Re: With a Twist-McCloud Kids Gotta Skill, Dec. 16

[Joria]

Ok, I had this crazy idea.  Typical ID rules, PLUS no buying anything that you couldn't get from the kiosk in Granite Falls, or via the computer.   Everything from build mode is ok.  Anything you get from job related ploys is ok.  Anything you build or gather is ok.  The ONLY items you can buy in buy mode are a mail box, a trash bin of your choice, a child art table and child science table.  Stealing is ok if your Sim has klepto.
In other words, anything you can do other than go into buy mode is ok.  Just follow the normal ID rules plus this little twist.  I'll be posting what I've done so far soon.

[Joria]

  Links after the *** will be listed with the most recent one on top so it is all reverse order.


****************************************************************************************************

Gotta Skill Chapter 54

McCloud Kids FTW  Chapter 53

Dem Bones Chapter 52

Farewell Dear Dax Chapter 51

First Visit to San M Chapter 50
Bridget Chapter 49
Another Good Day  Chapter 48
Preggers Chapter 47
News![url=http://Chapter 46
[url=http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=26316.msg452997#msg452997]Soul Mate Date] Chapter 46
[url=http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=26316.msg452997#msg452997]Soul Mate Date Chapter 45
A Scary Moment Chapter 44
Birthdays Again Chapter 43
Dina Comes to VisitChapter 42
Pollinating Newbie Chapter 41
To Heal a Broken Heart Chapter 40
Heartbreak Chapter 39
Don's Farewell Chapter 37
Double Wedding  Chapter 36
He Proposed Chapter 35
Happy Times Chapter 34
Deep Woods Chapter 33
I Do  Chapter 32
The Big Question  Chapter 31
It Was A Dark, Dark, Night Chapter 30
First Date
Tastes Like Chicken Chapter 28
New Old Man Chapter 27
Teens No More  Chapter 26
Changes  Chapter 25
Portraits Chapter 24
Vacay? Really? Chapter 23
Don's Day Chapter 22
Venkat's Daughter Chapter 21
Aging But Not Too Old Chapter 20
Get Down Tonight Chapter 19
Gone Fishin'  Chapter 18
Celebrate August3 Chapter 17
A Fond Farewell[/url Chapter 16
[url=http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=26316.msg448614#msg448614]Lady in Waiting Chapter 15
They're Still Watching Chapter 14
Skillin' and Chillin' Chapter 13
The Debbil Made Me Do It  Chapter 12
Just Another Day  Chapter 11
Twin Adventures  Chapter 10
Surprise April 21  Chapter 9
Gym-nastics  Chapter 8
House Tour  Chapter 7
Wedding Bells  Chapter 6
Wedding Plans and More  Chapter 5
She Said Yes  Chapter 4
Girl of My Dreams  Chapter 3
Where Am I?  Chapter 2
Prologue- Mists of Time Chapter 1

[Joria]

Stats and Thoughts/Plans

First of all, I copied Rica's format for stats with slight variations.  Thank you, Rica for a great way of keeping track without a spread sheet!  (I don't do spreadsheets)!

The following is a big "maybe".  I'm hoping to be able to follow my thinking/planning in this but as I've said before, I'm not a good strategist.  My thanks to my "mentors", Playalot and NJ for all their help, not to mention great stories. 

As you may notice, I'm more or less planning careers based on the rewards in order to build a bigger, better, house without the use of buy mode.  Although I've temporarily plotted out some careers, etc. I may switch things around depending on need and where we're at. I've already obtained several items thanks to the Connections ploy and the careers my helpers have, (OOOPS, was that a spoiler?), but there are many things I'll need or want that I may, or may not get via cloning.  Taking no chances, I will look for the following via career rewards:

1. Rocket Ship and cool chair  this is a maybe  Astronaut career

2. ZenXercise  Machine  Body Builder Career lvel 6 so it's doable for my favorite helper Don Lothario  Done 

Also treadmill from the Professional Athlete branch. Done

3. Business career offers the best office/library stuff ever at lvls 7-10, desk, office chair, guest chair and bookcase

4. Complete kitchen from Culinary chef (founder) and bar from mixologist, (spouse)
   Done

5. Cloning machine, Wormhole generator, Satellite dish, Sim ray from Scientist career
possibly from helper or heir Also gave several focus items such as overhead lights and rocket statue. Done

6.  Possibly the punching bag from Criminal Career  or one of the Astronaut sections

7.  Bed and easels from Painter Career Done

8.  Sofa, huge tv and gaming thing from Tech Guru career Sofa and Game pad done

In my stories I often put bits of things from shows I watch on tv, movies, books I love, skills I have, performers I like and music I like.  Just letting you see a bit of my personality and to see if you caught the references.

************************************************************************************************

Founder: Kieran McCloud
Traits: Foodie, Loves the Outdoors, Kleptomaniac

Spouse:  Dina Caliente
Traits: Active, Ambitious, Romantic

Helpers:  Don Lothario (pollinator par excellence, artist, Athlete career)
              Venkat Eastman (reluctant gardener possible pollinator, unemployed)
              Austin Naylor (reluctant fisherman, possible pollinator, Scientist career)

[X ] 1 Career: Culinary (Chef)  Maxed lvl10

[X ] 2 Aspirations:
1. Master Chef  (done)
2. Leader of the Pack (done)

[X ] 3 Skills: (Maxed)
1. Cooking
2. Gourmet Cooking
3. Handiness

[ X] 4  Unique Rewards:
1. Hardly Hungry
2. Stove and Grill Master
3. Instant Fun Potion
4. Always Welcome

[ X] 5 Gold Medal Parties: (COMPLETED)
1. Date,
2. Wedding,
3. Dinner Party
4. House Party
5. Birthday Party

[X ] 6 Good Friends(1 Unique BFF)
A. Aislyn McCloud
B.Airynn McCloud
C. Dina Caliente McCloud BFF
D. Don Lothario
E. Donnel Rosa
F.  Jessica Najera

[X ] 7 Emotional Whims: (COMPLETED)
1. Hug Someone (Happy),
2.Tell Self Deprecating Joke (Embarrassed),
3.Make A Drink (Inspired),
4.Ask on Date (Flirty)
5.Tell Unbelievable Story (Confident),
6.Take A Shower (Tense)
7. Upgrade and Object (Focused)

[X ] 8 Museum Pieces: 8 Camping Mascot Sculptures Value $12,000 Portrait by Don Lothario AND Aislyn McCloud Value $2,769

2nd Gen: Aislyn McCloud
Traits: Creative, Art Lover, Cheerful

[X] Child Aspiration(s): Completed
1. Artistic Prodigy
2. Social Butterfly
3.  Whiz Kid
4.  Rambunctious Scamp

[X] A in Grade School
[X ] A in High School

[X ] 1 Career: Artist - Patron of the Arts branch (no buy, need the bed) DONE

[X ] 2 Unique Aspirations:
1.Painter Extraordinaire DONE
2. Outdoor Enthusiast DONE

[X ] 3 Skills:
1. Painting, Maxed lvl 10
2. Violin  (completed as child) Maxed lvl 10
3. Herbalism Maxed lvl 10

[X ] 4 Unique Rewards:
1. Creative Visionary
2. Marketable
3. Steel Bladder
4. InstaLarge

[ ] 5 Gold Medal Parties:
1. Date
2. Wedding
3. Birthday
4. Incognito Party
5.

[ ] 6 Good Friends(1 Unique BFF):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

[X ] 7 Emotional Whims:
1. Happy: Hug Someone
2. Inspired:  Play an Instrument
3. Focused: Create Mathematical diagram on an easel
4. Confident: Practice Speaking in a Mirror
5. Sad: Cry It Out
6. Flirty:  Kiss Someone
7. Energized:  Send energized text

[X ] 8 Museum Pieces:  Portrait by Don Lothario  Value $1,611
Eight Masterpiece Paintings Total Value:

Twin Sister: Airynn McCloud
Traits: Creative
Child Aspirations: Completed
1. Social Butterfly
2. Artistic Prodigy
3. Rambunctious Scamp
4. Whiz Kid

Grade School: A
High School: A
Career: Writer

3rd Gen: Bridget McCloud
Traits: Cheerful, Geek, Loves the Outdoors

[ ] Child Aspiration:
1.Whiz Kid
2.
3.
4.

[ ] A in Grade School
[ ] A in High School

[ ] 1 Career:  Scientist

[ ] 2 Aspirations:
1. Nerd Brain
2. Curator

[ ] 3 Skills:
1.
2.
3.

[ ] 4 Rewards:
1. Focused Potion
2. Speed Reader
3.
4.

[ ] 5 Gold Medal Parties:
[ ] 6 Good Friends(1 Unique BFF):
[ ] 7 Emotional Whims:
[ ] 8 Museum Pieces:

4th Gen:
Traits: Creative, Music Lover,

[ ] Child Aspiration:
1. Artistic Prodigy
2.
3.
4.

[ ] A in Grade School
[ ] A in High School

[ ] 1 Career: Writer - Journalist Branch (need the bookcase)

[ ] 2 Aspirations:
1. Best Selling Author
2.

[ ] 3 Skills:
1.Writing
2.
3.

[ ] 4 Rewards:
1. Inspired Potion
2. Great Story Teller
3. Professional Slacker
4.

[ ] 5 Gold Medal Parties:
[ ] 6 Good Friends(1 Unique BFF):
[ ] 7 Emotional Whims:
[ ] 8 Museum Pieces:

5th Gen:
Traits: Outgoing,
[ ] Child Aspiration: Whiz Kid
[ ] A in Grade School
[ ] A in High School
[ ] 1 Career: Business Management Career Branch
[ ] 2 Aspirations: Popularity Aspiration, undecided which one
[ ] 3 Skills: Charisma, Logic
[ ] 4 Rewards:
[ ] 5 Gold Medal Parties:
[ ] 6 Good Friends(1 Unique BFF):
[ ] 7 Emotional Whims:
[ ] 8 Museum Pieces:

6th Gen:
Traits:
[ ] Child Aspiration:
[ ] A in Grade School
[ ] A in High School
[ ] 1 Career:
[ ] 2 Aspirations:
[ ] 3 Skills:
[ ] 4 Rewards:
[ ] 5 Gold Medal Parties:
[ ] 6 Good Friends(1 Unique BFF):
[ ] 7 Emotional Whims:
[ ] 8 Museum Pieces:

7th Gen:
Traits:
[ ] Child Aspiration:
[ ] A in Grade School
[ ] A in High School
[ ] 1 Career:
[ ] 2 Aspirations:
[ ] 3 Skills:
[ ] 4 Rewards:
[ ] 5 Gold Medal Parties:
[ ] 6 Good Friends(1 Unique BFF):
[ ] 7 Emotional Whims:
[ ] 8 Museum Pieces:

8th Gen:
Traits:
[ ] Child Aspiration:
[ ] A in Grade School
[ ] A in High School
[ ] 1 Career:
[ ] 2 Aspirations:
[ ] 3 Skills:
[ ] 4 Rewards:
[ ] 5 Gold Medal Parties:
[ ] 6 Good Friends(1 Unique BFF):
[ ] 7 Emotional Whims:
[ ] 8 Museum Pieces:

[Joria]

The night was dark.  Darker than one would think when thinking about night.  No moon.  Stars hidden by the forest, thick with trees.  No heavenly light shone down.  It was a perfect night for plans and plots.  Even a perfect night for ..................

"Come sisters, come!  The time is right.  We must gather and work our will or all will be lost!"



"Cut your blathering Githa Ogg!  Nought will be lost.  We're all to be immortalized by yon eld fule, Pratchett be the name. "

"I've brought the tea, and some grog.  Oh, and the herbs and wossit you wanted."

"Magrat, ye best have it all.  Eye of newt?  Frog sweat?  No?  How many times have I got to tell you witches don't do "tea"?  We do potions and spells and brew."



"Leave off Esme.  She's done her best.  What brought us here tonight?  Our Maisy is needing me at home."

"Gather round then.  Magrat, light the fire.  Githa, you're the hope for the future to come, so over here then."



"It's time.  By the flame and the forest.  By the wind and the rock.  By the past and the future.  By water and earth.  We summon thee."



The flames of the fire roared higher and higher till the thought of a major forest fire was definitely on the minds of the three gathered below.  Magrat never did get these things sorted right, Esme thought.  What were the three of them doing in the middle of the night, in the wind and cold, when they all should be snug in their beds?  Her old bones and white kitten, You,  just wouldn't let her sleep.  It was time for sure.  Time to wake a Watcher.

"Well, that's it then.  Spot of grog before we go?"



"You did well, Magrat.  The eye of Newt was a nice touch."

"Thank you, Granny.  Tea?"

"Aye.  And a bit of yon cake as well."



The mists rolled in, and out of them a voice could be heard.  No, not THE Voice.  Just a very irritated voice.  This was NOT how this story was to begin.  It was all supposed to be all spooky and mystic.  There was to be hills full of wild mountain thyme growing all around the blooming heather.  There was to be savage rampaging and burning of cots and a desperate mother calling out for her child to be saved.  There was to be.....ah.  Yes.  And so there was.  I was there.  I took the child, the one who should not have been born.  Vengeance had been called for.  A family betrayed.  A dynasty lost. 

As the years rolled by the child grew and passed the tale down to his child who passed it down to his.  On and on through the generations and seasons.  Someone would come.  Someone would finally be the right one.  The one to heal the wounds.  From poverty to wealth the new dynasty would be forged.  Immortality would finally be achieved and all the pain, betrayal and loss forgiven and forgotten.  If he were worthy.

W:  You gotta be kidding me!  This guy is it?

[KTK10]

Oh my... you are so very very brave... and I can't WAIT!!!

[Shewolf13]

OoooO!  This should be awesome!  Can't wait to read!

[Nettlejuice]

Yes! Looking forward to seeing how you play with no buy mode =D

[wfgodot]

Cool prologue!  Right up my alley, I love that sort of thing.  I like your writing voice, and the old fashioned speak they used!  hehe.  I'm with Nettlejuice - interested to see how it goes.  I look at my sims and figure they'd be pretty miserable having to earn their luxuries.  Then again, they are spoiled.

[Nettlejuice]

Fangirling so much! Nanny Ogg is my favourite Discworld character. I love the set up and what a hottie you have as the founder.

[oshizu]

So much to love in your prologue!
And the founder is very cute/adorable in a way that is new to you!

So many fabulous stories on the forum now--I wish I had my own reserve of moodlet solvers!

[Shewolf13]

Ooo!  What a handsome gent!

[Joria]

Thank you everyone!  Right now I am on try number SIX!  It took me that long to figure out I had to prioritize and what those priorities might be. DUH!  Smacked head for forgetting the obvious.  The difficulty I have with any game play is I get distracted and wander off on another track, losing Sim time that should have been spent on the main focus.  I like to gather things.  I like to garden.  I like to fish.  I like to go to the library.  I like to introduce myself to people and figure out if they'd be worthy of my story.  etc. etc. etc.  Finally I said, "NJ would NOT be doing this!"  (NJ is my hero as far as strategies go.)  Plus, I really want this to be a story and not just the same old stuff I always write.  I'm not a writer so this part is even tougher than the strategy part!  I'm a builder, not a writer.  A builder with no money and no chance to use build mode!!!  Worse, a player who forgets to take screenshots during important, non-staged moments.  Yikes!  Soooooo, so far here's what I got.........
**************************************************************************************************

The mists rolled away slowly as the rising sun warmed the lush landscape.  The air smelled so good, so fresh, and the sounds of bird song and rushing water could be heard.  Somewhere in the distance the gentle tolling of a buoy let all know where the shallows and hidden rocks were.  A sound just sweet and mellow, blending in well into the peaceful ambience.  In a sweet smelling grassy meadow, a young man was just awakening.  It must just be a dream he thought.  No one sleeps in a field of flowers when they've a busy day at work to begin.  Stretching, he rose, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"What the frell!?"



"This can't be real.  You gotta be kidding me!  Where the heck am I and how did I get here?  Must be some misbegotten joke of those bozos I live with.  When I get back and get my hands on them!......Wait a minute.......WHERE am I and WHERE is back?"

"It's ok, Kieran.  Everything is ok.  It's just the ........"

"Oh my Plumbob!!  Now I'm hearing things as well.  That's it.  I cracked up.  Off my nut.  Round the bend.  Nutsoid city."

"You're fine.  You are NOT crazy.  You......."

" Oh no, you don't!  This is some prank.  Show yourself! When I get my hands on....."

"SHUT UP!  If you'd just shut it for a few microts I'd be able to explain."

"Right.  Now the voice is telling me to shut up.  Ok, I'll play.  Shutting.  Now explain if you can."

(heavy sigh.... I just KNEW this wasn't going to be easy......Why do I get myself in these messes?....)  Ok, first of all, as I said, you are NOT insane and this is not your family or friends' idea of a joke.  Well, in a way it's sort of a joke, but it's a cosmic joke.  It all started many eons and many generations of McCleods ago.  There were clan wars, betrayal, a child that should not have been born, all kinds of stuff.  Anyway, the Witches of Lancre got together and decided enough was enough.  It was all interfering with what was going on in their Discworld and they needed the timeline cleaned up.   Just before the last battle, when your entire clan was wiped out, they called up someone they call the Watcher.  That's me.  Really, I was supposed to be the Kelda of a clan of WFM, that's Wee Free Men, but they found someone else for the job, turned me into a Big Job and set me to Watching your entire past, present and future.  Lemme tell ya, it's no picnic.  I've spent eons watching your group."

"Yadda, yadda, yadda.  Can you just get to the point, as in what is happening with ME?"

"Patience, Jack Axe, patience!  I'm getting to it.  So for hundreds of years your ancestors tried and tried to remove the curse that has been laid on your family.  That child that wasn't supposed to be born?  He was given into the hands of the McCloud family, in an entirely different world.  Sounds the same, but spelled differently from the original, in the hopes that the child would survive and spawn a new generation whose duty would be said curse removal.  So far, after many tries,  no luck.  So me boyo, now it's your turn.  You get to be the one to do the job with my help.    You get to be the curse breaker and restore your line to fame and fortune and immortal life.  Got it?"

"Got what?  Show yourself!!!  Crivens!!  I'm supposed to listen to some disembodied voice telling me I've got to be some sort of hero who will right the wrongs of generations and ..........wait.......what was that about immortal life?"

(even heavier sigh)  "Ok.  You and me, we're a team.  I help you as much as I can, but you get to do most of the work.  There are rules you have to follow, eight of them as a matter of fact, and no deviating from them or breaking them.  You will have to find a spouse and have an heir, and this must continue on for eight generations.  When the final generation has successfully met the conditions and followed the rules, the curse will be broken.  You can find all the rules clearly stated in a place called Carl and Pam's the Sims Forum. Read them and follow closely.  If you refuse to do all this, you will wind up in a Sim bin and probably will never be heard from again.  Got it?  Oh, and there is one itty bitty but ever so crucial extra clause.  You can't even buy anything, except for a trash bin, a mail box if one is not provided, and a few child items, an art table and a science table, maybe a stuffed animal and/or a doll house, all from buy mode.  Enough to be the $1,000 you have to spend for one of the spots in the family aspiration.  No furniture though, except for a bassinet.  You must earn, steal, or somehow finagle your way to financial excellence, a marvelous mansion and a family museum as well as following the eight rules.  And you get to start right here, in this big empty field, and right now.  You've got a small amount of cash so if I were you I'd get busy."

*reads forum rules*  "I just don't know.  I guess I really don't have much of a choice.  Ok, first of all, a better place to live other than an open field.  No one wants to marry someone who doesn't even have a place to sleep."

Picking up his phone, Kieran dialed up a day of vacation.  Rules said he could spend his money buying stuff in Deep Woods, or maybe in one of the stores in the Magnolia shopping area, so it was time to begin.  The last thing he remembered was his shipmates in Barnacle Bay and the rough life he had there.  Guess it's time to rough it once again, but this time HE would be in charge, and no stinkin' pirate boss to tell him what to do.  Maybe, considering that "Watcher" person was invisible, he could get away with a lot she'd never know about.  The taxi arrived promptly and off he went.



"Ok, as vacations go this is kinda weird but not so bad.  A little fishing, gathering some veg, maybe make a coupl'a sculptures.  I can do a lot in a day if I put my mind to it.  Yep.  This is not going to be so bad.  Bonus, no pirates yelling "aaaarrrrrgggghhh" at me and demanding more grog."

Back home once again, Kieran planted the vegetables he had gotten and surveyed his little domain.  Not too shabby after all.  A couple of bushes for bodily functions, veggies starting to grow, a few beds and tents.  Yep, it was looking good.  Of course he was darned near broke, but he'd manage.  After all, a good thief can always make a living when he needs to.



Next, make some friends and find a wife!

[Ricalynn]

Joria!  This sounds like a lot of fun.  I'm not sure I could do it which just makes you a hero in my book.   

Kieran is a very handsome founder and I'm sure with you behind the wheel he'll have no trouble finding him a good wife.

[Shewolf13]

Oh wow!  Sooo cool!  Loving this so much, Joria!

[oshizu]

You need to take that back---you certainly are a writer. Loved the opening paragraph!

Is Kieran modeled after a sim you played in TS3? (You mentioned Barnacle Bay...)

Ooooh, you made him a klepto!  This is going to be so much fun, Joria!