2013 Tournament General Rules (Read This First)

[Ricalynn]

I'm sure this question has been answered somewhere, but are there any restrictions on our starting lots? Are we allowed to purchase a starter home, or must we build from scratch? If so, are we allowed to use the blueprints to build a house? This is the first year I'm doing any of the Challenges, so I want to be see I'm doing these things right.

Restrictions on starting lot will be on a per challenge basis.  Yes you can use the blueprints if the challenge allows you to build.

[Audren]

Restrictions on starting lot will be on a per challenge basis.  Yes you can use the blueprints if the challenge allows you to build.

And if no restrictions on starting lot are mentioned in the challenge specifics, (Handyman, in this case) than they are no restrictions?

[Ricalynn]

And if no restrictions on starting lot are mentioned in the challenge specifics, (Handyman, in this case) than they are no restrictions?

Exactly no restrictions for either of our current challenges.

[Audren]

Exactly no restrictions for either of our current challenges.

Thank for the speedy response, Ricalynn! Looking forward to getting started. 

[Vesper]

Another possibly stupid question. Are we allowed to add new empty residential lots of our preferred size in Edit town?

The rules state that "You may only use the Edit Town screen for the following reasons... To add missing lots..." but I was wondering if empty 3x3 residential or whatever counted as missing? I instinctively thought not but later in the rules it states:

"You cannot bulldoze existing structures ... but you can bulldoze completely empty lots. This will let you free up space to create new empty lots of adequate size with the Edit World tool;" so new empty community lots are clearly OK which is why I'm asking about residential.

[Shirin]

Empty residential lots, as I understand, aren't technically considered missing. The bulldoze of empty lots to create new ones is so you can add community buildings that may be missing from the world you're playing in (such as the Late Night bars and clubs being added to Sunset Valley). It's highly unlikely that someone would bulldoze smaller residential lots to add a big - and empty - community lot.

Most of the accepted worlds also should have a lot of size that's acceptable to you - unless you're looking for a 10x10 or something, that is. But my feeling (to be confirmed or corrected by challenge mods) is that adding empty residential lots isn't an acceptable use of Edit Town.

[Chuckles_82]

You're allowed to add one if there are none, for example, in Bridgeport. So, if you place all your community lots on the empty lots already available, then technically you could add an empty residential one.

[Vesper]

thanks for the help! I was asking for clarification rather than need because as you say Shirin there's usually a variety of residential lot sizes so I'm happy.

But I found myself wondering... the need for strategy in these challenges has made me wonder about every word of all the rules.

[Ricalynn]

As Chuckles said, you're allowed to add one if there isn't one.  However, if there are empty ones available - no you can't add one. 

[ve1ocity]

Errmm...I'm confused on this one.

Am I allowed to use Edit Town to add a pre-built house to the neighbourhood or can I only use the houses already placed in the neighbourhood?

[Twinmum]

You can't add any houses. You can either choose an existing house or build on an empty block. If there are no empty residential blocks, you can bulldoze an existing empty house to use that block.

[Chuckles_82]

I thought you could add EA built houses only? Either from the lot bin, or copy and pasted from another EA non-store world.

[ve1ocity]

I thought you could add EA built houses only? Either from the lot bin, or copy and pasted from another EA non-store world.

You can't add any houses. You can either choose an existing house or build on an empty block. If there are no empty residential blocks, you can bulldoze an existing empty house to use that block.

That's pretty conflicting. I'm ok with using EA built houses from the Bin. i just want a huge house as I'm no great builder.

[Twinmum]

It's just that the rules only mention adding community lots and the only mention of residential is bulldozing an existing house to have an empty block to build on.

[Ricalynn]

You cannot place residential lots unless you need to add one to play a challenge (as in there isn't one anywhere else) and then it still cannot be a pre-made house.  It has to be an empty lot.