[QUESTION] Very High security on MPQ ?

[Rangorn]

Hello everyone, i am currently searching the best way to protect my custom patch.
Actually i will follow 3 steps :

1) Crypt the mpq, delete listfile, everything is like File000001.xx
2) Attach the mpq to a custom WoW.exe for my server
3) Lua modification to force realmlist of my server.

 I know how to do the steps 1 and 2, but i'm currently searching a way for the step 3.

In fact, i want :
-My patch can only works on my server
-The patch is completly crypted with a large number of files.
-The patch can only works with a special wow.exe

If someone could teach me a tip or a good advice, that'd be great
Regards, Rangorn

[schlumpf]

All those modifications are useless.

[Rangorn]

Yeah sure, i'm looking for better methods

[schlumpf]

There are none. It is technically impossible.

[Steff]

Something for you to think about.

If there would be a way...  Why blizzard do not use it?

[kojak488]

All those modifications are useless.

I wouldn't say it's useless.  Yeah, it's pointless in the sense that the data can still be taken.  But it's useful in that it takes more time to do so.  And the people likely to steal the data to claim as their own aren't often the types to put in the extra effort.

[stoneharry]

While it's impossible to protect it, you can make it harder to access. Such as:

• Renaming DBC files (strings stored in binary), renaming all textures, lots of renaming (obfuscate everything).
• Remove listfile, add dummy files, add decoys.
• Change some behaviour with a module.

At the end of the day, is it worth it? Who cares? You can't do a lot with the client stuff without the server side content. If your server is that dependant on the client side data not being reused you are doing something wrong.

[Skarn]

Harry, you're wrong. Players won't play something professionally scripted but looking like crap. Thus, visual part as well as lore, sounds, cutscenes is also extremely important.

[stoneharry]

Harry, you're wrong. Players won't play something professionally scripted but looking like crap. Thus, visual part as well as lore, sounds, cutscenes is also extremely important.

And you pull that assumption from where?

I've seen plenty of servers with only server side custom content become very popular.

You are wrong in stating that client custom content is required. Very, very few servers requiring custom client content have become popular. I would state that Heroes-WoW is the only one to ever require a custom patch to reach near 1000 players, and their client patch is terrible.