive creatures with a few of its mechanics. On Ragnarok, it's saddle could potentially be inspired by Viking Ships. Dossier Data Common Name: Dreadnoughtus Species: Dreadnoughtus maximus Time: Late Cretaceous Diet: Herbivore Temperament: Territorial Wild: “Dreadnoughtus maximus is the undisputed ruler of this island. It towers over everything except for the very titans themselves, and its presence can be felt from afar. Like any royalty, I’d say they feel entitled to everything. While they pay no mind to those beneath them, they bully and harass other large creatures that they view as rivals and threats, including others of their kind! They become more powerful when enraged by enemies, and when more confident with herdmates.” Domesticated: “I’ve noticed that each individual has a unique daily routine. The tribe I spoke with that owns one claimed they assisted it in its activities to gain its trust, so take that for what you will. Said tribe also created a PHENOMENAL saddle that provides full protection for the primary rider, and can be customized with heavy artillery to one’s content. It seems like something straight out of the viking age! One word of caution, though. Kings like to be pampered, and Dreadnoughtus are no different. If their needs aren’t met and are neglected by their masters, they may go feral again and launch a lethal temper tantrum. Talk about a big spoiled brat!” Wild: The Dreadnoughtus is a rare find on Ragnarok, sharing its spawn points with Titanosaurus. Unlike the Titanosaur, however, it is quite territorial and will attack creatures of a given size on sight. Creatures the size of or larger than a Rex will attract its attention and grant the Dreadnoughtus a buff similar to the Triceratops’ rivalry, though extending to large herbivores as well. Dreadnoughtus will even fight each other in battles, losers remaining as underlings within whatever herd is forming. This enraged state is visible with the inflation of its neck sacs. They generally pay no mind to survivors and their tames unless they surpass the size threshold. Taming Process: Dreadnoughtus have TWO taming methods; one for first timers, another for those that already have a Dreadnoughtus for themselves. Non-Violent Taming: The Dreadnoughtus is a massive animal that is incredibly high maintenance. They each have unique daily routines survivors can learn and adapt to accordingly. Helping a Dreadnoughtus go about their activities will develop trust and friendship between the survivors and the dinosaur. These activities include: Feeding: Feed the Dreadnoughtus vegetables or kibble. Toss a cannonball on the ground as a lure, getting the dinosaur to lower its head thinking it's a gastrolith. Then, you can feed it directly at its head. Playing: Help the Dreadnoughtus kill other dinosaurs and break structures in its territory until it is satisfied. Bathing: Clean the Dreadnoughtus of filth and parasites by using soap on its body. Sleeping: Protect the Dreadnoughtus as hordes of wild dinosaurs attempt to attack it. Enough damage from wild creatures will force the Dreadnoughtus to wake up and reduce taming effectiveness. Dreadnoughtus activities and needs rotate occasionally similar to a Moschops’ diet. Keep helping the dinosaur out until it completely trusts you. Violent Taming: A tamed Dreadnoughtus is required for this method. Your tamed Dreadnoughtus must challenge a wild individual with a roar, engaging in a fight. Dealing high enough damage will force the wild Dreadnoughtus to back down and join your herd. Tamed: Congratulations! You’ve successfully tamed a Dreadnoughtus! This titanic sauropod’s abilities lend themselves well to the many aspects of life on Ragnarok. Actions: Primary Attack (, , ): Looking Straight, Left, or Right: A long and wide neck sweep that deals high damage and high knockback. Looking Down: A fast stomp attack that deals high damage but has little knockback. Looking Up: A fast upward neck sweep that deals little damage but knocks aerial targets far. Secondary Attack (, , ): Cannonballs are used as ammo for this attack. The Dreadnoughtus vomits out one of the cannonballs in its stomach, with the ball drenched in stomach acid. The more the attack is charged, the faster the shot is fired and the more damage is dealt. However, this attack also drains the Food stat to use. Roar (C, , ): A bellowing roar that causes the Dreadnoughtus’ neck sacs to inflate. Use this to engage in duels with wild Dreadnoughtus. If used by the highest level individual in a herd, they will gain the Pack Leader status effect for 120 seconds before going on cooldown for another 120. Tertiary Attack (Space, , ): The front of the Dreadnoughtus’ saddle has a large drill-like spear mounted on the chest that can fire out like a harpoon. It pierces into creatures of all sizes for massive damage, and holding this attack will pull them towards the Dreadnoughtus. The size and weight of the creature determines the pull speed, and the creature must escape by continuously attacking. Sleeping Animation: Like a Shadowmane or Megalosaurus, the Dreadnoughtus has a sleeping animation that can be toggled when off of its back. Passive Abilities: Giantslayer: Dreadnoughtus gain a damage and defense buff in the presence of the following creatures: Astrocetus, Brontosaurus, Carcharodontosaurus, Diplodocus, Giganotosaurus, Paraceratherium, Quetzal, Reaper (King and Queen), Rex, Rock Golem, Rhyniognatha, Spino, Titanosaur, Magmasaur, Megachelon, Wyvern (all types) All Bosses (only Titans matter except for maybe SOTF since you can’t take them into arenas) ARK Additions: Acrocanthosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Deinosuchus, Deinotherium Gathering: Berries and fiber are gathered fairly decently. Wood and minerals are what it is more proficient at, however. It would be the best option in the game if it weren’t for its massive size preventing it from entering many areas. Marine Traversal: Dreadnoughtus can turn into a literal dreadnought. It swims better than most creatures of its size, with many of its attacks and weapons intact. Like an Andrewsarchus, it can also sink to the ocean floor and walk along. A decently high oxygen stat allows them to sit below water for a long period of time. Heavy Artillery Saddle: The saddle of a Dreadnoughtus is unique due to its sheer customizability. There are a total of 7 equipment slots in the saddle. Turrets, ballistas, or cannons can be equipped onto the saddle. Cannons and ballistas are controlled manually, while turrets require gasoline in the dinosaur’s inventory to help fuel the saddle’s personal generator. 4 siege weapons on the neck, 2 on the shoulders, and 1 on the rump. Located on the chest is the previously mentioned drill-spear harpoon that resembles Monster Hunter’s Dragonator that is used directly by the driver. All riders are vulnerable except for the driver, protected in a car-like section of the saddle. Saddle References: ⚠ Maintenance ⚠: Dreadnoughtus are high maintenance creatures as mentioned earlier. This means providing constant care and attending to the dinosaur’s needs. Giving it what it wants manually from time to time will keep its physical health up, increasing Health & Stamina Regeneration. If left ignored, the sauropod’s health will deteriorate, and the mentioned stats will be reduced. Dreadnoughtus will actively become hostile towards you if their needs aren’t met, and can potentially spell the end for your tribe if you’re not cautious and attentive. Alpha Dreadnoughtus will even turn properly treated individuals on their masters as well. Don’t think about locking them in a cryopod either, as even within containment, they are still aware of your neglect. Utility & Scenarios: PvE: Dreadnoughtus find themselves as great resource gatherers and bodyguard when traversing across Ragnarok. Their swimming ability allows them to navigate across Ragnarok's oceans, and allow for resource collection at the sea floor. PvP: Now this is what Dreadnoughtus are designed to do. They find themselves at the top of the meta-game’s food chain, alongside the Giga and Carcha. Stats, abilities, and tools once again are incredibly useful in battles. Having survivors man multiple siege weapons mounted on the saddles turns the Dreadnoughtus into an almost unstoppable and completely destructive force. With enough turrets, ammo, and fuel, it may even become a mobile turret tower that guns things down before they even approach it. Their size is just about as big of a strength as it is a weakness, since it is a large target and has a hard time fighting in more claustrophobic spaces. The location of a base like a rathole doesn’t lend itself well to Dreadnoughtus management, since the creature needs a large space if it is going to be outside of a cryopod. Conclusion: At first glance, Dreadnoughtus might seem a little overpowered. It has a lot going for it as a giant endgame herbivore on par with the great G and C. While it isn’t balanced out on the end of PvP, it is in PvE. Very few creatures are balanced in their strength outside of the battle itself, and the Dreadnoughtus definitely changes the playstyle many people may attempt. Overall, it is a fairly unique and absurd concept I’d love to see enter the game and act as the first dinosaur added in through the creature vote. Have fun, survivors! References (Accurate & Inaccurate):