Life in Christophe Harbour

EDIT (January 30, 2012) Folks....due to the overwhelming response to this tale, told over a year and a bit, with lots of comments and detours in this very long thread, I have posted the story in its entirety without all the stuff in between each episode, on my Live Journal blog.

If you'd like to read it from beginning to end, and maybe read about the Next Generation (the Harbour), just click on the pic in my signature and it'll take you to my blog.

Thanks for stopping by.

Of course, if you're interested in all the detours and back stories, grab a coffee and settle in to read this thread.

Have fun!


Howdie. Welcome to Christophe Harbor. Some 12 miles down the coast from Plesantview, Christophe Harbour was a bustling port town in the late 19th century, settled by migrants from around the world coming to seek their fortune. Though English is the official language of the city, it is heavily influenced by the French culture, language and architecture....the perfect mix of the old and the new

Though no longer the hub of the shipping trade, Christophe Harbour is still the second largest city near to the metropolis of Simmiewood - the center of the film and music industry. Many of Simmiewood's top entertainers grew up in this exotic port, and many choose to raise their families here.

First I'll introduce you to the city. Then I'll invite you to come with me and explore it through the lives of one of my favourite families. We will meet their friends and relatives (some of whom you might know), follow their careers and affairs, explore the town and make new friends, and go with their children to university and see how their lives turn out.

Ready?


Special thanks to all the wonderful custom content creators who've made my game so much fun to play. I'd like to make special mention of the amazing builders at GOS, MTS in particular Stoffelsim and at Seriously Amused Sims (whose gorgeous lots were the inspiration for Christophe Harbour).

Toni,

I love, love this!! What a quaint town you have built dear. I just know it has some secrets it wants to spill....

Beautiful job and can't wait to see what happens next!

Fantastic intro, Toni! I am so looking forward to the continuing saga!

Thanks guys! Off to work for a couple of hours. Will introduce you to the Harrelsons when I get home later. Stay tuned.....

Sounds fun! Beautiful shots.

Toni, you're off to such a great start!
I love the introduction and your beautiful snapshots of Christophe Harbour.

I look forward to meeting the families who live there.
Thank you so much for sharing & starting your own thread here.

Preamble: After getting a new computer, I decided to start a new neighbourhood from scratch, but being attached to many of my old families, I re-created my favourite ones.

Before we meet the folks in Christophe Harbour, I just wanted to alert you about my rather rabid Sim-manipulation! lol! I hate that townies and NPCs have no family ties (especially the kids) or worse, no memories, so in a rather labourous exercise, I ressurected some dead sims, and using TwoJeff's SimBlender and SimPe I created a few new family ties. I also used SimPe to create full memories for every single playable sim, townie and NPC. It took months!

You will likely stumble across some familiar looking names. I've transplanted the original Maxis-made families from Plesantview and moved them into Christopher Harbour and also adopted one from one of the later EPs (the Goodies).

I do use custom default skintones, and improved CAS default faces. I've done a little plastic surgery on the Maxis sims I decided to keep, and in some cases changed skintones and bodyshapes. I've also changed some surnames.

The Oldies = Olsons
Broke = Brookes
Burb = Burke
Goodie = Gladstone

Mortimer Goth and Faith Gladstone (Goodie) are siblings. A CAS created adult Sim, Margot, is one of the Gladstone's daughters. Their other daughter, Laura, is a university professor that Maxis insisted on making for me (sigh....what's with all the professors already?!). Laura and her profesor husband have townie children. So with all the family ties created, when Cassandra Goth just recently (and foolishly, might I add) married Don Lothario, Margot and Laura and their children, and the Gladstones got the appropriate memories that 'Cassandra got married.' Three cheers to Quaxi (the SimPe inventor).

I'm working again today, so later (or tomorrow) I'll introduce you to Margot Gladstone-Harrelson, her husband - who has caught the eye of neighbour, Nina Caliente - and her two teenagers, Lauren and Kyle. Kyle is a romance sim with a very complex situation on his hands. Oh! And he too has caught the eye of Nina Calinete! Stay tuned.....

Here's a a picture of Margot's husband, Brandon - an artist.

This is Margot Gladstone-Harrelson, the niece of Mortimer Goth.


A cellist in the Simmiewood Philharmonic Orchestra, she's been married to her artist husband Brandon for nearly 20 years. They have two children. Thirteen year old Lauren (a popularity sim) just grew up into a teenager and is in a competition with her best friends Bernadette and Raishma to see who will be the first to kiss a boy.


Older brother Kyle, at 17 (a romance sim) is one year away from college and a long, long way past his first kiss *cough* He and his buddies, Marc and Max play in a garage band called Rogue.

Kyle was grounded early this morning, when he got busted with Max and his girlfreind Cassie, drinking on a beach. Brought home by the cops, his parents - usually pretty relaxed about rules, think he's gone too far...so he's housebound for the next two weeks.

Here he is (far right, leaning forward) with Max (center) and Marc (far left) discussing how he's going to get out of the house on Saturday night to play a Rogue gig at a summer moonlight beach party......

WOW! You sure have gone through a lot of trouble to make your new neighborhood rock solid with family ties, memories, and everything. I absolutely LOVE the new names you gave everyone - I always hated the stupid Maxis names, lol. It looks like you have some pretty interesting families there. I look forward to meeting more of them.

The 'three Musketeers' consider their options to make sure Kyle can play at their band's gig. Max and Marc want to make a pitch to Kyle's mother (she's the strict one) and appeal to her to lift his grounding for one night - after all, they're only three weeks left of summer vacation! But it might be a bit soon, and she's none too pleased with Max, because he was involved in the little cop-busting drinking incident.


There's always the option of Kyle sneaking out again, but if he gets caught, he'll be grounded for life!

With a few days to play with, Kyle decides to wait it out, and see if his mother will calm down.


In the mean time he and his friends bum around his house during the day. Here're Marc and Max with their girlfriends, Ophelia and Cassie (who happen to be first cousins).


Kyle's girlfriend, Carolyn, is Marc's sister. She's a fun-loving popularity sim. She and Kyle have three bolts for each other.


But things are complicated. Marc's girlfriend Ophelia is also a romance sim, and so is Max. Even though Marc (a popularity sim) has currently won her heart and got her to agree to go steady with him, she's got the hots for his two best friends......and they've got the hots for her!


I see trouble brewing....

Toni wrote:

...so in a rather labourous exercise, I ressurected some dead sims, and using TwoJeff's SimBlender and SimPe I created a few new family ties. I also used SimPe to create full memories for every single playable sim, townie and NPC. It took months!

What an endeavor, Toni!
I agree with Ari. You've gone through quite the painstaking process to accomplish all that you have.
I can't imagine the patience, time and tenacity accomplishing your goal took.



Which custom default skintones do you use?

Ari wrote:

I absolutely LOVE the new names you gave everyone - I always hated the stupid Maxis names.

Amen to that, sista. I've always disliked both the first and last names of most Maxis Sims.
Was the creative team on CRACK when they chose them? Egads!!!

Quote :

(sigh....what's with all the professors already?!)...
Cassandra Goth just recently (and foolishly, might I add) married Don Lothario...

Margot and Brandon are quite a handsome couple.
I love that outfit she has on and that she's a cellist in the local philharmonic orchestra.
I also think Kyle's story - getting busted drinking on the beach & trying to figure out how to make his escape to play with the Rogues over the weekend - is quite creative, too.

And I definitely see trouble brewing with all the romancing going on amongst the teens! Look out!

How did you accomplish THIS pose:



That's so cool (and typical of teens)!

How much fun is this?
I am SO GLAD you've started your own thread and am really enjoying your fabulous screenshots and clever storyline, Toni.
Did you decorate their house yourself? It's such a neat place to look at with great attention to detail.

I hope you'll continue sharing Life in Christophe Harbour with us, m'lady.

Thanks Sugah. About that pose...I'm a shameless user of pose boxes for the purposes of storytelling. I've always chronicled my simmie's lives through photographs (and their memories), and those pose boxes are wonderful. I'm not even sure which one I used for that shot. I've got about six or seven boxes just of couples poses. But if you're interested, I can try to find some links for you.

I rarely build houses from scratch, but I do tear down the inner walls and occasionally to a little extending. But I love, love, love decorating. I spend days decorating a lot and doing the landscaping (equally important for me). I used to go crazy with the clutter, but I find big lots get overwhelmed with so much stuff to save, so I'm a lot more sparing with my new hood. But yes, all that decor is mine.

The shots of Ophelia (the hottie) in the house with the white stucco walls......those are taken at her home. Her mother is a lawyer and her father a famous actor (Leading man).....so there place is much more swanky.

But here're some shots of the Harrelson's home (with Toni touches).

The house has been in the Harrelson family since the turn of the century. Owned by his grandfather, his parents (who're both.......wait for it......professors! )......left town to take up posts at Fiesta Tech University. But the house stayed in the family, and was passed on to Brandon (an only child) when his grandfather died.

For these rooms pictured, most of the furniture (including the kitchen counters) are by the fabulously talented Adele.

Toni wrote:

I hate that townies and NPCs have no family ties (especially the kids) or worse, no memories, so in a rather labourous exercise, I ressurected some dead sims, and using TwoJeff's SimBlender and SimPe I created a few new family ties. I also used SimPe to create full memories for every single playable sim, townie and NPC. It took months!

This is impressive!

Toni wrote:

This is Margot Gladstone-Harrelson, the niece of Mortimer Goth.

Love her outfit!

YToni wrote:

...and a long, long way past his first kiss *cough*

Toni wrote:

I see trouble brewing....

Isn't it always with romance sims... .

All I have to say is . I am looking forward to what comes next.

Thanks guys! It's kinda neat sharing my families with other people ;-)

Sugah, I use Eve's default Skintones. The adult versions are at inSIM adult and the Barbie versions are at the regular inSIM. Didn't want to post the link to the adult site just in case. But if you go the website you can just do a search for Eve Default Skintone. She made them three years, ago but they're still my favourite.

Not sure where I got Margot's outfit. I'v been playing TS2 for four years! Possibly Jass Sims, but she stopped making stuff for TS2 and the site is closed now.

Oh Toni,

I agree with Sugah and Elle Belle, wow, that is a lot of work that you put into your game and I admire it so much. It is wonderful how you have everyone having memories of each other, etc.

I love your families and your decorating style is fantastic dear!!!

I love reading about the families and can't wait to see what you do next

Toni, don't fuss about finding out whose pose box that is.
I am not a storyteller (by any stretch of the imagination), so I wouldn't have use for such poses.
However, I really love what it brings to your storyline and am quite impressed by your findings.

Quote :

I rarely build houses from scratch, but I do tear down the inner walls and occasionally to a little extending.

You and I are alike in that way.
I tend to find lots I like, then renovate them to my liking.
Normally, it involves tearing down inner walls and redecorating, as you have described.
I can so relate, m'lady!
You are quite gifted in the decorating department.
I admire what you have done and think it looks fabulous, dahling!

Quote :

Owned by his grandfather, his parents (who're both.......wait for it......professors!

I love it!

Quote :

are by the fabulously talented Adele

I can totally see that. She has her own style going...very unique.
Great job, luv!

Quote :

Sugah, I use Eve's default Skintones. The adult versions are at inSIM adult and the Barbie versions are at the regular inSIM.

I'm gonna go check that out. Thank you, Toni!

This is greatness!
I'm SO enjoying Life in Christophe Harbour.
I am simply not as creative or thorough as you regarding gameplay.
How I wish I could be inspired to think as you and Ari do! WOW!!!

Thanks for all the positive feedback. I am having fun! I'm genuinely playing out this story line, though for the purposes of this thread.....it's much more embellished. lol! (I have no idea why Kyle got busted, and brought home by the cops, but I figure it had to be bad. lol!)

So, to continue the tale......

So Kyle's been spending his week hanging around the house. His girlfriend Carolyn comes over most days to keep his company...they watch TV and talk about music and movies.



And in the evenings he plays video games with his kid sister, Lauren.



Lauren's two best friends, Bernadette (right) and Raishma (center) are also hanging about the house a lot more than usual these past couple of days.





I wonder why?.......



Fortunately, Kyle has no interest in thirteen year olds...and pays them no attention. But it's easy to see why they're swooning over this green-eyed hottie....

Grounded for the rest of the summer, Kyle is bored during the day.


His girlfriend Carolyn has a summer job and doesn't come over every day. His kid sister and her friends bore him and with just three days to go until his band plays their big beach gig, his friends (and band mates) are busy rehearsing with a replacement guitarist. The replacement's not very good, and Kyle's friends keep texting him and bugging him to let them talk to his mom, and try to convince her to lift his grounding just for a few days.

Kyle is thinking about it. She was very upset about the incident, but she's not a complete ogre. Hmmmmmm........To pass the time, Kyle plays his guitar and mucks about on the internet.


...One afternoon while Lauren and her friends are at the movies and none of his friends are online, he asks his dad's permission to go for a walk. "Just around the block," he promises.

Busy in his studio, his dad agrees. "Just make sure you're back before your mom gets home," he says, turning back to his painting.


Walking down the street, he runs into hottie neighbour Nina Caliente (NOTE: seriously made over and plastic-surgeried for the sake of my eyes) who has been eying the 17-year all summer. Both romance sims, the conversation goes very well.


She's mesmerized by his eyes, and he can't take his eyes off her abs...etc.


She invites him to join her for iced tea in the garden, and they actually get caught up in conversation about fashion.


And just as Nina decides it's time to invite him inside for dessert, he realizes how late it is...the sun has set, and his mother will be home any minute!


....And perhaps it's a good thing Kyle left too, because Nina...after having a love child for Don Lothario (just days after his marriage to Cassandra Goth), took up with a member of her garden club, Chandler Howe (also seriously pretty-ified), and within a few months he'd moved in.

Just as Kyle went dashing down the street, Chandler came home.......


Phew! Nina, that was close!

Oh Kyle please, for the sake of all that is good, stay away from Nina. STAY AWAY!! She's an evil, selfish snake.

Beautiful shots! I love the one of Kyle practicing his guitar on the balcony. I also like the one of him running back home - the scenery is gorgeous. How cool is that Jimi Hendrix purple haze poster? I LOVE Jimi.

Astral Faery wrote:

Oh Kyle please, for the sake of all that is good, stay away from Nina. STAY AWAY!! She's an evil, selfish snake.

Aaaaaah.....but how dull the town would be without snake woman! Haven't decided yet where I'm going with their little flirtation. We'll have to see where his not-so-innocent heart leads him.

Astral Faery wrote:

Beautiful shots! I love the one of Kyle practicing his guitar on the balcony. I also like the one of him running back home - the scenery is gorgeous. How cool is that Jimi Hendrix purple haze poster? I LOVE Jimi.

Thank you, the psychedelic house was downloaded as is from GOS....but I did some stuff with the stairs, fencing and landscaping. Can't remember where I got the house across the street pictured in the guitar shot (I believe TSR actually), but the exterior and landscaping was a complete re-do!

Jimi was da man! lol! That poster was once of my earliest re-colours. I love it!

Thanks for the positive feedback Ari. I've been following your tales too!

I am quite impressed that is your earliest pieces - it's fantastic! You did a really nice job.

And I was just shooting Kyle (not quite so innocent boy that he is) a warning - but I doubt he'll listen because he seems rather independent and a wee bit stubborn. And you are SO right - there would be no fun without drama, so by all means, bring it on! I don't tell stories about pink unicorn farts, either, every good piece needs something to make the audience hold their breath or scream at the characters.

Toni, I love all your screenshots.

The one with Carolyn and Kyle watching tv and talking about music is precious (another pose box, I'm presuming?).
Kyle is such a handsome lad. It's no wonder Lauren's two best friends hang out just to swoon over him.
PS His dad's no slouch either.

I agree with Ari. The shot of Kyle playing his guitar on the balcony is gorgeous.
The backdrop is simply stunning, m'lady.

I love the patio furniture (Kyle and Dina in the garden having tea). Niiiice!
Dina's never looked better, btw...at least from the back!
I'll be interested to learn what direction you're going to take with those two.

I noticed that Jimmy Hendrix poster in Kyle's room, too.
Very cool and very appropriate for a boy who loves his guitar.

Thank you for sharing what's going on in your game, Toni.
I'm enjoying your commentaries and screenshots MUCHO!



Ari, this freakin' cracked me up:

Quote :

I don't tell stories about pink unicorn farts, either...

Where do you come up with this stuff, girlfriend?

Thanks for the feedback guys. Been busy playing with another family...but went back to the Harrelson's last night to see how things were going and take some pix.

By the way, I didn't do the Hendrix recolour myself (I've not tried my hand at recolouring more than walls and floors...but maybe, someday....). I just meant that I'd had it for a long, long time; one of my first downloads when the modders figured out how to recolour objects. And I do love it!

That patio furniture you like Sugah, is actually a Maxis mesh and colour. I can't remember which one of the EPs or SPs because I have them all; but it is actually my favourite.

I agree too Sugah that Brandon (Kyle's dad) is quite easy on the eyes. He has three bolts for Nina and I was tempted to 'nurture' their friendship but decided against it. He's a knowledge sim, and quite oblivious to the world around him. All he seems interested in is earning skill points. Typical! lol!

Update on the family to follow shortly. But first.....coffee time!

I love your screenshots. Your decorating has so much style and just the right amount of clutter. Everything looks fantastic. You have an interesting group of sims and I look forward to reading more of their story. Thanks for sharing with us!

Phew! Kyle's makes it home before his mother does.


Relieved, and realizing he can't bear to spend the rest of the summer stuck in the house, he makes the decision to sit down with this mother and have a loooong talk. They discuss his priorities and she expresses concern that he's just not focusing on the right things.


It's his last year of high school. He'll have to be applying for colleges, and he really needs to buckle down and concentrate. Kyle makes all the right promises...

...And with some misgivings, she agrees to lift his house-bound 'sentence' for a few days so he can rehearse with the band and they can keep their beach gig commitment.

And not a moment too soon....as Kyle heads around the corner to Max's house (the band uses his garage to practice) he sees their replacement guitarist Jack, stomping away from the house. He just wasn't good enough, and lead vocalist Max, kicked him to the curb. Max, is laid back about everything except his music. When it comes to that, he's a perfectionist.

As Kyle walks up the driveway to the garage, he hears a heated argument taking place between Kyle and bassist, Marc.

"You were too hard on him, Max!" Marc said, his voice rising.

"He sucked! I'd rather not perform at all! We should just cancel the gig!" Max yelled.

"Well now we might have no choice!" Marc yelled back. "The show is tomorrow!"

"Guys!" Joey the drummer said, interrupting the two. "Maybe we can use a synthesizer."

"Are you crazy?! Rogue plays authentic music! You know....INSTRUMENTS!" Max yelled, rubbing his forehead roughly.

"Look," Marc said, "Jack wasn't the best, but we needed him!"

"Not anymore you don't," said a voice from the doorway.

"Kyle!" The three band members inside the garage shouted in unison.

"Dude! You've been freed!" Max said, striding across the garage to where Kyle stood in the open doorway.

"Or did you bust out?" He said laughing, punching Kyle playfully on the arm.

"Something in between." Kyle said with a wink, sliding his guitar case off his shoulder and setting it gently on the ground. By then Joey and Marc had come over and they were all talking at the same time.

"I've been practicing," Kyle said straightening up, and slinging his guitar strap across his chest.

"Gentlemen...I do believe we have a show to get ready for," he said with a grin.

"Let's rock n' roll!" Max yelled with a whoop, punching his arm in the air, while Marc and Joey, grinning from ear-to-ear reached up to close the garage door with a loud clang.

Soon, the roof-raising sound of a fusion of rock and roll and hip hop was blaring from the garage, undoubtedly causing old Mortimer Goth down the street to slam his windows shut.


Meanwhile, two of Max's brothers, Pieter (15)


...And Wil (13)


...Were not phased at all by the noise coming from the garage. Both total jocks, they continue their game of football in the backyard, unperturbed by the racket.



And the band has a built-in cheer leading squad in Max's girlfriend Cassie and his sister Elisabeth.


They're 16 and have been friends since grade school. They're Rogue's biggest fans! And yes, Beth does have an eye for Kyle.


...But doesn't everybody? Wait! Is that Teresa D'Angelo (drummer Joey's sister)?


And is that Cassie's sister Maxine?


Whoa! Is that who I think it is?!!!


When did that happen? I thought she didn't get a chance to invite him inside......Oooooooh.........