Anticheat Resources
Battlefield Ranked Server Rules & Policies
Dice and EA are limiting trusted server software distribution to our network of ?Trusted Partners? in order to protect the integrity of the code system. We want everyone to be able to play Ranked Servers if they choose. It is imperative that all of these Rules and Policies be adhered to in order to create a level playing field for everyone.
Server Configuration
Something to be aware of with Ranked Servers is that they will have a number of settings hard-coded so that users cannot adjust them. These settings were all set as below to keep the competition on Ranked servers balanced across all providers.
Min Players: 16
sv.password = empty string. Ranked servers may not be password protected. Ranked servers are intended to be available to all players.
sv.numPlayersNeededToStart = (6 for maxPlayers 16, 10 for 32, 10 for 64)
sv.spawnTime 15
sv.manDownTime 15
sv.ticketRatio 100
sv.teamRatioPercent 100
sv.punkBuster 1
Though it is not required, we also request that all servers run Friendly Fire at 100% for all settings, including mines (sv.friendlyFireWithMines).
Ranked servers must be entirely "pure" with no customization outside of the default content shipped by DICE/EA. Ranked servers will not be allowed to run Mods or Custom Maps, as we cannot ensure the balance of these components. Custom maps are never permitted.
BF2CC may be used to access and adjust server settings.
We do permit map sizes to be defined independently of maximum players and minor admin enforced changes in game play behavior. These changes need to be explicitly announced either in the server description or somewhere on the loading screen.
Whenever there is a new patch released Ranked Partners are required to upgrade their servers. Ranked servers are not to run upcoming content early nor out of date content.
Exploit/Hacker Reports
Please provide screenshots and reports of stat exploiters or players using hacks in servers. There are 3 possible routes for reports.
- EA Customer Support: http://support.ea.com/
- Battlefield Ranked Servers forum: http://www.bf2rankedservers.com/forums/
- Punkbuster: In the event you find a cheat, hack or exploit email what info you have to research@evenbalance.com
Rules of Engagement [RoE]
Beyond the server configuration settings there are many in-game policies for ranked servers. We refer to these as the Rules of Engagement, and they are managed by EA and Combat Studios on the BF2 Ranked Servers site. Due to the dynamic nature of BF2 this is a living document and subject to revisions. In the same forum there is a location to debate and discuss the RoE. These are rules driven by the community and thus feedback is imperative to keeping the RoE on track and fair.
ANTI-CHEAT SITES
PBBANS
PBBans works with game server administrators, players, and subject matter experts to pool their experience and information about cheaters. As cheats are caught through PunkBuster™ violations, screenshots or demos, they are added to our Master Ban Index (MBI). The MBI can then be filtered and downloaded to suit each registered game server admin.
PBBans is a not only a private online community for game server administrators -- we welcome anyone seeking help with PunkBuster™ enabled games. Our goal is to educate server admin/players and stop online cheaters in their tracks. PunkBuster™ is a self-updating Anti-Cheat software system developed by Even Balance, Inc.
Punksbusted
PunksBusted (abbreviated PsB) is a non-profit organization (not affiliated with Even Balance, Inc.) which strives to provide the best-possible support for the PunkBuster™ anti-cheat system by providing to game server administrators the most accurate, comprehensive, and verifiable information that will help them maximize the effectiveness of the PunkBuster system, protect their game servers from known hackers and cheaters, and disrupt the actions of those individuals who would do harm to the world of online gaming that we all know and love.
To accomplish these goals, PunksBusted introduced the ground-breaking Automated Master Ban List system (Auto-MBL) and continues the quest to provide ever-improving technological and intelligence resources for game server administrators, gaming communities, competitive leagues, and other organizations to combat the scourge of cheating in online gaming in all the games we support.
Even Balance
Even Balance, Inc. spearheads the effort to fight cheating in the online multiplayer gaming industry. Our flagship product, PunkBuster™, spawned the Anti-Cheat movement in online gaming several years ago and was the first system proven effective against cheating in online games.
"Our PunkBuster™ Anti-Cheat software technology and services combat online cheating in some of the most popular games being played over the Internet today. We also serve the online gaming communities that surround the games we support by keeping in direct contact with players, server administrators and league officials always watching for new developments in the "online game cheating world". We understand and appreciate the tremendous number of resources that game developers allocate toward game balance during game design and implementation. We take on the often burdensome task of protecting that balance out in the real online world where dishonest players (we call them punks) hack and wrongfully exploit the published game for their own benefit at the expense of the honest player who expects and deserves fun, fair competition. Too many online games and related communities have been destroyed by cheating activity over the past few years. Now, honest players have someone on their side ... PunkBuster™!"
"The use of PunkBuster™ Anti-Cheat software is optional and has always been provided without direct cost to our users. We believe that the cost to provide Anti-Cheat protection should be built into the cost of online games. Therefore, we contract directly with game developers and/or publishers who wish to have our software and services associated with their online gaming products. If your favorite game does not yet have integrated PunkBuster™ Anti-Cheat technology available, let the game's developer and/or publisher know how important this issue is to you. If you are a game developer or publisher and would like information about integrating PunkBuster™ into your online games, please contact us via email at license@evenbalance.com."
BF2 Name Hack Buster
BF2 Name Hack Buster is useful tool that compares the player name attached to the PID with the player name on the server. If the names are different the player most often running a hack.