The Escapee - (Escape Mode Basics and General Tips)

These pages host a wide range of information from the absolute basics to some more advanced, possibly unknown mechanics (like burning down the f***ing building). Perfect for a Convict of any experience or skill level. It will cover the more basic features of thriving and escaping, such as simply walking away shackled, and the reputation system to the more advanced like Reputation Farming at a higher level (Drills are too OP). NO MATTER what you're looking for, you will learn something, or be able to teach me something. Worth it either way.

Check it out and skip through to sections that support you're learning in the carefully formatted piece of information.

Basics of Escape Mode (...and How to Find it In-game!)

The Absolute Basics of Escape Mode in Prison Architect

...skip this section if you've played the mode before

Prison Architect has evolved with many new events, features, and modes over its two years of development, yet one of its key modes, Escape Mode, has been semi-hidden from the main game for the span of its lifetime. While this mode was created after the game was introduced to the market, it was still launched before full-release. This puts the mode in a full-release state, however it is still hidden near the bottom of the Escape Menu.

For anyone that has not played the mode before, as I'm sure most reading this section haven't, here are the steps to get to the mode in its currently full playable state (as of 2/8/2019).


The VERY FIRST step in finding the mode is simply hitting ESC, Escape, when in-game as this will bring you to the Main Menu.

Afterwards, you should press on the "Extras" option.

This will lead you into another, expanded menu on the left side now as though you flipped the page. From here you will find three options with the word Escape and you may choose whichever suits you, as the picture displays.


While the option to escape from your OWN prison is fairly well implemented (although doesn't work for cloud saves) choosing to escape on the Steam Workshop is far trickier as it houses some of the greatest Prison works of art created to date. Many of these prisons took hours upon hours to build, and some are near impossible to escape from, presenting a real challenge. The search option for prisons through Steam is similar to that for mods.

How Escape Mode Works

To start off, you arrive on a prisoner transport bus with a possibility of few AI prisoners hopping off alongside you. When you arrive, if there is a free guard he will grab you and bring you to the reception assuming the prison has one. After being undressed and outfitted with your new prisoner attire, you are taken to a cell and the game officially begins.

Tip: When you get off the Prisoner Bus if the side or top of the road have no walls or gates you are able to simply walk out. When you get off the bus, immediately attempt running away on any open sides.

The point of Escape mode is to test how difficult your builds, or others' prisons are to escape. Your simple goal is to escape in any way you can.

The standard range of escape methods are as follows;

• Digging out, otherwise known as Tunneling.
  
• Breaking the wall (I'll get into methods in a later chapter).
  
• Using a Guard's keys to escape through the doors.
  
• Starting a RIOT to create a diversion (Again, I'll go over methods in a following chapter).

General Escape Information

With each escape attempt and, for the most part, coinciding new prison, there is a multitude of new escape methods using what rooms and tools are around you.

Some large categories of tools include "Digging Tools" which includes everything from a wooden pick axe to a plastic spoon, all of which are viable tools to dig your way out. A second noteworthy category are the Comfort items, none of which are currently use-able by the player (to my knowledge) but with other prisoners can cause them to overdose, or even die due to poisoning.

HOWEVER, there is one comfort item that is always applicable to escape and will be able to cause Havoc in any prison (assuming the cells aren't littered with sprinklers). This would be the Lighter. Simply put, with left click you are able to set fire to any surface, which will eventually burn through it. Initially it will start a pitifully small fire. However, if you hold left click on one spot the lighter will light a Massive FIREBALL of DOOM.


The prison "warden" will call firefighters though, so you have to escape through the walls as quickly as possible. Holding left-click on a specific wall spot will speed up the walls destruction but, keep in mind running through the fire may hurt you slightly.

ALL ITEMS HAVE NO TECHNICAL DURABILITY

However, while digging some tools will last longer than others (for instance, knives aren't great at digging, who would've thought). With this, you are able to dig long distances with only one or two tools, so digging is a viable option in escaping.

This is Roughly the distance a knife will be able to dig, although if luck would have it, you may be able to get another 2-3 blocks.

While digging you are also Able to See the foundation of any structures above you (if you're nearing a wall). This is very important to see when a digging prisoner (you) should pop up to get outside. I'm fairly certain you are not able to dig past any walls directly next to the edge of the map, so you MUST come up at some point, you are not able to El Chapo your way out.

Sorry.
(This is what tunneling looks like when you pop out
+ when taking corners, for anyone interested).

Finally, and the last way I know of to escape is to use the doors of the prison.

There's a neat little trick to the AI's code within Escape Mode. Nearly Every Single Time you walk up to a door, a guard will open it for you or for a staff member waiting. This can lead to simple escapes LED BY A GUARD.

Alternatively, if you beat up a guard or just steal keys from a guard's room, you're able to Just. Walk. Out. This opens truckers' gates too, along with Solitary doors. Have fun Escaping!

Reputation Points + Application of Pts.

With every aggressive action against The Prison, It's Staff, or Fellow Prisoners you obtain Rep Points which can be used in a variety of ways.

---One large way these can be utilized is through Recruitment


When you gain enough Reputation Points you are able to convince fellow prisoners to your side. Simply do this by holding right-click on a nearby prisoner.
This option is useful in combat, as the fellow prisoners will assist you in a fight through the use of the R key. This toggles all currently recruited (and not shackled or unconscious) crew members to follow you and participate in whatever activity you're currently involved in.

<Meaning> If you're stuck in a bind, being attacked by three club-wielding guards simultaneously, you are able to call on your crew (with R again) to assist you in fighting the cops. The key also causes any members of your crew able, to escape when you attempt to. However, one glitch is that the prisoners will not always follow you when you're attempting to dig your way out, they instead will find their own way. However, Prison Architect allows you to take control of, or fire, any fellow prisoners in your crew. You may take control by clicking their portrait, allowing you to escape individually, or have individuals do different things while one crew member is arrested. Additionally, if one individual escapes, you are able to press the X in the Top Right corner of every other crew members' portrait to INSTANTLY win although you will get less points for this. The more Escapees with the more Victims, the higher the points.

Escaping Crime Time.

The Creators of Prison Architect thought ahead for the case of detainee time. In some Workshop prisons, the creators have it set so any potential crimes turn into 150 hours of detainted time for any prisoners involved. This would mean that, if you had every single one of your hired prisoners in a fight, each would be in solitary at the same time, forcing you to wait for multiple minutes even at the fastest speed. However, if you spend only a single Reputation Point, you can skip the punishment for EVERY ONE of your hired Prisoners.

The "Skip Punishment" button also heals all of your crew to MAX HEALTH causing it to be great post-fight or after an escape attempt. However, if a crew member is shot or killed in some other manner, they will not be revived and will in fact stay dead.

The PERMA DEATH for a crew member is most often caused by a sniper or shotgun wielding guard. When you encounter one of these protectors, click SPACE to Surrender, preventing any of your members from being murdered.

Individual Reputations & Building a Legendary Crew

The one Final use for Reputation Points is through the leveling of your Crew.

Each Crew Member has individual stats in six categories;

• Strength - A prisoner hits harder with each punch, causing higher hit-by-hit damage whether armed or unarmed.
  
• Toughness - Creates a "BEEFIER" prisoner, allowing them to sustain more damage without being knocked unconscious or straight-up dying.
  
• Deadliness - The higher the level, the greater the chance a prisoner can, "Juan Tap" -CS:GO, a fellow prisoner or staff/officer of the Prison.
  
• Quickness - Prisoners are able to run up to 50% faster, as well as sprint for a determined amount of time to evade guards.
  
• Instigation - Whenever a prisoner starts a conflict, the higher the ability, the higher the chance prisoners surrounding them will begin to fight as well, causing a [d]RIOT[/d] in some cases.
  
• Skilled Fighting - Creates the chance that a prisoner will disarm their opponent, in some cases instantly taking the weapon for themselves.

---A preview of how the skills look within the UI

Advanced Farming of Rep. Pts. (unfinished)

Merci, Gracias, Thanks!

I'm no expert on Escape Mode, I've played it a total of 40-50 times.

Saying this, comment any questions and I'll get back to you. Don't worry, I'm an expert at not knowing how to answer questions.

Additionally, I'm stupid and likely forgot many things about Prison Architect's Escape Mode, try it for yourself then mention anything I may have gotten wrong.

Thanks for reading!

(psst. Rate if you'd like to)