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- General - How do you build your tiny lots?
#126
1st Apr 2019 at 2:18 AM
Quote: Originally posted by joandsarah77
So long as you have fun keep going. I enjoy my want based uni play and seeing sims fail out a lot more than seeing perfect grades on everyone. |
It's not so much about perfect grades as it's nonsensical. You're at college it's not unreasonable to have a good time and study every once in awhile. It's not like these sims want anything interesting or unique to them -- it's things like take a hike, blog, hunt bugs and bird watch every single day. If those wants suited their hobby or their lifetime want I could see it but those wants are really generic filler wants that every sim seems to get. I'm enjoying mixing it up with more want based play - and having fun with where that takes me - but it has to make sense and feel right to me too.
I liked the challenge of getting these sims to graduate only by fulfilling wants and needs (and would have let the two who weren't Dagny's flunk out if it came to that) but I don't think strict want based gameplay is going to be how I go in the end. These characters all have backgrounds and overarching lifetime goals that need to influence their decisions as well to be satisfying for me I think. And suit my personality -- like I said I started out with the intention of playing want based but I ended up turning it into a mini game of getting these sims to do want I wanted them to do in a sneaky way.
Quote: Originally posted by MystAngel
To be totally honest, I sometimes restrain from cheats and mods even if they bring an advantage to me. For example, I don't use Perfect plants mod, because I like to be able to tend the garden and have full access to most growing plants. That choice however severely limits my landscaping possibilities. I drool over gardens like Voeille used to make, but I myself usually don't incorporate the same aesthetics in my lots. I have to find a compromise between these two extremes somehow. |
My landscaping is modest on most of my lots for the same reason. Lush landscaping takes a lot of money or free time to maintain so it's just not something I give all of my sims but I do use Pescado's everyday gardener and a mix of real and fake plants so the really elaborate landscaping on large estates can be maintained.
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#127
3rd Apr 2019 at 9:23 AM
Posts: 231
Thanks: 157 in 5 Posts
Welp the pictures didn't post in my last attempt so here we go again! The house kinda looks odd since it's an attempt at a home business. Normally the first floor would get a bathroom and less cramped living space, but hey it's a special house. The apartment was also designed to go right up against Zarathustra's Coltrane Shopping Centre and was inspired by the thin apartment buildings you can find in Tokyo. The house is just a generic BC suburban home built sometime in the last decade or so, except with less curb appeal, the addition of an enclosed porch, and a store instead of a garage.
WowoW it's a badly hidden owo UwU Yeet skeet Idk what I'm doing
WowoW it's a badly hidden owo UwU Yeet skeet Idk what I'm doing
Forum Resident
#128
11th Apr 2019 at 8:40 PM
Posts: 678
Quote: Originally posted by cord11
Welp the pictures didn't post in my last attempt so here we go again! The house kinda looks odd since it's an attempt at a home business. Normally the first floor would get a bathroom and less cramped living space, but hey it's a special house. The apartment was also designed to go right up against Zarathustra's Coltrane Shopping Centre and was inspired by the thin apartment buildings you can find in Tokyo. The house is just a generic BC suburban home built sometime in the last decade or so, except with less curb appeal, the addition of an enclosed porch, and a store instead of a garage. |
I LOVE that studio apartment! @Cord11 - it looks PERFECT!
Alchemist
#129
16th Apr 2019 at 9:48 PM
Posts: 2,895
Thanks: 17930 in 66 Posts
I have been intrigued by Phaenoh's version of the Apocalypse challenge, where career lots have to be provided for sims in each career, and the restrictions are divided into three tiers. Tier 1 is about the most basic essentials, food, security, sanitation. The idea is that your early lots should be upgraded as the challenge continues and conditions improve.
I have been building some lots for the beginning stages - first aid station, military base and food depot. I posted pics of those earlier here. The military/food depot at 3x3 is too big for this thread.
Moving on to Tier 2, Education seems like a priority, and a UN tent has been commandeered for the kiddies!
I have been building some lots for the beginning stages - first aid station, military base and food depot. I posted pics of those earlier here. The military/food depot at 3x3 is too big for this thread.
Moving on to Tier 2, Education seems like a priority, and a UN tent has been commandeered for the kiddies!
#130
17th Apr 2019 at 5:26 PM
Posts: 2,461
Thanks: 1848 in 12 Posts
Oh goodness this has been a fun read! I haven't touched TS2 for more than ten years (although I've played TS3 but haven't been able to play any for the past couple-and-a-half years). My desktop computer is having some technical problems so I just installed TS2 on my laptop and am getting ready to try to play it from where I left off all those years ago. Anyway, to the point, I admire anyone who can play in these tiny lots. I love them for Sims I don't have to play but I have to have elbow room for the Sims I play.
Simple, simple solution for this: just create a folder within your Downloads, name it 1-testing or some such (so it can stay on top). When you add new CC put it in that folder until you have been able to play test it. If it crashes your game or just doesn't live up to your expectations it's SO easy to be rid of it. Most times I've had something crash in Buy Mode was when it required an expansion pack I didn't have.
Quote: Originally posted by Giga
Well, I seem to have the worst luck. I downloaded innocent looking tables. Every time I wanted to go to surfaces, game crashed. I had to 50/50 to all my folders and then I just ended up deleting my whole surfaces folder cos who has time for that. Then I wanted pregnancy clothes, downloaded here, well now all pregnant women became invisible. I wanted to replace the vampiress outfit, but in-game it was borked, just the replacement though. The dress as a normal formal wear was fine. And just 3 examples that came to mind immediately. Oh and lets not talk about the nightmare of trying to get default replacements for the hairs. Even though mods are more likely cause issues, you kinda are forced to fight it unless you want to go insane when playing. |
Simple, simple solution for this: just create a folder within your Downloads, name it 1-testing or some such (so it can stay on top). When you add new CC put it in that folder until you have been able to play test it. If it crashes your game or just doesn't live up to your expectations it's SO easy to be rid of it. Most times I've had something crash in Buy Mode was when it required an expansion pack I didn't have.
#131
17th Apr 2019 at 10:54 PM
Hi @Misty_2004 welcome back. A few things have changed and you may need the 4 gb patch and the graphic rules done to be able to play with high settings or much CC. There are sticky help threads for that.
"I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives." - Unknown
~Call me Jo~
#132
18th Apr 2019 at 12:14 AM
Posts: 2,461
Thanks: 1848 in 12 Posts
@joandsarah77, thank you! I did some searching around and tracked down stuff about doing graphics rules and I think it's working okay. I haven't been in Live mode for much longer than tracking down a couple of mods that decided to give me problems. When I switched computers years ago I saved everything TS2 to an external drive and after I got the game and x-packs installed and running moved my old games and downloads back in and surprisingly enough for the most part it worked.
#133
18th Apr 2019 at 12:38 AM
Posts: 2,858
Thanks: 198 in 2 Posts
@aelflaed, that lot is lovely! How did you do the roof? With the CFE cheat? I'm not familiar with Phaenoh's apocalypse rules and if players are not allowed to use certain cc during certain stages, but, in case you didn't know, there's outhouses that might fit your lot better. I use this one by NixNivis: https://nixedsims.wordpress.com/201...n-one-outhouse/.
And there's also arches and shutters you can use--you might like windkeeper's Miami Windows set at TSR: https://www.thesimsresource.com/dow...dows/id/232375/ or NoFrills/sims2code's Don't Close Me Arch & Doors, which HugeLunatic has graciously reuploaded here: https://sims2artists.com/index.php?topic=3966.0 (the Download button links to the originals and HL's add ons). I've attached pictures of the Don't Close Me Arch, which is all I have in my game, so you can get an idea of what it looks like.
And there's also arches and shutters you can use--you might like windkeeper's Miami Windows set at TSR: https://www.thesimsresource.com/dow...dows/id/232375/ or NoFrills/sims2code's Don't Close Me Arch & Doors, which HugeLunatic has graciously reuploaded here: https://sims2artists.com/index.php?topic=3966.0 (the Download button links to the originals and HL's add ons). I've attached pictures of the Don't Close Me Arch, which is all I have in my game, so you can get an idea of what it looks like.
"Thinking of you, wherever you are. We pray for our sorrows to end, and hope that our hearts will blend." - Kingdom Hearts
XPTL Mod Archive | Change a Mod's Mesh into a CC Object | Increasing the Game Difficulty | Editing ACR 4 Your Age Mod
aka Kelyns | she/her
XPTL Mod Archive | Change a Mod's Mesh into a CC Object | Increasing the Game Difficulty | Editing ACR 4 Your Age Mod
aka Kelyns | she/her
#134
18th Apr 2019 at 7:04 AM
Posts: 2,858
Thanks: 198 in 2 Posts
Sorry for double posting but I kept forgetting to take pictures, but I finally remembered today! I don't usually build tiny lots, but, I just recently built a couple of shops--not 1x1, idk if I could ever go that small, but they're 1x2. I haven't tested anything yet, but I think they came out nice.
Okay so, I've been renovating my Downtown and working on my "shady" side of it. It's not necessarily grungy, but it's where the smaller/lower income homes are and where things are more liberal/anything goes. Lots of bars and adult-themed shops next to regular businesses and homes. Anywho, first I made a hookah lounge type place:
Top down view
I named this place Hole-In-A-Wall because it's a tiny lot squeezed in between a nightclub and an alley behind some apartments. I wanted a place where sims can go have a drink at a bar or use the bubble blower. I even managed to fit in a hot tub and a couple of simslice beer kegs on the second floor. I'm not used to building such a small lot, but hopefully there's enough space that sims won't go stomping. I see I forgot to decorate my ceilings--I always do; I'll have to fix that. But I did remember to put some stuff for pets in the back of the building. I tried out the Allow Strays on Community Lots mod and found that strays with nothing to do tend to pick fights or scratch up furniture, so, since I'm rebuilding everything anyway, I've been trying to remember to put stuff out for pets. I'd like to put the mod back in my game and start using more pets in general, and this way, if strays are around, they can take care of themselves and not get into too much trouble. The puddle is cc; pets are supposed to be able to clean themselves in it.
Top down views
I decided that the salon chair is another feature that is woefully under-used in my game, so I made a salon lot and hopefully, now that I have one, I will remember to send my sims there. I didn't want it to be about clothes, either, so I stuck a bunch of deco in there with the PCsims nail station and put some massage tables on the second floor so it can be like a spa. Sims can buy jewelry and perfume here, too--I figured that made sense if a sim was going there to get a makeover. I'm realizing now that I put clothes mannequins in the front displays--I should probably change those out for some posters that fit more with a hair and nail salon, but otherwise I think it's okay. I put some pet stuff in the back of this lot, too, and that's that. Probably the best thing about building tiny lots is that they take less time to decorate--for me anyway.
One thing about building all this stuff lately is that I'm learning how to recategorize objects and changing the weight of items so that they fit on shelves, etc. and have been doing that as I go, so I've slowly been increasing my building and modding skills! I was quite proud when I figured out how to get my adult shops set up, with the shelves stocked properly, as full as they can be! I figured out how to make the PCsims marijuana buyable from the catalog and fit it properly on the shelf--that took a while--and changed the object weight of a few other items, too, like the simslice beer. I even found that I had already downloaded some 'Trying to buy alcohol? You need id' posters. Finally, my download binges are justified.
I had wanted to make a place where sims can go and buy all the modded objects I download for them, a place that all my upstanding sims can wail about. So made a prim looking old lady named Mrs. Biggs and had her buy two lots, Biggs' Closet and Biggs Bubble Emporium cuz I couldn't think of anything better.
Biggs Closet
I didn't finish this; basically it'll be an adult store selling a combo of deco and objects, from condom boxes to the strip poker table and hot tubs. I also made a lingerie/clothes shop corner using some of DeeDee's underwear mannequins. It's pretty simple, nothing fancy.
Biggs Bubble Emporium
Top Down View
Despite its merchandise, Biggs Bubble Emporium is a respectable business, thank you very much. I liked the incongruity of a sweet old lady in a delicate looking shop selling sims mind-altering substances, so I went with a lot of purple storybook items. In this shop, sims can buy drugs and alcohol, and there's a cafe spot in the back. There sims can relax by the fountain or shrine, eat from the pancake cart, or have some coffee and have deep conversations.
And then finally, I have some houses for the area. I originally had planned apartments, but I thought the trailers came out a little too wide. Plus I'm a bit annoyed with apartments right now. Roommates are acting funky for me. Anywho, I decided to build some houses on a 1x4 lot--or, rather it's one house in different colored brick four times, .
First, this lot is probably huge for some, but I try to use cars as much as possible in my game. Again, I wanna use all that content I download. So, when I build lots, I try to make them car friendly. I wanted narrow lots so the corner could look like row houses and so I went with a 1x4 so I could get a two car garage and a yard. I could have gone with just a one car home, but I find it's usually better to have room for two cars, in case sims are on different work schedules or if there's teens in the house. And this way the yard is big enough for snowball fights and tag, etc. I hate when sims complain about lack of space to play outside. You'd think they'd use the street, but they never do, unless they're playing tag or cops and robbers.
Anyway, I also have to apologize for the lack of decor--I'm an extremely lazy builder and when it comes to sim homes, I lightly furnish them instead of going full out because 99% of the time I'm going to change the furnishings later. I used to spend ages elaborately decorating apartments only to move sims in later and go 'nah, let's do something else.' So yeah, I don't do that anymore. This lot, though, well, let's just say I musta been extremely tired when I built it cuz it's super sparse. I usually lightly furnish to give myself an idea of what to do with layout later, once sims move in, but in this lot I used basically the least amount of items.
Ground floor is mainly for garage and a half bath, though there's room to set up a mudroom or an office or just a large foyer. The second floor is the main floor. Since it's supposed to be a more modern place, I wanted counter islands and a dining room table. The spaces in the counters represent where the fridge and stove should go--told ya I was lazy building this. The stove will probably go under the window and the fridge in the other space. The living room is next to the dining table, in that huge empty square. I didn't stage it, but it's plenty of room for a tv, couch, and bookcase or some musical items. The back of the floor is supposed to be a private master area--which is why there's a bathroom back there and another half bath next to the stairs--and the area between the bedroom and the kitchen can be an office with a one tile desk or it could be staged as a dressing area. The entrance to the second floor patio is off the kitchen so sims can barbecue. On the third floor, instead of having lots of dead space I put in a second private master option; that way single sims have an option to be on the main floor and sim parents can share the 3rd floor with kids. Or whatever. And having a private bathroom entrance means lots of wall space in the bonus area in between the bedrooms. There you could put a second living room or a kid's corner. The third floor patio entrance is in the master bedroom and that patio is big enough for a hot tub, too.
And those are all my "tiny" lots for now. I look forward to testing them.
Okay so, I've been renovating my Downtown and working on my "shady" side of it. It's not necessarily grungy, but it's where the smaller/lower income homes are and where things are more liberal/anything goes. Lots of bars and adult-themed shops next to regular businesses and homes. Anywho, first I made a hookah lounge type place:
Top down view
I named this place Hole-In-A-Wall because it's a tiny lot squeezed in between a nightclub and an alley behind some apartments. I wanted a place where sims can go have a drink at a bar or use the bubble blower. I even managed to fit in a hot tub and a couple of simslice beer kegs on the second floor. I'm not used to building such a small lot, but hopefully there's enough space that sims won't go stomping. I see I forgot to decorate my ceilings--I always do; I'll have to fix that. But I did remember to put some stuff for pets in the back of the building. I tried out the Allow Strays on Community Lots mod and found that strays with nothing to do tend to pick fights or scratch up furniture, so, since I'm rebuilding everything anyway, I've been trying to remember to put stuff out for pets. I'd like to put the mod back in my game and start using more pets in general, and this way, if strays are around, they can take care of themselves and not get into too much trouble. The puddle is cc; pets are supposed to be able to clean themselves in it.
Top down views
I decided that the salon chair is another feature that is woefully under-used in my game, so I made a salon lot and hopefully, now that I have one, I will remember to send my sims there. I didn't want it to be about clothes, either, so I stuck a bunch of deco in there with the PCsims nail station and put some massage tables on the second floor so it can be like a spa. Sims can buy jewelry and perfume here, too--I figured that made sense if a sim was going there to get a makeover. I'm realizing now that I put clothes mannequins in the front displays--I should probably change those out for some posters that fit more with a hair and nail salon, but otherwise I think it's okay. I put some pet stuff in the back of this lot, too, and that's that. Probably the best thing about building tiny lots is that they take less time to decorate--for me anyway.
One thing about building all this stuff lately is that I'm learning how to recategorize objects and changing the weight of items so that they fit on shelves, etc. and have been doing that as I go, so I've slowly been increasing my building and modding skills! I was quite proud when I figured out how to get my adult shops set up, with the shelves stocked properly, as full as they can be! I figured out how to make the PCsims marijuana buyable from the catalog and fit it properly on the shelf--that took a while--and changed the object weight of a few other items, too, like the simslice beer. I even found that I had already downloaded some 'Trying to buy alcohol? You need id' posters. Finally, my download binges are justified.
I had wanted to make a place where sims can go and buy all the modded objects I download for them, a place that all my upstanding sims can wail about. So made a prim looking old lady named Mrs. Biggs and had her buy two lots, Biggs' Closet and Biggs Bubble Emporium cuz I couldn't think of anything better.
Biggs Closet
I didn't finish this; basically it'll be an adult store selling a combo of deco and objects, from condom boxes to the strip poker table and hot tubs. I also made a lingerie/clothes shop corner using some of DeeDee's underwear mannequins. It's pretty simple, nothing fancy.
Biggs Bubble Emporium
Top Down View
Despite its merchandise, Biggs Bubble Emporium is a respectable business, thank you very much. I liked the incongruity of a sweet old lady in a delicate looking shop selling sims mind-altering substances, so I went with a lot of purple storybook items. In this shop, sims can buy drugs and alcohol, and there's a cafe spot in the back. There sims can relax by the fountain or shrine, eat from the pancake cart, or have some coffee and have deep conversations.
And then finally, I have some houses for the area. I originally had planned apartments, but I thought the trailers came out a little too wide. Plus I'm a bit annoyed with apartments right now. Roommates are acting funky for me. Anywho, I decided to build some houses on a 1x4 lot--or, rather it's one house in different colored brick four times, .
First, this lot is probably huge for some, but I try to use cars as much as possible in my game. Again, I wanna use all that content I download. So, when I build lots, I try to make them car friendly. I wanted narrow lots so the corner could look like row houses and so I went with a 1x4 so I could get a two car garage and a yard. I could have gone with just a one car home, but I find it's usually better to have room for two cars, in case sims are on different work schedules or if there's teens in the house. And this way the yard is big enough for snowball fights and tag, etc. I hate when sims complain about lack of space to play outside. You'd think they'd use the street, but they never do, unless they're playing tag or cops and robbers.
Anyway, I also have to apologize for the lack of decor--I'm an extremely lazy builder and when it comes to sim homes, I lightly furnish them instead of going full out because 99% of the time I'm going to change the furnishings later. I used to spend ages elaborately decorating apartments only to move sims in later and go 'nah, let's do something else.' So yeah, I don't do that anymore. This lot, though, well, let's just say I musta been extremely tired when I built it cuz it's super sparse. I usually lightly furnish to give myself an idea of what to do with layout later, once sims move in, but in this lot I used basically the least amount of items.
Ground floor is mainly for garage and a half bath, though there's room to set up a mudroom or an office or just a large foyer. The second floor is the main floor. Since it's supposed to be a more modern place, I wanted counter islands and a dining room table. The spaces in the counters represent where the fridge and stove should go--told ya I was lazy building this. The stove will probably go under the window and the fridge in the other space. The living room is next to the dining table, in that huge empty square. I didn't stage it, but it's plenty of room for a tv, couch, and bookcase or some musical items. The back of the floor is supposed to be a private master area--which is why there's a bathroom back there and another half bath next to the stairs--and the area between the bedroom and the kitchen can be an office with a one tile desk or it could be staged as a dressing area. The entrance to the second floor patio is off the kitchen so sims can barbecue. On the third floor, instead of having lots of dead space I put in a second private master option; that way single sims have an option to be on the main floor and sim parents can share the 3rd floor with kids. Or whatever. And having a private bathroom entrance means lots of wall space in the bonus area in between the bedrooms. There you could put a second living room or a kid's corner. The third floor patio entrance is in the master bedroom and that patio is big enough for a hot tub, too.
And those are all my "tiny" lots for now. I look forward to testing them.
"Thinking of you, wherever you are. We pray for our sorrows to end, and hope that our hearts will blend." - Kingdom Hearts
XPTL Mod Archive | Change a Mod's Mesh into a CC Object | Increasing the Game Difficulty | Editing ACR 4 Your Age Mod
aka Kelyns | she/her
XPTL Mod Archive | Change a Mod's Mesh into a CC Object | Increasing the Game Difficulty | Editing ACR 4 Your Age Mod
aka Kelyns | she/her
#135
18th Apr 2019 at 6:04 PM
Posts: 2,461
Thanks: 1848 in 12 Posts
@Phantomknight I love your little office buildings, which is kind of strange for me since usually I shy away from more modernish looking stuff. Then again I've been a little off lately as in yesterday I stripped a traditional Victorian-style house and am modernizing it a bit.
Alchemist
#136
18th Apr 2019 at 9:29 PM
Posts: 2,895
Thanks: 17930 in 66 Posts
Quote: Originally posted by Phantomknight
@aelflaed, that lot is lovely! How did you do the roof? With the CFE cheat? I'm not familiar with Phaenoh's apocalypse rules and if players are not allowed to use certain cc during certain stages, but, in case you didn't know, there's outhouses that might fit your lot better. I use this one by NixNivis: https://nixedsims.wordpress.com/201...n-one-outhouse/. |
@Phantomknight, CC is absolutely encouraged for the apocalypse challenge, actually. Most of the apoc lots you can download are chock-full of custom content. I am trying to make a base set of lots without it - just to prove you can, and for shareability. I expect to add CC to them in my own game. So the outhouse is built using what EA gave me, and I would probably at least recolor it suitably for actual play. Yes, the roof arch is made with the CFE cheat, and on a second level, so the main room is properly weatherproofed.
I have a couple of outhouses and the PS portaloo, but I hadn't seen the Nixy one. Thanks, it's lovely. I like your bubble bar!
#137
18th Apr 2019 at 10:44 PM
Posts: 2,858
Thanks: 198 in 2 Posts
Thanks! And yeah, I get the no cc thing. While I appreciate the grunge look, sometimes I think creators go overboard. And I often find myself in the 'to use cc or not' conundrum--I download a lot of cc to use when building, but then when I actually start, I try to build without it. It doesn't really make much sense and I can't really explain it, but there you go.
Anyway I've always wanted to do a challenge using the maxis clothes that look all ripped and stuff. I'm not sure if it's castaway or spooky content or what, but there's some perfectly good apocalyptic looking clothes right in the game already. But I'm terrible at finishing challenges.
Anyway I've always wanted to do a challenge using the maxis clothes that look all ripped and stuff. I'm not sure if it's castaway or spooky content or what, but there's some perfectly good apocalyptic looking clothes right in the game already. But I'm terrible at finishing challenges.
"Thinking of you, wherever you are. We pray for our sorrows to end, and hope that our hearts will blend." - Kingdom Hearts
XPTL Mod Archive | Change a Mod's Mesh into a CC Object | Increasing the Game Difficulty | Editing ACR 4 Your Age Mod
aka Kelyns | she/her
XPTL Mod Archive | Change a Mod's Mesh into a CC Object | Increasing the Game Difficulty | Editing ACR 4 Your Age Mod
aka Kelyns | she/her
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