Random trait given to Sims?

[John Allen]

After observing and making many Sims I’ve noticed the following:

In addition to the hidden traits, they seem to get a random trait from the list of traits.  I’ve had sims repeatedly get wishes to learn a skill, pursue that skill even when they didn’t have the trait and no skill in that area.  I’ve had several sims get random wishes like that and tested it a bit by letting them learn the skill and do the activity.  

One example is a Sim who wanted to learn writing and join the writing career the moment he stepped out of the inventing class.  Most of the times it’s not noticeable since they are the useless traits I’m guessing, but there are definitely times it's easier to recognize.

Kaylynn Langerak seems sometimes has the artistic trait, but even when it’s not visible she wants to paint, and paints high quality while skilling up as if the trait were there and visible.  (married her like 8 times or so)

I haven’t seen the hidden traits happen randomly, until 2 days ago.  My new writer sim (first generation), whose favorite food is autumn salad, just got a +81 moodlet form eating pizza, instead of the low moodlet for nice quality food.  I made sure he ate pizza several times over the next few days and sure enough, he always got +81.

[Pam]

There are times when a Sim takes an interest in something because of an event or an experience.  For example, if a Sim happens to visit the museum, he'll often get wishes to learn painting.  Or if he eats something with fish in it, he'll get a wish to learn fishing.  It doesn't always have to be driven by their traits.  They pick up varied interests from just regular day to day life, as well.

[Happytime]

Hey John!

What's a "hidden trait?"

I know the Sims seem to have "hidden skills" (dancing is the one that comes to mind, there's no "thermometer" meter for it, but they definitely get better at dancing over time).

Like Pam, I've had several Sims, when exposed to something novel for them (like their first visit to a museum, or going to the gym, or a trip to the Day Spa) have the wish later to repeat the activity or "do something" related to the experience. I've noticed they can also "pass this desire" on to folks they converse with (I'll see two of my Sims "Chat" about the pool, and one will have the wish to "Visit the Community Pool," for example.

Even with Sims with no "Traits" biasing them towards an activity (like gardening), I've had several Sims who I've directed to weed or tend the garden, over time, have wishes revolving around gardening ("Find a Seed," "Fertilize Plants," etc.).

I know we can't see the Sims3 Sim's "Memories" (like we could in the Sims2), but I suspect the game IS keeping track of a large amount of data for each Sim from session-to-session, including just some random "Wants." I'm not sure it has anything to do with traits one way or the other, it's just the "want pool" the game populates for the Sim.

  -- Happytime

[Pam]

What's a "hidden trait?"

  -- Happytime

Sims can have hidden traits that are passed down from particular types of parents.  They don't show up in the traits panel, but they do exist.  Click here to read about hidden traits on Carl's Guide.

[TollingBells]

I have had what Happytime described- My momma sim, who married Leighton Sekemoto, keeps wanting to paint, despite the fact it has nothing to do with her lifetime wishes. I think it's because she goes into the studio room a lot, where Sam has a easel.

[Happytime]

Thanks for the link, Pam. Interesting!

I do recall playing a Sim who could "Salute" as a child, and her father was astronaut. I didn't really think much about it at the time, but looking back I guess she was gifted with the "hidden" trait by the game, courtesy of genetics.

Since the guide indicates some Sims can possibly have multiple "hidden" traits (Fire Immunity and Pyromaniac for some chillin' of Firefighters), I wonder over a series of generations how many a player might be able to "rack up." Are there one, two, or possibly more hidden "slots?"

Or as John's mentioned, appear "randomly" (in first-generation Sims)?

  -- Happytime

[AriaGirl77]

I've noticed that age changes often will bring up certain wishes that are not related to traits.  Often when sims turn Elder they'll suddenly want to learn fishing or gardening even though they have no traits that would bring up that wish.  I guess that's because fishing and gardening are often hobbies that retired people like to do.

[TollingBells]

I had one that did the same thing, Aria, but he wanted to paint. Buisness man for how many years, and instead of writing, he likes painting.   Ah well.

[Saltypaws]

I guess it is like in real life.  We keep saying we are going to do something and we usually never do it or at one time or another we think about doing something that has nothing to do with our likes or dislikes, it is just something that maybe we have seen someone else do and think "wow, I would like to do that" or "that looks like fun", but, we never do it and the thought finally goes away, never to be thought of again.  It doesn't make us sad or unhappy that we didn't do it, it was basically just a random thought, triggered by something that we saw.  At one time, I thought about sky diving because it looked like fun, hmm, don't think so now.  I would break every bone in my body, lol.  Anyway, that is probably how these little sims are programed.  If they don't get to do what they wish, it will not make a difference, but I usually try to fulfull the more reasonable ones if I can.

[John Allen]

Pam, yeah I know about the events trigger wishes.  That is kind of a basic in the game.

Probably should have put more examples.  Like the Sim who slept 20% longer than other sims as if he had the couch potato trait.  Had 2 sims like this.  

And the Sim with the writer wish Just came out of CAS and had no traits related to writing.  He just bought the lot and before I could enter build mode he got the learn writing wish, it was his first wish and the wish came back a lot.  Denied it and after building the home he wanted to join the writing career as well.  

Even if they are not traits, I do think there is some variation in sims that makes them more unique maybe.