Engram Fragmentation #ASAModJam2026

THIS IS A BETA!

This is a beta test for my entry in the ASA Mod Jam 2026 being run by Sandii studios. Feedback is greatly appreciated, especially with regards to balance between the cost of items and creature mutations (explained more below).

This mod adds a new reason to tame wild creatures after you've already gotten your key creatures tamed and your breeding lines started. It does so by introducing "engram fragments", a new resource that once harvested from creatures (killing them in the process) can be synthesised into useful items and permanent buffs for your favourite creatures.

Manipulations are persistent effects applied to creatures which improve their stats in some way. Some manipulations can be stacked to improve their effects. Manipulations do not pass down to children and are not lost when creatures are cryo'd or transferred. Cosmetics manipulations add cosmetic only effects to creatures, currently there are only 2 but both can be set to any colour desired. (This is done when they are synthesised) Colour pigments are items which when used on a creature permanently alter their colour regions. There are 3 different types; more expensive versions allow more specificity on colour/colour region affected. These will persist to children. Mutator items are synthesised once but are reusable. These (for a scaling cost) apply mutations directly to a creature. These are standard mutations and will persist to children but will not allow you to go over 20 mutations on each side (Paternal/Maternal).

Cost is dependent on server breeding settings, gestation/egg hatching time and maturation time. Creatures which can't be bred will have this cost based on their cloning costs.

Accessory item which allows for a creature's fragmentation tier to be identified. Other items are also available for synthesis, namely dino candy and various "cakes". When fragments are extracted from a creature, you can receive these items:

Engram Fragments: Always given but the amount extracted is random, although creatures with a higher "fragmentation tier" will drop more. There are 3 tiers and a creature's tier is totally random. Bred creatures will give significantly fewer fragments than wild tamed creatures.

Only given when extraction is performed on specifically wanted creatures, which change when the Ark system resets every 7 days. Tier does not affect amount given. Bred creatures will not give Matrix tokens even if they are wanted. A new structure which allows fragments to be synthesised into the above items. Can also extract fragments from cryo'd dinos placed inside. Not all items can always be synthesised; the Fragment Synthesiser requires a calibrated connection to the Ark's systems every 7 days. To do this, you will need to collect Matrix tokens.

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This mod relies heavily on the balance of fragments, as such, especially for the beta, I am very curious to get feedback on how fair the system feels. The goal (especially with the mutator) is not to allow for a faster way to do things but an alternate way. Want to use an Equus but it's too slow? Apply a manipulation. Want to breed super compys because it's funny but spend all your time breeding "needed" creatures like rexes instead? Manipulation. Want to speed up your mutation lines by searching for fragments while you breed mutations? (This technically goes against the whole "no faster" thing but I hope the point is clear)

In the future I hope to add more items available for synthesis and add a config page for everything to be tweaked. So while suggestions for such things are appreciated, please bear in mind I probably won't get to them until after the mod jam is over as I'll be focusing on bug fixes.

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Thanks to the following who's work in one way shape or form has been used in this mod:

• Joehelp for the CDD ancestry functions
• Nevcairiel for the cryopod dino data parser
• @nroxkey for the fragment synthesiser structure model

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Will still keep an eye out for comments on mod pages but this will be the fastest way to get in touch. (QR code for invite added to mod images for easy joining)

https://discord.gg/BDmQCASjew