Cheat Engine

Mucker · Newbie cheater Reputation: 0 Joined: 29 Mar 2012 Posts: 10

So I'm trying to create a simple table for two types of resources in a game called Achron, (can't post URLS, but the game is on steam if you want to have a look.) however I'm unable to, after going through the tutorials, find the right address that writes to either of the resources. From what I've gathered, the first values you find by simply scanning each time you gain/lose some of the resource is just the display value, as the value changes back to it's original value the moment you head back into the game.

What I've tried to do is backtrace to perhaps find the address that writes the actual resource amount. I've tried backtracing through the pointer method as detailed in step 8 of the CE tutorial, but I seem to keep getting stuck with having multiple addresses that don't have anything accessing them, but also don't do anything to the resource value.

What I have noticed however is that the addresses leading up to that point are accessed ~50 times per second, regardless of if the game is paused or not.

I can only assume that the game is doing lots and lots of checks to make sure the the display resource value matches with the actual one.

Anyway, after a bit of finding pointers that point to pointers, I came to a static address, but also two non-static addresses that had nothing writing to them, but the static address did. The text highlighted in red read "move esi, [Achron.exe+00177750], 00177750 was also the address of the guessed pointer.

When I tried to add the static address to the address list as a pointer, along with all the offsets I found along the way, I got a non-existent address and a value of ???.

So as of now, I'm completely stumped on where to go from here. Any ideas? Keep working through the tutorials? I appreciate any suggestions you guys can throw my way. I'm unable to post images as of right now, so I hope my description of my problem is enough for now.

Zanzer · Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 5:34 pm Post subject:

Sounds like you never actually found the correct address that updated the game.
Finding pointers or instructions touching an invalid address is useless.

Try other data types; 2-byte, float, double.
If increased/decreased scans don't find anything, try changed/unchanged instead.

Mucker · Newbie cheater Reputation: 0 Joined: 29 Mar 2012 Posts: 10

Rydian · Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2016 12:15 am Post subject:

Float, double?

Could also be that the value you're seeing is a combination of the other actual values, or a modification (0s added is common). Do an unknown initial value scan of the all type, then ONLY scan increased/decreased/changed/unchanged to try to find the actual way the game is storing that info.

Mucker · Newbie cheater Reputation: 0 Joined: 29 Mar 2012 Posts: 10

++METHOS · Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2016 2:46 pm Post subject:

This game has multiplayer mode. Are the values server-sided?

Anyway, you may want to clarify which mode you are referring to, as discussion of multiplayer games is prohibited.

If the values that you are trying to change are for single-player mode and are handled locally, then you need to keep searching. If traditional search methods are not working, try thinking of different ways to alter the values, indirectly.

Mucker · Newbie cheater Reputation: 0 Joined: 29 Mar 2012 Posts: 10

++METHOS · Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2016 10:46 pm Post subject:

1. Some values may be encrypted, especially if there is a multiplayer/online mode, so finding them and/or changing them directly may not be possible without additional work. Such values can be manipulated indirectly, sometimes, by altering other things that affect the values in question (e.g. gold can't be changed, but the value or quantity of item sold can).

2. Some 'real' values may not actually get updated until after a certain sequence has played out (e.g. changing screens/locations or end of battle sequence etc.), so 'display' values can be deceiving.

3. When all else fails, scan for unknown initial value of all types and only search for increased/decreased and/or changed/unchanged.

4. If the above doesn't work, try scanning save-game files to locate the value.

5. If you explain what values you are trying to manipulate, someone may be able to help you out.

Mucker · Newbie cheater Reputation: 0 Joined: 29 Mar 2012 Posts: 10

Zanzer · Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 3:39 pm Post subject:

It sounds like the game may keep an ongoing list of every action you take and assigns a timestamp to it.
To calculate your total resources, it combines all positive and negative actions within that list.
That way, when you rewind time, it will simply throw out all items with a future timestamp.

Could try to use the following: http://forum.cheatengine.org/viewtopic.php?p=5624204#5624204

So if a unit costs 100 resources, do an initial scan for -100 (negative).
Execute the Lua. Build the unit. Start a new scan for -100. Execute the 2nd Lua.