You might all be interested to know that there is an other game using a similar server model. It's Neverwinter Nights by Bioware. Characters are saved on the server to avoid hacking. There's only a difference, Bioware's anti-cheating methods work, characters don't get corrupt and servers don't crash.

Well ok, maybe I'm a little harsh... But my point is that there as being ALOT of discussion about that server model on Bioware's official forum and they came to a conclusion:
1- If people save on there computer, they can easily cheat
2- Characters cannot be transferred between servers because of moding and well, reason #1 (anyone could start there own server, cheat the save then transfer it)

I'd like to add #3:
3- Allowing people to export characters for single player game is cool

I recommend you check Bioware's forum posts (it could be VERY long to read) if you don't like the way Freelancer's server work, you may find it enlightening.

Oh and I think Freelancer (the game, not the server) is a really good game (I has NEVER crashed on my computer, NWN has) and no, I don't work for Bioware

To finish, dear god we really need a better server software ! I feel like a beta tester using that thing (it has crashed many time because of a corrupt characters... I think...).

Well...that is is interesting indeed. I do understand the concept now, but people are cheating right now regardless of player profiles. How could one dude start at 10:00pm with a ranking of 1 and by midnight have a ranking of 38? hm?

I would'nt know how to cheat even if I wanted to, and I believe most gamers are the same way. I am confident that player profiles would be safe from cheating 99% of the time if they were stored on the players computer instead of the server.

Besides, I'd rather face a cheater in the game than not be able to even get to my player/carachter ever.

Nice input, nevertheless.

i play on a private passworeded server that a friend runs. If it ever goes down, he will give me the database file so I may run the server with my character intact.

you lucky b@stard!
if only others would do the same.....

I'm not done with this thread!!!!
I still want some answers, or help, or whatever....

I guess the thread is done with you than.

its gone, they closed it, and even if they reopen, I guess after your little show you are definatly unwanted.

host your own server if its so bad for you to lose a stupid charakter that you can have withhin 3 hours of playing, if you actually know what your doing.