Sugah's Sim Antics

Yaaaay! You know how much I love feedback on my game antics!!!
I appreciate you taking the time to post in here, Mac, Cher, Karen & Em!   

Mac, I know how busy you and Maikki are, packing & preparing for your move (which is just weeks away now).
Thank you for your comments, Cap'n!

Mac wrote:

I've been keeping an eye on Marisa for some time in my own hood. She may yet become a playable.

She is not only a naturally pretty Sim, but very skilled and has lotsa friends and is high up in her Athletic career.
As a matter of fact, since I last posted, I had her work on the necessary skills to move up.
She may be a Superstar now, if memory serves.   

Speaking of...
Does anyone else play like this...

There are times when I am playing a lot and a Townie (for example) walks by.
I decide that Sim need a makeover & wardrobe change, so I make her/him selectable.
I, then, have a desire to check out her/his aspirations and if she/he is skilled and/or employed.
It often becomes my mission at this point to help the Sim along with whatever she/he is needing/lacking.
I can have half a dozen locals working on improving themselves and getting raises on any particular lot at any given time.
I meant to take a picture last time a bunch of 'em were at Zen's house:
A few were working out, some were playing chess, some were studying cooking, etc., etc., etc.
When I manage to get each of them higher up in their careers, I make them unselectable.
I don't know why I often feel compelled to do this, but I can't seem to help myself!!!   

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I love her with the kitty, especially Sunny as a kitten...

To this day, Evie is always picking up and loving on Sunny.
She truly adores that gorgeous cat, as I said, Mac, and has from the very beginning (when first adopted).
It was meant to be.
When Evie and her twin, Eli, part ways, the cat will definitely go with Evie.
I love how they bonded from the start!   

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As for Evie and Zen. Sorry she didn't make it with Ben. But with Zen. What a difference a single letter makes.

Hahaha! I totally missed that, Mac! Clever!!! How funny!   

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Zen in a fig leaf might just break your monitor!   

  

Good thing I don't have the EP that brought the Nature career. I don't think my heart could take that!   
Zen LOVES being in the Oceanography career, btw. He is now the Hand of Poseidon.

Karen wrote:

At times I've doctored some sims just to try and improve the bolts between them. Or I've made them in CAS hoping they'll be the perfect partner for a particular sim I'm trying to find a mate for.

Em wrote:

I don't often make sims especially for each other, but instead let them find their own matches from whatever's out there, but I can see how sometimes despite your best intentions and best matchmaking abilities or chemistry sometimes they end up not being as right together as you might have hoped.

I used to create Sims especially for those already in game.
I've also gotten the ReNuYu and doctored Sims on lots to be more compatible.
These days, my memory is so poor, I can't remember any one in the hood's likes/dislikes/signs/aspirations while creating in CaS!   
(Case in point: Ulli's Benjamin not being compatible with Toni's Evie.)
I decided to let the chips fall where they may when adding Zen to the hood.
Somehow, I nailed it, without even TRYING to make them compatible with this crappy memory of mine.
So, I'm thinkin' it's meant to me. They started out with 2 bolts and now have three.  

Em wrote:

Last summer he had me make a list of what he wanted in a cat and he wanted me to add pregnant to the list...  
And a couple of months ago I overheard him giving my dad a whole speech and list of reasons why a cat would be a better pet to get than I dog.
I really need to get him a cat...

  

Love that kid, Em!!! 

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Long ago my simself had a houseful of pet and I remember them acting aggressively towards each other over food bowls and beds, but I don't remember any of them sleeping in assigned beds consistently.

I have been reading through the Sims 2 Prima Guide for Pets and have learned they can act possessively and therefore, aggressively regarding beds, bowls, scratching posts and toys, I believe. But I can't figure out if they can actually be ASSIGNED each of the above.
I'm not sure Maddie's cats will EVER get along if I don't buy one of each of the above for all 5 of her cats.
And I'm not sure I'm willing to do that, to be honest!!!   

I hope I have responded to everyone's wonderful comments here!
I have a lot more game play antics to share and some pics and will try to do so soon.

   

Sugah wrote:

I can have half a dozen locals working on improving themselves and getting raises on any particular lot at any given time.
I meant to take a picture last time a bunch of 'em were at Zen's house:
A few were working out, some were playing chess, some were studying cooking, etc., etc., etc.

I've never thought of this. I like the idea a lot. I think I'll start doing it since I've made the townies more attractive by changing the face defaults.   I'd be willing to let my simmies marry and procreate with townies now, and it would be nice to have their skills up.   It's not that my sims need to be perfect, but Maxis has its own special brand of horrific features.   

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These days, my memory is so poor, I can't remember any one in the hood's likes/dislikes/signs/aspirations while creating in CaS!

If I have a whole batch of kids going to Uni, I'll make a cheat sheet with all that stuff on it so I can decide which sims to put in dorms together so they'll fall in love. Even then, they surprise me sometimes. I think it's at least partially because one or more of the mods in MATY's Director's Cut affects chemistry in what are supposed to be more logical ways than the Maxis default.

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I decided to let the chips fall where they may when adding Zen to the hood.
Somehow, I nailed it, without even TRYING to make them compatible with this crappy memory of mine.
So, I'm thinkin' it's meant to me.

More and more I'm finding myself willing to just see what happens. It can be such a nice surprise to see things like what just happened in your game.

Zen and Evie!! what an adorable couple!! Bet their babies will be beautiful!!   

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LOL! That's not hard to arrange, you know.

Yes, I know!    I've raised a lot of kittens when I was younger.

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Speaking of...
Does anyone else play like this...

Not exactly, but I do incorporate townies in my games, make them over and have them build up their skills and careers as they meet and make friends and fall in love with my other sims

Thank you for your comments, Cher, Sandy & Em!   

Em wrote:

...but I do incorporate townies in my games, make them over and have them build up their skills and careers as they meet and make friends and fall in love with my other sims...

Cher wrote:

I like the idea a lot ... and it would be nice to have their skills up.  It's not that my sims need to be perfect ...

I am quite sure it's not about my Sims needing to be perfect either, Cher.
I think, in my case, it's more of a "How can I help this Sim? ... Does she need a new career? An advancement in her current one? ... Can he even prepare more than a lunch meat sandwich without burning his kitchen down? ... Wouldn't she feel better about herself with a bit of makeup, new hairstyle & a cute new ensemble to wear throughout the 'hood? ... Does he wish to be more physically fit? Or perhaps he seems more of a Knowledge Sim than a Romance one? ..."
You get the picture. I'm starting to fear it's a bit of an obsession with me: To accommodate, help improve & advance each pixel person in my 'hood.   

Cher wrote:

More and more I'm finding myself willing to just see what happens. It can be such a nice surprise to see things like what just happened in your game.

   

Okay, now back to our regularly scheduled program [Tres Lagos]...

The dueling promotions pic is hilarious!

Sugah, another thing I like about how you help the other sims by making them selectable is that it's more realistic for them to be more accomplished. In Uni, you can tutor another sim in the basic skills, but it can be difficult to get them to sit down and listen to your playable lecture them and they don't get any fun benefits from creative or logic lectures. It never made sense for me that a sim can be in Uni for 4 "years" and barely gain any skills, just because no one is playing him/her.

As obsessions go, you could do a lot worse!   

Awesome pictures!! I love the cat walking one too!! Thanks for the tip on the nature Aspiration reward, I have to get someone into that one!!

Must correct myself here: its the "Slacker" Aspiration reward, not Nature lol

Actually, Maikki had a cat she used to walk on a leash. We're equipping Morris and Stella with harnesses and leashes. Not that we expect to walk them, just to control them when we have to take them out of their carriers at airport security!   

BTW, Did you use some hacks to make Marissa a playable sim, or did Eli just ask her to move in?

Actually I figured it out (probably one of many ways) I used Simwardrobe's Visual Teleporter (Go to Sims2\Objects\Other Objects - it's a Yellow Vase) to teleport her in to an existing Sim's house, then Sim Blender to cause her to move in. Then had her "Find Own Place" on the computer to move her into the neighborhood.

I then put her into a place of her own and redid some of her clothing and hair. I used the Multifunction Painting on Simchaotics by merola64 (the website is still there, I didn't poke around to find the hack - it may be lost in ancient history) to reduce all her skills to zero. She still has a hobby of fitness, no career yet and all of her friends are still listed. Harsh treatment for a simmie,    maybe, but to me much of the pleasure is in career advancement. She was a CEO in the Business career but is now starting out in a 3rd party Real Estate career. LTW: $100K

Sugah wrote:

I think, in my case, it's more of a "How can I help this Sim? ... Does she need a new career? An advancement in her current one? ... Can he even prepare more than a lunch meat sandwich without burning his kitchen down? ... Wouldn't she feel better about herself with a bit of makeup, new hairstyle & a cute new ensemble to wear throughout the 'hood? ... Does he wish to be more physically fit? Or perhaps he seems more of a Knowledge Sim than a Romance one? ..."

  That really tickled me for some reason, especially the "feel better about herself" part. I'm just imagining you gently coaxing them into agreeing to going along with what's best for them.   

Cher wrote:

It never made sense for me that a sim can be in Uni for 4 "years" and barely gain any skills, just because no one is playing him/her.

It also doesn't make sense that nonplayable sims can be in college for generations and still have no skills and not graduate.

More feedback! How fun!   

Cher wrote:

The dueling promotions pic is hilarious!

Sandy wrote:

Awesome pictures!! I love the cat walking one too!

  

Em wrote:

That really tickled me for some reason, especially the "feel better about herself" part. I'm just imagining you gently coaxing them into agreeing to going along with what's best for them.

  

I can't help myself, Em!
It is my nature to assist those in need (whether they are aware they are in need or not   ) whenever possible.
The self-confidence & security levels of most locals who pass by continues to rise in Tres Lagos.   
Before long, the entire hood will feel better about themselves!   

Cher wrote:

Sugah, another thing I like about how you help the other sims by making them selectable is that it's more realistic for them to be more accomplished...
As obsessions go, you could do a lot worse!

'Tis true, Cher! I concur!   

Mac wrote:

Did you use some hacks to make Marissa a playable sim, or did Eli just ask her to move in?

I use the Boolprop > Make Selectable cheat, Mac.
I play with very few hacks compared to other Simmers, I think.
Your method is quite involved!   
I haven't moved the lovely Marisa Bendett in with Eli Kavanagh yet, Captain.
Still on the fence about who will inevitably get to stay or live in their current house...
Eli and Marisa or Evie & Zen...   

Thank you for ALL of your comments, good people of Sugah's Place.
I always enjoy reading your feedback on my game play.

  

Whew, boy!
How can it be almost a month since last I was able to play?
Where did the time go?
It's been so long, I can no longer make heads or tails of any of my game notes.   
(I haven't started color coding my notes yet, dang it!!!)

My best guess is, I haven't shared much about Ben and his dad, Blake Spencer.
I felt badly that I just wasn't feelin' the love match between Ulli's Benjamin and Toni's Evie.
Evie ended up falling head over heels (and it was reciprocated beautifully) for Toni's Zen as some of you may recall.
So, I decided to move a lovely female into Tres Lagos just for Ben.

Sugah wrote:

Isn't she a beauty?

Oh my, she most certainly is. I'm glad she hit it off with Ben. BTW, I love that crocheted-looking bedding. Baxter sure looks happy about recent events, too.   

That crocheted-looking bedding is one I created just for the Spencer-Bradshaw place, Cher.
If you'd like it for your own game, just say the word. I will package it up and post the file link here!
In the meantime, I will try to get a better snapshot of it today for you.  

I would love to have it in my game, Sugah. Thank you!

Alexis is so beautiful, what a great picture in the bath!! Her home is adorable too! I also love your quilt!

Blake and Maddie!! He's so handsome, what a cute couple they will make!

Love the update, thank you for sharing!  

Sandy, thank you for stopping by and for your comments.
I am always so thrilled to find folks responding in my game antics thread!   

Here are some better snapshots of my Bradshaw-Spencer bedding, Sandy & Cher.
So pleased you both like it!



Added later @ 5:10pm CST-

I've been playing the Bradshaw-Spencer lot today.
Lovely Alexis is now a Flamenco Master in the Dance Career.

Thanks so much for sharing the bedding Sugah!! Its really nice for a man, yet ok for female too!
Those pictures in the kitchen you made are awesome! That's great that you can make creations to suit your simmies. I bet it makes the game "funner" for you!!   
Alexis looks cute AND she's getting promotions!

Tres Lagos is an inspiring terrain!! I usually end up using flat ones because of the way the in game view handles- if there are mountains behind the house. Spatially that is hard for me    Beautiful terrain for sure though!

Thank you so much, Sugah. I can't wait to see the bedding in my game.   
The pictures are cute, and so is Alexis' pose for the camera. Great picture.

Tres Lagos is coming along nicely. The section you have done is gorgeous.

Sandy, I have trouble when there's a mountain right behind one of my lots, too. I forget it's there, swing my camera around, and suddenly my view zooms out.  

Cher, sounds like we are sympatico' with that...Way back when the game first came out I wasn't sure I would be able to get used to the in game viewing etc..I was SO used to the Sims1 way!!!  

Cher & Sandy, thank you, again, for stopping by my game antics thread.
Yaaaaay!   

You are both welcome for the bedding. My pleasure!
I'd love to see pics of it in your games, if you decide to use it.    

Sandy wrote:

Those pictures in the kitchen you made are awesome! That's great that you can make creations to suit your simmies...
Tres Lagos is an inspiring terrain!

Cher wrote:

The pictures are cute...
Tres Lagos is coming along nicely. The section you have done is gorgeous.

Thank you, ladies.
And yes, Sandy, it's nice to be able to recolor something I need for my own game. 
Remember, I DO take requests, so if you are in need of anything for your lots, please feel free to ask HERE.  
I agree with you both that mountainous terrain can get tricky to maneuver.
So far, I haven't had any trouble with this hood, as I think the mountains are far enough behind the abodes to not interfere with handling the lots!

I have so much more to do with Tres Lagos, but have put a dent in the Vista Ridge block area at least.  

It's so very hard to believe I have not been able to start up my game just to play since last summer.

I took a strong liking to my Mr February - Jacob and his precious Pittie (Rico).

So, I fired up my game yesterday and built a little house (on a 1 x 2 mini lot) for them.
Today, I recolored a few items and created some walls & carpeting for their tiny abode.

After I decorated the Roarke home just a bit, I was able to play for awhile. Yaaaaay!

I need to make dinner for hubby and me now, but hope to return soon to this lovely pair.
They've been busy bonding and Jacob is spending a lot of time training Rico.

Cute (yet manly) interiors for such an inspiring family!! Am looking forward to updates on these two!!

I notice Rico sleeping on Jacob's bed. Awwwww!  

I've wanted to have doggies and kitties sleeping on peoples' beds (both in the Sims and RL). How did Jacob do it? Praise for getting on furniture, maybe?

Sandy wrote:

Cute (yet manly) interiors for such an inspiring family!! Am looking forward to updates on these two!!

Thank you, Sandy.
It's such a tiny abode (just like the one that Ben Spencer and Alexis Bradshaw share with their cat Baxter).
It's hard to fit everything a Sim needs on the mini lots, but I really like playing wee homes.
I will try to get a few more pics of the minimal decor jobless Jacob has afforded thus far!

Mac wrote:

I've wanted to have doggies and kitties sleeping on peoples' beds (both in the Sims and RL).
How did Jacob do it? Praise for getting on furniture, maybe?

Thank you for stopping by my game antics thread, Mac!

Rico hopped up on Jacob's bed on his own.
The first time he did it, Jacob praised him for being on his bed.
I thought it would be cool if Rico slept with Jacob, like Reesi does with hubby and me here.
That was the one and only time Jacob praised Rico for doing so, because Rico didn't get on the Sim bed again for quite awhile.
I thought maybe the pooch was over being on it.
Soooo ...
Every time Rico slept in his own pet bed, Jacob praised him profusely for doing so.
He napped in his own bed several times.
Then, out of the blue, he decided to crash with Jacob again.
That's when I snapped the photo of the two of them sleeping.

To answer your question, perhaps the one time Jacob praised Rico for staying on the Sim bed did the trick?  

Not sure...

Added later @ 6:25pm:

I was blessed to be able to spend some time playing for a few hours today! Yaaaay!

...

Jacob has a nice little place. I hope he earns some promotions quickly so he'll feel like he has something to offer Suvi besides love.

I'm loving Rico more and more all the time. He's a very good boy, and he's very handsome. I have a mod that allows pets to sleep on a child's bed, but I guess they will spontaneously sleep on an adult's bed? I'm looking forward to trying that out in my own game. Gypsy sleeps with us and I know many people whose pets sleep with them. Why should Sims be deprived of that pleasure?

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Anyone ever wonder why Sim dogs can play with their squeaky toys all night long and their Sim masters never hear a thing?

If only it worked that way in real life.

Sugah, I'm glad to see you playing again.