How does the game check if console commands have been used

[Realhollow]

I meaning how does it know i dint load in save it go into observe to see if the map sucks then re-load the other save that i hadn't used console commands on i get useing them then carrying on is easy for it to tell.

[tempest.of.emptiness]

If you play in Ironman mode then the game only saves and loads when you start or stop playing it. I'm not sure if console commands work with ironman, but if so then any record of that would be maintained.

If you aren't playing ironman then there's no way to know whether something like you described has been done. You can start a game, save it, duplicate the save (one or more times), and play through the game using duplicate saves as many times as you like without touching or affecting the original save in any way, and there will be no record that you have done so.

If that seems like something that could be abused in a competitive multiplayer setting then your instincts are correct. The only real defense is to play only with people you trust not to cheat, and never for stakes.

[Elitewrecker PT]

You can't use console in ironman no.

[HappySack]

Opprinnelig skrevet av Elitewrecker PT:

You can't use console in ironman no.

This, also to use console commands in an ironman game you have to edit the save to "un-ironman" it.

[Garatgh Deloi]

OP didn't say anything about playing on ironman? You can get achievements without ironman now days.

Anyway, unless i am mistaken the console check is tied to the play through somehow rather then individual save games (when you load a game you first select your play through, then the save, so i believe the check remains triggered even if you load a save from before the console command). Not 100% certain so take it with a grain of salt.

[PlutonArioch]

I only know there is a flag in the save game, that gets set when cheats are used, but it does not get set if you load a save without it after cheating.
Are you sure the game does track it?

[tempest.of.emptiness]

Opprinnelig skrevet av Garatgh Deloi:

OP didn't say anything about playing on ironman? You can get achievements without ironman now days.

OP also didn't mention achievements. I only brought up ironman because it might be an exception to non-ironman saves, for which there is no protection against the sort of abuse the op described.

[tempest.of.emptiness]

Opprinnelig skrevet av Garatgh Deloi:

Anyway, unless i am mistaken the console check is tied to the play through somehow rather then individual save games (when you load a game you first select your play through, then the save, so i believe the check remains triggered even if you load a save from before the console command). Not 100% certain so take it with a grain of salt.

That's how it works in multiplayer (single player doesn't track playthroughs like that). However, you can back up a multiplayer playthrough save cluster, abuse the original however you like, then delete it and any evidence, and restore the unmolested backup.

[Garatgh Deloi]

Opprinnelig skrevet av tempest.of.emptiness:

OP also didn't mention achievements. I only brought up ironman because it might be an exception to non-ironman saves, for which there is no protection against the sort of abuse the op described.

True, but the only reason one would care about the console check is achievements, is it not? What other reasons is there?

Opprinnelig skrevet av tempest.of.emptiness:

That's how it works in multiplayer (single player doesn't track playthroughs like that). However, you can back up a multiplayer playthrough save cluster, abuse the original however you like, then delete it and any evidence, and restore the unmolested backup.

When you select saves (in single player) you first select the play through and then the save. So saves belonging to the same play through are tracked somehow, even if its just some sort of id number or even a name tag in the saves.

[PlutonArioch]

Opprinnelig skrevet av Garatgh Deloi:

When you select saves (in single player) you first select the play through and then the save. This is true for single player as well. So saves belonging to the same play through are tracked somehow, even if its just some sort of id number on the saves.

They are sorted into folders. If you put saves from two different playthroughs into one folder, they appear under the same selection in the load menu.
The sorting order, name, and pictures, are also taken from the newest file in that folder.

[Garatgh Deloi]

Opprinnelig skrevet av PlutonArioch:

They are sorted into folders. If you put saves from two different playthroughs into one folder, they appear under the same selection in the load menu.
The sorting order, name, and pictures, are also taken from the newest file in that folder.

Then perhaps there is some extra file put into the folder that tracks it? Or perhaps each save in the folder is edited and flagged when you use the console? Just theory crafting here.

That said, as i said i am not 100% certain, but i believe it flags the whole play through somehow. Because i am under the impression that i have tried it but was unable to get achievements even after loading a save from before cheating.

[PlutonArioch]

Opprinnelig skrevet av Garatgh Deloi:

Then perhaps there is some extra file put into the folder that tracks it? Or perhaps each save is flagged when you use the console? Just theory crafting here.

That said, as i said i am not 100% certain, but i believe it flags the whole play through somehow.

I can't be sure if the whole playthrough is flagged, that's why I asked above. If it is, that would be news to me. I don't know how to find out though, without trying to get achievements, which I don't want to do.
If there is an extra file, it is somewhere else, not in the save folder, and I'd be curious to find out where that file is. I have never seen any file other than the save files in there.
It certainly does not flag every file in the folder for me, only the ones saved after using cheats in game.

Though I seem to remember, there was some difference several years ago in how the game handled cloud saves vs non-cloud saves. I don't, and have never, used cloud saves. Maybe someone who does, could check how it works for them?

[tempest.of.emptiness]

Opprinnelig skrevet av Garatgh Deloi:

True, but the only reason one would care about the console check is achievements, is it not? What other reasons is there?

I assumed there might be an interest in the potential for abuse in a multiplayer setting, which is why my response was addressing that possibility, but of course achievements are another possible reason.

[tempest.of.emptiness]

Opprinnelig skrevet av Garatgh Deloi:

When you select saves (in single player) you first select the play through and then the save. So saves belonging to the same play through are tracked somehow, even if its just some sort of id number or even a name tag in the saves.

Oh, you are right. I'm thinking of Ironman, because that's what I play. I forgot that non-Ironman single player does group saves in playthough groups.

[Merkury]

From what I was able to find out with this new system.

When you use console command special variable inside save is changed - from "cheated_on_save=no" to "cheated_on_save=yes"
Togather with this change game is also removing whole text block about achievements you can earn in current game. It is called "achievement={x y z}".

What's more, if you change the cheated variable and add back achievements block it will not work unless you upload your changed save file to the cloud. (just above "clusters={}")

Example:
Edit save file that is not cloud save. Put it back togather and start the game. Load the save that has been "fixed" and without unpausing the game make a new save that will be uploaded to the cloud.

So far it is just a theory because all my achievements are kinda late game so I couldn't check them yet...