Why do people become escapees? Why do they try to cross the border risking their lives? The country ruler is a tyrant, for disrespect to whom people can spend the rest of life in the labour camp, for any small delinquency there are severe punishments, just believe us, they escape not from a good life... Nevertheless every escapee has his/her own reasons.
For example, one of the escapees has had the imprudence to say in public that the national anthem is boring and stupid. Then she has had only two ways: either she tries to escape or spends life behind bars... Difficult choice to make, but she has not been a coward, that's why she has joined the ranks of your supervisees and she is ready for mountains and swamps. By the way, there are people who are not ready. Please, check the escapee's age, don't take out in mountains a 70 year old lady, otherwise it will be her last journey...
We should remind that all people different as well as their stories, criminal records and social statuses. Among the escapees there are very famous people like a national football team player. At the border checkpoint he will be identified immediately, so he is better not to be there... although if you have a face-paint and a wig, you can risk.
Developers Diary #20. Drowned underground passage
Even if you thought out all the details, and everything should be alright, any casualties can happen.
For example, you can forget that it has recently been raining, and rains have affected the groundwater level. So, if you want to use the underground passage, you will fail. It seems to be dry in front of the tunnel and to be safe to go through it. However the passage goes deeper. Brave-hearts can venture to swim underground in conditions of a limited oxygen amount, but they do not manage to escape...
Don't worry, the next time you probably can use this way to cross the border if the water-level become normal. However it may be raining again... That's why you should always monitor the weather prediction!
Developers Diary #19. Food, I love you
Planning is a key to everything. As you should have understood, you can not spontaneously change the cross border plan: if you have been going to pass mountains, then please, stick to a plan, and let the luck be with you.
By the by, the mountains passage is the longest way to cross the border, so you should be sure that your group has enough supplies, otherwise human losses are inevitable.
MREs, preserves, toasts and grits are your allies against the hunger. A MRE is enough for a person to make it through three days! If only we could buy them at give-away...
Among provision you can find a roast chicken and boiled eggs, please, keep in mind that their expiration date is just a day.
That is why it is important to count necessary supplies before group's departure, remembering that food can spoil. The second piece of advice is not take food at the border checkpoint, it can go wrong.
Developers Diary #18. Bags and backpacks
Perhaps you wonder "Where do you put all these scuba gears, preserves, life jackets and all other things that can come in useful during the border crossing?" We have already mentioned the backpack (the one in which border guards can find a boat - and this is a direct road to the dungeon). But there is more.
The perfect set for crossing the checkpoint is a briefcase, diplomat or ladies' bag. Combine with a strict suit and dress, and here you are - on the other border side.
If the things you need fit neither in a briefcase, nor in a diplomat, then probably the thing is, your path will lie through the forest, river, or mountains ... Of course, the tent can't fit in a ladies' handbag, but a fishing or tourist backpack is perfect, and also there are a place for sleeping bags, bog shoes and maybe something else.
A pair of sports bags in your arsenal doesn't attract the attention of border guards, but it doesn't arouse trust either, so carry them carefully.
Developers Diary #17. Watch your items
Some items (for example, a ball and a travel voucher) can help to pass the border checkpoint, but many other items can alert the guards and even lead the mission to failure.
And it is quite logical, just imagine, you put flippers, a boat and scuba gear in a backpack, but instead of a river bank, you went to the checkpoint... Any inappropriate things give you away. You can tell stories why you need this boat, and that you really need it, but you will already be in the isolation cell, and then in the forced labor camp until the end of your days.
Also, you will not be allowed to pass if you have a weapon with you, such as a knife or a pistol. You are most likely rounded up and sent to the owners of the boat in a backpack.
There are things less dangerous, but undesirable, for example, food. Border transition takes only a couple of hours. Of course, you can justify yourself that you always want to eat. The thing is, the only food you can get and take with you is preserves. The border guards would not believe that you wanted to eat this jar of canned meat right on the border.
Developers Diary #16. Travel voucher.
Perhaps you will be surprised to see a tourist voucher in the game inventory, because we all know that people become defectors, because no one lets them leave the country.
However, this paper presence suggests that the person was allowed to travel abroad, and, moreover, this person plans returning. It instills peace in the border guards, and they are much more willing to let such people across the border.
Of course, if they had discovered that the voucher was no more than a skillfully crafted fake, signed by a weak-sighted old man and laminated so that the poor paper quality wouldn’t catch the eye, they would send defectors straight to the dungeon for the high treason and fleeing.
Well, it's a good thing that no one knows about it.
Developers Diary #15. Successful disguise
When it comes to camouflage, the first thing that comes to mind is a stuck in the bushes sniper or a special-service agent in an ammunition effectively hiding him.
However, hiding your appearance can be useful not only in this case.
Some defectors are very famous, among them there are journalists, TV presenters, sportsmen. It is very dangerous for them to cross the border at the checkpoint. But they can still try. A little face-paint, a wig, a mustache and ta-dah - the disguise would impose upon even the closest friends. This set can easily change not only the appearance, but also the nationality. Change the eye shape, the skin and hair color, and eventually get the appearance of a European aristocrat.
There are, of course, different situations, but if you are lucky, border guards will not reveal the defector and let him or her through.
Developers Diary #14. Mountain Hiking Preparation
Mountain crossing requires special preparation. You are responsible for the border cross outcome. Of course, there are situations when you can’t do anything, but in any case, you must provide the group with everything they need.
First things first, the equipment. Ice-axe, crampons, rope - without them, the mountain crossing is unlikely to be successful.
The ice-axe looks like a pick-axe; it consists of three parts: a head, a pick, and a handle. Besides belaying, the classic ice-axe is also used for chopping steps in ice when ascending steep slopes. Crampons, being attached to footwear, let mountain-climbers move on ice and firn.
The tent is quite important too. You have to make sure there is enough place for all people, (there can be several tents), as well as to provide them with sleeping bags, roll mates and warm clothes. You don't want them to freeze to death the very first night, right? Also, it should be noted that thermal underwear has been invented for a reason. It retains heat, absorbs sweat and keep a person wearing it warm.
Do not forget about such important things as binoculars, map, compass, matches, dry fuel, as well as vacuum flask and halazone tablets. The latter are widely known as disinfectants and used for disinfection of water in field conditions.
Keep an eye on the amount of the Meals, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) for each group member. One MRE is designed to be eaten as a meal at the rate of one per person per day, or as a daily ration for of one or several people during a short period of time, which is usually three days. MREs must meet the following characteristics:
Long shelf life;
Meals should be ready to eat or easy to prepare;
Meals should be digestible, allergen free, and shouldn’t cause eating disorders;
Package (usually made of leakproof, moisture-proof material) should prevent meals from getting wet and dirty;
Sufficient nutrition and energy value.
Developers Diary #13. Fake Licence
The defectors would not have risked, if only they had the opportunity to leave the country legally, simply by buying a train ticket, for example. Alas, the border crossing requires a special permit, and not anyone can receive it. The ban is also imposed on the movement inside the country - in order to go to visit relatives in another village or city, people must obtain this document with a seal.
However, with some courage and a bit of luck, defectors can pass the checkpoint.
To do so, they must show the above-mentioned permission to cross the border. Where would it come from? You can guess how it happens: specially trained people take special paper, glue, tape, ink, and the artist magic turns this whole set into official papers with solid seals.
Even experienced border guards can not distinguish them from the real ones, the main thing for defectors is to keep themselves confident.
Developers Diary #12. Boat
Moving on an inflatable boat, it is important to remember the simple rules. For example, make sure you put on lifejackets. Also, you can not overload the boat. And before launching it is necessary to verify there is no air leakage through the valves. Your group managed to fulfill none of the rules, as a result, in the middle of the way the boat sank to the bottom.
