Towns Won't Repopulate?

[Acustical]

I've been playing for a couple of Sim weeks and there hasn't been any pregnant Sims walking about, no relationship changes, and no one getting jobs? I know I'm definitely playing with Story Progression on but every Sim I've met is either an old townie with no kids and they have no job. The only new Sims coming in are ones moving in from other places, but they're not related to the town at all. What is happening? 

[Trip]

EA's story progression has been broken since patch 1.26 or so, and now does somewhere close to nothing in terms of progressing the town.

It took me until week 57 of my dynasty to see someone in the massive extended family get into a steady relationship without my help. That's how inactive story progression is, and it's not just you.

[Acustical]

Aww, that really sucks.  I've always wanted to play a legacy but I find that there's no point if the generations don't continue. Do you know any workarounds to this?

[Trip]

The easy answer is get a mod. Twallan's Story Progression is the go-to mod for getting your town's cogs running (refer to our Game Mods board if you have any further questions on it, though).

Of course, if you don't like mods, you can do all of the dirty work yourself. Switch households via Edit Town. Set up some relationships and pregnancies, and then go back to your family and watch the results. While it involves you doing the work, there is a slight bonus of putting together couples and situations that you specifically want.

[Acustical]

Thanks very much! Very much appreciated. 

[Angélique]

The EA Story progression seems to be a really erratic and unpredictable creature. If you want things to change in the game, it does nothing, but when you turn it off, like I do, it still makes people move in to the town, get divorced, form/end romantic relationships etc.

It can get a bit tedious and frustrating sometimes, when I have to undo the unwanted changes again and again. But this is Sims 3 so it's only to be expected, as it often acts like a naughty child. I still love it though!