The Sims 4 Paranormal Stuff Pack Manifests Jan. 26th

[sdhoey]

Paranormal Stuff Pack Blog: Dev Blog Pt 2

Welcome back to another dev blog about our latest Stuff Pack! This week let's talk about the Seance Table, Paranormal Investigator Career, and an interview with our Art Director!

So let's just get right into it!

Paranormal Stuff Pack: Dev Blog Pt 2

[Franki]

I'm quietly optimistic for this pack, on the one hand I am happy for all the spooky stuff but on the other hand, I am hopeful that it doesn't come with any major game breaking bugs... In saying that, it looks amazing, so for now I'm going to hold off on buying it but shall happily enjoy the experience when everyone posts about it and I see it through their posts etc.

[scoed]

This is a Sims game, when has anything been released without game breaking bugs?

But still I am excited. I am for sure making my 5 ways haunted graveyard house. Only thing other than the final layout (need more info on the new build buy stuff before I can do that) is what my third lot trait will be. My final candidates for that final trait is gremlins, vampire nexus, cursed, or creepy crawlies. Got to make it feel like a place the living would not touch.

I wonder if ghosts or vampires get a advantage in the medium skill like spell casters do? Likely not as they likely would have spoiled it if they did. It would make sense since they are undead, that they would have some kind connection to the world beyond.

Why does it seem the stuff packs are having a bigger impact on my game play then the game and expansion packs? I am definitely more excited about as of late.

I hate to ask this, but other then fire, what else can kill children in the game? I think having twin girl child npc ghosts
among others haunting the graveyard house would be fun, but as my ghost family will have a child, I want to mix up the kind of ghosts running around.

[Teresa]

Kids can drown.  Not sure about others.

[Brian_Z]

At one time, kids could die of Anger/Mortified/Hysteria.  I know they CAN'T if you have Parenthood, but I don't know if they patched that out completely, or if it still happens if you don't have Parenthood, or disable the Parenthood pack.

[scoed]

@Teresa & @Brian_Z Thanks. I have all the packs so emotional death is out it seems. But drowning seems like a fine choice for the NPC ghost twins. This is sounding fun.

[scoed]

Carl's review is out.

https://youtu.be/d4BVcNhCrn4

I love his review videos. It appears we have the same tastes in Sim content.

[oshizu]

I haven't watched the official trailer or Carl's review video yet, but I noticed in game yesterday that there's a new reward trait "Brave" for purchase in the reward store.
It'd been my hope to avoid the Scared/Terrified stuff by not buying the new pack until I know more about it, but....I guess not?

Edited to add: I take it all back. A new Paranormal Investigator project has been added to the 7 Heroes Dynasty Challenge.
I'm off to watch all the videos I've missed so far, lol.

[scoed]

Here is the livestream.

https://youtu.be/J1ysyiR50G4

I just watched it. The men's CAS stuff as usual was a let down. But the pack looks fun. I definitely am going to have to get the doll dropping female ghost Sim to visit they tallied about. Love the dolls. This pack looks like a fun add for the stuff pack add. Can't wait to play with the cute little spirits.

[Franki]

Just watched the livestream, still not filled with confidence ie I'm not super excited to go out and buy the pack immediately, but I quite liked some of the things shown.

Bonehilda was a slight disappointment in terms of the way she arrives, she just gets called, no sign of her coffin or a sim ringing a bell to summon her...
The ghosts were fun and the new freelance career looks like fun especially with the different difficulties. 
As usual the men seemed like they got a bit shafted in terms of CAS stuff, some of the new womens stuff was good.. not sure I'll use some of it but maybe parts will be used at the teen stage if it's available then, probably wont get used at the adult/young adult stage.
I would have loved some new furniture etc with more neutral tones, so it's not so much in your face colour, but that is just a minor gripe, that doesn't take away from some of the interesting looking items.

All up, it's a good pack, I will happily share the excitement from others who buy the pack straight out, but for me I'll be waiting until it's on sale as it just doesn't grab me like I had hoped it would.

[Nindigo]

I will get it and check it out. It looks to me that it is mostly directed at kids though - in tune with the rest of the game.

The small colorful spirits from TS3 Ambition's Ghosthunter career are somewhat similar to the ones in this pack. I agree with Carl, though, that it would have been nice to be able to have Bonehilda like in the previous iteration. Oh, well.

I'm sure that it will fit with some players nicely that a special lot trait is needed for the hauntings to trigger. That way, the contents of this pack won't bother certain people like the vampires did and was nerfed because of.

[scoed]

Well they made a good pack here. I was just going to play for a few hours, and next think I know 8 hours has passed actual game play. Building sure I can get lost from time to time, but it has been a while on actual game play. The career is fun. The new skill is a bit lacking but added with the career and new lot type it actually has play. This is the first pack since Eco lifestyle that has game play that actually excites me. And it is a stuff pack. And success is hardly a given as I actually failed my first day on the job as a paranormal investigator. There is a tiny bit of challenge to this pack, not much but I don't remember failing at anything but dying a certain way in this game I wanted to do. And children actually can help maintain spiritual level in your haunted house. New gameplay for children is always welcome as EA often neglects them.

Now to review the stuff. OK, the normal build/buy stuff is solid but not favorites, buy the stuff you need to cheat in or earn as rewards (or randomly shows up in haunted houses that aren't rewards) are just cool.  CAS is honestly a let down. Men/children/toddlers get shafted again. EA thinks people only care about female teen/young adult/adult sims in CAS I guess. There are a few good outfits but most I just will not use. and there just isn't anything I like for men, no outfits for boys or toddlers and only one for a girl child, though I do like it.

Final Grade Game play for a stuff pack A+, build/buy B-, CAS C-, total score B. It is one of the best stuff packs in the game. At $10 it is a deal if you like supernatural or quirky game play. I really like this pack a lot for the investment. Best of all when doing a game where haunted play isn't appropriate just don't use the new lot type and it all goes away, so no need to nerf it.

[scoed]

Fun fact your sim can become a Bonehilda look-a-like. It can happen when preforming a ghastly ritual. This pack is so cool. Over 12 hours of play and still finding things.

[Nindigo]

I think this pack was designed specifically to make Sims suffer...a passtime many of us employ and enjoy

That may actually be all the fun there is left in this iteration. New and inspiring ways to torment our Sims.

[scoed]

@Nindigo This pack can definitely make one's sims suffer. But I actually am enjoying the game play involving making it so my sims don't suffer. It adds a bit of challenge something the game needed. But sometimes it is fun tormenting innocent sims. Options are always great.