Source
r/DarkSouls2•
[deleted]

NamcoBandai soft bans?

So, apparently I've had server restrictions placed on my account by the Namco server team for alegedly hacking and modifying my stats. I HAVE used a mod for the game, but it was the GeDoSaTo graphics mod by Peter "Durante" Thoman.

Email from Namco

Namco is throwing out soft bans for people that mod the game in ANY way. Thought I'd let people know before they decide to use anything that might alter any of the game files in any way. FYI you're not completely banned, but you're stuck on a server for hackers, which sucks because I can't pvp with anyone else except hackers...

tl;dr use of any mod = banhammer

EDIT: A small fix for the Steam version if you have been banned for no reason. If you use Family share on a new account, you COULD bypass the soft ban, but you would have to start from scratch and have no achievements. Just be sure to NOT use any mods, as they are watching...

EDIT 2: My original message, by the way, was because after I installed the mod, I've been unable to connect to players in most areas using orbs, duels, or soapstone summon signs (which no longer appear). I have ensured that I can't connect to other players via my friend list and I'm still able to see blood-stains and floor messages, but that's it.

So yeah, I asked them to see if I had any sort of restrictions on my account, as I've used the gedosato graphics mod for my game. Apparently, they soft banned me.

Even if I wasn't relegated to a hacker server, I'm still unable to pvp in any other way besides getting invaded/invading other hackers (50/50 attempts were hackers. Connected to the same player 13 times, another player 9 times. Even connected to the same player 5 times in a row.)

Posted May 22, 2014, 7:48 PM UTC · edited

2067
TechnicalDane•

I've been using GeDoSato for weeks now and have no issue with multiplayer connections. All of my steam friends have been as well.

You're the second person to post about a account flag (being relocated to a cheater server) with info from namco email support. Yet there is probably 50+ people using the exact same mod without a "ban". This would not be the first time email support for a game has given false information to avoid doing actual troubleshooting.

In a week from now if reddit blows up with DS2 bans then I'll believe it. I won't stop using though, gedosato makes the game look incredible.

11
PixelBoom•

I won't stop using though, gedosato makes the game look incredible.

I know. It's friggin amazing.

I've accepted the ban, I'm just letting people know to that this could happen to them. I still use graphical mods on my 'banned' account, but I pvp with an alternate steam account that I created specifically for this. A pain in the butt, but it allows me to at least interact with other people who aren't hackers.

6
TechnicalDane•

If you can still do coop with friends who are not flagged as "hackers" then even more reason to believe you are not flagged.

The connection goes through FROM's server and then connects you P2P. In order to have a functioning cheater server with that set up it would have to be done through account flags. If it was done through account flags; during the handshake then you would be unable to see or play with "clean" friends.

I don't doubt your email interaction since I've seen 2 other examples but I'm finding it hard to trust that customer support rep.

My co-worker has been outright hacking since launch. Modded items, changed stats, 1bil souls, infinite hp and stam as well as turning the save into a mega mule. He has not had any issues yet. He does PVP but not with hp/stam hacks.

2
body_count_rises•

"Co worker"

7
cyanideorgasm•

There's WAYYYY more people then 50+ using that mod and I also use it with no problems whatsoever

2
Creror•

Sadly, besides this email, there is no real other proof that there are really servers that cheaters get softbanned to.

And since I first saw a similar email posted in a Playstation Forum on April 1st, I'm having a rather hard time to believe it.

But if it's really true, that's wonderful news. Already liked the idea when they introduced it in Titanfall: We're safe from the cheaters, who are none the wiser and they have to duke it out between themselves.

4
Eternal_Mr_Bones•

While I hate hackers I hate to see people get false positive banned for using non-exploitative mods.

3
Creror•

We still don't know how - and if att all - cheaters are identified, what conditions are searched for, etc. So we can't even say for sure, if people get falsely softbanned to these cheater-servers (of which we can't be sure that they exist, too).

3
PixelBoom•

edited post

1
neohampster•

The problem being the game can't tell the difference between a non-exploitative mod and one that is designed to exploit the system. There is just not a sane way to handle that. Even if they go back and look at the files manually it would be impossible. Anybody could hack in anything they wanted then just un/reinstall the game to clear it before someone checks or roll their computer back to a previous version before they modded it and BAM all the mods and all traces of them are basically gone.

All we have to go on when someone says "i was totally just doing this thing!" is their word, not to call out the OP or anything but basically everybody who cheats in these games is going to say they were just using a framerate patcher or a graphics upscale/downscale or a widescreen mod...because why wouldn't you say that? If we take people on their words nobody will even get banned without video proof and even then it would take SO LONG to ban anybody because video proof would require actual human eyes looking at stuff. There is going to be colateral damage on a thing like this. Sorry but the best thing I can say is until they have a list of approved non-damaging mods or hacks you can use that From actually says will not get you banned then you shouldn't do it. If you do use them while they are unapproved you are running the risk of getting banned and you should know that.

2
PixelBoom•

I completely understand. I take everything I see on the internet with a grain of salt. However, that doesn't make my specific predicament any less true...

3
PixelBoom•

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the fact that hackers and cheaters are forced to gank each other, but people who use mods that DON'T affect gameplay are relagated to the same server.

Sucks, because I'm forced to burn through all of my effegies just to prevent being ganked every 15 minutes by a naked spamming Forbidden Sun.

1
PixelBoom•

btw, I'll upload a screenshot of the email tomorrow WITHOUT the date blacked out so you know that I recieved it May 22nd, 2014.

0
Creror•

Well, that would restore my believe in this email being real and not a mere April's Fool joke. Thank you!

1
cexikitin•

Not really...you can easily edit the html of the webpage.

2
rookie-mistake•

or the screenshot itself

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
[deleted]•

Holy cow, they softban people who use a downsampling tool? I thought we were safe because GeDoSaTo was well known. Even for BandaiNamco.

4
TrippyTheO•

Kind of a funny irony. Durante fixed Dark Souls 1 for them and made it playable. DS2 comes out and he releases a tool that improves upon their game again, and you get banned for using it.

5
AirPhforce•

Not confirmed in any capacity.

2
TrippyTheO•

Fair point and a good reminder. :P

1
PixelBoom•

I was banned a week or so after the launch, so if you aren't soft banned yet, you probably won't be.

1
Jublong•

I thought this said "soft buns" and I got all excited...

2
Jyggalag22•

I say the way to fix this is to have everyone get softbanned to the hacker server so that there are ways for people like the OP to have an actuall PvP session. Also for people who say that this guy deserves what he got just know that when a game comes out with shitty lighting don't blame the people who try to fix that.

2
iboone•

hmm, interesting maybe they decided to get a bit tight due to VAC being down.

1
TrippyTheO•

I hope not. :/ I hate Steams VAC policies but I'd rather VAC just handle bans. As much as I love Dark Souls 2, I do not trust From when it comes to handling PC issues.

1
hey_aaapple•

And you trust VAC? The worst AC software on the market, lacking basic functionalities, adopting a primitive approach to memory scans and adopting a draconian policy in the attempt to punish the few hacker that get caught, completely ignoring the massive amount of false positives? An AC that can be fooled into thinking that any given player is a cheater by a third player? I would rather cope with the hackers, if those are the choices. Else I would get fairfight, that is a very promising ac that is very difficult to fool.

Edit: if you downvote, try and write why that is wrong at least.

1†
TrippyTheO•

I don't trust VAC, no. To me it's the lesser of two evils in this situation though. My account was hi-jacked years ago and Steam Support are the ones who discovered this and got me my account back. Knowing this though, they refused to lift my VAC ban and do to this day. It even says in their VAC policies that they don't care if you were hacked, you won't get it repealed.

It's infuriating garbage but I trust Steam/Valve to have a better handle on PC gaming in general than the fine folks at From Software. I adore the Souls series but their work on the PC versions of DS1 and 2 give me no reason to have faith in them on this platform.

The third option of having no protection against cheaters though? I'd take that if it means I can use ENB/GeDoSaTo without worry of being punished.

3
hey_aaapple•

I just want a decent ac software, like fairfight, or no ac at all if they can t do it properly.

2
Eternal_Mr_Bones•

Would reloading a old save file be considered tampering?

Edit: Seems unlikely since Mega Mule is a hacked save file.

1
PixelBoom•

No idea. I haven't exported my save games to anywhere before.

1
neohampster•

No copy and pasting a save file somewhere else won't cause the system to notice, it is still a legitimate, untampered file. Even if you go and put it back you are placing a totally un-futzed-with file in there the game can't notice that, it catches megamulers and other types of save mods because they are messing with the save file, they are modifiying it and changing it from where it should be to allow it to have access to and do things that are impossible in the games parameters. Basically it's impossible to "accidentally" mod a game.

1
SirFritz•

I really hope not, I backed up my save file before giving clothes to Rosabeth.

1
Lunar_Breeze•

I've done it dons of times to get certain super rare drops like the Warlock Mask without having to remake a character.
It still took me 3 hours.

Pretty sure I'm not banned, I see a ton of summon signs on new characters and invasions and arena matches never fail connecting.

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
PixelBoom•

I've added an edit to the post as more of an explaination.

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
PixelBoom•

Well, lucky you. I honestly hope you don't get banned for something that makes the game look and feel better (and adds some extra giggles).

1
TrippyTheO•

Fuuuuck. I'm using a gorgeous ENB that gives the game back its intended darkness (how it was originally advertised then removed with no notice given to customers). Can't wait to find out I've been banned for using something that fixes their game and, hilariously, puts me at a disadvantage in any dark areas. Have you seen Earthen Peak with proper lighting? It's almost pitch black in there.

1
PixelBoom•

Yup. After I got banned I said "screw it. use ALL the mods" and tossed on a bunch of graphical stuff that makes the game either extremely moody and dark or induces epic fits of giggles (My Little Dark Souls mod anyone?)

2
foxx1337•

Bamco Namdai - release shitty game, we fix their fucking mess. Then, without saying anything, they start banning around. Cool story, I say we keep funding their yacht acquiring.

1†
PixelBoom•

NamcoBandai: yacht fleet funded

PixelBoom: -$60

1
CthulhuMadness•

I'm using the same mod. Better uninstall it. Right when I figured out how to use it too...

1
Played•

I have met a couple of cheaters. You say 50% were hackers? I have a lot of trouble finding matches in the arena but there are loads of summons on iron bridge. They do not seem like hackers... How would I or anyone know if they have been banned?

1
PixelBoom•

I said 50/50, meaning 50 out of 50 matches. 100% hackers among 50 matches. I am also unable to see any player summon signs, just the occasional NPC one outside boss areas.

3
Zebba_Odirnapal•

What's your soul memory?

Do you have the no online symbol thing under your hp and stamina bars? If so, use a bone of order.

1
PixelBoom•

SM was a BIT on the high side. It was around 12 million at about the second week after PC launch (around the time I was banned).

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
AirPhforce•

Namco is throwing out soft bans for people that mod the game in ANY way. Thought I'd let people know before they decide to use anything that might alter any of the game files in any way. FYI you're not completely banned, but you're stuck on a server for hackers, which sucks because I can't pvp with anyone else except hackers...

Doesn't seem true. The only info that's actually parsed from your save and sent off to the namco bandai servers is your stats and soul memory. The soul memory in particular is regularly checked against the server.

Considering the sheer number of people using graphics mods and extremely small number of complaints, I'd wager to say you fucked with your stats or soul memory using a popular trainer that will remain unnamed, and went online.

1
AirPhforce•

Also if you get soft-banned for using GeDoSaTo why are only getting paired with 'other' hackers? Why not normal people just modding their graphics?

I'm still unable to pvp in any other way besides getting invaded/invading other hackers

Like, what? Just admit you fucked with your stats or soul memory.

1
PixelBoom•

ok then, other people who have been banned. better?

1
AirPhforce•

How do you know they're hackers? Are they overtly hacking?

1
PixelBoom•

Yes, overtly hacking. No cast times. Swinging Giant's Club like it's a fly swatter, and of course Inf. Health (bashed a guy in the face with a resonant Last Sinner R1 and did nothing...). Not to mention the guy was standing on the lava rocks in Iron Keep for like, 3 minutes straight and not dying.

1
AirPhforce•

So you're not encountering other people who just innocently used a graphics mod?

1
[deleted]•

How did you initially find out you got restricted? Were you notified upon login to DS2 network?

1
PixelBoom•

I actually had to ask Namco support specifically about it. I kind of figured after reading some forum posts and not being able to connect to anyone except people hacking (if at all).

1
[deleted]•

You'd think they would in the very least give you a message upon logging in, or replace the MOTD.

1
dj_Magikarp•

They disabled VAC a while ago, you may have used it when they still had VAC up.

1
Dracoaeon•

Meh safe or not I'll keep using GeDoSaTo. Even if I got restricted, I doubt I'd care. Right now I'm being matched with people from North America, Brazil and Korea, and my region restrictions are enabled, and I'm in northern Europe.

The game's PvP is fucking unplayable, and whoever decided it's good to match EU players into 90% other-region players (fuck, there was even a guy from Australia against me) can go choke on a big fat cock.

1
Kr0zBoNE•

I'm from Singapore and all I'm being matched with were Russian or Ukrainian players... o_O

1
SKiring•

I'm not someone that would normally walk around and tell people that they're liars, but this is absolute crap.

Allow me to elucidate: VAC (or any equivelant) banning always happens in a ban hammer/ban wave form, so entire masses get banned at the same time. Very, very rarely does it just attack individuals unless said individuals are cheating/hacking etc to a level that it needed addressing righ then and there. This has been confirmed for years now on all anti cheating software that every single ban posted online, always and everytime, was someone cheating.

If there is a ban wave, ALL of the people on that specific engine get banned for using GeDoSaTo, SweetFX or ENB. Not happening, so I call shenanigans.

1