Alright, here is my take on this whole issue.
First off, look at the relevant section of the Operation Policy. Note that this is not hacking. Here is the definition of hacking according to the User Agreement:
User Agreement wrote:Hacking shall mean acquisition other’s cyber information without permission and breaking it. In the game, character, items and others that is the result by user’s efforts are stolen mainly. And many cyber money, character, items and etc. are copied in a short time, in the result of that, whole order of the game will be broken. All the above behavior is included in hacking.
That basically defines hacking as theft of an account or abuse of the system (item duping). It also mentions order of the game being broken. Account theft and item duping are not possible through PK2 editing. Disruption of the order of the game is possible, however if all you are doing is simple edits such as 8th-9th degree you won't be disrupting the game.
The relevant section of the Operation Policy is then the System Abuse Policy.
Operation Policy wrote:5. System Abuse Policy
5.1 If a user is found abusing a bug or system glitch, the user may have his account restricted or erased. Listed below are similar instances in which similar action may be taken.
– If a user is found to be inducing or encouraging particular behavior with the intent of placing undue stress on systems.
– If a user discovers a bug and, instead of reporting it directly to a GM or Customer Support, tells other users
– If a user knowingly benefits indirectly from exploitation of a bug.
5.2 Users found to be using or distributing illegal programs may be subject to restrictions of their account or have their account deleted. In particular cases, the user may be subject to investigation by the proper authorities.
The abuse of a bug or system glitch is partially defined as "copying of items and etc." in the Punishment Policy. This is too subjective in my opinion to include modification of the game client. PK2 modification cannot in anyway place undue stress on any systems other than your own so that part is ruled out as well.
The Operation Policy says this of things not covered within it:
Operation Policy wrote:8.1 Normally all punishments will follow the table below however additions/revisions are possible and will be announced in notices.
morningdew did make a notice regarding PK2 editing, and here it is:
morningdew wrote:Please do not edit the files on the Silkroad folder for the 9th degree effect. The patch may find you have a check sum error then ban you for 3rd party software used on your computer. Besides, tampering with the software may bring unrecoverable disasters.
This leaves much to be questioned. Nothing is mentioned about modifying the PK2 files for things other than the "9th degree effect". Only the possibility of being banned due to a checksum error is mentioned after that however I have not experienced this myself and question it's validity. If you mess up your PK2 files or they are corrupted, the game will simply not start, thus you cannot provide your user information for banning. Regardless, morningdew did not make a revision to the Punishment Policy of the Operation Policy, and so there is still no punishment outlined for modification of PK2 files.
There is this last part of the Operation Policy which could be applied to PK2 modification.
Operation Policy wrote:1.3 All GM’s/CS are familiar with Silkroad Online operation policy and thus all services and actions of the Silkroad Online operations team are administered according to the operation policy. Also, any details not covered in this Operation Policy may be resolved in accordance with common rules and regulations.
This says that anything not covered in that policy may be resolved in accordance with common rules and regulations. What are common rules and regulations though? Where do you draw the line?
I highly doubt your friend was banned for PK2 modification alone. In fact, I can only think of one instance where they might be banned through something they can achieve by PK2 modification, however they would be banned because of violation of an unrelated part of the Operation Policy.
Yes, a pixel scanning bot could be made however you would get nailed for it because it is the use of an "illegal program", and thus would be treated no differently than any packet scanning bot.
Joymax has bigger things to worry about than PK2 modders. Namely player bots and gold bots. Those disrupt the gameplay of others. PK2 modification does not. In fact, it could be argued that it is doing Joymax a favor by keeping people who otherwise would have left interested in their game.
Many people have edited their PK2 files secretly, though I have done it openly and posted proof of it. Through all of this, I have not had my account suspended or banned. In fact, I haven't even spoken to a GM or any other employee of Joymax. It is a personal decision whether or not you want to modify your PK2 files, and based on what I have read in the User Agreement and Operation Policy I have chosen to do so. If morningdew or any other Joymax employee reads this I encourage them to clarify their policy regarding punishment of PK2 modification and make appropriate changes to the Operation Policy. Until that happens, I will continue to make my mods.
gg.
for editing.
