TIPS (3)

Struggling with Day Four's complex new documents in Papers, Please? Get a friendly guide to Entry Permits, ID cards, Audio Transcripts, and Fingerprints.

Alright, so Day Four is where things really start to ramp up in Papers, Please. It feels like the game's throwing a lot at you all at once, but don't sweat it – we'll break it down. The biggest change is that Entry Tickets are out, and now you've got Entry Permits to deal with. These are way more detailed, showing a person's name, passport number, why they're visiting, and for how long. Crucially, the Enter BY date on the permit matters now, not just the Entry Day. If it's expired, they're out.

Your main job here is to make sure the passport and the permit match perfectly. But it's not just about the documents themselves; you've gotta listen to what people say, too. If their reason for visiting or how long they plan to stay doesn't line up with what's on the permit, you have to deny them. Remember, they're a bit flexible with time: 7 days is a week, 30 days is a month, and 4 weeks is also a month. So if someone says they're staying 8 weeks and their permit says 2 months, that's actually fine. And when someone says 'a few weeks,' it could mean 2, 3, or even 4 weeks (a month), so don't jump to conclusions. Double-checking their spoken reason against the permit is key.

Arstotzkan citizens also need to show an ID card now. This card has a photo, name, and date of birth – all of which need to match the person and their passport. But there's more: the ID also lists their height, weight, and which district issued it. You can check their weight on the right side of your desk, in kilograms, using the tools there. For height, use the measuring lines behind them and trace the measurement to the left. And for the district, make sure it's a real Arstotzkan district – you can find a list in your Rulebook under 'Regional Map' -> 'Arstotzkan'.

Two new tools become available: Audio Transcripts and Fingerprints. Audio Transcripts are super handy if you zoned out for a second and missed what someone said about their visit reason or duration. Fingerprints are a bit more niche and usually come into play if you're suspicious about something like a different height, name, or if the person doesn't look like their photo. If the fingerprints don't match what's on file, you'll go into Inspection Mode. You can then link the prints and, if things still don't add up, detain them (starting Day 5) or deny them entry.

Keep an eye out for opportunities to snag country tokens this day. These are basically little collectibles with a Steam achievement tied to them. You get them by letting certain people through, even if their papers aren't quite perfect. The guide mentions these people are noted in the 'Scripted Entries' section, so if you're going for those tokens, pay close attention to who you're letting in.

One last thing to prep for: your rent is going up. It won't hit you on Day 4, but starting Day 5, it jumps from 20 credits to 25 credits per day. So, keep that in mind when you're budgeting your earnings!