Dormitories: What´s the catch?

[Benzin]

Take a look at the following screenshot:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1528190369

The building on the left (under construction) can house 96 prisoners using 2x3 sized cells, and showers in the south. It takes 6 guards to keep one stationed in each block so its fully "covered", and cells get a grade of 3, assuming i add a bookshelf and a radio to each cell.

The one on the right, can house the same 96 prisoners, using dormitories 3x4 in size / 2 prisoners per dorm, but it only takes 4 guards to keep it fully covered, cells get a grade of 5 if i add a chair and tv, or 4 if only the chair. It also doesnt require aditional shower rooms.

As you can see, the dorms allow you to keep the same prisoners in A LOT less space, are cheaper to build and keep guarded, provide a higher comfort level, and dont require aditional shower areas wich are prone to fights and deaths (plus take more space). Yes, i could add showers to the cells, but they would look unrealistically cramped.

At first i tought i would have a problem with prisoners whinning about "privacy", but after 48 days, ibe had no privacy related problems. I guess because there are only 2 prisoners per dorm.

So, are the dormitories just clearly superior in every way to cells, or im i missing something? In other words, why should i bother with cells ever again?
Whats the catch???

EDIT: just to add to the above:
The "downside" to dorms i know of is that supposedly inmates tunneling out of there will dig faster because they help each other.

Well, so far ibe had zero escapes, and they dont seem to be digging more or faster than on my previous prisons wich used mostly cells. Besides, even if using cells, they allways start their tunnel by communication with each other´s cells, so i dont see this supposed downside as valid. Specially when only having 2 prisoners per dorm.

[Mochi]

I guess it's just a matter of the prisoners. If you have a untreated druggie in one cell with someone else at nightime you might run into some issues. gangs might also be another issue... I don't really know, sounds like a bargain to me nonetheless.

[Benzin]

A bargain Indeed! so much so, that it seems like an "inbalance" in the game. I mean, if there are no downsides that i dont know of to dorms, why would anyone evern build a cell?

I dont know about the junkies, but i do have gangs enabled, and i dont seem to be getting aditional problems from the dorms.
I dunno, it seems there has to be a "catch" here.

[some moron]

When I use the prefab Dorm, it places two bunk beds but only fits three inmates. With three inmates they have their Privacy need unmet, so they are always the problem inmates. Maybe two is the golden number. That seems to be the case in all the prison movies I've seen.

[patrick_g2003]

Originally posted by Benzin:

Take a look at the following screenshot:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1528190369

The building on the left (under construction) can house 96 prisoners using 2x3 sized cells, and showers in the south. It takes 6 guards to keep one stationed in each block so its fully "covered", and cells get a grade of 3, assuming i add a bookshelf and a radio to each cell.

The one on the right, can house the same 96 prisoners, using dormitories 3x4 in size / 2 prisoners per dorm, but it only takes 4 guards to keep it fully covered, cells get a grade of 5 if i add a chair and tv, or 4 if only the chair. It also doesnt require aditional shower rooms.

As you can see, the dorms allow you to keep the same prisoners in A LOT less space, are cheaper to build and keep guarded, provide a higher comfort level, and dont require aditional shower areas wich are prone to fights and deaths (plus take more space). Yes, i could add showers to the cells, but they would look unrealistically cramped.

At first i tought i would have a problem with prisoners whinning about "privacy", but after 48 days, ibe had no privacy related problems. I guess because there are only 2 prisoners per dorm.

So, are the dormitories just clearly superior in every way to cells, or im i missing something? In other words, why should i bother with cells ever again?
Whats the catch???

EDIT: just to add to the above:
The "downside" to dorms i know of is that supposedly inmates tunneling out of there will dig faster because they help each other.

Well, so far ibe had zero escapes, and they dont seem to be digging more or faster than on my previous prisons wich used mostly cells. Besides, even if using cells, they allways start their tunnel by communication with each other´s cells, so i dont see this supposed downside as valid. Specially when only having 2 prisoners per dorm.

I use nothing but shared cells. Turn on the gangs, accept max security....good times... Just build a big morgue.

[MekaDovah]

I use dorms as a mainstay in several of my prison designs. Depending on the size of the dorm it can alter how the privacy issue is. For the most part, privacy isn't a huge concern. You can pack min sec in like sardines and they won't complain much, but more aggressive max security guys may start rioting in the morning if you over do it unless you have other means of calming them down like armed guards patrolling the halls, or furnishings that let them take care of other needs.

Privacy might not be the thing that sets them off but I think it does make it easier for another need to set them off.

[Benzin]

Originally posted by some moron:

When I use the prefab Dorm, it places two bunk beds but only fits three inmates. With three inmates they have their Privacy need unmet, so they are always the problem inmates. Maybe two is the golden number. That seems to be the case in all the prison movies I've seen.

Yes, two prisoners per dorm appears to work great!
Apparently most (all?) prefabs in the game are utter garbage! the ones ibe used are at the very least non optimal and space wasting.

[Benzin]

Originally posted by patrick_g2003:

I use nothing but shared cells. Turn on the gangs, accept max security....good times... Just build a big morgue.

hahaha i hear you mate!
On my prisons, policy number one is:
ANY attack on prison staff, results in an immediate open fire order.

This usually results in several deaths per day in the first couple of weeks. Eventually they seem to get the message (or i run out of troublemakers) and they settle down.

[Benzin]

Originally posted by MekaDovah:

I use dorms as a mainstay in several of my prison designs. Depending on the size of the dorm it can alter how the privacy issue is. For the most part, privacy isn't a huge concern. You can pack min sec in like sardines and they won't complain much, but more aggressive max security guys may start rioting in the morning if you over do it unless you have other means of calming them down like armed guards patrolling the halls, or furnishings that let them take care of other needs.

Privacy might not be the thing that sets them off but I think it does make it easier for another need to set them off.

Yes, and as long as you keep the number of prisoners per dorm to two, privacy doesnt seem to be any issue. On my prison (besides special areas such as protected and super max) there are 3 buildings of 96 inmates each, all dorms. And i have no privacy complains at all.

[MekaDovah]

Originally posted by Benzin:

Yes, and as long as you keep the number of prisoners per dorm to two, privacy doesnt seem to be any issue. On my prison (besides special areas such as protected and super max) there are 3 buildings of 96 inmates each, all dorms. And i have no privacy complains at all.

I think it might also depend on the size of the dorm. I have a prison where I have 4x4 dorms with 4 prisoners per dorm and so far they've been managable. Even max sec. They do complain about privacy, but not enough to get set off.

In another prison I've been using 3x4 dorms with 2 prisoners each and those I noticed privacy is a bother for people even when they have the dorm to themselves. The big 1x2 jail door might also be a contributing factor, but they do not like those more cramped spaces even if they're the sole occupant.

[Benzin]

Originally posted by MekaDovah:

I think it might also depend on the size of the dorm. I have a prison where I have 4x4 dorms with 4 prisoners per dorm and so far they've been managable. Even max sec. They do complain about privacy, but not enough to get set off.

In another prisoner I've been using 3x4 dorms with 2 prisoners each and those I noticed privacy is a bother for people even when they have the dorm to themselves. The big 1x2 jail door might also be a contributing factor, but they do not like those more cramped spaces even if they're the sole occupant.

Thats strange, all the dorms i use are 4x3 with 2 inmates per dorm, and i dont have serious privacy complains.
Maybe its because i also place a TV, bookshelf and chair on each dorm?
In fact they seem very comfortable with their dorms. So much so that many of them hang out in them during their free time Instead of going to the common rooms

[MekaDovah]

That's because I typoed, actually. My bad. I meant to write 2x3. Sorry about that.

[Benzin]

Originally posted by MekaDovah:

That's because I typoed, actually. My bad. I meant to write 2x3. Sorry about that.

hehe no problem.
Try making them 4x3, they seem to work great with 2 inmates. And you still save a lot of space compared to regular cells.

[Rogue]

I use 60 prisoner dorms with an open floor plan. Privacy issues seem to stem from showers and toilets. I add them to one side of the dorm and enclose them. Advantage, all escape tunnels are dug out from the same side.

Beds are singles. Each has a TV and a bookcase.
Part of the dorm is dedicated to Phones, Weight machines and Pool tables.
There are no doors except the Entrance/Exit and it is locked open.
Four taser guards patrol the dorm.
One Tower is placed outside of dorm with orders to shoot. They can and will shoot right into the dorm.

I did have two gangs go all out against each other once. Had 24 deaths that day and received a warning from the CEO.

[Benzin]

Originally posted by RoadHog:

I use 60 prisoner dorms with an open floor plan. Privacy issues seem to stem from showers and toilets. I add them to one side of the dorm and enclose them. Advantage, all escape tunnels are dug out from the same side.

Beds are singles. Each has a TV and a bookcase.
Part of the dorm is dedicated to Phones, Weight machines and Pool tables.
There are no doors except the Entrance/Exit and it is locked open.
Four taser guards patrol the dorm.
One Tower is placed outside of dorm with orders to shoot. They can and will shoot right into the dorm.

I did have two gangs go all out against each other once. Had 24 deaths that day and received a warning from the CEO.

Very interesting! so as long as they have some privacy on their toilets & showers, you get no privacy complains even on crowded dorms? I guess it makes sense, they dont want to be seen taking a dump or showering.

Can you please post a screenshot of one of these dorms?

EDIT: Forgot to ask, what do you mean your snipers can shoot into the dorms? you mean thru the windows?

[Mocha]

I dont know why but my dorms always seem to have a much higher chance of escape attempts, even wen I fully tend to their needs and keep them fully happy and guarded