u/HazardousHippo

My husband and I have been playing Ark (Xbox one) together for almost 4 years, split-screen on a non-dedicated server, and I’m realizing we’ve barely scratched the surface of the game. We build up, tame dinos, survive for a while, then eventually restart on a new map without ever really progressing into the bigger parts of Ark.

We’ve never done caves, never done deep sea exploration, never fought bosses, never properly transferred characters between maps, and honestly still don’t fully understand things like cryopods or how long-term progression is supposed to work. The tether and bugs from non-dedicated are starting to get frustrating, and we want a more laid-back PvE experience where we can actually experience the full game together without feeling overwhelmed.

What’s the best way for two casual players to play long-term? Would renting a private server or doing dedicated make more sense? How do map transfers, character progression, and keeping dinos/items across maps actually work? At what point should we start caves and bosses without getting destroyed?

We love Ark, but I feel like we’ve been stuck in an endless beginner loop and would really appreciate advice on how to transition into actually experiencing everything the game has to offer. We have a 1 year old and do not play every day but still enjoy the time we do play together.

I began my pumping journey in the hospital with a major oversupply and a baby who wouldn’t latch. Four days after coming home, I was readmitted for mastitis. For five months, I pumped 80–90+ ounces a day, lived around the clock attached to a machine, rarely left the house, and was physically and emotionally depleted. It was isolating, exhausting, and at times overwhelming.

Eventually, I fought hard to regulate my supply, and since then have maintained around 40 ounces a day.

Now, with her first birthday on the 23rd, we’ve started mixing breastmilk with whole milk as we prepare for this next transition. Closing this chapter feels heavier than I expected. Pumping demanded so much from me, and letting it go feels like more than ending a routine—it feels like saying goodbye to a version of motherhood that consumed me. I’m mourning the end of my baby’s first year while trying to make peace with the fact that she’s becoming a toddler.