All item duplication exploit (do not name players please) - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

Obey The Cat

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2007

FFS

Rt/N

13 Aug 2007 at 15:35 - 721

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seraphic Divinity

Ok, wth, I swear 50% of the suggestions have been "make it so armbraces are useless/limit the number of armbraces to 1 per person/ make armbraces un-stackable"

ok let's think for a second...

no

that makes absolutely no sense. Why? Because if the duping occurred the way Enko and Fenix replicated and sent to anet, then armbraces sure as hell weren't the first things duped, I'm betting they experimented with something simple and cheap, such as a dye as the testers did, and then were like "Sweet! Let's Dupe Ectos!!!" (NOBODY would have thought to offer 'armbraces' as a method of payment because its never been done before), I'm sure the reason they started doing armbraces was because they knew a group of people were duping, and therefore to acquire more money than the other, they figured armbraces would be more tactical due to their overwhelming wealth.

ARMBRACES are not the problem, what is a problem are -all- of the items that were duped, whether they be mini-pets, ectos, crystallines, you name it.

100% agree!!!

Tom Swift

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Aug 2007

13 Aug 2007 at 15:36 - 722

Reading through all this -

I think the best ANet will be able to do is simply end the exploit. I really don't see any way they can repair the damage without hurting innocent players. (I suppose they can ban some of the dupers but I doubt they will be able to easily identify more than a handful.) Yes, it is too bad torment weapons have been cheapened and mini prices have been inflated. But any solution will be worse than the problem. So my advice, fix the exploit and just be glad it was caught before it lasted any longer than it did.

prism2525

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Among dead bodies.

The Republic of Sky Pirates

E/

13 Aug 2007 at 15:38 - 723

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

Lastly, stop and think: When did you first become aware of this issue? It's easy to leap to conclusions. But you can't say that because it was related to reconnects, the exploit was used since reconnects were added to the game. That's making a very large assumption. I'll make one in return: I'll assume that most of you heard of this exploit today. How likely is it, then, that it's been around for months? Even weeks? You know the Internet; you know the player base. How likely is it that it's been used for a long while without the word getting out? Before we talk about massive catastrophes, let's consider that the impact may have been quite minimal.

Honestly Gaile, if I had known about it I must admit I would have tried to dupe stuff (after all I'm still human) as I don't have much stuff on my account (not even one ambrace). All the same, I would tape my mouth and chop my fingers off if I have to so that I won't tell anybody about this, not let the whole world know and get it shut (as it is now).

As I said on previous posts, if you can't fix it in a reasonable way, those chaps will gain a simply RIDICULOUS advantage over the community. Either ban them or, alas, leave everything as it was.

Jeremy Untouchable

Wow Stole my freetime

Join Date: Mar 2006

Arkansas

None

W/E

13 Aug 2007 at 15:39 - 724

looks like the ban stick is allready falling, look at the closed thread in riverside

Big_Iron

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2005

The Edge

Tormented Weapons [emo]

13 Aug 2007 at 15:43 - 725

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Swift

Reading through all this -

I think the best ANet will be able to do is simply end the exploit. I really don't see any way they can repair the damage without hurting innocent players. (I suppose they can ban some of the dupers but I doubt they will be able to easily identify more than a handful.) Yes, it is too bad torment weapons have been cheapened and mini prices have been inflated. But any solution will be worse than the problem. So my advice, fix the exploit and just be glad it was caught before it lasted any longer than it did.

The voice of reason. As Tom says, the best thing to do is to fix the exploit and then ride it out. A roll back would hurt too many innocent people.

Obey The Cat

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2007

FFS

Rt/N

13 Aug 2007 at 15:46 - 726

only because a mod has written "dupe exploiter" you can't be sure, he got banned cause of duping.

Kashrlyyk

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2005

13 Aug 2007 at 15:46 - 727

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Loki-

...They have the ability to do anything with anything in their database. They would be stupid to design a system where they couldn't.

One word: Hairdresser

They can´t do that.

The Herbalizer

<3 Ecto

Join Date: Jul 2005

13 Aug 2007 at 15:46 - 728

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremy untouchable

looks like the ban stick is allready falling, look at the closed thread in riverside

I am pleased to see that.

Edit: Could be coincidence as imo a little too early for bans to be handed out. I would expect a thorough investigation.

Chrono Re delle Ere

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2006

The Land of Hyrule

[GoE]

W/

13 Aug 2007 at 15:51 - 729

Guys, ok....the dragon festival redux sucked so haaard xD I mean assigned prizes...pff...oh but this topic is talking about something else xD Ok so, as I heard about the relog update, I thought that there would have been some huge exploit....and, indeed, it happened. But the fact that this is going on from months, (at least I think) is totally wrong. Just 2 days ago, I can still remember,
I saw a guy in kamdan saying: wtb minipet panda for 100k+1000ecto+1500ambraces. My face was like this: o_o I said it to guildies and all to have some fun lol, and they did not even believe me. Anyway, before that day I've never seen people doing such offers (sorry I don't remember the name of the guy who made that crazy offer), I've always seen something like +300e or more, and that is doable if u are damn lucky and, then, rich. Then this morning I was doing my foundry 3 man farm with some friends of mine (smiter+hero and me as 600 :P ) then I had err 007, I pushed on the relog button and it said....err 21. I was, againd, just like this: o_o As I get this error quite often I hoped that it would have never happened before, but after something like 10 minutes I got that error again and again err 21 or 20 cannot remember. Anyway, I'm just sad about the fact that relog was taken away, as it was a rly great function, but if this lead to the actul situation...screw off relog xD Anyway I don't rlyy wanna a rollback...I've been playing like hell in this month, as I'm on holyday and well I just like to play on holyday, and I got my fow, some nice items (no ambraces or tormented weps anyway rofl), and I'm saving up for my second fow. So plz, anet, just don't do it, as if u do, you will kinda loose a player (and I think that it won't be just me). This is not a rly good situation for the launch of gw:en : /

P.S:I read all posts xD

Alperuzi

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Dec 2005

An/TR

Need One! :(

W/Mo

13 Aug 2007 at 15:52 - 730

... says the ones who xploited the hell outta GW :P jk jk

seriously though I wouldn't give a wooden nickel about any fancy uber expensive weapon or minipet. What matters to me most is the equipment I earned. And that is mostly collector weapons and a few mini-jade armors, hydras, shamans etc... after around two years of play.

I'm certain that a rollback isnt going to happen, if it was, it would have happened already, so just stfu already

Cebe

The 5th Celestial Boss

Join Date: Jul 2006

Inverness, Scotland

The Cult of Scaro [WHO]

E/

13 Aug 2007 at 15:53 - 731

"ANet is using [wiki]Panic[/wiki]!"

Kendar Muert

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2006

Texas

E/

13 Aug 2007 at 15:53 - 732

Im sure with massive bans, there will be innocents banned- but, I for one, would simply repeal it- let my actions speak for themselves. Anet cant judge all of who was responsible alone, but with some help and understanding from us, it shouldnt be too hard.

seut

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

Europa

13 Aug 2007 at 15:53 - 733

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremy untouchable

looks like the ban stick is allready falling, look at the closed thread in riverside

yup, looks like they banned the secondary account of somebody who reported the exploit to anet... always good to shoot the messenger

Enko

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2006

VA

Mo/

13 Aug 2007 at 15:57 - 734

heh guess I won't ever help anet figure out their bugs again as they banned the accounts we were using to figure this out last night. A single red dye was duped and the steps immediately sent off to Gaile Gray. She even responded with a thanks and promise to pass it on to the developers. if this is their response to ban those who helped them, I'm not even going to waste my sleep over trying anymore.

the_jos

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2006

Hard Mode Legion [HML]

N/

13 Aug 2007 at 15:57 - 735

Quote:

I still think the best solution would have been the following: shut down the servers the same time as the build that disable reconnects,

No way.
This would hurt business too much.
When I would be informed of such a problem, I would investigate.
When investigation leads to a problem, build quick fix (disable reconnects).
This is a server side change, not client side. I think the new build has some other changes, could well be related to client identification.
Remember, reconnect is very important for some kinds of gameplay, specially vanquishing (again, that's business). Disable that too long and you hurt players.

Along with this, take snapshot of parts of the database that are suspicious.
Then monitor all traffic on those tables.

Investigating traffic takes time, but actions can be taken afterwards.
Pulling the power cord is the worst thing you can do in such an event.

I don't know if this is what A-net has done, but in my opinion, this would be a valid option.

Main concern for me would be communication with stakeholders.
That would include customers, the players.
It's all about trust and avoiding speculations as much as possible.

Poor Gaile, it's a hell of a job right now

Quote:

I thought it was just a bunch of people going wild with their or daddy's credit card.

I remember you saying that, was a valid assumption at that time.

Komradkyle

Academy Page

Join Date: Aug 2005

Pennsylvania, USA

W/

13 Aug 2007 at 15:58 - 736

Here are my suggestions I don't know what's possible. Find a way to scan all accounts set the armbrace limit to something low like 10-30. Every armbrace over that limit gets deleted. Then set a limit like until the end of Friday all armrbraces can be used for trading for torment weapons. After the deadline Armbraces become worthless and something like a footbrace takes its place.

Blackhearted

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2007

Ohio, usa

none

Mo/

13 Aug 2007 at 16:02 - 737

Quote:

Originally Posted by seut

yup, looks like they banned the secondary account of somebody who reported the exploit to anet... always good to shoot the messenger

haha. Well when you get right down to it using an exploit to try to help is still using an exploit. I guess that's what they get for breakin teh rules.

Kendar Muert

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2006

Texas

E/

13 Aug 2007 at 16:03 - 738

Just wait for a day or so. Theyre likely banning anyone and everyone it could have been at first, then going back and correcting the accounts of innocents later. Hell, i may be banned- Ive been trading lots of semi rare items and rare items recently. Just wait a bit, and petition Anet under the support section. It takes you to ncsoft.com, where you can go into great detail. Shouldnt be too long before you can get back in.

onerabbit

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2006

Thanks to all the guru [mods]

13 Aug 2007 at 16:03 - 739

i dont think it has anything to do with recconects...

as i itried it with a friend, i put in 1k, accept, cut my internet, so the reconect message came up, and the trade canceled.

edit. nvm .. thats becasue they disabled the recconect feature

Evilsod

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2006

England

Lievs Death Squad [LDS]

13 Aug 2007 at 16:06 - 740

Are you talking about Hlaford (the getting banned thing?). And i did say that there would be no benefit of the doubt. If you knew about this very serious exploit and didn't report it you are just as guilty as those who took part in it. Unless the 1 who reports it reported it the moment he found he found he deserves all he gets for letting it go on.

Obey The Cat

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2007

FFS

Rt/N

13 Aug 2007 at 16:07 - 741

Well, I don't believe ANet is already banning duping players.

nugzta

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2005

13 Aug 2007 at 16:07 - 742

The people who traded their rare stuff (minis, etc) for tons of armbraces can report to Anet if they want their rare stuff back. So Anet can check the logs and ban the real dupers.

Martin Alvito

Older Than God (1)

Join Date: Aug 2006

Clan Dethryche [dth]

13 Aug 2007 at 16:08 - 743

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enko

heh guess I won't ever help anet figure out their bugs again as they banned the accounts we were using to figure this out last night. A single red dye was duped and the steps immediately sent off to Gaile Gray. She even responded with a thanks and promise to pass it on to the developers. if this is their response to ban those who helped them, I'm not even going to waste my sleep over trying anymore.

Now THAT is what I call customer service.

Two April Mornings

No Luck No Time No Money

Join Date: Nov 2005

Amherst College, MA

Scars Meadows [SMS]

Me/

13 Aug 2007 at 16:08 - 744

^plz read thread onerabbit

Kendar Muert

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2006

Texas

E/

13 Aug 2007 at 16:08 - 745

Its already been confirmed and explained several times. Read the thread please.

ibex333

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2005

Brooklyn, NY

[EYE]

Rt/A

13 Aug 2007 at 16:16 - 746

I dont know why so many people are complaining about rollback... A rollback would be great. Not just a one month rollback, but a complete and total rollback on everything but titles.

Set all gold on acounts to zero.
Delete ALL items xept for armor. Put in basic max dmg weapons and focus/shield just so people have something to use till something better drops for them.

Yes I grinded for years to get my million gold... I also wasted 350k for an armbrace 2 days ago. I'm willing to give that all up if I know everyone else lost whatever they grinded(or didnt grind for) all those years. When everyone has been hit the same, it doesn't hurt as much. Someone might say that loosing one mil is not the same as loosing 10 mil.... Well if someone got 10 mil withing the same time someone got one, it must have come easier/faster to them so ultimately it's all the same. (I'm only talking about games off course

)

PS: I'm thinking there was a way to dupe items since Prophecies came out. I remember... a very long time ago.. during the very 1st haloween event. I was in "Tombs" which is now Heroes Accent. It was on my ranger... I took off my pumpkin crown and placed in my stash... Then I did some things(xfering items, opening and closing stash.. I dont remember..) anyway, all of sudden I saw a 2nd pumpkin crown in my stash customized for same character! I was shocked, because I know 100% I didn't have any more pumpkin crowns at that time. And I never got 2 for that character.

Loviatar

Underworld Spelunker

Join Date: Feb 2005

13 Aug 2007 at 16:17 - 747

Quote:

Originally Posted by korcan

too little too late. im just wondering what type of long-term damage this will do to the economy and their player base

a polite dose of reality.

this affects a very tiny fraction of the player base as most players have not even seen one let alone had/ bought / sold /traded this item.

will this affect hide squares/crafted weapons /anything the AVERAGE player uses?

this affects the super tiny number of high end traders not the mass of average players which as of now dont even know about this disaster as they dont visit forums to know of the so called disaster

Enko

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2006

VA

Mo/

13 Aug 2007 at 16:23 - 748

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evilsod

Are you talking about Hlaford (the getting banned thing?). And i did say that there would be no benefit of the doubt. If you knew about this very serious exploit and didn't report it you are just as guilty as those who took part in it. Unless the 1 who reports it reported it the moment he found he found he deserves all he gets for letting it go on.

hlaford posted up a vague description he supposedly heard from a "friend of a friend"

myself and fenix took the time last night to work out what the process was and once it was confirmed with a single red dye, we sent off the process to gaile gray who responded with a thanks and a promise to pass it off to the developers. 5 minutes later, new build, reconnects disabled, exploit blocked off.

I now wake up to find that 2 of my accounts are now banned and most likely fenix's account is as well (he's probably sleeping right now so don't know for sure yet).

sure we used the exploit once to dupe a single red dye and I guess anet could keep us banned since technically we violated the EULA. if that's the case, you can be sure that myself and probably anyone else who actually cares about the status of the game will never help anet out to work out the exploits as we have nothing to gain and everything to lose.

fgarvin

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Sep 2005

13 Aug 2007 at 16:23 - 749

I've spent the last couple of weeks capping over 150 Elites. Roll-back = NO.

lyra_song

Hell's Protector

Join Date: Oct 2005

R/Mo

13 Aug 2007 at 16:24 - 750

Fenix, Enko, I'm sure you will be vindicated, sit tight and dont panic.

Prof Of Black

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2006

@ Sensation Black

Death is Energy [DIE] ~ Raining fame alliance

13 Aug 2007 at 16:26 - 751

I just got banned, exploit:
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10186322

~Prof.

Quizzical

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2007

13 Aug 2007 at 16:28 - 752

Why do you silly people seem to believe that a rollback would be all or nothing? Have you never played a game that had a partial rollback? If they wanted to do a rollback, what's stopping them from rolling back inventories, storages, and equipped items, while leaving mission and quest completion and titles alone? Or better yet, doing such a rollback, and then adding the mission and quest rewards gained during the time that was rolled back to the players inventories?

Such a partial rollback would remove whatever happened to the economy in the time rolled back. It wouldn't cost you your titles or missions or whatever, nor should it, as you can't trade a stack of armbraces for sunspear points, mission completion, etc. At worst, a few people trying for drunkard or sweet tooth would get an unfair bonus. That's hardly game-breaking.

Kendar Muert

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2006

Texas

E/

13 Aug 2007 at 16:28 - 753

Quote:

Originally Posted by fgarvin

I've spent the last couple of weeks capping over 150 Elites. Roll-back = NO.

Read. Thread. Now.

Faer

La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo

Join Date: Feb 2006

13 Aug 2007 at 16:31 - 754

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quizzical

Why do you silly people seem to believe that a rollback would be all or nothing? Have you never played a game that had a partial rollback? If they wanted to do a rollback, what's stopping them from rolling back inventories, storages, and equipped items, while leaving mission and quest completion and titles alone? Or better yet, doing such a rollback, and then adding the mission and quest rewards gained during the time that was rolled back to the players inventories?

Such a partial rollback would remove whatever happened to the economy in the time rolled back. It wouldn't cost you your titles or missions or whatever, nor should it, as you can't trade a stack of armbraces for sunspear points, mission completion, etc. At worst, a few people trying for drunkard or sweet tooth would get an unfair bonus. That's hardly game-breaking.

That = Logical
ArenaNet != Logical

H The Dunedain

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2006

Fellowship Of Flanders

Rt/Mo

13 Aug 2007 at 16:32 - 755

just to remind the GM crew, achievements like titles and storyline don't have anything to do with duplication, please don't touch the titles, or i wasted 400 minutes drinking firewaters

you should roll back the things they've bought, the money they've earned, but i doubt gladiator title tracks can be duplicated

btw, guildwarsguru crew, please do something to increase the performance of the forums atm

things are a bit laggy

SkYFiRe.DT

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2007

13 Aug 2007 at 16:37 - 756

This is obviously a sign of the apocalypse, the end is near, for high-end at least. So much for my legit tormented item. So much for my legit gold, so much for legit anything! CUE DOT CUE. Anyways, the solution is simple, make all armbraces untradeable, customize tormented items to the first character to equip them. This still leaves the dupers with tons of cash from t he selling of these things...kind of unfair, but with this method at least the circulation of these demonic items will come to a fast halt. Either that or see you guys on Runescape...no scary armbraces there Q.Q

Xenex Xclame

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2006

DPX

R/

13 Aug 2007 at 16:39 - 757

Problem with a partial roll back is that from what we know of GW it's not possible, it's all or nothing.

Blackhearted

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2007

Ohio, usa

none

Mo/

13 Aug 2007 at 16:39 - 758

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quizzical

Why do you silly people seem to believe that a rollback would be all or nothing? Have you never played a game that had a partial rollback? If they wanted to do a rollback, what's stopping them from rolling back inventories, storages, and equipped items, while leaving mission and quest completion and titles alone? Or better yet, doing such a rollback, and then adding the mission and quest rewards gained during the time that was rolled back to the players inventories?

Such a partial rollback would remove whatever happened to the economy in the time rolled back. It wouldn't cost you your titles or missions or whatever, nor should it, as you can't trade a stack of armbraces for sunspear points, mission completion, etc. At worst, a few people trying for drunkard or sweet tooth would get an unfair bonus. That's hardly game-breaking.

Um.. that idea is still just as dumb as any other idea involving a rollback. Tell me, why should i lose items, gold, etc that i worked for legitmately cause of a few other people? Any kind of rollback that causes people to lose anything they've earned in anyway will come with a massive backlash, probly a nice drop in player count, as well as a sharp hit in GW:ENs sales. A rollback of any sort is something anet would do only if they wanted to commit suicide to gw, no matter how you try to word it.

The Herbalizer

<3 Ecto

Join Date: Jul 2005

13 Aug 2007 at 16:39 - 759

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loviatar

a polite dose of reality.

this affects a very tiny fraction of the player base as most players have not even seen one let alone had/ bought / sold /traded this item.

will this affect hide squares/crafted weapons /anything the AVERAGE player uses?

this affects the super tiny number of high end traders not the mass of average players which as of now dont even know about this disaster as they dont visit forums to know of the so called disaster

Just because the duping has affected a small number of the gw community doesnt make what has happeneds any less worse.

pingu666

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2006

guildhall

[DETH]

13 Aug 2007 at 16:41 - 760

hope you guys get unbanned soon :x