34 replies to this topic

[Hades Trooper]

So folks the topic of use config files came up today once again.


Now in the beginning i never knew about these and when i did i started a thread on the matter and it was an allowed thing back then. even one of the admins said he was running a modded pov on his system.

So we had people explain how to do it and give everyone an even playing field again.


Then at one stage i had to do a re-install and low and behold the interface for things like mouse sensitivity had been included and the user config file wasn't working that was working before as once again i had that crappy default field of view in my cockpit and the bsic zoom field of view which i really don't like.

Though it seemed for everyone i knew this was the same and they wheren't working so bck to standard gaming and i was like no biggie it's an equal playing field for everyone, which is all that i care about.

then today i run into the MRBC league a friend was going on about, Now not getting into how these side events to me don't mean squat shitte as there very small events and with rules i think the league owners must pull out of thin air, but that's a different topic.

What i was interested in, as my friend was like look how professional it's run blah blah blah, was this.

Modification of the Game config files

Changes permitted
Draw distance: (e.g. e_MaxViewDistance = 1990)
e_MaxViewDistSpecLerp = 1
e_ViewDistRatioCustom = 100)
Time to zoom: (e.g. gp_mech_view_zoom_transitiontime = 0.05)
Keybindings
Field of View
Mouse sensitivity, smooth, accel
gp_option_ShowCockpitGlass=0/1 (off/on)
r_DepthOfField=0/1 (off/on)
r_HDRGrainAmount=0.0-1.0 (film grain amount)

Changes not permitted
Removing trees
Changing thermal or night vision settings
Enhanced zoom fidelity (i.e. clarity)
Aimbots
Any changes to game files other than those listed in the "Changes Permitted" section above

So do we now have a situation of people not being able to mod USEr congi files so they are in effect cheating by modding the game config files in an effect to avoid the disabled user config files?

So here's a question Russ, Are you aware of people being bale to do this? Modding the GAME config files allowed? Have these people broken the T&A? Are people who doing this getting an unfair advantage since user config files where disabled? Is the community aware of this?

I'd really like to hear people responses and a response in particular from a PGI staffer on this matter.

Now this, like my old thread on user config files can run quite hot, so lets keep it civil the discuss the matters on hand rather than degrade the thread into shouts of cheater etc.

[Hades Trooper]

Sorry it's Moddied GAME config files.

so i had a quick look at my game at the user config file and system and game config files, and when i try to save these it says access denied.

So i wonder, is it still the user config file thats being moddied or is there some fancy way they mod the game config file and save it as a certain way so the game will allow it or are they changing admin sevrer rights or something in windows & to do this.

Just to an average gamer like myself if it's something thats not exactly staright forward it makes me wonder , is it something thats suppose to enabled? how far will people go to get an advantage over others in a video game?

[Kirkland Langue]

In MWO, the question isn't really about getting an advantage over others - the UI and a lot of the development choices are such trash that you almost feel compelled to look for ways to fix their game for them since they don't seem to have any intention of doing it themselves.

Good examples of things that I'll probably mod myself, if CW turns out to be compelling enough to justify:
1. Make trees Transparent. The current implementation of trees is exactly opposite of what it should be. They block LOS for anyone hiding in the forest - but enemies can see you clearly. The game would be better designed if there were no trees.

2. Make Cockpit blinding explosions transparent. Firstly, they are a horrible game design because they don't add anything except frustration. You want immersion? How about destructible terrain? More importantly though - as 3PV shows us, you actually have a camera drone sending you your visual images. There are no real cockpit windows that you look out of. Even if the explosions are happening right on your head, you shouldn't see the flashes of light. Just more PGI development nonsense.

[Ellen Ripley]

Hi,
I'm an admin with the MRBC League (one of the guys who pulls rules out of thin air).

As for your question:
"So do we now have a situation of people not being able to mod USEr congi files so they are in effect cheating by modding the game config files in an effect to avoid the disabled user config files?"

The answer is no.
We simply called it "Game config files" in our rule section that you are quoting here. The file in question is called "user.cfg" in your MechWarrior Online folder. It is the same file people have been editing for ages and those edits are considered legit by PGI, a simple search on the forum would have brought up this thread for you: http://mwomercs.com/...mwo-game-client

We outline which changes we allow in our league and we which not. The ones we do not permit are in line with the ones that PGI does not permit as well (removing trees = a) Alters visibility significantly from the original product to gain unfair tactical advantages).

So no, we did not break the Terms of Use (I'm guessing that's what you mean by "T&A"), nor do we encourage people to do so. The changes we allow have been allowed by other major competitive leagues in this game as well. If you would have looked into our rule section "sportsmanship" (above the one you quoted) you would have seen that there we even explicitly state that "Pilots and teams must meet MWO's Terms of Use and Code of Conduct.".


It would have been really nice if you would have approached us with your questions, we could have provided you with answers.

By the way, with 48 teams signed for our now starting third season, the MRBC League is not really a "side event" or "very small event", but in fact the biggest league this game has seen so far. I'm sorry to hear that our concept does not seem to appeal to you and we therefore to you "don't mean squat shitte".


Best Regards,
+STS+ Ellen Ripley

p.s.: Thanks to your friend for his praise!

Edited by Ellen Ripley, 06 October 2014 - 11:12 PM.

[Kilo 40]

Kirkland Langue, on 06 October 2014 - 09:24 PM, said:

More importantly though - as 3PV shows us, you actually have a camera drone sending you your visual images. There are no real cockpit windows that you look out of. Even if the explosions are happening right on your head, you shouldn't see the flashes of light. Just more PGI development nonsense.

*scratches head*

wut?

[Hades Trooper]

Ellen Ripley, on 06 October 2014 - 10:38 PM, said:

Hi,
I'm an admin with the MRBC League (one of the guys who pulls rules out of thin air).

As for your question:
"So do we now have a situation of people not being able to mod USEr congi files so they are in effect cheating by modding the game config files in an effect to avoid the disabled user config files?"

The answer is no.
We simply called it "Game config files" in our rule section that you are quoting here. The file in question is called "user.cfg" in your MechWarrior Online folder. It is the same file people have been editing for ages and those edits are considered legit by PGI, a simple search on the forum would have brought up this thread for you: http://mwomercs.com/...mwo-game-client

We outline which changes we allow in our league and we which not. The ones we do not permit are in line with the ones that PGI does not permit as well (removing trees = a) Alters visibility significantly from the original product to gain unfair tactical advantages).

So no, we did not break the Terms of Use (I'm guessing that's what you mean by "T&A"), nor do we encourage people to do so. The changes we allow have been allowed by other major competitive leagues in this game as well. If you would have looked into our rule section "sportsmanship" (above the one you quoted) you would have seen that there we even explicitly state that "Pilots and teams must meet MWO's Terms of Use and Code of Conduct.".


It would have been really nice if you would have approached us with your questions, we could have provided you with answers.

By the way, with 48 teams signed for our now starting third season, the MRBC League is not really a "side event" or "very small event", but in fact the biggest league this game has seen so far. I'm sorry to hear that our concept does not seem to appeal to you and we therefore to you "don't mean squat shitte".


Best Regards,
+STS+ Ellen Ripley

p.s.: Thanks to your friend for his praise!

Well how do i respond, lets see. It's small and a side event as it's such a tiny % of the player base it means nothing. It's good for practise for groups to get to know how to play together but your event has no bearing what so ever to the game or CW thus is means nothing outside of those few people who play in it. Or do you think 48 teams of 12 people is some meaningful % of the player base?


Why should i have to appease your thought on discussing a matter that effects the entire community? When did you have to be contacted to allowed to discuss this kinda matters? You have no affliation with PGI such your thoughts are the same as any ones else, a single pov so i don't see why i need to appease you by contacting you to discuss the matter.

I know what a config file is, from the last i knew they had previously been allowed and then that permission was revoked. You say there currently allowed, when did this change of stance occur most recently? I appreciate if u could provide a date and who from PGI stated this stance of allowing config files to be moddied had once again been changed.

Now i'm sure you can understand i'm asking this question as to determine is this cheating or is it allowed. I'm not saying it's cheating to do it if it's allowed but surely you can understand that if it's not then it is thus an advantage and thus cheating.

I don't mind if i win or loss, but i know most people are honest and want to make sure there playing on a level playing field thus even if they loss it was done in a fair manner, surely you can agree with that now?


Now for pulling rules out of the air. Well this is find to be true. PGI has stated clearly IS/Clan will be separate, thus this rule of 1 in 5 mechs can be clan on your team is an example of pulling a rule out of the air. How did you come up with that? What basis is there for allowing IS to have clan mechs even in a 1 in 5 ratio when CW won't have it? how can u be training and finding the value of units supposely when your using equipment thats won';t be allowed for you in CW?



Your league is MRBC, an in brief supposely to help determine which units are worth the high paying contracts. Why should i have to play in your league to prove my worth? Until Cw comes out a high % from my understanding of players are on break thus it really doesn't count for anything than just a leaderboard for the teams that are in your league. That % of the player base is so small it's meaningless. 48 teams fo 12 people is 576 people, you can't even count thats as 1% of the player base, thus meaningless.

So fyi that link u gave on the config files is dated Started by Primus of ComStar, Mar 22 2013 05:32 AM. that post is out of date and over 22 months old, things have changed since then.

So at that date it was allowed and that was changed to not being allowed, where is your post or statement to say PGI had allowed this to occur again?

From my POC it was allowed then it wasn't and since it wasn't allowed i've heard no new statement that it's ok to do currently so from my pov it's having an unfair advantage.


So i'd really like a response from a forum mod or a PGI staffers to inform the community what the current state of allowance is in regards to moddied config files.

I'm sure you'd agree that a statement or post from PGI would clear this up rather than u expect me to trust a 22 month old post since the stance has changed more than once.

Also a small note the staffer who made that post either doesn't work for PGI or was an IGP staffers as it's not possible to email them and contact them directly to get a fast response as to the nature of config files being currently allowed.

Kirkland Langue, on 06 October 2014 - 09:24 PM, said:

3PV shows us, you actually have a camera drone sending you your visual images. There are no real cockpit windows that you look out of. Even if the explosions are happening right on your head, you shouldn't see the flashes of light. Just more PGI development nonsense.

Ah no you don't, those drones only appear when your in 3pv.

[KharnZor]

Hades Trooper, on 06 October 2014 - 11:46 PM, said:

Well how do i respond, lets see. It's small and a side event as it's such a tiny % of the player base it means nothing. It's good for practise for groups to get to know how to play together but your event has no bearing what so ever to the game or CW thus is means nothing outside of those few people who play in it. Or do you think 48 teams of 12 people is some meaningful % of the player base?


Why should i have to appease your thought on discussing a matter that effects the entire community? When did you have to be contacted to allowed to discuss this kinda matters? You have no affliation with PGI such your thoughts are the same as any ones else, a single pov so i don't see why i need to appease you by contacting you to discuss the matter.

I know what a config file is, from the last i knew they had previously been allowed and then that permission was revoked. You say there currently allowed, when did this change of stance occur most recently? I appreciate if u could provide a date and who from PGI stated this stance of allowing config files to be moddied had once again been changed.

Now i'm sure you can understand i'm asking this question as to determine is this cheating or is it allowed. I'm not saying it's cheating to do it if it's allowed but surely you can understand that if it's not then it is thus an advantage and thus cheating.

I don't mind if i win or loss, but i know most people are honest and want to make sure there playing on a level playing field thus even if they loss it was done in a fair manner, surely you can agree with that now?


Now for pulling rules out of the air. Well this is find to be true. PGI has stated clearly IS/Clan will be separate, thus this rule of 1 in 5 mechs can be clan on your team is an example of pulling a rule out of the air. How did you come up with that? What basis is there for allowing IS to have clan mechs even in a 1 in 5 ratio when CW won't have it? how can u be training and finding the value of units supposely when your using equipment thats won';t be allowed for you in CW?



Your league is MRBC, an in brief supposely to help determine which units are worth the high paying contracts. Why should i have to play in your league to prove my worth? Until Cw comes out a high % from my understanding of players are on break thus it really doesn't count for anything than just a leaderboard for the teams that are in your league. That % of the player base is so small it's meaningless. 48 teams fo 12 people is 576 people, you can't even count thats as 1% of the player base, thus meaningless.

So fyi that link u gave on the config files is dated Started by Primus of ComStar, Mar 22 2013 05:32 AM. that post is out of date and over 22 months old, things have changed since then.

So at that date it was allowed and that was changed to not being allowed, where is your post or statement to say PGI had allowed this to occur again?

From my POC it was allowed then it wasn't and since it wasn't allowed i've heard no new statement that it's ok to do currently so from my pov it's having an unfair advantage.


So i'd really like a response from a forum mod or a PGI staffers to inform the community what the current state of allowance is in regards to moddied config files.

I'm sure you'd agree that a statement or post from PGI would clear this up rather than u expect me to trust a 22 month old post since the stance has changed more than once.

Also a small note the staffer who made that post either doesn't work for PGI or was an IGP staffers as it's not possible to email them and contact them directly to get a fast response as to the nature of config files being currently allowed.



Ah no you don't, those drones only appear when your in 3pv.

Wow, you're a bit of a douche

[Oderint dum Metuant]

User.cfg changes have always been allowed; they have been in use since day 1 be it for performance based issues or preference based.

What was not allowed was editing of actual game files. You used to be able to open game files and change the colour scheme of thermal vision and night vision.
You could make the landscape a very dark bland colour and make mechs stand out glowing neon blue/green/red colour's.
Removing trees was easy to do as we're buildings.

KharnZor, on 06 October 2014 - 11:48 PM, said:

Wow, you're a bit of a douche

Prob just mad and bad.

[Hades Trooper]

DV McKenna, on 06 October 2014 - 11:54 PM, said:

User.cfg changes have always been allowed; they have been in use since day 1 be it for performance based issues or preference based.

What was not allowed was editing of actual game files. You used to be able to open game files and change the colour scheme of thermal vision and night vision.
You could make the landscape a very dark bland colour and make mechs stand out glowing neon blue/green/red colour's.
Removing trees was easy to do as we're buildings.



Prob just mad and bad.

And since then the rulling changed about 12 months ago and moddied config files wheren't allowed.

As for mad and bad, your far from wrong, i just want a level playing field for all. Is that being bad now? I can tell you know i can hold my own and did quite nicely in the events held, and those who've dropped with me know i'm a good pilot even when i say i'm only slightly above average.

but go ahead try and dismiss the topic by trashing the person asking a simple question.

Is it currently allowed to mod your config file and if so when did that stance change from when it was deemed not allowed?

[Oderint dum Metuant]

Hades Trooper, on 07 October 2014 - 12:02 AM, said:

And since then the rulling changed about 12 months ago and moddied config files wheren't allowed.

As for mad and bad, your far from wrong, i just want a level playing field for all. Is that being bad now? I can tell you know i can hold my own and did quite nicely in the events held, and those who've dropped with me know i'm a good pilot even when i say i'm only slightly above average.

but go ahead try and dismiss the topic by trashing the person asking a simple question.

Is it currently allowed to mod your config file and if so when did that stance change from when it was deemed not allowed?

As i say modded game files were banned, the user.cfg to my knowledge never has.

Because it's how some users were able to play the game due to piss poor game optimization.

[KharnZor]

How about you go put a ticket in about it.

[Hades Trooper]

KharnZor, on 06 October 2014 - 11:48 PM, said:

Wow, you're a bit of a douche

so responding to a statement in full and without insult is being douche? right. Well sir i question your right to make a response when u can't answer the question being put forward without the need to try and make this a flame war.

let me guess you use a modd config file and want to keep the topic quiet as you need to advantage over others cause your so bad that playing a on a level playing field would mean u die too much? Please tell us what kinda config file u sue then?

[Oderint dum Metuant]

Hades Trooper, on 07 October 2014 - 12:05 AM, said:

so responding to a statement in full and without insult is being douche? right. Well sir i question your right to make a response when u can't answer the question being put forward without the need to try and make this a flame war.

let me guess you use a modd config file and want to keep the topic quiet as you need to advantage over others cause your so bad that playing a on a level playing field would mean u die too much? Please tell us what kinda config file u sue then?

It's not an advantage when it is open to all to do, there are threads in these forums that are basically user guides to doing it.

Ofc this wouldn't be necessary if PGI actually included the options people wish to have

[Hades Trooper]

DV McKenna, on 07 October 2014 - 12:03 AM, said:

As i say modded game files were banned, the user.cfg to my knowledge never has.

Because it's how some users were able to play the game due to piss poor game optimization.

actually the config file wheren't able to be modded at one stage there in the last 12 months.

I personally ran a modded file for my field of vision as i like to have one value for in cockpit and another for when i zoom.

then after my re-install i was informed by people who i trust to be up to date with the game info said it wasn't and onyl today i see that it's being still done.

thus i'm after a confirmation is it ok and also at the same time, hopefully making people aware this if allowed is something you can do so EVERYONE has the same information and can decide for themselves how yjru wish the play the game.

Is it so bad to ask a question or should those not informed be kept in the dark as i personally know the different a change of field of view changes things dramatic, if you say otherwise then your deluded.

[Hades Trooper]

DV McKenna, on 07 October 2014 - 12:10 AM, said:

It's not an advantage when it is open to all to do, there are threads in these forums that are basically user guides to doing it.

Ofc this wouldn't be necessary if PGI actually included the options people wish to have

of course it's an advantage, those with a modded config file do have an advantage.

the question is since it was originally allowed and then changed to not being allowed when did it change back to be allowed again?

my previous modded file with it increase field of view was certainly an advantage, i notice a dramatic increase in accuracy at long range.

Also recently this came up in a heated discussion and was claimed that a modded config file was cheating. So i thought it's best to get a official word on the matter since the changes back and forth have me wondering where does PGI stand on this atm. not from 22 months ago, as of NOW!

[Fooooo]

There is no problem using a custom user.cfg.

Maybe in very very early beta some people took advantage of some things, however pgi has since then locked those vars anyway.


Changing anything in the actual pak's IS against the rules, and obv the exe and anything important like that etc etc.

Im sure they would have some sort of "check" somewhere when you login and possibly when you launch to make sure your files are not modded. (IE the transparent explosions you talk about or was it another poster.....)

If they dont....well................

Edited by Fooooo, 07 October 2014 - 12:21 AM.

[Oderint dum Metuant]

Hades Trooper, on 07 October 2014 - 12:10 AM, said:

actually the config file wheren't able to be modded at one stage there in the last 12 months.

I personally ran a modded file for my field of vision as i like to have one value for in cockpit and another for when i zoom.

then after my re-install i was informed by people who i trust to be up to date with the game info said it wasn't and onyl today i see that it's being still done.

thus i'm after a confirmation is it ok and also at the same time, hopefully making people aware this if allowed is something you can do so EVERYONE has the same information and can decide for themselves how yjru wish the play the game.

Is it so bad to ask a question or should those not informed be kept in the dark as i personally know the different a change of field of view changes things dramatic, if you say otherwise then your deluded.

They took out the ability to change certain aspects of the file, and if i remember right there is essentially a switch as well that you had to set the value to use the file or it would be ignored.

Field of view is helpful, more so on multi monitor...but in a day or two your thread will be buried somewhere pages back, it'll be as helpful as all the other topics on user.cfg.

Hades Trooper, on 07 October 2014 - 12:14 AM, said:

of course it's an advantage, those with a modded config file do have an advantage.

the question is since it was originally allowed and then changed to not being allowed when did it change back to be allowed again?

my previous modded file with it increase field of view was certainly an advantage, i notice a dramatic increase in accuracy at long range.

Also recently this came up in a heated discussion and was claimed that a modded config file was cheating. So i thought it's best to get a official word on the matter since the changes back and forth have me wondering where does PGI stand on this atm. not from 22 months ago, as of NOW!

If they deemed it cheating and not useable, they would disable it.

It is not disabled.

It's that simple.

[Lordred]

FoV is how wide your view angle is, increasing that would make you 'less' accurate as your target appears smaller.

Now if you are talking about DoF and Film Grain, they allowed us to disable those for a while now.

r_HDRGrainAmount=0.0
r_DepthOfField=0

As for reducing the number of trees present, that is now expressly forbidden, and is a locked command in the user.cfg

e_ViewDistRatio IIRC was the culprit, and people were setting this low (something like 01-10) which would effectivly remove the trees, it is not a restricted value of 60-100

[Hades Trooper]

DV McKenna, on 07 October 2014 - 12:17 AM, said:

They took out the ability to change certain aspects of the file, and if i remember right there is essentially a switch as well that you had to set the value to use the file or it would be ignored.

Field of view is helpful, more so on multi monitor...but in a day or two your thread will be buried somewhere pages back, it'll be as helpful as all the other topics on user.cfg.



If they deemed it cheating and not useable, they would disable it.

It is not disabled.

It's that simple.

so what did they remove and not allow then as you say?

as for being helpful for others as it will get buried, i doubt estimate how passionate i am about everyone having an even playing field. Personally myself i would rather loss 10-12 than win 12-0. As i enjoy the battle and a battle vs those who i can stroll over as there uninformed is the same as using a hack to me. Thats just my pov and such each person is allowed there own pov.


those with a modded config file do have an advantage over those without. thats without doubt.

it only cheating if PGI doesn't allow it atm and saying thats it can be done doesn't mean it's allowed just because it hasn't been disabled.

A simple statement by PGI would clear up this matter. Is that too much to ask that we get an official answer rather than people speculations?

[Oderint dum Metuant]

Hades Trooper, on 07 October 2014 - 12:25 AM, said:

so what did they remove and not allow then as you say?

as for being helpful for others as it will get buried, i doubt estimate how passionate i am about everyone having an even playing field. Personally myself i would rather loss 10-12 than win 12-0. As i enjoy the battle and a battle vs those who i can stroll over as there uninformed is the same as using a hack to me. Thats just my pov and such each person is allowed there own pov.


those with a modded config file do have an advantage over those without. thats without doubt.

it only cheating if PGI doesn't allow it atm and saying thats it can be done doesn't mean it's allowed just because it hasn't been disabled.

A simple statement by PGI would clear up this matter. Is that too much to ask that we get an official answer rather than people speculations?

You should probably do the research, they blacklisted alot of optiopns, Lordred has provided you with one such example.

Please see this post here, from august linking to the already available post by PGI on the subject.

http://mwomercs.com/...ost__p__3660256

And for the shortcut.

http://mwomercs.com/...wo-game-client/