Bob's Tall Tales is a paid content pack for ARK Survival Ascended, split into three map-themed chapters - Scorched Earth, Aberration and Extinction - that together add around 75 items, a few creatures and a large pile of skins. A lot of it is cosmetic, but a handful of pieces genuinely change how you play. This guide cuts to what actually matters and whether it is worth it.
Is It Worth It?
If you only want decorations, no. If you breed, raid or play a map long-term, the quality-of-life items are hard to ignore. The catch is the honest one: you need to own the pack to craft its engrams, and some items lean pay-to-win. Because the content is embedded in the game, items a tribemate places down may still be usable by you even without owning it, but crafting your own requires the purchase.
The Items Actually Worth It
| Item | Chapter | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Tinkering Desk | Aberration | Combines weaker blueprints into much better ones |
| Gene Scanner and Gene Storage | Aberration | Pull traits (and embryos) from creatures and bank them for later - a breeding game-changer |
| Makeshift Mega Lab | Aberration | Re-specs a tamed creature's stats, like a mindwipe for dinos |
| Embryo Incubator | Aberration | Auto-incubates embryos so you do not have to babysit them |
| Clock Face and Steam Forge | Aberration | Faster crafting and faster, higher-capacity smelting |
| Library and Link Storage | Aberration | Blueprints accessible base-wide, plus Ender-chest-style item transfer |
| Blade Wasp Hive | Aberration | Anti-flyer defense that punishes Quetzal and flyer raids - strong on every PvP base |
| Battle Rig Garage | Extinction | Custom buildable vehicles for fast travel and fights |
| Water Reservoir and Windmill | Scorched Earth | Huge water storage and reduced gas-generator fuel use during storms |