How I select couples

Lately, I have just noticed a lot of bloggers noting ACR scores for their couples, and so I started to think about that myself.

I am mostly going to blame Water Mellon (And by proxy Samantha and Demi) for this post because I was sitting and thinking about those three characters in particular. They are the perfect example of how I hook up sims.



Water was in college, being the Big Man on Campus, when he got fake arrested for the Secret Society. The police officer who arrested him was none other than Demi.

As soon as I saw her, I simply wanted her in my game. It was love at first sight-- for me. I didn't really care what Water or Demi felt chemistry wise. (It was a plus when I saw they did have at least one lightening bolt, but that wasn't until a bit later when they actually got to know each other.)

I could see Water being absolutely fascinated by her. They'd shared a car ride and a fake arrest. A girl who'd fake arrest somebody as a side job would have to be interesting, right?

The fun part came when it was time to find her. I really did have him call the police station hoping she'd show up. When they stopped showing, I had to reload the lot and try some more. But no, we didn't find her that way. He actually ran into her again one day and that's how we got her.

Well, after that sort of chase, how could he not fall in love with her and give her some life? (referring to my poor restriction on the NPCs of course-- in game they live forever unless one of the playables "marry" them to bring them to life) Their chemistry wasn't the best, but I imagine that he really did/does love her.

For the most part, this is exactly how I pick out sim couples. It's like a whisper from a sim muse in my ear (or possibly from the sims themselves while I'm playing).

It sort of makes for interesting relationships. Like Water's mother, Ann Mellon, and his father, Alec. They had no bolts (though they didn't have negative bolts either), so I imagine that they were best friends throughout their lives. They just happened to get lucky that they never found the kind of chemistry that Ann's brother Walter has with Lucy.


Anyway, just thought I'd share because I'm thinking about it now and I always find it interesting to see how other people play their games. Ever have couples where you just feel they must belong together in each other's lives despite the chemistry?

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The Society of Tierra de Legado

Cherry Smith

This system sort of developed as I was playing, and I have Cherry Smith to thank for all this.



Ever think about the plight of your non-playables? They only exist around your playable sims (which in my case are all part of one huge family.) Unless someone brings them into their home, they will live forever and have few memories of what they did.

Lucy Mellon (Nee Hanby)

And there are sims like Lucy Hanby who was the lover of the Founder's husband after the Founder passed away. Later on she married his grandson. THAT would have to cause a scandal.


So here's how it works. Sims related to the founder are the most respectable with The Legacy Family being royalty. Then it goes: other playables, high end AL townies, all other townies, and lastly Service NPCs (NPC = Non-persona class).

Green and Amanda Mellon (Legacy Heirs)

There are always exceptions to the rule. I basically have this system set up so I know what their prejudices are. There are no "you may not;" there are simply consequences. (Like Water Mellon-- his wife used to be a police woman, so she was definitely a Service NPC. And he's still successful despite that. But notice he's not heir, he doesn't live on The Hill, and Ann didn't want his baby girls.)

Water Mellon and Melanie Love

The thing between the Mellons and the Strattons dates back to the Founder's two sons. The Founder couldn't decide who would be heir. The older brother, to help along the decision, married Christy Stratton and took her name so that he was automatically disqualified as heir. (In actuality, this was before I knew that you have to have the sim whose name you want selected when you click on the arch.)

That generation sealed the split. While the brothers were always best friends, everyone else fought without fighting which I think is worse than outright fighting.

Tristin Stratton

The Strattons are generally considered sleazy and lazy. Sofia Stratton is the epitome of what pops into my head when I think of Strattons. But it's rather ironic because some of the Strattons are hard and honest workers (like Kate's parents), and yet this stereotype remains.

Meanwhile Mellons are thought to be honest and hard working. Of course, this is also something of a stereotype.

Richard Mellon, Jr., The Mayor

Whew... Sorry. I hope that all makes sense. This will be more important next season when dealing with Alberta and her perception of herself. It's also why Gabe (and other sims) might be a little concerned as to who his parents are, and why Tristin has a church for the Wayward NPCs. Plus, I imagine that there will be a short side story that deals with a former service NPC which is going on now in my game but won't be touched on until later.

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Past Headers

Because this is just fun to keep track of.


The Original:

Sat behind the header text.





Winter 2





Spring 2

The winners:

Gate, Kate, & Alberta

Alberta sees her Shadow

Amberle

Runner up:


I chose not to go with this one because I think it would be misleading. She's not going to be all that happy this Spring, but she's so darn cute.

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City Jobs

There is a larger government that most of the sims are not aware of. Richard is paid by this larger government to take care of the city. (Otherwise known as Maxian Jobs.) Other sims can get in on the action, but there can only be ONE mayor . And only the mayor (supposedly) has contact with the larger government. Who are these people? I don’t know. Only Richard does. Supposedly.

Of the jobs in control of Richard and the city are: Teachers, and currently an open position for Librarian. Inge is taking over the duty right now (but she sort of scares the children even when she’s wearing her formal gown).

Other jobs may be created as deemed necessary by the town Mayor.


Current officals as of Summer 1

Mayor - Richard Mellon, Jr.
Council member/treasurer - Jeanie Stratton
"Junior" council member - Aden Mellon

Elementary School Teacher - Amberle Silverring
High School Instructor - Samantha Kerr

Librarian - OPEN

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Aging

I hate math. This hurt to figure out, but I think I got it now.

Two things to know:

1. Four Seasons equals one year.

2. I'm taking a cue from Sim State Megahood. Basically, I am not seeing a sim's everyday life, but a general overview of parts from it. So a year is not a human year.

3. Sim age like fruit flies! And I actually don't want to really change that.

Length of life stages:
Babies - 1 year
Toddlers- 2 years
Children - 3 years
Teens - 4 years

Sims are in college for 2 years.

Adult stage lasts for how ever long I see fit. I pretty much figure that it depends on the sim, but by the time their first child enters college, their parents are ready to turn into elders (which is generally what happens in game).

For story purposes, I leave the adult and elder stages lengths at my discretion.

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Financial Institutions

I’m still working on this slowly. In my ‘hood, things are inherited or created or suggested by the sims I play.

Ethan Stratton (older brother of Kate Stratton) has been suggesting to me that he would like to start the first bank. He’s been working with his roommates to gain experience in the Sim Stock Market. So far he’s only lost money. But if he CAN do better, he might be able to get larger deals, such as investing the city’s money.

The city keeps its money in an online bank (Monique's computer). Jeanie Stratton is the treasurer right now. Her Servo Inge takes care of things.

Taxes are now in effect. Every year, sims will give 5% property tax which pays for city buildings, city events, and city employees. Those exempted from taxes are City Officals. (Aden Mellon, Jeanie Stratton, and Richard Mellon.)

There are other exceptions and discounts which are at Richard’s discretion.

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My current play style

Right now, after some testing, I have found I like four days per season, which is normal. Four seasons per year.

I don’t play in rotation style any more. Now I’m playing more in story mode. I visit a sim’s house when I feel I should, when I want to, and for however long I want to.

There are two house holds right now that I play and use as my measuring stick: The two teacher households, Amberle Silverring and Samantha Kerr. As I see it, they’re the only two people who absolutely must be present at work every day. My students must learn after all.

Those two households will determine the season I’m on and when the year ends.



The stories I write are for my own fun. They are suggested by my characters themselves most of the time. Even pictures that are staged I count as game play. Sometimes they spark new ideas (like the bathroom scene between Alberta and Kate).

Staged scenes also result in real relationships between sims since I have them talking to each other. If they aren't liking my ideas, they let me know. XD

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High school is up and running

These events take place before Tierra De Legado.




The Students. In front Ethan and Tristin, in back: Ily and Ashley

I played through the high school today. Samantha Kerr is the sim in charge of the high school.

Students arrives around 8 and have a nice little break to chat, use the rest room and prep.

About two or three times a week, students will work on grade work. See the red head (dyed) in the back? She's the hardest worker. Today she had over 150% on her gradework!

Meanwhile, Tristin in the back (see his look of worry?) has a hard time working on his grade work. Samantha had to have a talk with him about it.

I don't know how, but Tristin managed to get on Sam's good side. He told her how he feels his life has a higher purpose, and that he isn't sure school is meant for him. He spends a lot of time praying to a higher power which he's sure will decide his fate.

Sam couldn't really argue with him after he opened up to her about his belief in a higher power (a subject still taboo among these sims, just like marrying service NPCs). So she asked him to make everyone lunch.


When students aren't working on gradework, they have other activities they can do. Some days they might have free time.

This week, they had their very first guest speaker.


Water Mellon came to the school to talk about his sales techniques.




The high school students are only in school from about 8am to 1pm. This is because the other half of the high school is.. da dada daaa~! After School programs!

After school programs can include time spent with other older sims learning skills or time after school working in quality jobs where they learn skills. Richard Mellon, the mayor, actually has a set of rules regarding the after school programs. Namely, students must be learning a skill. They can't just be tidying up all day.



Here is Ily practicing dance with my favorite sim, Ann. When Ann went to college, she earned the dancing scholarship, so she's helping Ily earn a dance scholarship as well. A dancer should know more than just ballet.



Here, Ethan talks with Water after the speech. "Teach me!" I can see him saying. When I play Water next, I'm sure Water will call up Ethan and hire him to work at the shop.

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Welcome to Maria Rodriguez Elementary

These events take place before Tierra De Legado.





Amberle woke early on Sunday to find she was absolutely terrified! The kids would be there tomorrow. Was she prepared?


She had a brilliant idea. She would invite the kids over on Sunday for a few hours to calm her nerves and to meet the children.



Currently, there are six children enrolled- Gabe and Richard III Mellon, Aaron Stratton, Glenda and Maxen Stratton, and Kate Stratton.







It worked well. The next day, the kids were prepared. They come in at 8am sharp. One child feeds the animals in the morning.














The gerbil's name is Pepper, by the way.


After doing their chores, the children sit down to a lecture for an hour, generally from 9am to 10am.



Then they break for group work. Since there are exactly six children, they break off in groups of two.



For the first day, Gabe and Richard worked on fertilizing the Garden using the compost. (An important lesson in ecology and nature-- Amberle's specialty.)

Each child got to plant one plant each.

Here is Glenda and her Partner, Kate planting their tomato seed. Each morning, one child waters the plant and another child tends the plants. Because weeding takes so long, the child doing this chore misses Amberle's lecture to the class, so they get a one on one session with Amberle imparting her knowledge.


This time after the lecture ends until lunch is skilling time. The children study out of the library various skills (the first being cooking-- Amberle was very adamant that they get enough skill points to bake a good muffin.)


Once the children are done with their skilling (usually by meeting some pre-set goal), they are free to do what they would like.



Here Kate and Gabe collect bugs.

Glenda reads one of the many hobby magazines laying about.



Everyone has lunch around 11:30 or so. Depending on when Amberle is done fixing one of her simple and healthy lunches. This is a great time for the kids to hang out and bond with each other.


After lunch, it's free time. Here, Richard practices on the piano as the boys practice dancing. The girls practice painting.



The funnest part about this set is that I can pretend to have Amberle give lectures. That's thanks to Rose_maman at TSR and her AbelVille Elementary School Items. The items of this set are simply beautiful, and there is one item, a craft basket which you see off to the right of Amberle's lecture picture that allows it to look like Amberle's teaching the class. Meanwhile, without having to turn off free will, the kids will have a seat and stay there when I tell them to, so while Amberle is lecturing, they're chatting and building friendships. Thank you, Rosie!

And I call the students in using Simlogical's meeting controller.

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