Do Parties Improve Relationships?

[LlamaMama]

I wish we had a stickied thread for Itty-Bitty Questions, so I wouldn't be littering the forum with short threads, but here goes: If a sim throws a party and everyone has a good time, do the relationships go up automatically? Or are parties good for relationships because you can one-by-one get to know each person in a short period of time?

[Metropolis Man]

They do. It's not an enormous boost, but it certainly is worth your effort to throw a good one. As Sims leave your party have the relationship tab open and you'll see the boost as they leave. It's pretty cool.

[samoht04]

Look's like I should throw parties more often, friends are what my sims lack a the most. That and Gem Skulls... 

[AriaGirl77]

Yes, one of my most consistent Simming strategies is to throw lots of parties.  You can easily make arrangements on the phone, put out a good meal, turn on the tunes, and then go focus on whatever skill you're working on while the party takes place.  If you invite the same people all the time you'll make friends with them without doing much of anything really. 

In other words, it's making friends in Easy Mode.

[LlamaMama]

Friend-making is my least favorite part of The Sims. Time to par-tay!

[Duskey]

Does anyone know if it's possible for a party to go into the wee hours of the night in TS3? From my experience, Sims always leave between 22 and midnight, regardless of what day it is.

[Happytime]

Duskey, I did have one party where two of the four guests stayed a bit after midnight (24:00).

Just a bit before midnight, I saw the message come up telling me the party was a "Blast," (so I guess the "party" was over, my Sim got the "Threw a Great Party" moodlet), but two of the guests stayed for roughly a half-hour before the "It's late, I need to leave"-type of message came up and they skedaddled.

I've never seen the party status message appear after midnight. But that's just my experience.

  -- Happytime

[Schipperke]

I rarely have parties, but was using the party invite list to check the ages of some of my sims' acquaintances the other day, and noticed that "Funeral Party" was one of the options.  I didn't know sims could have funeral parties.  Can anyone tell me what happens at a funeral party?

[TommyT]

It functions just like a regular party, I threw one the day after one of my Sims died.  I notice the option is always there though.  Wonder what happens if you do a service when no one's died.

[Schipperke]

I thought maybe the guests would turn up dressed in black, or talk about the deceased, or maybe Grim would even put in an appearance.  But a funeral is just like any other party?  That's disappointing.

[Metropolis Man]

I thought maybe the guests would turn up dressed in black, or talk about the deceased, or maybe Grim would even put in an appearance.  But a funeral is just like any other party?  That's disappointing.

Not really. It's completely consistent with other parties—the Sims you invite simply show up at your house/venue and what happens then is up to you.

[Schipperke]

I don't want to beat this to death - I get it that a funeral is just another party.  What doesn't make sense to me is why they bothered to make a separate category of "funeral party" if it's really just the same as an ordinary house party. 

[samoht04]

Maybe it has a lower 'Happiness' of Guests cap?

[mtglady]

I don't want to beat this to death - I get it that a funeral is just another party.  What doesn't make sense to me is why they bothered to make a separate category of "funeral party" if it's really just the same as an ordinary house party. 

At a Sim's funeral (or wake) you get socials such as 'Talk Highly About' and 'Remember the Deceased Fondly'.  There is also an option for consoling other family members  .  A funeral is supposed to be a formal occasion and is really for the deceased family to reminisce with his or her friends.
Sometimes Grim will show up even though he wasn't invited especially if there is an elder nearing the end of their lifespan at the party.  Grim may even dance and eat at the funeral. 
I only get this option for a party if one of my Sims has died or if one of their best friends dies. The game triggers this option on and off just like the option to have a wedding party. 

[Schipperke]

Now, that makes sense - I thought there must be something different about a funeral party, or else why have it?  Now I'm wishing I'd had the funeral party when I had the option - I'd love to see Grim partying!  Thanks, Mtglady.