Building Skills Off-Lot

[imayu94]

Hello everyone! I'm just wondering about something about the game.

I want to know what the protocol is for the "Build Skill..." Option to appear for the Sims that are outside the current lot. I noticed that there are times that they don't appear at all. Do the sims have to be available for tasks? Do they have to be at the home lot? Et cetera. I'd really like for my sims to be a little bit productive while people are away.

[dharmagoddess]

Thus far I've noticed that if I set up a bunch of tasks for one Sim, say to tend the garden and then harvest all, and then I send hubby to the gym to build fitness skill, when I return Sim #1 hasn't done the tasks that were assigned to her when I left. When I return she's just dancing to the stereo or using the observatory. She doesn't seem to continue with any of the tasks I've set for her, so she's not likely to build skills unless I'm there to monitor it. I don't think she's earning logic skill for using the observatory if I'm not there to see it if that makes any sense.
IDK if this answers your question or not though.

[imayu94]

Not really, but thanks. 

I was referring to the Off-Lot menu (the upper right corner of the sim portrait where you select their activity while you're away. Sometimes they don't have the "Build skill..." option and it's a bit annoying because I do want them to build skills.

Setting up a bunch of tasks before leaving the lot I think doesn't actually have the task queued. It's best to use the Off-Lot actions if it's skilling, or cleaning the lot, etc.

[Playalot]

You can not queue up actions for a sim, leave the lot and still have the sim do those queued up actions! It just doesn't work that way in TS4. Instead you have to click the small icon on/above the portrait of the 'at home' sims when you are off the lot with another sim. 

You have to have at least level 1 of a skill before it will appear as an option to 'build skill' when off the lot.

Sometimes if an 'at home sim' has returned home from work while you are away with another sim (say at the park), the recently returned sim as no option for building skills or looking after self. I don't know why this is... but when you get back home they usually have looked after themselves anyway.

There is a 'tend garden' option for an 'at home' sim that levels gardening skill.

Hope that helps!