False Alarms?

[SpaceVelociraptor]

Since alpha 12 was released I have noticed a lot of people setting off the metal detectors, but once they are searched, they don't have anything. I know that prisoners can now hide contraband, but even if they are searched almost immediately it seems like almost all of them are false alarms. I don't know if this is perhaps a bug, or if i'm just not searching them fast enough, or maybe false alarms are supposed to be a feature.

[paktsardines]

It's a bug and a feature, and is in mantis already. I've removed metal detectors completely from my prison as 9 out of ten times they went off there was nothing to find. The subsequent futile search just left my prisoners pissed off.

[HerrJoebob]

It's a bug and a feature, and is in mantis already. I've removed metal detectors completely from my prison as 9 out of ten times they went off there was nothing to find. The subsequent futile search just left my prisoners pissed off.

I've found that metal detectors at the entrance work very well; it flags any weapons new inmates have and doesn't (seem to) have any falses. All other detectors behave as you say, though.

[iScripters]

I like that it randomly gives a false positive. That way, items not detected by metal detectors (such as booze) can still be found. Just think of it like a random search..

[VIPERGTSR01]

I have found that it goes off roughly around 1 in 30 prisoners for no reason, which isn't rare enough IMO. Have a prison of a 100+ inmates going to eat and you need gaurds chasing them around all the time.

I do like the feature but just like the speed prisoners get released it should be toned down some more.

[Fistalis]

Currently WAD, prisoners avoid stealing metal contraband if they have to move through a metal detector which leaves nothing but false positives. 1 in 30 is about right since IIRC it was stated at about 3%. Personally I think its fine as is.

[Novbert]

After a false alarm have you ever tried searching the cell of the prisoner? I found that in many cases they set an alarm, then outrun the guards to their cell and hide the contraband immediately. I found some contraband in their cell after each 'false' alarm so far.

[hybris]

After a false alarm have you ever tried searching the cell of the prisoner? I found that in many cases they set an alarm, then outrun the guards to their cell and hide the contraband immediately. I found some contraband in their cell after each 'false' alarm so far.

I've tried to search their cell too, but no results.
Metal detectors were working good until this alpha. Now I got false allarms only - except when the prisoners arrive.
I think to it like a bug, not like a "random" good function.

[HerrJoebob]

After a false alarm have you ever tried searching the cell of the prisoner? I found that in many cases they set an alarm, then outrun the guards to their cell and hide the contraband immediately. I found some contraband in their cell after each 'false' alarm so far.

I've tried to search their cell too, but no results.
Metal detectors were working good until this alpha. Now I got false allarms only - except when the prisoners arrive.
I think to it like a bug, not like a "random" good function.

They worked way too well before, detecting things like booze and cigarettes with 100% accuracy and no falses... I like having to keep an eye on the contraband economy rather than just setting up MDs at the canteen and forgetting about it entirely.

[iScripters]

After a false alarm have you ever tried searching the cell of the prisoner? I found that in many cases they set an alarm, then outrun the guards to their cell and hide the contraband immediately. I found some contraband in their cell after each 'false' alarm so far.

I've tried to search their cell too, but no results.
Metal detectors were working good until this alpha. Now I got false allarms only - except when the prisoners arrive.
I think to it like a bug, not like a "random" good function.

They worked way too well before, detecting things like booze and cigarettes with 100% accuracy and no falses... I like having to keep an eye on the contraband economy rather than just setting up MDs at the canteen and forgetting about it entirely.

This.

Maybe when/if there is a campaign (I've read that there will be) this could be a difficulty setting. Easy = everything gets detected and no false alarms, Medium = Everything get's detected but with the 3 sec cooldown, Hard = only metal items, cooldown and false alarms.

[hybris]

They worked way too well before, detecting things like booze and cigarettes with 100% accuracy and no falses... I like having to keep an eye on the contraband economy rather than just setting up MDs at the canteen and forgetting about it entirely.

Ok, you're right but it seems they are too much.
It's not like at the airport where false detecting can happen because people wear belts, some kind of jewelry, watches, phones and shoes.
Prisoners can't wear like people are departing. So the false detecting is too exaggerated.

[Spectre Incarnate]

Ok, you're right but it seems they are too much.
It's not like at the airport where false detecting can happen because people wear belts, some kind of jewelry, watches, phones and shoes.
Prisoners can't wear like people are departing. So the false detecting is too exaggerated.

I keep wondering where the false detections are coming from... gold teeth?

Either that, or Mystique injected them all with iron.

....

Now I really want a superhero prison mod.

[HerrJoebob]

Ok, you're right but it seems they are too much.
It's not like at the airport where false detecting can happen because people wear belts, some kind of jewelry, watches, phones and shoes.
Prisoners can't wear like people are departing. So the false detecting is too exaggerated.

I keep wondering where the false detections are coming from... gold teeth?

Either that, or Mystique injected them all with iron.

....

Now I really want a superhero prison mod.

I LOL'd, but yeah I wonder where the falses come from too... I guess the detectors are made by the lowest bidder.

[NoOpen]

Ok, you're right but it seems they are too much.
It's not like at the airport where false detecting can happen because people wear belts, some kind of jewelry, watches, phones and shoes.
Prisoners can't wear like people are departing. So the false detecting is too exaggerated.

I keep wondering where the false detections are coming from... gold teeth?

Either that, or Mystique injected them all with iron.

....

Now I really want a superhero prison mod.

I LOL'd, but yeah I wonder where the falses come from too... I guess the detectors are made by the lowest bidder.

Although it happens only once in a blue moon. Prisoners have been known to work together in real life to get contraband through checkpoints, Having a person in front of you (Or at times said inmate himself) will throw small piece's of metal threw them to give themselves a better chance of getting through.

[RickyHobby]

I'm seeing about 90% false alarms in alpha 12, FWIW.

Rick