Looking for simmers willing to give feedback on challenge project

[saltpastillen]

Thank you for all your feedback.

Due to the working week being here once more I haven't had much time to work on the challenge. However, wanted to update you on what I have currently done. All changes or points of interest have been highlighted for easy reference.

1.
Added a paragraph in the introduction about what expansions were required to play the game since I thought that was a question a simmer would like to learn early on.

2.
Added a rule that allows sims to enter build mode while on a community lot in order to add items from household inventory. Please feel free to suggest less awkward wording.

3.
Added a section about mods and cc in the official rules document, since it was not a simple yes/no answer.

- Do you think it is clear and easy to understand?

4.
In N1, switched deviance with food in the aspirations and culinary with criminal in the career section.

Because, when mapping out the "making money" part of the various neighbourhood's I realized what you guys were saying about culinary and criminal changing places would make a lot of things easier and more streamlined. I have decided to switch place between them but as for now I have still not decided on whether or not I want to change the community lots around.

- what do you guys see as pro's and con's for changing the gym and the bar/club  other than "sims starting out wants to drink" ?

5.
In N1, added "You may not purchase any computer." to managing household.

6.
N1 (Green highlight), I would love to hear from you regarding the restrictions on movement in N1. The game play goals is to complete on of the nature aspirations. Is this even possible on the base game without ever traveling to another neighbourhood?

- can someone please play test this?

7.
In N1, amended the "must leave 1 person behind when traveling to Granite Falls" to only kick in once the retail store was opened.

8.
N1, added meals, gourmet meals, mixed drinks and mixed potions to the "making money" section.

9.
N1, removed viruses and hacking from the "making money" section.

10.
N1 (red high light), build section, would really appreciate any thought on the required list for a retail store as I have never player with them in game.

11.
N2, switched food with deviance and criminal with culinary.

12.
N2 (green high light), still curious about the feasibility of these restrictive travel.

13.
N2 (blue high light), does anyone know if making house calls means making actual house calls? Or if it works like traveling to work/school?

Please ignore the pink blob at the end, it's the Q&A section that will one day come out.

[HelenP]

I have checked out fishing in Newcrest and without access to Granite Falls you would need to allow travel to other neighbourhoods to reach three fishing spots.  1 fishing spot is in the neighbourhood with the 2 tiny plots, the other 2 fishing spots are in the neighbourhood with the biggest plot.  Fishing at three different places is at the very start of the fishing aspiration.

[Tixxis]

I have checked out fishing in Newcrest and without access to Granite Falls you would need to allow travel to other neighbourhoods to reach three fishing spots.  1 fishing spot is in the neighbourhood with the 2 tiny plots, the other 2 fishing spots are in the neighbourhood with the biggest plot.  Fishing at three different places is at the very start of the fishing aspiration.

And I doubt the fishing aspiration can be achieved due to the requirement to catch 20 different types of fish in the end.

[HelenP]

And I doubt the fishing aspiration can be achieved due to the requirement to catch 20 different types of fish in the end.

Yeah, I forgot, you'd have to go the the Forgotton Grotto (Willow Creek) and probably the Abandoned Mine (Oasis Springs) as well.

[saltpastillen]

Can the freelance botanist be completed do you think?

[Tixxis]

Can the freelance botanist be completed do you think?

I would have thought so. The cowberry can be 'caught' in ordinary waters.

[saltpastillen]

Hm, I would like to keep both set of rules as similar as possible. So if one of the nature aspiration can be completed by no additional travel, or by just opening up travel through all of Newcrest that would be my preference.

[Tixxis]

2.
Added a rule that allows sims to enter build mode while on a community lot in order to add items from household inventory. Please feel free to suggest less awkward wording.

Sims can place things from their personal inventory on a community lot. But, it is not possible to access the household inventory in build mode on a community lot.
The only exception is an owned retail lot. So, if you wanted to put a career award in a gym - for example - you'd have to make that lot a retail shop first by placing a cash register on it. Your Sim then has to buy that retail lot - place the career award - sell the the retail lot and change the lot type.

3.
Added a section about mods and cc in the official rules document, since it was not a simple yes/no answer.
- Do you think it is clear and easy to understand?

Yes

4.
In N1, switched deviance with food in the aspirations and culinary with criminal in the career section. (...)
- what do you guys see as pro's and con's for changing the gym and the bar/club  other than "sims starting out wants to drink" ?

The game imposes requirements on most community lot types: gym, bar, lounge, park, etc. If these requirements are not met, you'll see an orange exclamation mark above the lot in 'manage worlds. There is, however, a lot type with no imposed requirements: 'generic'.
This leaves space for players to combine functions. It could, for instance, become a church/graveyard or a hotel/inn or a school...

N1 (Green highlight), I would love to hear from you regarding the restrictions on movement in N1. The game play goals is to complete on of the nature aspirations. Is this even possible on the base game without ever traveling to another neighbourhood?
- can someone please play test this?

@HelenP pointed this out already. It's not possible to complete 'Angling Ace' unless you allow access to the Forgotten Grotto and/or Sylvan Glade.
The Curator is possible, but takes longer without a postcard collection. Freelance Botanist is straightforward. Outdoor Enthusiast requires travel to Granite Falls.

7.
In N1, amended the "must leave 1 person behind when traveling to Granite Falls" to only kick in once the retail store was opened.

Is there a reason for this? I doubt the store will sell anything if not managed 'actively'.

8.
N1, added meals, gourmet meals, mixed drinks and mixed potions to the "making money" section.

Maybe add these to your list of merchandise for the retail store as well?

10.
N1 (red high light), build section, would really appreciate any thought on the required list for a retail store as I have never player with them in game.

The 'imposed' lot requirements are 1 cash register. In reality, it must have a counter for the register as well.
A shop obviously needs more to work well: display, decoration, curb appeal and convenience are important.
I suppose the option to 'advertise via internet' is off-limits with no computers in N1?

12.
N2 (green high light), still curious about the feasibility of these restrictive travel.

My Sims have been invited to 'hang out' at a friends house. They have never been invited to a party. It's easy to say 'no' and maintain general travel restrictions.
Personally? Rather than visits to friends houses, I'd like: Newcrest wide open, access to Forgotten Grotto via Oasis Park, access to Sylvan Glade, travel to Granite Falls.

[saltpastillen]

Sims can place things from their personal inventory on a community lot. But, it is not possible to access the household inventory in build mode on a community lot.
The only exception is an owned retail lot. So, if you wanted to put a career award in a gym - for example - you'd have to make that lot a retail shop first by placing a cash register on it. Your Sim then has to buy that retail lot - place the career award - sell the the retail lot and change the lot type.

All right, then it makes no sense to add that rule at all, since you can just drag things from the inventory while visiting the lot.

The game imposes requirements on most community lot types: gym, bar, lounge, park, etc. If these requirements are not met, you'll see an orange exclamation mark above the lot in 'manage worlds. There is, however, a lot type with no imposed requirements: 'generic'.
This leaves space for players to combine functions. It could, for instance, become a church/graveyard or a hotel/inn or a school...

The problem with the generic lot type is that sims from the neighborhood will not visit it. In order to have sims visit it you need to use a mod. You are also not able to hold weddings there if you want to do it.

I don't think it will be any problems for simmers to just add functionality within the existing community lots. I mean, if someone wanted to make a bar in N1 that would be ok, as long as they have all the required gym items in the basement for example.

Is there a reason for this? I doubt the store will sell anything if not managed 'actively'.

It was mainly added to preserve the spirit of "having to keep the lot open each day" which would be impossible without one sims present.  However, maybe this is redundant.

I suppose the option to 'advertise via internet' is off-limits with no computers in N1?

Yes, unless advertising over the internet is a very crucial part of running a retail store? I haven't played with one yet.

My Sims have been invited to 'hang out' at a friends house. They have never been invited to a party. It's easy to say 'no' and maintain general travel restrictions.
Personally? Rather than visits to friends houses, I'd like: Newcrest wide open, access to Forgotten Grotto via Oasis Park, access to Sylvan Glade, travel to Granite Falls.

Hm, will ponder this a bit.

[saltpastillen]

Since I will not be using the generic lot type, do you think it would be OK to leave out the already required items, and instead add some other items? Or would that be too confusing?

[Tixxis]

Something like "extra items required"?

[saltpastillen]

Something like "extra items required"?

Current draft has:

• 1 outdoor trash can
• lot type set to retail
• all the items required to make the lot register as complete

+ 4 or 5 other misc to include

I am trying to make it a bit eclectic and open for interpretation. Hopefully I will have a new version up tonight or tomorrow night.

[saltpastillen]

Would like your input regarding how to deal with relocating to the next neighbourhood.

I'm choosing between:
a) having the household funds revert back to $0 each time they move to a new neighbourhood
B) having them keep $10,000 in N2 and $20,000 in N3

What would you prefer?

I like option a because it lets you start over from scratch and because it will be the hardest.

I like option b because it makes more sense from a sequential point of view and because you will need more money in the later neighbourhoods.

[HelenP]

Yes, unless advertising over the internet is a very crucial part of running a retail store? I haven't played with one yet.

Internet advertising is not necessary to run a store.  I've only run 1 store but I had more than enough customers without it.

What would you prefer?

I like option a because it lets you start over from scratch and because it will be the hardest.

I like option b because it makes more sense from a sequential point of view and because you will need more money in the later neighbourhoods.

I prefer b, but you could always put both in the ruleset, something like "when you move to N2 you can keep $10,000 unless you want a real challenge in which case start from $0 again."

[saltpastillen]

I prefer b, but you could always put both in the ruleset, something like "when you move to N2 you can keep $10,000 unless you want a real challenge in which case start from $0 again."

I prefer b too, because it makes more sense from a dynasty perspective. But I want your input because I want to make this rather streamlined and not too much in my own head.