Overview
This is a decently short, sort of “advanced” guide to escaping. So I won’t go through basic mechanics of the game (getting keys, etc.), but I’ll go through what you need to escape this place.
First things first.
To escape, you need to decorate Santa’s office. As simple as that. To do that, you need tinsel, lights and presents. After some tweaks and updates to the map, this is not an easy task. First things first, what will you be needing:
You’ll need a yellow key, so make sure to check what guard you can get it from. Yellow is the only mandatory key.
Something to chip with. I started with forks and a flimsy pickaxe, but ended up with sturdy.
Few posters
Something to cut fence with, and fake fence cover. (just one is needed)
Stepladder x2 (the only prison I’ve needed a stepladder in. As far as my experience goes, second is also mandatory)
Guard outfit. (THIS is a tricky one. Checked yesterday, and you can’t bleach any elf outfits. So you need to find a more risky/expensive way to obtain a normal, or elf guard outfit.)
Screwdriver (though I HIGHLY recommend a powered one). (IF you use a normal one, you’ll also need a fake vent cover)
Also, a feature of the level. There are no prisoner stashes in this level.. But. There are five tree-marked boxes, that each contain one ‘special’ item of this level, and then few randomized items that may or may not help you along the way.
These ‘special’ items will respawn in their respective boxes (most likely every day). So if you lose something, you can get it back from where you got it.
I will go through locations of these boxes further in the guide.
The decoration.
While it is forbidden ground, you can go in Santa’s office and click the tree at any time during the day. Clicking the tree pops up a prompt of what you need.
Glitter, glue and toiletpaper. Only glitter is one of the ‘special’ items of the level. And it’s found in the tree-marked box, in the locked room next to gym. This is easy. Just during night time, you go in, chip the wall, leave it open, check the box, and leave, then plop down the wallblock. (no poster needed here).
Bulbs, battery and wire. Following the same pattern, only one ‘special’ item. Bulbs are found in the box behind Santa’s office, surrounded by electric fence. No biggie. You’ll only need to visit the crate once, so one fence cover will do. (You should have no trouble locating the generator. Also, generator room has a box too. It contains candy cane lever, this is useful)
Now.. The hardest part. Presents.
Sticky tape, wrapping paper and wooden toy (ball, doll, scooter, etc).
Let’s start with the easiest. Wooden toy (it seems to change daily, if not more frequently, when checked from the tree in Office, I am NOT sure if an incorrect toy will screw this up). Either get yourself Toymaster job, or gain access to it (walls are thin, *wink* *wink*). I went for the correct toy for that particular night (which was a wooden ball). So I needed some repetition.
Just read the sign, pick up a wooden block and chisel from the box, and start crafting! Once you got the right toy, you’re good.
It’s in the box in the guard’s “living room” (the room next to their sleeping quarters). Once again, just remove a block of wall and replace it with a poster (the place is too frequented to risk leaving an open hole in the wall).
[I also did climb the ladder, but it just way to that building’s vents, and isn’t that useful]
The hard part of the level
Sticky tape, and why Santa’s sweatshop is tricky in its current state:
And what makes this item, and the whole level, hard is the fact the doors are currently marked with a blue lock. And there is no blue key (as of current). Well, normally locks don’t hold me. But.. The walls inside Santa’s office are unchippable. There is one fact making things easier. Blue doors can be passed when wearing an elf guard outfit (not a regular one). So while obtaining the yellow key, you can steal a guard’s uniform.
Following is a harder way to get into the top room. Costlier, bit riskier, but it works too.
As far as I know, vents are the only way into the room with sticky tape. There are only two rooms you can be in Santa’s office (others being locked by blue locks). The main hall, and computer room. And both of these rooms are frequented by guards, even during night time. You’ll need to be real quick and slick.
Plop down your stepladder (in the hall the spot is right where the tip of the left candycane shows), unscrew the vent, go in, put the vent cover on, (lose your ladder to guards). *If you’re using a normal screwdriver, you’ll need a fake vent cover (normal screwdriver lasts for two vent covers, but won’t get you out of the initial cover you placed back on. So keep this in mind.*
Go above the target room, unscrew, get down. Take the sticky tape, get back into the vents (here you can stand on the box), and get back.
THIS is where you need a second stepladder. Plop it down, and put the vent cover back on after you’re out. So you won’t get busted right away.
Then, just combine sticky tape, wrapping paper, and the wooden toy (again, I don’t know if the type of toy is very specific or not). Go and put the presents under the tree. Then it prompts you about a small hole in the ground (can’t remember specific wording), right by the tree. Then just use the candy cane lever, and whole backwall dissapears. Walk to the sleigh (or edge of map if that won’t work), and you’re a free elf! (I’m sure there’s some Harry Potter reference here to be made)
I hope this guide helped you out!
Feedback is appreciated.