Butlers?

[Pam]

Bah!  I fired my third butler.  The first two left just before they aged to elderly, so I think they got too old.  It would be nice if the game would give us some kind of notification when that happens.  I hired a third and she was just annoying.  When Scarlet became a toddler, the butler was always interfering in her care.  I've got 6 other Sims in the house to take care of her and it was very aggravating when I queued up some interactions with her dad, only for them to all be canceled because the butler got there first.  She kept reading to Scarlet, which normally would be fine, but in this case there are limitations to what skills Scarlet can learn because of the Immortal Dynasty Challenge and I don't want her gaining extra skill points from reading toddler books.  I think I prefer a maid who just comes once a day and cleans everything without getting involved with the family.

[ratchie]

Pam in my dynasty the maid changed Kumquat's diaper and fed her a bottle a few times. She wasn't that good at cleaning to be honest

Rachel

[Nibbles]

I tested inclement's door idea.
For one it won't work since the butler can't wash the dishes or fix broken appliances.

Here's how it will work:
Let's say our household has two sims. Wall off *only* the fridge by 1x4 and add two doors. Select a sim and lock a door for everyone but them. Rinse and repeat with the other sim. So the family can freely fetch leftovers from the fridge and stop our food frenzied butler.
This method is limited your kitchen layout and number of sims in the household.

[Saltypaws]

I added my butler to the household, he has maxed handiness and cooking, no wonder he cooked and fixed things.  So if they have the handy skill, they will fix anything that breaks.  The others will not if they don't have that skill.

[LlamaMama]

How did you add him to the household? Does he still get paid?

[inclement]

I tested inclement's door idea.
For one it won't work since the butler can't wash the dishes or fix broken appliances.

Here's how it will work:
Let's say our household has two sims. Wall off *only* the fridge by 1x4 and add two doors. Select a sim and lock a door for everyone but them. Rinse and repeat with the other sim. So the family can freely fetch leftovers from the fridge and stop our food frenzied butler.
This method is limited your kitchen layout and number of sims in the household.

Thanks much for that. I thought that might be the case, but haven't gotten back to my butler game yet.

What I was thinking is to divide the kitchen. Fridge, a counter, and a stove walled off, door locked to "Everyone but my household". Counter could also hold the food processor or microwave. This would then force the chef in question to place the prepared family meal on the counter that is on the other side of the wall. And everyone can eat, even the butler.

Since the butler isn't part of your household, the door lock option does work to keep him out (or in)!

[Crimson]

You use the testincheatsenabled true and shift-click the butler and it gives you that option.

[Saltypaws]

How did you add him to the household? Does he still get paid?

I had the testingcheatsenabled cheat activated and added him to active household.  Unfortunately, his butler days end when that happens, but at least those skills are maxed already, lol.  I basically wanted to see what types of skills he did have, since he was fixing anything and everything that broke and his meals were either excellent or perfect.  As far as I can tell, the lower grade the food, the lower the skill, like it usually is, and the higher quality of food, the higher their cooking skill was, but that happens with our playable sims anyway.  Was just experimenting, pretty neat.

[LlamaMama]

Has anyone ended up with a vampire maid, butler, or service sim?

[Leto85]

Do butlers also feed the fish?

[Bde1225]

I have had to fire butlers for hitting on the married couple. It was rather annoying. Then they take pictures. I wish they would not do that.

[Lazycrockett]

I thought it would be fun just to see what a butler did which was show up after being hired and then leaving.  Mine didn't do anything not even make me pancakes.  I think he was on site for 15 minutes and I was trying to make friends with him hoping that he would stick around after reading all the comments about them disappearing.  I did find him at the movie lot and I marched myself down there, greeted him, fired him and then tried to get into a fight with him, but he ran off....again.

[Leto85]

I have had to fire butlers for hitting on the married couple. It was rather annoying. Then they take pictures. I wish they would not do that.

Haha! Let me guess... He was a Hopeless Romantic type? It may be a good idea to check his or her traits when you've hired a butler.
I've noticed that most traits are the same (at least in my case), being: Family Orientated, Neat and Natural Cook. The others that change from butler to butler are Bookworm, Genius and, well: Hopeless Romantic.

One thing I've noticed was that after I had fired my previous butler (female, forgot her traits) she didn't leave. In fact I got the feeling I had now actually two butlers in the house. And a maid.
Feeling myself a royal king now I got the idea that she didn't leave because she had a bed for herself already. I'm pretty sure that is it because the second time I've fired a butler before giving her a bed she did leave.
Maybe someone can confirm this?

[Pam]

None of my butlers have been Natural Cooks.  They both had Family Oriented and Neat, though.  I don't remember what the 3rd common trait was.  All of mine have had their own beds, too, and it didn't keep them from leaving.

[Lazycrockett]

Well from what I've read most all butlers leave and if that's true then whats the point of having one?  What did the developers want with this option.  Cause I find it hard to believe that hunting down and firing a butler was something players would find enjoyable.