Is trading viable?

[Saber Cherry]

Since characters are stored on personal computers, the save files are available to the user. Let's assume a perfect encryption such that nobody can edit characters, ever. In that case-

Is it possible to copy a character, trade away an item, and then restore a backup... thus keeping the item you traded away? If so, then the game cannot have true 'trading'. This might be protected against by using some system of cryptographic hashes linking items to players and players to games. So I'm wondering, is there any such system, or is trading essentially a free-for-all where all traders have a personal replicator?

If the system is currently 'open', and if a dev wants to pm me, I have some ideas about protecting the trading system. Comments from everyone are welcome, of course.

[Moose]

not really viable.. though it's probably obvious when someone is cheating.
huge letdown.

maybe in a patch!

[Viperace]

I believe item replication will become common in this game. After some time, someone will post several savegames with a character full of all the leet items. Thats the cons of not having a secure online server.

Just a matter of time, we will see.

[Gene]

As some have said, we'll have to start our own servers and ban the hackers from them. I say anyone hosting a "safe" server should put a prefix or something behind it, for example: TQ.NET - Gene's Server

Just an idea though,
-Gene

[Moose]

hmm well atleast there looks like there is some limited protection on saves, from my initial tamperings. just looks like a time based hash.. i give it two minutes to anyone determined :P

[Marine OKeefe]

Im not worried if others cheat, it wont affect me unless I cheat myself.

[Moose]

reality is, you cannot tell if someone duped the item or not and you trade with them XD

[Marine OKeefe]

Even if they did, it wouldnt matter to me. I still traded for it fairly. If it was like "Free EPicz!!!lolz!!" I just wouldnt join the game.

[Inygma]

Ya I agree with Marine OKeefe: where, if you trade for an item thats a fair trade, it shouldn't be a bother to you. People who are mass duping probly don't want to trade items as much as jsut give them away, imo.

I also like Gene's idea of a Signature on servers, to let us know you are not a duper and so we can play with other non-cheaters.

[Sven]

Is cheating possible? Yes. But I doubt it will affect the market overall if the community is generally against it and not going to do it. Only if the market is flooded with the best items for free, will the economy collapse. :\