Cameras

[UNCL3LARRY]

I do know that destroyed cameras makes the assault waves slightly easier, but how exactly does it make it easier? Does it delay the wave? Does it reduce total spawns? Does it reduce the time of the wave? Bain never seems to mention the benefits of destroying them.

[mbutton15]

I'll start by saying I've only played single player. But I'm not convinced it does make a difference. Or at least when still waiting for the drill to complete. Sure, I think it delays them finding you, but I've still had some pretty intense assaults to cope with in First World Bank. And I think as they are slow in finding you then once you are told they are drawing back and the 'Assault' icon disappears, then you can still find a whole bunch of cops lurking in the building if you move to another location immediately after being given the all clear.

However, I read that shooting all the cameras in the vault area does make a difference to how many cops come out the elevators when you make your escape once you've grabbed all the cash.

[Vex_M]

I think you get somekind of bonus, not sure if it's monetary, or does it do any of the stuff you said. The only thing that the game told us is that "destroying cameras reduces the police's intel on you", which is quite unrevealing.

Originally posted by UNCL3LARRY:

I do know that destroyed cameras makes the assault waves slightly easier, but how exactly does it make it easier? Does it delay the wave? Does it reduce total spawns? Does it reduce the time of the wave? Bain never seems to mention the benefits of destroying them.

[Hellzilla]

It's hard to quantify how much it helps the Assault waves, but if it does anything it may only lessen spawn numbers or locations, not duration or time between Assaults.

It's pretty subjective since the waves are a little different each time you play anyways. Try leaving the cameras up on a familiar heist and difficulty, and see what you think. I did try leaving them up when trying to solo on Overkill before--to save time--and it was hard to measure the difference at that difficulty.

I just tried it on First World Bank on Hard in single players with bots, and I'm very familiar with that mission set at that level. One difference was I got three snipers spawning on the vault side early, before fixing the drill--the mandatory rooftop sniper, and the two bonus window snipers. The one rooftop sniper usually doesn't spawn until you have to fix the drill, making you an easy target for him.

If you want further details...

The rest went surprisingly well. During the drilling I didn't get Cloaker spawns, which are most typical (from the elevators upstairs, and the office/cafetria side). I got a pair of Tazers, the usual ones ziplining from down by the Aquariaum.

The rooftop sniper came back for his usual appointment to try and shoot me while I fixed the drill. I don't recall a Shield around that time. No Dozer yet.

No guards in the "Vault Hallway" after drilling, but their existence there is randomized regardless of whether or not you shoot cameras.

I went to get the second can of thermite. Another pair of Tazers upstairs, and some cops. Killed some Cloakers to get back downstairs.

Waiting for the thermite to melt, holding the "Vault Hallway", there were alternating spawns of Cloakers and Tazers. It didn't seem too bad, and went by fast. Few Cloakers from the elevators. Elevators open on both sides, I think three of them.

No guard in the vault. Low on health by then--and I don't remember when, but I was downed and revived once. A Dozer came down, but it was otherwise uneventful. A Shield or two on the way out of the vault/drill area. Run through lobby was easy, besides snipers in the street. Running through the cafeteria and upstairs there were two sets of Cloakers, but not much else. With the six of them down, the last two Specials I would see were after blowing the wall open, Tazers on the way to the escape stairs. No Dozer coming out of the doors downstairs, no Cloakers hiding by the escape vehicle.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Body Count: 116
Specials: 21
Playing "PAYDAY: The Heist" first thing in the morning: priceless

Try it yourself and see what you think. I still take the cameras down, because if it does help, when the Assaults and Specials spawns are really bad is when it seems like leaving the cameras up was a really bad idea.

[UNCL3LARRY]

Ok thank you for the info me and my friends will have to try that

[pulpfiction]

destroying camras reduces the polices intell on you so they make it what the hisnk will destroy you

[UNCL3LARRY]

Yeah it reduces their Intel, but I mean the exact details, if you actually read it, not just the fact they have less Intel.

[Adaarable]

Originally posted by UNCL3LARRY:

Yeah it reduces their Intel, but I mean the exact details, if you actually read it, not just the fact they have less Intel.

I'm pretty sure they make the cops spread out and try and find you, to a degree. Say you're in the vault security entrance with those 4 cams. If you take them out, they cannot pinpoint your exact location, so they don't all rush in with a mighty force. Basically taking out cameras (I believe) "thins out the horde" so to speak.

[UNCL3LARRY]

Yeah that would make sense in real life, but would it apply in Payday? I will try to look next time I play. Ill do 1st World Bank by destroying all cams, and see if there is any cops on the top balcony when I move to do the C4, because if they are looking for us, then there should be some up there, and Ill try again without destroying cams.

[Sirius]

Originally posted by UNCL3LARRY:

Yeah that would make sense in real life, but would it apply in Payday? I will try to look next time I play. Ill do 1st World Bank by destroying all cams, and see if there is any cops on the top balcony when I move to do the C4, because if they are looking for us, then there should be some up there, and Ill try again without destroying cams.

Not sure if that would work, as the locations of cops/specials are pretty randomized, so just the fact that there are a few cops up there even though all cams are down doesnt nessecarily mean anything.

From my observations, though, taking out cams doesn't cause fewer cops, but rather, like already suggested, indeed spreads them out more / don't make them rush so hard (less intel). I don't have hard facts or numbers, though, also I don't know if this applies to special cops at all, or just the regular cops/swats (looking at you, cloakers... they pretty much spawn to ambush you regardless of cameras, at least I feel that way)

Bottom line: It's one of the nice things about Payday that you can't be sure of everything. Big part of the game's charm for me ;)

[UNCL3LARRY]

Yeah, thats one of the reasons I have over 600hrs on Payday 2, and I only just discovered Payday 1, had about a week, and amassed about 50hrs already.

[bob4967]

probaly because if you destroy the cams they wont know you have big guns until someone calls the police

[UNCL3LARRY]

Yeah, I mean after the alarm is called, Bain says stuff like "Thats all the cams in this area destroyed, good work!", and there is a tooltip when you shoot one that says "DESTROYING CAMERAS REDUCES THE POLICES INTEL ON YOU."