We've seen in multiple instances, by multiple players suspicious recurring instances where suspect players display the above time and time again, where other players do not. This has lead to many players complaining about cheats/hacks/unkillable. So we started investigating and recording (both server and client side) so we can match up -- this will expose lag switchers to a great extent. I feel we as admins owe it to the community to investigate, and even contact players privately to discuss.
General server lag, even individual lag caused by crappy network, packet loss (which you can monitor in UT with stat net at the console) will appear and affect all/most players. More often than not any server lag is caused by non-server issues, with the exception of a few overloaded maps (MassD, Minus-Kitchensink are two that come to mind).
With normal lag, moving, taking damage and more importantly aiming/dealing damage are all affected
equally.
This is completely different than a lag switch event. The lag switch induces a one way lag on the client to trick the server.
Lag switch only affect a single client, and doesn't really affect overall server play at all other than tricking the server/exploiting how it deals with movement and hit calculations on that interaction -- lag switch is usually a short term event.
So if you read this:
https://wiki.unrealadmin.org/Netspeed_Tutorial_(UT)
Specifically this image:
So the UT engine will typically continue movement, in spite of packet loss. What happens are situtations like this:
- You shoot someone/vehicle (actor in UT terms), you and your client thinks they are in one position but because of the induced lag they are not. Server doesn't record the hit--you think you've hit them repeatedly but no.
- Actors appear/disappear and appear to teleport elsewhere...with a lag switch you're still taking damage from them but they've suddenly moved or appeared in a different spot, this includes vehicle explosions where like in a Hammerhead you nearly always die...but suddenly the player appears after the explosion somewhere else.
- Things like Avril locks/rocket locks suddenly "unlock" without an abrupt evasive movements.
Now the UT engine isn't perfect, and you might experience these things now and then for any player.
What we've noticed as Admins that there's a few players who consistently display the above behavior...and almost come out on top of the exchange. So the lag is nearly always a benefit vs. an even "glitch", meaning "I have crappy internet" would mean your aim would also generally suck because the server can't get all the updates to your client. Same with the lag/rubber banding, it would throw off your aim too, you might live but you wouldn't be able to get effective kills either.
We have video from multiple admins/players showing the suspect behaviors...it occurs too frequently to just be a server glitch or general lag...its specific to a few players.
Some players are just better, (I'm not one of them) and have really good aim, really good hand/eye coord, reflexes, or better hardware/network...
We don't want to ban anyone. We don't want anyone to cheat. If you're doing it please stop and we're good. If you do get a message about it, please consider that I'd like nothing more than clear anyone's name first and foremost, this is not a witch hunt. If you're kicking ass all over the place legitimately --- happy fragging. If not, well we will do what we have to.
If anyone feels they want to discuss privately let me know.