Detecting autoblockers

[Úlfheðinn]

if someone is using an auto-block, then use an auto attack, it will automatically spamfeint the auto-block and release an attack when it's unstoppable.

Or you could just run away 

David would never flee from battle! 

 

[arsenic_vengeur]

Does anybody know where I could find that autoblock thingy?
I haver played this game for ages, but I still do too many mistakes. PLus I am now involved in the official league against good players, I'd like to survive a bit more in order to have more fun (please PM link).

 

[Arch3r]

I've been using it for the past 3 months, but it's a major flaw that it does not auto-jump when an enemy tries to kick...

 

[McBeverage]

What an couple of trolls. 

 

[Orion]

Does anybody know where I could find that autoblock thingy?
I haver played this game for ages, but I still do too many mistakes. PLus I am now involved in the official league against good players, I'd like to survive a bit more in order to have more fun (please PM link).

I don't even know if you're joking which makes it that much funnier.

I run a couple of servers, and these cheaters are becoming a real nuisance, specially since certain links started spreading around. Is there any automated way to detect this? Failing that, when an admin is monitoring the server, what exactly should he/she be looking for? I suppose it's possible to detect automatically, like the server querying the player for autoblock usage or something?

Last I checked, someone was working on a detection mechanism for that particular program. I'm not sure if it's been completed or not. The best way to check yourself the old-fashioned manual way would be to come into the server under an alias and sit in spectator, cycling through the players and watching them when they are and aren't fighting. If a specific player always approaches enemies with a down block until their opponent makes a move, that's a little bit suspicious but not enough to go on. If they suck at everything else except for blocking, that's also suspicious. Look for players that don't feint, almost exclusively backpedal, and fall for the block/attack/block/attack rhythm. These are all things new players do if they aren't outright spamming, but if they do all of these things and still have incredible blocking skills I'd suspect them of using the hack and continue watching them.

If you want good evidence that you probably won't ever get, look for players on different sides of a wall. If a hacker is holding his block button on one side, it will trigger block directions for attacks made by the guy on the opposite side even though they can't see each other. You probably won't see this because the hackers won't be running around with their block on all the time, but it's a telltale sign. Combined with the possibilities above, I'd say it's plausible they're hacking. If the players in the server agree, do something about it.

 

[DavidMF]

What an couple of trolls. 

Agreed, Lust can you mute them all?

 

[McBeverage]

big post

Remember also that they can toggle it on and off mid-game afaik with 1 press of a button.  D:

 

[Orion]

Which is why you sit in spectator mode under an alias and don't say anything. Have other known server admins do the same. No admin presence = no fear of getting caught/punished. What they don't know will hurt them.

 

[captain lust]

Hmm, if you feintspam, their reactions will be immediate, in a totally inhuman fashion. That's normally a pretty decent giveaway.

 

[WilySly]

Remember also that they can toggle it on and off mid-game afaik with 1 press of a button.  D:

To my understanding, the autoblock program has been updated so that:

-it can activate autoblock, like the same function in single-player
-it can activate auto-adjust, which is the mechanism that allows players to instantly adjust to block every attack, no matter how many times they feint, etc.
-can be activated/deactivated, in-game, with the push of a button
-no longer has the "Down-block" telltale sign

Pink and I were paying attention to it, so we'd know what to look for on our servers.  Now, I don't think there any reliable ways of telling, short of what Orion posted.  I guess if you've played with someone a lot and they suddenly become uberblockgod, you might be able to tell.

P.S. I heard someone mention that cRPG developed a third-party app that can detect the program.  Not sure if this is any more than rumor though.

 

[Hagbard]

I've been playing warband for more than a year now, and i've never seen anything that even seemed like an autoblock. Are you sure this even exists`? Maybe it's a....mass hysteria hoax?

 

[KoA John]

Ive seen one person that I know of that ever used it infact he said he was using it and was testing it out

Hes been around since beta I wont name names he doesnt do it anymore and it was only a test

And yes it was completely unreal and you could tell he was using it right off the bat


So yes it does exists

 

[Rhade]

Hmm, if you feintspam, their reactions will be immediate, in a totally inhuman fashion. That's normally a pretty decent giveaway.

This is the only way I've really found.

In the case I suspect, it was just absolutely inhuman and (imo) completely impossible reaction time to some pretty viciously fast attack series.

Realistically, the NA community is small enough that everyone is going to know 95% of the people who have the skills and capability to even start to look like they may have an autoblocker. If you see a well known vet blocking 99% of swings, that's reasonable, but seeing completely new names with very bad footwork, attack timing, and camera control still blocking every single swing, even chambers, that's when it's time to start paying a bit more attention to them.

 

[KoA John]

Yea I agree and if they are a true pro then they should at the least be decent at chambering, kicking, fienting etc

 

[findecanno]

I did a little "experimenting" with this hack this morning, and heres how it works:

-There are two modes, regular and auto-detect. Regular acts just like the autoblock built into the game. auto-detect will block everything as long as you keep holding down right click.

-The auto-detect mode still has the blocking down between feints, which is detectable.

-However, the non-auto-detect mode is pretty hard to tell if somebody is using it.

As a side note, I am fairly certain that Hayley is not using this auto block hack, as she can chamber as well, and this hack does not affect attacking in any way at all.

 

[Scully]

I visited their forum and it seems most of the cheaters use it in cRPG mod.

Makes sense. Cheating in an MMO (cRPG is kind of like an MMO) can be very tempting.

 

[Icsus]

I am not very good at spamming, so I couldn't tell. Was really hoping for an automated check.

 

[Kherven]

I've been playing warband for more than a year now, and i've never seen anything that even seemed like an autoblock. Are you sure this even exists`? Maybe it's a....mass hysteria hoax?

It does, i've tested it on TMW server closed off and passworded and came to the same results as everyone else:

• 
  Its tell-tale signs are inhuman reactions to auto-blocks( a skilled cheater would probably make it less obvious)
• The people who make these cheats are relatively well-known especially in the Arma II community. They haven't done too much in Mount and Blade as it isn't really isn't their style that I've seen
• I also tested an apparent money hack in a closed off testing enviornment, but from what I tested it did not work.

It can be turned off and on at the touch of a button

The biggest thing I recommend is don't assume people are cheaters just because they're good. There is a large difference between good, and inhuman.

It was rumored that a TW anti-autoblock hack patch was in the works. Key word there is rumored. So that may fix the problem. I wouldn't be surprised if 3rd party modders figure out something first (People like, cRPG)

 

[TheRealLeonidas]

Hmm, if you feintspam, their reactions will be immediate, in a totally inhuman fashion. That's normally a pretty decent giveaway.

This is the only way I've really found.

In the case I suspect, it was just absolutely inhuman and (imo) completely impossible reaction time to some pretty viciously fast attack series.

Realistically, the NA community is small enough that everyone is going to know 95% of the people who have the skills and capability to even start to look like they may have an autoblocker. If you see a well known vet blocking 99% of swings, that's reasonable, but seeing completely new names with very bad footwork, attack timing, and camera control still blocking every single swing, even chambers, that's when it's time to start paying a bit more attention to them.

Agreed.

 

[TheRealLeonidas]

Hmm, if you feintspam, their reactions will be immediate, in a totally inhuman fashion. That's normally a pretty decent giveaway.

This is the only way I've really found.

In the case I suspect, it was just absolutely inhuman and (imo) completely impossible reaction time to some pretty viciously fast attack series.

Realistically, the NA community is small enough that everyone is going to know 95% of the people who have the skills and capability to even start to look like they may have an autoblocker. If you see a well known vet blocking 99% of swings, that's reasonable, but seeing completely new names with very bad footwork, attack timing, and camera control still blocking every single swing, even chambers, that's when it's time to start paying a bit more attention to them.

Agreed.

Also I have went up against 3 people who  used the hack(2 were testing 1 was lying), and I could tell with in the first movements if they had the hack on. If you have been playing a while you have a feeling about proper block timing. The auto block stuff springs up to quickly to be of human origin. Also anyone that would use an auto blocks isn't to bright. Therefore what I do to detect is just throw feints at them from a mile away, and if the auto block is on, you will see them blocking them all even if they are in no risk of being hit from your sword. A tell tale sign.

Now on to Haley, I think of everyone in the community I dueled her the most. Hacker or not, she inspired me to bring my game to a higher level. I refused to give up and I would duel with her  relentlessly. I became a better player because of it.

Yes her blocks sprang into place like the auto-blocker. But if she was a hacker she was a smart one. Because she would disguise her approach with feints so that your feints wouldn't trigger the  auto block.

if she did hack it wasn't the current one floating around, it must have been something custom. Because she could also chamber on command. But what was even more scary was the fact, that she could chamber held swings on command as well. One Time I held 4 swings on her and she chambered them all back at me one after the other.

Another odd thing was, when she kicked, Even if you got behind her, she would always be able to block. (This is impossible)

All the evidence points to her as a hacker. But every time I asked her point blank she would say no.

Another thing that troubled me was her assent. I think everyone knows that at one time I wasn't very good, but as time went on I got better. People who used to destroy me, now I have surpassed. But this took grueling effort and time. My growth was gradual and well chronicled.

Haley just showed up on the scene with Godlike ability from Day 1. It just doesn't seem possible.
Literally she never missed a block. The only way to killer her was to wait till  she kicked and you would thrust on her. And the other way, I found was using the inside swing technique, which she quickly learned to counter with her kick.

Perhaps the most damning evidence of all came one evening. She entered the server ,and I immediately went to duel her. We started the duel and I hit her with a few feints, nothing fancy but basic stuff, and she got sliced up and died. I was extremely surprised. She then said something cryptic about frame rate, and then left the server. She then comes  back into the server literally 1 minute later, and proceeds to  block everything perfectly. I think I caught her with the hack off for a moment and the truth was she sucked.

I hopes she comes back to the scene with hacks and all, and helps me go to an even higher level of playing, I welcome the challenge.