Urgent. Host Cheating: Problem and Solution.

Saber Cherry · #1 January 25th, 2004, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PhilD:
Considering the "Master Password" option is one that was added at the players' request, so that dropping players could at least be turned to AI... I think you're mainly trying to make the devs go nuts

No, this is a legitimate concern

Really! If two people want to play competitively, and one of them is a known cheater... well, that's currently impossible without a 3rd-party host!

johan osterman · #2 January 25th, 2004, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Saber Cherry:

quote:
Originally posted by PhilD:
Considering the "Master Password" option is one that was added at the players' request, so that dropping players could at least be turned to AI... I think you're mainly trying to make the devs go nuts

No, this is a legitimate concern Really! If two people want to play competitively, and one of them is a known cheater... well, that's currently impossible without a 3rd-party host!

Not that it is any of my concern with whom you want to play, but why would you play with a known cheater. I would avoid them like the plague.

PhilD · #3 January 25th, 2004, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Saber Cherry:

quote:
Originally posted by PhilD:
Considering the "Master Password" option is one that was added at the players' request, so that dropping players could at least be turned to AI... I think you're mainly trying to make the devs go nuts

No, this is a legitimate concern Really! If two people want to play competitively, and one of them is a known cheater... well, that's currently impossible without a 3rd-party host!

Only if both are known cheater. And it should only be a concern to known cheaters. If you absolutely must play with a cheater, and aren't one, you can host.

Jasper · #4 January 25th, 2004, 10:08 PM

There are ways to significantly avert cheating, such that cheating would require a hacked copy of dominions with security turned off. They are a quite a bit more cumbersome however, as they require action from several people to host.

For a hosted game, it would be enough for hosting to require that several people connect and provide their password over a secure chanel (eg SSH). One would also need to ensure all players have the same .map, to avoid unscruplous editing.

For PBEM this would be more difficult. A host request could send out encyrpted and time stamped requests to several players, and only host after receiving their response.

IMHO this is a significant problem, not so much due to rampant cheating, but to remove the commonplace suspicion of cheating -- especially should the host have even a slightly lucky start. Admitedly it's probably easier to just play with people you trust, or trade hosting so players aren't in games they host.

Jam3 · #5 January 25th, 2004, 10:12 PM

Well i just started hosting but from my experience you gotta have master password in case you need to turn someone to AI. If they could allow the server client to change AI status (plus it would be nice to be able to switch back from AI if someone returns)

Jam3 · #6 January 25th, 2004, 10:12 PM

Well i just started hosting but from my experience you gotta have master password in case you need to turn someone to AI. If they could allow the server client to change AI status (plus it would be nice to be able to switch back from AI if someone returns)

Jasper · #7 January 25th, 2004, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by johan osterman:

quote:
Originally posted by Saber Cherry:
No, this is a legitimate concern Really! If two people want to play competitively, and one of them is a known cheater... well, that's currently impossible without a 3rd-party host!

Not that it is any of my concern with whom you want to play, but why would you play with a known cheater. I would avoid them like the plague.

I think Sabre Cherry is being sarcastic -- note the

.

It is a real problem however. In all of the games I've played, I didn't know my opponents beforehand. In such cases accusations of cheating arise easily -- simply because cheating is easy, and regardless of whether the accusation is true.

For me the solution is easy -- I just don't host. But _somebody_ has to host, and who really wants to open themselves up to such a potential headache?