Author Topic: Best romance traits, after factoring in lifetime rewards effects?  (Read 7400 times)

Offline Nerva

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Best romance traits, after factoring in lifetime rewards effects?
« on: September 11, 2014, 05:13:02 PM »
OK, so we only get to take a small number of traits, that remain fairly fixed in the game, while we also get to take more and more lifetime rewards as the game goes on.   Some of those rewards have effects in the same categories as traits, so I think it makes sense to only pick traits with effects that aren't available via rewards.

When it comes to gaining romantic interests, let's first consider the relevant lifetime rewards:
   Attractive (15,000) meeting sims start at higher relationship level
   Above Reproach (35,000) reputation unaffected by being seen cheating
   Clean Slate (25,000) resets reputation to spotless
   Eye Candy (5,000) +10 mood to nearby sims
   Master of Seduction (15,000) romantic attempts always succeed
   No Jealousy (10,000) no drama when seen with other romantic interests
   Stone Hearted (10,000) no sadness after breakups and major events

So, I think one of the key rewards that changes the importance of traits is Master of Seduction, since it guarantees successful romantic attempts.   Second place is probably Attractive, which starts you at a higher friendship level and thus you'll need less time to raise the bar from there to romantic interest.

There are also Charisma skill challenges that impact romance:
   Celebrity -- relationship bar increases faster
   Personable -- learn other sims’ traits faster
   Super Friendly -- relationships never decay
   Everybody’s Best Friend -- skips Good Friend and becomes Best Friend
   Comedian -- Jokes always succeed

Here are all the traits I'm aware of that might impact romantic interests:
   Charismatic -- Gains Charisma skill more quickly, others more likely to listen, never bore Sims, makes friends quickly
   Friendly -- Friendly social interactions are accepted more often, good listener, even when others repeat themselves
   Flirty -- Flirt with other Sims early in a relationship, flirts will be accepted much more often, gifted at giving massages
   Good Sense of Humor -- Sims laugh at your jokes more often, jokes strengthen relationships more than normal
   Great Kisser -- Your Sim’s kisses will have a greater effect
   Hopeless Romantic -- More receptive to your advances, better mood around romantic interests
   Inappropriate? -- Your Sim can try to kiss, tickle, and even propose marriage when other Sims wouldn't dare
   Irresistible -- Gain relationship faster, rarely have dates rejected, sims want to socialize with your Sim more often

Given that Master of Seduction guarantees that romantic attempts always succeed, it seems the best traits then are either ones like Charismatic and Irresistible that increase the rate of relationship gain to allow an attempt, or traits that allow romantic advances at a lower relationship level like Flirty and Inappropriate.

I would tend to favor the Charismatic/Irresistible option, since they have additional benefits outside of romance.   I am curious if I had to pick between them, which one is better?

Offline Nutella

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Re: Best romance traits, after factoring in lifetime rewards effects?
« Reply #1 on: September 11, 2014, 06:32:01 PM »
For master of seduction, I have to say Irresistible works best for me.  Charismatic trait can be replace by "Never dull" lifetime reward.



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Offline Nerva

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Re: Best romance traits, after factoring in lifetime rewards effects?
« Reply #2 on: September 11, 2014, 07:17:29 PM »
I'm curious why you say that.   It seems like both Charismatic and Irresistible increase the rate at which you build relationships -- does Irresistible have more of an increase?   I haven's seen the numbers for what the bonuses are.

Master of Seduction guarantees success with romantic attempts -- I presume this means they always say yes to dates?   So that replaces one of the benefits of Irresistible, although there's still the benefit of always getting favors.

Otherwise, it seems like the differences are that with Charismatic "others are more likely to listen to what your Sim has to say", while with Irresistible "other Sims will want to socialize with your Sim more often".   Those almost sound like the same thing -- is there a difference?

Offline Nutella

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Re: Best romance traits, after factoring in lifetime rewards effects?
« Reply #3 on: September 11, 2014, 08:55:52 PM »
Are you trying to make friends or trying to get romantic interest?  For friends, charismatic.  If you have supernatural expansion pack, then forget charismatic and just make lots of friendship elixirs.  For romantic interest, irresistible and master of seduction both works.  Irresistible is a trait you pick, and master of seduction requires points to buy, one is free and one cost points, that is why I said irresistible is better.


Offline Nerva

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Re: Best romance traits, after factoring in lifetime rewards effects?
« Reply #4 on: September 12, 2014, 12:16:01 AM »
Oh I see... okay, well I was approaching it from the standpoint that traits are far more scarce than lifetime rewards -- you can have only 5 to 7 traits, but you can spend points to get all sorts of rewards over the life of a sim.   So I'd rather save my traits for things that can't be bought with rewards.   Indeed, I want traits that maximize how many points I get to spend on rewards.

The concept for my sim is Vitruvian Man -- he embodies all the masculine virtues.   So, prowess with women is one part of that, but not the entire focus of the sim.   Being able to quickly make friends has benefits for both success with women and with careers.   He's also athletic, a genius, ambitious, etc.   So I want traits that help with women but also help with climbing the corporate ladder and other areas -- hence Charismatic or Irresistible.