I've worked on 8 legacy families so far, partially due to computer malfunction, partially due to game malfunction and partially because I got bored. This is all very new to me since the only thing I used Sims 2 for was building and remodeling. So starting off with a legacy from the get go was was a major learning experience. I decided right off to follow Pinstar's rules to the letter, which made it even more of a challenge. I opted for Matriarchy, no WA, and family trait, (virtuoso). I was lucky with the randomizing all 8 times and never got a roll I would be uncomfortable with. (I just can't see myself doing an evil.) Absolutely no mods, no cheats and only allowed cc is from the store.
The easiest part for me, once I figured out how to use the terrain function to build "walls", was making a place to live until I had sufficient funds and a possible spouse for house building. Sometimes I had a job, sometimes I didn't. I always gardened, fished and gathered. The easiest one was when I rolled klepto! There wasn't a car left in town by the time I was through and before gen 1 was pregnant we already were living in a mansion. At first I had one baby at a time which drove me bonkers until I figured it out. Simple. Check on their needs BEFORE they go ballistic, diaper, feed, cuddle, play, diaper,snuggle, crib. When they got to be toddlers I immediately did their growing needs then set them down on the floor daily with a bunch of books. No more worries and they all grew up talented and geniuses. Then I tried twins. Same thing just in tandem.
By the time my founding parents were ready to move on, (and you MUST play regular life span if you follow Pinstar's rules), I had a pool of possible heirs and could start marrying up and moving out the others. Once the chosen heir was married and preggers, (and I usually made one of the parents stay at homes), I moved out most of the others leaving just enough folks around to maintain the huge garden and keep cash flowing in. Then it was just rinse and repeat, and THAT is where I got bored. My current legacy family has rolled klepto every other batch of babies, (different generations), so I doubt they will run out of things to steal or cash from selling stolen goods any time soon. They are all on hold while I do the Crazy 8 challenge.
I'm with Pam on the toddlers. They maybe age into troglodyte ugly but that can be easily changed by changing their appearance in the mirror. Mostly it's the eyebrows that cause the ugly look. I get them a cute wardrobe which can be customized with the tool in game and just rotate their clothes every 3 days. Then spend hours on end watching and listening to them play and read. When they aren't screaming and demanding they are just to precious for words. (So speaks a mom of 6!)
