Ever found yourself staring at a locked door in The Escapists, freedom tantalizingly close, yet blocked by the simple fact that you don't have a key? You're not alone! Mastering the art of key molding is a crucial skill for any aspiring Escapist, turning those impenetrable barriers into mere inconveniences. Knowing how to replicate keys efficiently opens up countless new escape routes, allowing you to access restricted areas, gather essential items, and ultimately, break free from your digital prison.
Without the ability to create key molds, you're limited to relying on sheer luck, meticulously timed guard knockouts, or costly item purchases from other inmates. These methods are often unreliable and resource-intensive. Learning the key molding process empowers you to take control of your escape, providing a consistent and repeatable method for obtaining those vital access keys. This not only increases your chances of success but also significantly expands the strategic options available to you.
What do I need, and how do I actually make the key mold?
What items are needed to craft a key mold in The Escapists?
To successfully craft a key mold in The Escapists, you'll need three essential items: toothpaste, a lighter (or any heat source), and a key (of the color you want to make a mold of).
The process involves obtaining a key, often from a guard or a specific location within the prison. Once you have the key, you must use it to create an impression in the toothpaste. This is where the lighter comes in; after taking the impression, the toothpaste "mold" needs to be hardened, and the lighter is used to achieve this. If you can't find a lighter, anything that provides heat can often be substituted.
It's crucial to remember that crafting a key mold is only the first step. After creating the mold, you'll need molten plastic to actually cast the fake key. Molten plastic is created by combining a comb and a lighter, but you must have acquired the key mold beforehand. Successfully forging the key will allow you to open locked doors and progress towards your escape.
How do I find putty for making a key mold?
Putty in The Escapists is typically acquired through desk looting or by purchasing it from other inmates. Look for it in desks, especially those belonging to inmates with a low opinion of you, as they are less likely to report you for stealing. You can also try bartering with other inmates who might have it available for sale; they'll have a speech bubble above their head showing what they want to trade.
Finding putty relies heavily on luck and persistence. Consistently searching desks during freetime or after lights out, while being mindful of guard patrols and inmate suspicions, will increase your chances. Remember that you might need to raise an inmate's opinion of you before they are willing to trade, or you might need to raise your strength to intimidate them into giving it to you. It's also a good idea to have a backup plan if you can't find putty, as there are sometimes multiple escape routes available. Consider also the activities available to you during freetime, as participating in them might raise your stats and allow you to beat down an inmate that you know has putty. In general, a good early strategy is to build up your stats quickly so you can more easily obtain items through force or trade. You can use a crafted weapon to further increase your chances of a successful confrontation, though it might attract unwanted attention.What's the best way to obtain molten plastic after getting the putty?
The most reliable and safe way to get molten plastic in The Escapists is by looting it from guards. Guards will often carry combs or toothbrushes, which are common plastic items. Place the plastic item inside the desk and then place the lighter inside the desk. Interact with the desk and melt the plastic.
Guards are your best bet for plastic items. You can usually find them wandering around the prison yard, cell blocks, or mess hall. Knocking out guards will allow you to loot them without getting caught, although be mindful of your notoriety level afterwards. Searching desks is possible, but the yield is typically lower and can be risky if the desk doesn't belong to you.
Once you have a plastic item (comb or toothbrush), the process is straightforward. Be sure to place the comb, toothbrush or other plastic item and lighter inside your desk. Interact with the desk, and the option to melt the plastic will appear. This is typically the safest method as it keeps the contraband hidden. Be careful though, as a guard searching your desk at the wrong moment will ruin your escape plans!
How do you successfully create the impression on the putty to make the mold?
To successfully create the impression for your key mold in The Escapists, you need to ensure the putty is at the correct softness and then firmly press the key into it, holding it still until a clear and complete impression is formed. This process relies on the putty's malleability to capture the key's shape without distortion.
Creating a good impression involves a few key steps. First, acquiring the putty (often from desks or by crafting) is essential. The game doesn't explicitly show softness, but common sense applies; if you've just obtained it, equip it and use it on your desk to avoid having to quickly remake it after guards become suspicious. The key, of course, must be in your inventory, or obtained from a knocked-out guard. Next, equip the putty and select "Use" when you are near the key, usually held in your hand. This initiates the molding process. The game shows a short animation. Any movement during this animation will spoil the mold. The crucial part is ensuring the key is firmly and steadily pressed into the putty. A wobbly or incomplete impression results in a useless mold. You won't get a second chance with the same putty if it fails. Always make sure that there are no guards around, and if you are playing in multiplayer, make sure your friends do not walk into your cell. You also might want to hide the key and putty inside your desk when you are done. Successful molding leads to a usable key impression that you can then use with molten plastic (or other material, depending on the game) to create a copy of the key. This is a vital step in escaping from most prisons within *The Escapists* because obtaining keys is often the most important thing.Can I use a key mold more than once?
No, key molds in The Escapists are single-use items. Once you've crafted a key using a key mold, the mold is consumed in the process and disappears from your inventory.
This single-use characteristic is a design choice to prevent players from easily mass-producing keys. It forces players to be strategic about when and where they use their key molds, adding a layer of challenge to the escape planning. You'll need to carefully consider which doors are most crucial to unlock for your escape route before committing a key mold to creating a key.
Therefore, always plan ahead before using a key mold. Scout the prison layout thoroughly and identify the most beneficial doors to unlock. If you need multiple keys, be prepared to acquire multiple lumps of putty and key blanks. Remember, guard routines and item availability can change, so adapt your plans accordingly. You can also use multiple inmates to get multiple key molds, since each inmate can only hold one putty.
Will guards detect me carrying a key mold or putty?
Generally, no, guards will not detect you carrying a key mold or putty during a routine search in The Escapists. These items are small and considered contraband rather than weapons or tools that would immediately raise suspicion. As long as your character's inventory doesn't exceed the allowed contraband limit, simply possessing a key mold or putty shouldn't trigger an alarm during a search.
The detection of contraband items depends on the game's mechanics and how it classifies different objects. In The Escapists, guards primarily focus on finding weapons, tools used for digging or cutting, and other large, obvious escape-related items. Key molds and putty are typically categorized as low-profile contraband. This means they contribute to your overall contraband level, but are unlikely to be specifically targeted unless the guards are already suspicious of your behavior or you are carrying a significant amount of other illegal items. It's important to manage your overall contraband level wisely. Having too many illicit items in your inventory at once greatly increases the chance of being caught during searches. Therefore, focus on acquiring the key mold and putty only when you're ready to use them and minimize the risk by crafting or using them quickly afterward. Consider also having a hiding spot within your cell or around the prison to stash these items when not in use, further reducing the risk of detection.What keys can I duplicate with a key mold?
In The Escapists, you can duplicate any key you possess using a key mold, provided you have the necessary materials and have successfully created the mold. This includes keys for cell doors, maintenance areas, and other locked areas within the prison that are essential for your escape.
The key mold allows you to create a copy of a key using molten plastic or metal, depending on what you have available. Typically, you'll need putty (obtained by combining toothpaste and talcum powder) to create the mold itself. After obtaining the key, you carefully press it into the putty to create a detailed impression. The original key needs to be returned before a guard notices its absence, which is why timing and stealth are crucial. Once the key mold is ready, you can then melt down a plastic comb or other plastic item or metal object (obtained through various means within the prison) in a heat source like an oven or by using a lighter to create the molten material needed to fill the mold. After the molten material cools and hardens within the mold, you can carefully remove the newly formed key, which will (if the process was done correctly) function exactly like the original, granting you access to previously locked areas and bringing you one step closer to freedom.Alright, there you have it! With a little patience and these tips, you'll be crafting key molds like a pro and escaping in no time. Thanks for reading, and good luck with your prison breaks! Come back soon for more Escapists guides and tips.