Hello,
I have a couple of questions/clarification about the following 2016 general rules.
1. Always create Sims in CAS from scratch......
Q: Using a Sim from the gallery seems to offer an advantage to a player but I do not see what. Could you explain why; in relation to a challenge; I must create a Sim from scratch?
Q: Is this related to the rule (2) below?
2. Reloading a game or traveling/entering CAS to reset Whims - This is a exploit to force the game to spawn more Whims and is not allowed.
Q: What is reloading a game? Does this mean; if I am in a challenge; I cannot travel or change clothes for my Sim? It relates to Whims? If a Sim completes a whim(s), he eventually gets a reward(s). Why would you want more whims? All players benefits equally. Right? Sorry to appear dense, but I do not get this rule? I am a visual person, perhaps an example would help me.
3. Life Extension - anything that lengthens pre-Elder life stages is prohibited. Completing the Bodybuilder Aspiration is fine since it only lengthens Elder.
Q. Is there an itemized list on the forum or guides of all objects or actions that extend life? At the top of my head, I can only think of potion of youth (which is already ban in another rule). Book of Life would be another one?. Bodybuilder Aspiration. What else?
I completed my first challenge (Skill of the week) and was fun to do. But also requires a lot of research, thinking. Sometimes, it is difficult to keep track of the general and specific rules in mind. I would be disappointed to use "ignorance" as an excuse for failing a challenge after all the work involved. And is much more rewarding when you have done it according to rules.
So thank you for the help.
1. We ask that players create challenge sims from scratch rather than download them from the Gallery because that way you know that your sim does not have any skills or additional traits.
2. The rule about not using devices to reset whims came about because it's possible to rack up quite a few satisfaction points this way. Usually if you satisfy a whim -- to read a book, for example, it will be a while before the whim comes up again. But traveling, etc., can cause the whims to reset. It is still okay to travel and use CAS, just not to do it repeatedly in order to reset whims.
3. At the moment, the ways to lengthen a lifespan are to use the potion of youth, ambrosia, and to get the sim pregnant. I think there's also a serum that can be made by a scientist. We use the general term because often new expansions will have new ways to extend life. The Book of Life is banned because it functions like the Moodlet Manager, filling all your sim's needs.
In general, if you come up with an approach to a challenge that seems too good to be true, you should PM the Challenge Team about it. It might be a known exploit or it might be something that we'll have to change a challenge in order to avoid. We do depend on the players to bring things to our attention, so thanks for your help.