Overview
A beginner’s guide on how to save your time – giving you more time to escape.
Tip 1 & the basics
First, know that the guards only raise your heat and security level if you don’t attend the scheduled period at all (Every event that isn’t free time or lights out). This means that once you enter the area/room, you may leave again, as long as the time bar shows a tick next to the schedule name (e.g 9:05 breakfast time <tick>). This stops you from having to stay in different places at different times.
Tip 2 – Rollcall-skipping
As I said in tip 1, there is no point staying for the entire time in a select event in the schedule. This tip applies to rollcalls, and is just as effective, as you may see who gets a shakedown via the top-left messages box.
Tip 3 – Need to miss an event?
Due to the fact that the security level only goes up half a star per routine missed and the first star doesn’t make illegal activities much harder, it can be OK to miss one or two periods if you are doing something more important, such as moulding a key. This does NOT apply for rollcalls, as lockdown will initiate and you will be screwed.
Tip 4 – Be a night-owl
If you need to craft a batch of not-so-important things that won’t be needed until later, then do it at night. This can be especially useful in the first day or two, as you may want to spend a lot of time exploring and figuring out escape plans. Studying the map and planning escape strategies are also best done at night, as you won’t be wasting time when you could be doing things like favours or desk searching, for more loot.
Tip 5 – Stay out of Harm’s way
If you have done an illegal activity, and you are being chased, either by guards or inmates, you can run into the nearest locker, as long as you do it out of your attacker’s sight. After a few seconds they will give up chase, allowing you to roam freely once more, once the path is clear.