Fast Friends

[Chuckles_82]

A little while back, someone mentioned that charismatic sims can repeat the same social action over and over without boring a sim (provided they're not against the topic).
I tested this, and came up with a method (though I'm sure at least someone has done it before) that almost guarantees fast friends with most grown up sims.

1. meet sim
2. ask about career
3. enthuse about above career

or, if they are a collegue
1. discuss work
2. enthuse about said career

Sometimes you'll quickly find out their traits. Charismatic brings up the option more to talk about what they like. Some traits have very fast interactions to get that ++ for example, for workaholics you can applaud hard work. Over and over. They'll be best friends in about 1 sim hour!!!

Additionally, sims that do not have the charismatic trait, or the Never Dull LTR will be able to enthuse about any subject that the other sim is interested in, over and over without boring them - their careers are usually the best bet. They must, however, get a double positive response for this to work, though.

Further, you can talk about any photography subject with tourists or locals from other countries, and it will always yield a ++ reaction. Great for those adventures that require you to convince locals!

I haven't made an exhaustive list, but if people could help me add to it, it might be a very useful tool. Many of them are the the same as the special interactions that come with a trait, but not all - for example, most of the friendly and charismatic special options do not elicit a ++ response. Here are all the ++ interactions I can think of, with their corresponding traits/careers:

trait related:
applaud hard work - workaholic
talk about conspiracies - neurotic; insane
talk about art - artistic
talk about gardneing - green thumb
talk about books - bookworm
talk about the bookstore - bookworm
praise fantastic book - bookworm
criticise book - bookworm
talk about cooking - natural cook
compliment cooking - natural cook
discuss fine cuisine - natural cook
compliment cleverness - genius
express need for exercise - athletic
enthuse about exercise - athletic
enthuse about music - virtuoso
talk about family - family oriented
talk about a discovered celestial body - genius
talk about fishing - angler
discuss favourite tv shows - couch potato
talk about movies - couch potato
ask about show - couch potato
express fear of the dark - coward
express discomfort with crowds - shy
talk about cameras - photographer's eye
rant about dark rooms - photographer's eye
discuss SLR cameras - photographer's eye
reminisce about film - photographer's eye
talk about computers - computer whiz
compliment party - party animal
complain about dirty dishes - neat
mastermind plot - evil
coo over children - family oriented
*compliment home - snob
compliment fur (werewolves)
rub belly (werewolves)

*this doesn't show up as a super friendly interaction, but the relationship gain is equal to or greater than the gain from other ++ socials.

work related:
enthuse about business
enthuse about science
enthuse about law enforcement
talk about medicine
enthuse about journalism
enthuse about music
enthuse about military
enthuse about sports
enthuse about politics
enthuse about cooking

Ways to find out traits:
'get to know' interaction
'observant' LTW
using a trait-specific interaction for a trait your sim has in common
giving gifts that are related to a trait (eg produce for greenthumbs; a book for bookworms)

When giving gifts, if you don't actually want to give an item away, but want to use it to find out a trait, do it when you have just met someone. Most of the time they will give it back because they don't know you well enough. You will get one negative response, but will find out their trait - well worth it for all of those ++ responses!

Sometimes even when you find out someone's trait there won't be a corresponding social interaction unless your sim shares this trait. These sims are the hardest to befriend, and usually have to be done the good ol' fashioned way of talk talk talk. These traits include:

can't stand art (I really hoped you could then complain about art for this one, but no)
love the outdoors
(more to come, but I suspect 'hates children', and 'grumpy' also fall under this category).

Sometimes when you are at a specific location you will get the option to enthuse about something that you may not elsewhere. I have found 'enthuse about exercise' doesn't usually come up when you find out someone is in the Athletic career, however, if you are at the gym the option will nearly always be there. If anyone knows anymore that are location specific, please let me know

Gym - enthuse about exercise (athletic)
Big Park - enthuse about fishing (angler)
Big Park - enthuse about outdoors (loves the outdoors)

A good way to exploit this is to group up with the person you want to make friends with and go to that location with the group - thus giving you the option to once again exploit the 'enthuse' option.

NEW: Another way to make fast friends is if you are controlling a genie - you can ensorcel the other sim, and then have them enthuse about your sim's career instead (reversing the roles).

[kattiq]

This compilation is awesome Chuckles! It's very helpful for people like me who absolutely hate having to make friends for the Immortal Dynasties. If I can make my sims be best friends in one hour that will be AWESOME. If I see anymore options while playing I will be sure to let you know!

[Pam]

Thanks for putting this together, Chuckles.  I might be something Carl would like to add to the Guide.

[MoMoll]

Charismatic sims can also just "Compliment" (this not a flirty compliment) and "Admire" (also not flirty). I find it works very well, especially with pushing from friendship to "Good friends".
Sometimes asking the Alma mater helps, especially when you find you went to the same prep school. Sometimes my sim has the option to talk about Smuggsworth Prep School. That's a dead give away that the other person also went there.

[MarianT]

Thanks for the compilation, Chuckles! I never realized that talking about work could be so rewarding. Although when you think about it, in real life, many people do make friends through work.

[Teacup Chihuahua]

Thanks for this Chuckles( WOW what a lot of work ) I always wondered if there was a point to all those interactions.

[MoMoll]

Add:
Enthuse about exercise

Compliment party is not only available for party animal. My charismatic sim always uses "compliment party" the moment she arrives at the person's party. Then she can leave early with no hard feelings and they always say "thanks for coming to my party", which boosts the relationship.

[Chuckles_82]

Compliment party is available to everyone, but, if you compliment a party animal it gets the ++. For other sims it gives only a single +

I'll add enthuse about exercise right away I knew I'd forgotten some obvious ones.

[MoMoll]

I thought of a couple more for the film industry:

talk about movies
discuss favorite TV shows

[Hosfac]

It's very helpful for people like me who absolutely hate having to make friends for the Immortal Dynasties.

This is precisely the reason I never take Charisma as a SuperMax skill when making an attempt at Immortal Dynasties lol.  Making new friends in minutes is so much easier than repairing old friendships that decay because you're too busy to be social while SuperMaxing a skill.

[Trentorio]

Something I keep in mind is the fact that the Enthuse About Such and Such options are fast social commands, so you don't take forever in the back and forth discussion like Chat or Talk About Movies might be, allowing you to rapid fire queue them to build into Best Friend.  I have noticed if I break down in the Enthuse options, after friend or good friend the option to Enthuse about Such and Such seems to disappear, but if it is queued several times already after the friendship hits that point, the sim still Enthuses and allows them to become best friends quickly.

Hope that makes sense.