Attempting to build a Shinto shrine

[folcon]

I'm attempting to build a Shinto shrine, but I'm having trouble figuring out how to do part of it.  Since I want to make the building on stilts, I don't want to just make boxes with the foundation tool.  The only real way I can think of is to use pillars, but I don't want the whole building to sit a full floor in the air.  I know I can use the 'constrain elevation' cheat to bury the pillars, at least I think I can, but I have never used the cheat before and was wondering if someone could show me how to do it.  It's the only feature of it at the moment that I am having trouble figuring out.  Most of the rest I can do with buy-debug.  I would really appreciate any help I can get, and when I finish it, I'll be sure to put pics of the finished lot up.  And with using buy-debug in mind, I was hoping to get some suggestions for a statue to use as the shrine's guardian deity.  Again, any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Phyre]

Could you maybe provide a rough example of what exactly it is that you are trying to build? I googled Shinto Shrine but there apparently are many different formats. I'm not able to judge if I can help you (and if so how), if I do not know what you're trying to accomplish.

[folcon]

http://factsanddetails.com/media/2/20090801-shinto%20shrine%20d_02.gif

The one in the lower left is roughly what I am wanting to try an make.  I'm wanting to model it off what you might find in movies/anime set in the classic samuri era, with the building slightly elevated above the ground.  At the moment, its just the support posts the building rests on that I am trying to figure out.

[Anushka]

I'm not shore you can sink pillars in ground, maybe try coloring fondation with borders that look like wooden pillars?
I had similar problem, when I tried building boungalows that also need this wooden posts to stand on. Closest I got to this was to use blocks of wooden foundation on ground level, not as neat as on the picture, but close enough. You'll also need like a terrace between doors and stairs to make it functional.

[samoht04]

I will see if I can get anything like what you want later today after School. I know what you mean I just don't know if it is possible.

[Lilygirl]

I'm going to see what I can come up with too, folcon, maybe if we put our heads together we can come up with something.

EDIT: How's this? You need to be familiar with the constrainfloorelevation true/false cheat to do this.



I wanted to use a fence reminiscent of posts on the bottom (this is the Playground Fence) but it creates a floor height that's wrong for stairs. Most other fences are taller but will create a different look. Because you can't add floor tiles on top of fences, I started by creating a first story wall shell the size I wanted for my floor, and added floor tiles on top to what would be the second story floor. Then I deleted the walls underneath the floor and replaced them with the fence. Next, I used the terrain tool to create a very small hill and added a square of foundation on top (this is because the height of a normal foundation was too low for the fence height). Now, I turned constrainfloorelevation to false in my cheat box and, using the terrain leveling tool, I lowered the floor down to the height of my foundation and it fits perfectly into the fence! I turned my constrain cheat back to true and built on top of my floor. I used the Formidable Fortification from Landgraab Industries fence around the perimeter of my floor and recoloured it to match the Playground Fence.

Pretty cool, hey? I'm excited that my idea worked!

[TheChronicR]

I think you can construct something similar with World Adventures' pagoda roofs. Not quite the same at first, but I'm sure that with a couple of nifty tricks from our experienced builders will make it look what you want.

[folcon]

I like it lilygirl.  I suspect by the time I finish, I'll probably be very experienced with the constrainfloorelevation cheat.  In part because by the time I am done, I intend to have created an entire complex in the same design.  I'll start working on it sometime tonight or tomorrow.  I have a pretty good idea how to set up the rest of it, but if I have more questions, I will ask.  I still need to decide what statue I want to use to represent the deity the shrine is dedicated to.  Except for fast lane, I have all the expansions and stuff packs, just need to find a good one.  Good thing most are unlocked in buydebug.  Though I may have to spend a lot of time sculpting to be able to get the one I want since wood sounds appealing to me for the statue.

[Lilygirl]

Good luck with your very unique build, folcon! If you have any questions, definitely post them here and we'll help you out if we can.

I would love to see a picture of the finished product when you have it. Perhaps here or in the Showboat thread?

EDIT: I also played around with columns and "sinking them into the ground" using the constrain cheat. I discovered a couple things.
1) It is possible!
2) You can't "lower" columns like you can walls so I had to lower the terrain and place the columns in the hole before placing the floor on top.
3) I had to level the terrain ("fill" the hole the columns are standing in) under the floor in 2 sections because the floor maintains it's distance from the ground and would "rise". So I leveled a section, than lowered the floor, and repeated the process.
4) Floor tiles have a horizontal edge (now recolourable!) that likes to "stay behind" when you use the constrain cheat.
5) The end result of both methods allows layering of fences! I placed a tall fence along the ground and short one along the edge of the floor. Really cool effect!

Anyway, so depending on what effect you want for the stilts and what method works best for you, those are 2 options.

[folcon]

Thank you again lilygirl.  I do fully intend to post pics of the finished product up, and maybe loading it to the exchange.  I'm looking forward to building the hot springs that I intend to have too.  Mostly made with a pool, fog generator, and rock features placed with moveobjects.  Plus whatever plants I add too.  Then I just have to find a tutorial on making curved bridges to connects the building of the shrine together....though I guess if I make them close enough, I don't really need them to be curved.  Anyway, I'll be starting it later today, and will try to have some of the earlier pics as I progressively build up in a few more days.

[folcon]

Well after a busy mother's day weekend, I finally got around to working on my little project, and after a couple hours work, this is what I have so far.



Once I get a good night's sleep, I'll make the hot spring, do the landscaping, and finish the interior decorating.  If I upload the finished lot, will any sculptures and painting on the lot that my Sims made go with it?

[Lilygirl]

If I upload the finished lot, will any sculptures and painting on the lot that my Sims made go with it?

They should, folcon, other members have uploaded lots to the Swap Shop with Sim-made paintings and photos and there have been no complaints that I've seen. Not sure about the official Exchange though.

The place looks great so far!