Covert Heist Missions Help? o7

[Sethiest]

So I've done a few heists. I've done a few covert heists too.

The usual strat is;

1. Clone lvl 3 access
2. Use the terminal to find a settlement alarm system.
3. Sneakily switch off the alarm.
4. Go grab the goods!

But what do you do if a settlement doesn't have an alarm terminal?

When you open containment things the alarm will be triggered. Even if you aren't seen doing it, it's automatic. I assume the alarm is hooked up to it somehow.

Now I've just spent the best part of 2 hours trying to locate an alarm switch. It didn't show on the list when using the terminals, so I thought maybe I should just check everywhere. Couldn't find one!

I got bored and shot a scientist who was being mean. I can confirm that definitely does not help.

Does anyone know if this is an oversight that needs logging on the issue tracker?

Ps. Powering down the settlement also raises the alarms lol. Besides, even if it didn't - you need the power to open the sample containment unit!

 

[John Xenir]

I don't know if it's an oversight, but I've also encountered one such small settlement so after restoring power to it, I've stared looting everything in sight, including one of those machines that are supposedly hooked up to an alarm. Was surprised when a minute later door opened behind me, far enough that I knew I didn't trigger it, and a soldier waltzed in. Luckily, she didn't see me somehow and just run past me, so I got the hell outta there as I didn't want to get any bounties

They seem to be frozen in those funny little garages outside, the only buildings you can't open on your own.

Back to subject though, it doesn't appear there is any way to turn off alarms in such settlements. If it's an oversight then it needs fixing, but maybe there's a hidden way of doing heist here - I don't know, turning off power (I think it sounds alarm anyway), maybe disabling security scans.
Would be great to have FDev answer if it's a bug or not.

 

[BluePilot]

I don't think this is a bug. Rather it was a simple mistake, where someone forgot to add an alarm console to one of the settlement types. I doubt it was intentional and if I could recall where I'd seen it before I'd submit an issue tracker ticket for it... I think it was one of the small agriculture surface settlements.

 

[Ydiss]

So I've done a few heists. I've done a few covert heists too.

The usual strat is;

1. Clone lvl 3 access
2. Use the terminal to find a settlement alarm system.
3. Sneakily switch off the alarm.
4. Go grab the goods!

But what do you do if a settlement doesn't have an alarm terminal?

When you open containment things the alarm will be triggered. Even if you aren't seen doing it, it's automatic. I assume the alarm is hooked up to it somehow.

Now I've just spent the best part of 2 hours trying to locate an alarm switch. It didn't show on the list when using the terminals, so I thought maybe I should just check everywhere. Couldn't find one!

I got bored and shot a scientist who was being mean. I can confirm that definitely does not help.

Does anyone know if this is an oversight that needs logging on the issue tracker?

Ps. Powering down the settlement also raises the alarms lol. Besides, even if it didn't - you need the power to open the sample containment unit!

I've always found an alarm.

Did you use the terminal to locate it? It's not always obvious where it is. I've even found them in the IND building on some layouts. If you are adamant the settlement has no alarm then Fdev are going to need to know which settlement. So if you didn't record this, it might be tough to work out. But I am certain all settlements have one. I always use a terminal when I'm unfamiliar with a settlement.

 

[BluePilot]

I've always found an alarm.

Did you use the terminal to locate it? It's not always obvious where it is. I've even found them in the IND building on some layouts. If you are adamant the settlement has no alarm then Fdev are going to need to know which settlement. So if you didn't record this, it might be tough to work out. But I am certain all settlements have one. I always use a terminal when I'm unfamiliar with a settlement.

I've found an alarm in all but one surface site I've visited. Or at least all of them where I looked for it, except for one. Must have re checked the terminal five times and after that failed I searched every building. The alarms console was not there. Fortunately my mission didn't require no alarms.

 

[Ydiss]

I've found an alarm in all but one surface site I've visited. Or at least all of them where I looked for it, except for one. Must have re checked the terminal five times and after that failed I searched every building. The alarms console was not there. Fortunately my mission didn't require no alarms.

The problem is I'm guessing you can't remember which? If you do then we can reproduce it.

 

[BluePilot]

The problem is I'm guessing you can't remember which? If you do then we can reproduce it.

You are correct I don't remember which. Is there a place where the game saves a log of what you've done? I'd happily retrace my steps to find it again if so.

 

[Ydiss]

You are correct I don't remember which. Is there a place where the game saves a log of what you've done? I'd happily retrace my steps to find it again if so.

Yes, your log file but that's some serious sifting. It tracks docking and undocking. It depends when it happened too, it'll split into files over time.

 

[BluePilot]

Yes, your log file but that's some serious sifting. It tracks docking and undocking. It depends when it happened too, it'll split into files over time.

What's the file path so I can dig?

 

[Ydiss]

What's the file path so I can dig?

Users.. Your user name.. Saved games... Frontier Developments

 

[smbell]

There was a settlement I found that also had no alarm panel. Spent hours looking for it.

I saw the computer setup where it would normally have been, but the panel wasn't there. It was a very small settlement, so I know I didn't miss it.

 

[Ydiss]

Even the type of settlement would help me to work out which it might be.

 

[Guyperson]

Just ran into one of these.
Biggs Chemical Facility, HIP 14211 5

Threat 1 in the system map, no med/high sec tag in the nav panel. Found a lvl2 worker who hangs out on the catwalk in the IND building, cloned that and then checked out a terminal but found no alarm panel listed anywhere so I figured it must be inside the PWR building since that was the only one I had no access to view on the terminal.

Checked the staff list and the only lvl 3 worker in the whole settlement stays in the reactor room. It's one of the 2-floor pwr buildings with nothing else attached so one of the exterior doors is lvl2. Snuck in though through that door and found that the lvl3 worker paths close enough to open one of the reactor doors, but he always does so while a second lvl2 worker is on that side. Ended up wedging myself right by the door frame just far enough that the 2nd worker rounds the corner right before the lvl3 gets too far away. Followed the lvl3 inside, cloned his ID and went to check the terminal after confirming the alarm panel wasn't inside. The only security-related panel in the entire settlement is an AP Turret panel sticking out of the reactor terminal.



Oh and there's a patrolling guard in the IND building too just for good measure.

 

[Ydiss]

Just ran into one of these.
Biggs Chemical Facility, HIP 14211 5

Threat 1 in the system map, no med/high sec tag in the nav panel. Found a lvl2 worker who hangs out on the catwalk in the IND building, cloned that and then checked out a terminal but found no alarm panel listed anywhere so I figured it must be inside the PWR building since that was the only one I had no access to view on the terminal.

Checked the staff list and the only lvl 3 worker in the whole settlement stays in the reactor room. It's one of the 2-floor pwr buildings with nothing else attached so one of the exterior doors is lvl2. Snuck in though through that door and found that the lvl3 worker paths close enough to open one of the reactor doors, but he always does so while a second lvl2 worker is on that side. Ended up wedging myself right by the door frame just far enough that the 2nd worker rounds the corner right before the lvl3 gets too far away. Followed the lvl3 inside, cloned his ID and went to check the terminal after confirming the alarm panel wasn't inside. The only security-related panel in the entire settlement is an AP Turret panel sticking out of the reactor terminal.

View attachment 240476

Oh and there's a patrolling guard in the IND building too just for good measure.

View attachment 240479

I'll give this a look ASAP, thanks for documenting it. If I can reproduce maybe we can get a tracker item going for it. No point having covert heist missions pointing to a settlement where there's no way to turn off the alarm, it's 100% fail. Just checking, you were on a Covert Heist?

 

[Guyperson]

I'll give this a look ASAP, thanks for documenting it. If I can reproduce maybe we can get a tracker item going for it. No point having covert heist missions pointing to a settlement where there's no way to turn off the alarm, it's 100% fail. Just checking, you were on a Covert Heist?

Yep. It's in the objective list on the HUD in the screencaps as well.

 

[Ydiss]

Yep. It's in the objective list on the HUD in the screencaps as well.

Will give it a try later. Not saying I don't believe you, but if a few of us can recreate it... Maybe it'll get a look at by Fdev. I'm also intrigued because it may be a settlement I've not seen before (I think that's the main reason )

Where did you get the mission from?

 

[Guyperson]

I picked that one up from Ray Gateway in Diaguandri just by chance since I was in the neighborhood to buy a couple things. Normally I wouldn't bother going there for heists though because the offerings are usually terrible and you're liable to get sidetracked with pvp.

 

[Angry Fish Smell]

I poked my nose in out of intense curiousity and confirmed two odd things, at least to me--

• The overall layout was one that was new to me, which is actually kind of novel at this point
• While the PWR and IND building layouts were familiar, the HAB module itself was also a new one on me.

The lack of security panel in the computer and, as far as I can tell, anywhere on the base itself, is also confirmed, although I'm still poking around it just to see if it's doing the same thing as that one IND building atmosphere panel that disappears when you get too close to it. Exceptionally funky though.

 

[Ydiss]

I poked my nose in out of intense curiousity and confirmed two odd things, at least to me--

• The overall layout was one that was new to me, which is actually kind of novel at this point
• While the PWR and IND building layouts were familiar, the HAB module itself was also a new one on me.

The lack of security panel in the computer and, as far as I can tell, anywhere on the base itself, is also confirmed, although I'm still poking around it just to see if it's doing the same thing as that one IND building atmosphere panel that disappears when you get too close to it. Exceptionally funky though.

The IND panel disappearing is common.

I'm still finding unique interior layouts to this day, so I'll be interested to see the HAB. All of this just reafirms by feeling that Fdev did an amazing job with their content for Odyssey.

 

[Ydiss]

Just ran into one of these.
Biggs Chemical Facility, HIP 14211 5

Threat 1 in the system map, no med/high sec tag in the nav panel. Found a lvl2 worker who hangs out on the catwalk in the IND building, cloned that and then checked out a terminal but found no alarm panel listed anywhere so I figured it must be inside the PWR building since that was the only one I had no access to view on the terminal.

Checked the staff list and the only lvl 3 worker in the whole settlement stays in the reactor room. It's one of the 2-floor pwr buildings with nothing else attached so one of the exterior doors is lvl2. Snuck in though through that door and found that the lvl3 worker paths close enough to open one of the reactor doors, but he always does so while a second lvl2 worker is on that side. Ended up wedging myself right by the door frame just far enough that the 2nd worker rounds the corner right before the lvl3 gets too far away. Followed the lvl3 inside, cloned his ID and went to check the terminal after confirming the alarm panel wasn't inside. The only security-related panel in the entire settlement is an AP Turret panel sticking out of the reactor terminal.

View attachment 240476

Oh and there's a patrolling guard in the IND building too just for good measure.

View attachment 240479

Yup, confirmed there's no alarms panel in this settlement. There are some industrial variants where there is no CMD building and the panel isn't in the PWR building; the alarms can be located in the IND processing room in the room overlooking the plant floor.

But that IND layout isn't the same as this one. This is used elsewhere in other layouts, for sure, but they all have the standard CMD alarms room.

This is definitely an oversight and Covert Heists cannot be completed in this settlement, 100%. Normal and nonviolent heists will be ok, just Covert won't work, by default.