Hackers: I hope you had fun.

[shadowtabby]

A few days ago I was invaded by someone named Big Hacker in Shadowkeep (DLC). Me and my co-op got teleported under the map, an error message appeared, he got disconnected from my world and eventually I died. After every respawn, I would fall through the map and die. I was shocked, but luckily restarting fixed this. I kept playing and got to Messmer, died to him a few times, and logged off. The next morning, I decided there are things I still need to do before beating Messmer, like Count Ymirs quest. I went to start it, and learned that any key items I now pick up don't go into my inventory. I discovered Bonny Gaol, and the boss was killed. Not sure how many other bosses are killed now. I never got the haligtree medallion half yet on this ng, yet when I went to roundtable hold royal remains invaded. I still have two elevators left as I've only got as far north as rennala on the base game map.

So, basically what this all means is that my save file is completely broken. Thank you Big Hacker.
I've been in contact with bandai namco support, showed them a clip of the invasion, and everything wrong with my save so far in detail. They've given me a somewhat vague but sure response that my issue has been documented, will be "escalated to the appropriate contacts", and that "sanctions will be placed accordingly".

I've asked for clarification, as this is vague at best. So, I'm really making this post, after years of on and off play, after a pre-order of both the base game and dlc, 145 hours on my one character, every base game side quest complete, and nearly a decade of being a devout FromSoft fan.

What is wrong with you people. Those of you who choose to do this. I didn't even get to finish the DLC once. I did nothing to you. I've seen the odd godmode, whatever. But those of you who choose to brick peoples saves, you are truly disgusting. It's clear that you don't care about the game at all, if bandai cannot offer me a solution and my only one is to make a new character, I will quit. I'm glad you get off doing that to people. I've honestly cried over this, you terrible terrible sad vile people.

Nothing I can do but move on if it doesn't get fixed, as much as I don't want to. Just wanted to put this out there, maybe warn people, I'm not taking it very well and it should be known. I had a lot of trouble researching this, but I did eventually come across similar situations on reddit from within the last month or so. Don't engage with the multiplayer right now, back-up your saves everyone, please.

[shadowtabby]

Originally posted by Artek General:

Originally posted by shadowtabby:

Hey guys, update for you. Support has informed me today they won't be doing anything about my save file. The "sanctions" they mentioned were regarding punishing the cheater.

I did not make a back-up of my save, as I've never had such a thing happen and wasn't aware it was a current issue. If I want to continue playing on official servers I will have to make a new character, which I will probably not be able to force myself to do. I may continue playing on my current character and see what other damages have been done and I hope that I'll be able to get to ng+ but I strongly doubt it. I'm sure there are some speedrunning methods or something I can find online to get me through parts I can't get through, not sure what is and isn't patched.

If I can't, this is goodbye, for a long time at least. I've been playing Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen for my fantasy fix, as I was scared to continue playing ER in fear of messing more things up, but I suppose it doesn't really matter now.

I was so excited to beat Messmer and get through the rest of the DLC. I was also going to buy my girlfriend the game to play with me. I corresponded with 4 GMs and I'm shocked they all supposedly aren't at minimum able to give me the items I proved I lost so I can at least go to NG+ and fix my save. To me, this translates to they don't care.

Thank you for your kind words, I hope this can reach as many people as possible, as this issue really needs more awareness, and Bandai don't seem to be able to help you at all.

I mean... This is, for all intents and purposes, a single player game and not some MMO. The save file is stored on your PC locally, which is why they don't provide any assistance regarding fixing it. Its like asking devs of DOOM to unlock a specific gun for you in your save, even if it bugged out. So I can see why they can't provide any assistance.

But yeah, it sucks. This is why making back up saves is not optional in this franchise, and hasn't been optional for a long time.
Well... It could be options if you play pure offline, but where's the fun in that? I need my fix of funny death shades.

You're right, I'm just still very upset with the situation. It does really suck, feels like I wasted my money on the dlc now since I can't even enjoy it or finish it. All my items lost, all my progress, it's just terrible. I even had every miracle and sorcery, I don't want to do any of that again lmao.

[shadowtabby]

Originally posted by dark-breed:

Originally posted by shadowtabby:

Ah, also dark-breed thank you, seems the reddit people were wrong about NG+ being a fix. Good to know. And also Dr0W the .BAT strat is very smart! Wish I did it lol.

in the past it was a fix but it seams this new hacks manipulate something that breaks a variableset that get not reseted with new game.

at least we seen 3 different types of this hack.

one where you only fall
one where you fall and bosses get killed later because the environment spawn variable got altered
one where something with the stash and rewards happens

basically it would be possible to find out what exactly they manipulate but it would take a lot of time and the use of a hexeditor.

All of that applies to my situation, seems I got the worst of it. Assuming using a hexeditor would just get me banned too anyway.

[Ken-Oh]

Originally posted by dark-breed:

Originally posted by Ken-Oh:

You only talked about the variables the cheater could have changed on the host's side. Could he also change variables on the phantoms' side, or: Can the cheater also modify phantoms' savefiles?

this hacks work only between invader and host so far we know, since the variables that get manipulated are only on the hosts savefile. side effects to coop partners are related to the base manipulation at the hosts savefile but so far we do not have seen a case where a coop partner had after a invader performed a hack also a damaged savefile.

basically the variables are world variables in the savefile and since coop partner and invader play in the hosts world and not in the own the chance is small to turn the table.

Since I already 100% the game and I don't have any boss left, I killed Patches and he dropped his gear on the floor normally... Also checked my stash and it appeared to be normal. I hope this means that I, as a phantom, didn't get affected...

[dark-breed]

Originally posted by shadowtabby:

Originally posted by dark-breed:

in the past it was a fix but it seams this new hacks manipulate something that breaks a variableset that get not reseted with new game.

at least we seen 3 different types of this hack.

one where you only fall
one where you fall and bosses get killed later because the environment spawn variable got altered
one where something with the stash and rewards happens

basically it would be possible to find out what exactly they manipulate but it would take a lot of time and the use of a hexeditor.

All of that applies to my situation, seems I got the worst of it. Assuming using a hexeditor would just get me banned too anyway.

exactly this is the risk and the cause why i do not try to touch this. a small mistake and a 180 days ban follows (with 100% loss of the savedata inclding all chars even the not damaged ones).
In itself, it would be a job for a lawyer to look into the extent to which Valve could be held liable for the damage.

This is not cheating in the strict sense, this is data on remote computers being changed via a security loophole that Valve created, and many countries treat the unauthorized modification of data on a remote computer as a crime.

[dark-breed]

Originally posted by Ken-Oh:

Originally posted by dark-breed:

this hacks work only between invader and host so far we know, since the variables that get manipulated are only on the hosts savefile. side effects to coop partners are related to the base manipulation at the hosts savefile but so far we do not have seen a case where a coop partner had after a invader performed a hack also a damaged savefile.

basically the variables are world variables in the savefile and since coop partner and invader play in the hosts world and not in the own the chance is small to turn the table.

Since I already 100% the game and I don't have any boss left, I killed Patches and he dropped his gear on the floor normally... Also checked my stash and it appeared to be normal. I hope this means that I, as a phantom, didn't get affected...

as said we do not know a single case where a phantom (sumoned coop partner) was effected.

[Artek [General]]

Originally posted by shadowtabby:

I don't want to do any of that again lmao.

Why not? You could reset the mindset and have the adventure again. Try a different class, a different build, a different roleplay, enjoy the combat loop.
I'm on my, uh... 4th?... Playthrough and the only things that get old are Liurnia of the Lakes and Altus Plateau (I'm a sucker for looting everything that isn't bolted down and can't sleep if I know there's a x1 Smithing Stone [1] laying about in some deep bush, shiny and unbothered).
Well, and riding Torrent for half the playtime. Open world be open worldin'.

[Outlander]

I'm sorry man this sounds like a horror story. Hopefully after you take a break you'll be motivated to pick it up again.

[shadowtabby]

Originally posted by Outlander:

I'm sorry man this sounds like a horror story. Hopefully after you take a break you'll be motivated to pick it up again.

Thanks, it really is isn't it lol. I think I will definitely be playing some other games first, as I mentioned Dragons Dogma: Dark Arisen has caught my attention and been a fine replacement so far. I may pick up the new Monster Hunter in the future as well if I get the money.

[shadowtabby]

Originally posted by Artek General:

Originally posted by shadowtabby:

I don't want to do any of that again lmao.

Why not? You could reset the mindset and have the adventure again. Try a different class, a different build, a different roleplay, enjoy the combat loop.
I'm on my, uh... 4th?... Playthrough and the only things that get old are Liurnia of the Lakes and Altus Plateau (I'm a sucker for looting everything that isn't bolted down and can't sleep if I know there's a x1 Smithing Stone [1] laying about in some deep bush, shiny and unbothered).
Well, and riding Torrent for half the playtime. Open world be open worldin'.

I think it will just take me some time to want to do it all again yk

[Sparhawk 59]

if you need a leg up for items let me know im a safe merchant

[dark-breed]

final info about this hack:

the matrix with the rewards get altered the content get set to ring of miquela, this is why ppl that own this gesture no longer get rewards.

had now one that tested what happens after he was victim of this hack has the gesture droped for him in single player after a boss defeat now nothing drops at any boss he kills.

new game does not reset the matrix it only reset the archieved flag.

[shadowtabby]

Originally posted by dark-breed:

final info about this hack:

the matrix with the rewards get altered the content get set to ring of miquela, this is why ppl that own this gesture no longer get rewards.

had now one that tested what happens after he was victim of this hack has the gesture droped for him in single player after a boss defeat now nothing drops at any boss he kills.

new game does not reset the matrix it only reset the archieved flag.

I already had the gesture, but is there any way to get rid of gestures? Would this fix the hack?

[shadowtabby]

Originally posted by Sparhawk 59:

if you need a leg up for items let me know im a safe merchant

Thank you I appreciate that

[dark-breed]

Originally posted by shadowtabby:

Originally posted by dark-breed:

final info about this hack:

the matrix with the rewards get altered the content get set to ring of miquela, this is why ppl that own this gesture no longer get rewards.

had now one that tested what happens after he was victim of this hack has the gesture droped for him in single player after a boss defeat now nothing drops at any boss he kills.

new game does not reset the matrix it only reset the archieved flag.

I already had the gesture, but is there any way to get rid of gestures? Would this fix the hack?

the problem is a matrix table get replaced with a manipulated one this is not revertable without using a hexeditor and replace the false matrix with the correct one

[Lobi]

SAME GUY invaded my buddy and I and did the same thing to us. He deserves jail fr