[Revenant100]

I was wondering, what is the particular stance towards the sv_pure setting on the SourceOp servers? I noticed some run sv_pure 0 and others run sv_pure 1 with a custom whitelist.

I ask because I would like to request seriously taking into consideration the possibility of entirely switching over to sv_pure 0 (except on the Pro server, of course). I suggest this because, well, why not? TF2 is a highly customizable game with an active modding community, and I know for a fact that there are plenty of mods that many players want to use (i.e. disabling all hats). The obvious reasoning against sv_pure 0 is that it allows cheating, but the recent May 18th update now prevents $ignorez from functioning on model materials. That's a vast majority of potential material wall hacks eliminated right there. This is a pretty significant development, so in light of it, why not reconsider?

The reason I bring this up now is because it seems some time within the past few months, the sv_pure setting on the Arena server was changed from 0 to 1 with a custom whitelist. I've been a regular on the SourceOp Arena server for about two years now and it was sv_pure 0 that entire time. I've never once heard of it being an issue, so imagine my surprise when I logged in one day to find it now suddenly under a very stringent sv_pure 1 whitelist that allows virtually nothing. I can't even use my custom announcer sound pack, and in what way could that possibly be used to cheat? Was this an intentional change? Is it going to remain this way forever? It doesn't have to be, and in my opinion, it would be nice to return to the way it always was.

[WombRaider]

clear answer is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWw5i3x4Xlo

[Snarf]

Turning off the whitelist makes it very easy to wallhack on the servers. With pure off you can change textures to wallhack which is almost undetectable in a game like tf2 where textures are modded often. We have a whitelist so fun things like sprays can still be used.

[Drunken F00l]

It was switched because of issues with material hackers and people using large models that show through walls. If you want something specific added to the whitelist, let me know. It's probably not just you who wants it anyways.

[Revenant100]

With pure off you can change textures to wallhack which is almost undetectable in a game like tf2 where textures are modded often.

But the express purpose of the May 18th update is to prevent $ignorez from creating such texture-based wall hacks on in-game models. In fact, $ignorez was the sole cause of the texture wall hack that you describe. This very simple change really has dealt a massive blow to non-VAC detectable cheating (And it was pretty dumb for Valve to leave it exploitable for so long, but I digress). In comparison, most remaining cheats created through modding are dumb things that are far less effective or highly situational at best.

It was switched because of issues with material hackers and people using large models that show through walls.

That's quite a surprise to me as, in the literally years I've been playing on the Arena server, I've never once heard a single mention of cheating. Sure, I can imagine that accusations happened more than once, but considering how you're under virtually constant surveillance from spectating players due to the nature of the game mode, it would be pretty difficult to actually get away with legitimate cheating.

However, if it the issue really did warrant a change to the server's sv_pure setting, I'm not going to doubt your word. I appreciate the response and offering a suggestion to the whitelist, but considering that I would quite like to have my custom player skins working again, I can't imagine that you'd grant it since it's so close to where the cheating occurs. Of course, with $ignorez no longer working on models, I can't really imagine what effective methods of cheating could actually be employed now in this regard.

[Snarf]

Really now? Because I know plenty of people who can and still do wallhack with textures. This is like saying everytime Sony releases a new update for the ps3/psp they are making it impossible to put custom firmware on them. They aren't doing anything they are just slowing them down.

[Barrakketh]

It was switched because of issues with material hackers and people using large models that show through walls. If you want something specific added to the whitelist, let me know. It's probably not just you who wants it anyways.

I have a few items I'd like added to the whitelist:

• sound\player\crit_hit.wav
  
• sound\player\crit_hit2.wav
  
• sound\player\crit_hit3.wav
  
• sound\player\crit_hit4.wav
  
• sound\player\crit_hit5.wav
  
• sound\player\crit_received1.wav
  
• sound\player\crit_received2.wav
  
• sound\player\crit_received3.wav
  
• sound\player\medic_charged_death.wav

[WombRaider]

wtf are you changing the drop sound to

[Drunken F00l]

Alright, I've added the crit sounds to the whitelist. I don't know when the server will pick up on them. Will probably be next restart.