Sim Can't Sculpt Stone?

[Ricker]

I didn't see this issue anywhere on the forum, so if it has already been posted, just point me to the right link. 

I've run into an odd little thing that may just be random chance or it may be a bug.  I haven't quite figured this out.  One of my sims has been working on sculpting and is either level 9 or 10 (I can't recall if he mastered it or not, since all the sims in this household have decided to start sculpting at once aside from my writer).  However, every time he attempts to sculpt something in stone, the stone breaks apart and leaves him some sort of rock.

I know this happening at random points is a feature as designed, but so far he has broken 7 or 8 straight blocks of stone.  Is this normal?  My other sims have no problems sculpting in stone, but this fellow just touches the stone and it falls apart. 

At the very least I did get a couple chunks of woohooium out of the deal, but still, he has skill challenges to complete!   

[Saltypaws]

If you have happiness points, you could go ahead and get savvy sculptor (that is from happiness points, I believe).  That usually fixes that sort of thing.  I have had the same problem, not sure if maybe related to any other trait.  My sim finally ended up completing the sculpture, just be patient and I am sure it will work out.

[Metropolis Man]

I have had the same problem, not sure if maybe related to any other trait.

Salty may be on to something, Ricker. Is your Sculptor a Loser or Unlucky?

[Saltypaws]

Probably unlucky would do it.  You could experiment and see what trait works.  I do know though, that when my sim had savvy sculptor, his stone did not crumble and the only reason I am sure, is that I actually wanted it to break to get the different gems you get when it breaks, so the next sim I made to do sculpting, he just had the normal traits and no lifetime wishes yet and almost every stone broke. 

[Ricker]

If you have happiness points, you could go ahead and get savvy sculptor (that is from happiness points, I believe).  That usually fixes that sort of thing.  I have had the same problem, not sure if maybe related to any other trait.  My sim finally ended up completing the sculpture, just be patient and I am sure it will work out.

Thanks for the input!

Savvy Sculptor is actually a trait, so that isn't an option for this fellow I'm afraid (his brother has it).  The Lifetime Reward for Sculpting is Artisan Crafter, if I remember correctly.  No Loser or Unlucky traits either.  I actually have three sims sculpting right now, and only one of them has the Savvy Sculptor trait.  One of them breaks her stones about somewhere between 10% and 20% of the time, the one I mentioned hasn't yet succeeded in sculpting stone, and my Savvy Sculptor never breaks stone.  I wonder if I'm just running into a patch of bad luck?

Sculpting isn't this sim's bread and butter (he's just doing this on the side of his actual career), so I'm not too worried about it.  I did think it strange.  When I get a chance to peek at the game tomorrow, I'll look at his traits.  He doesn't have any of the "negative" traits, but I can't remember exactly which traits he has.  I believe he has Brave, Athletic, and Bookworm off the top of my head. 

[NancyJ]

My non-savvy sculpture has a lot of trouble with stone, I think they get better at it the more you try. When she first started she was losing like 4 out of 5. I've got a nice stack of woohooium from it though.

[Ricker]

He finally got his first 

[Carl]

I'm glad your Sim finally succeeded in sculpting stone. It was probably a case of needing to work on the quantity of sculptures they'd made. I'd say non savvy sculptors will eventually break fewer sculptures based on the experience they've accumulated, independent of the skill level. It must be like board breaking, where space rocks get much easier to break once the Sim has broken plenty of stone blocks.