2018 Sims 4 Challenge Tournament Overview

[Metropolis Man]

Can i clarify that "EA lot" is anything that comes in an official pack and does not include anything that EA makes through their official Maxi #?

Right. It would be lots via the base game, Expansion Packs, Game Packs, and Stuff Packs.

[rika1431]

I hope it's okay to ask this question here. I noticed it's expected for the winner of a tournament to 'discuss how they approached the event in detail.' Does that usually mean winners take screenshots and share their tournament journey, or is it usually just a text recap? I love seeing screenshots of other gameplay, and I want to know if I should be taking shots when I do a challenge!

[Metropolis Man]

Hi there @rika1431 -- welcome to the forum. The entire Tournament and all its challenges are run on the honor system. Winners must reveal detailed strategy because if something does not sit right with the team logically, then we have the right to do further inquiries and even ask for a player's file to verify. And not to scare you, but I have shown a couple players the door after a group decision was made that cheating occurred. Serious prizes are on the line at the end of the year, so we all need to play legit. Good luck in the challenges.

Oh, and screenshots are fine in the after actions reports if you choose to do that. Most players do not. In fact, I cannot remember any at all recently. Just take a look at the two events that have already closed this season to get an idea of how the winners (and others) tackle the discussion.

[rika1431]

Thanks for the quick answer, @Metropolis Man! I really appreciate the detailed info. I don't expect to win a challenge anytime soon, but I'm looking forward to participating in them  One other question--I have MCCC installed in my game, but obviously I need to not have that in my file when I play a challenge. Do you know a way to create a game file separate from my normal game files, or would I just need to disable/uninstall that mod every time I create/load a challenge file?

[Metropolis Man]

One other question--I have MCCC installed in my game, but obviously I need to not have that in my file when I play a challenge. Do you know a way to create a game file separate from my normal game files, or would I just need to disable/uninstall that mod every time I create/load a challenge file?

I have never played with mods, so maybe someone else has a tip for you for the easiest way. If there is a simple way of disabling that mod, then you'd definitely need to do that. I think I have read somewhere where players have a Tournament folder that is completely modless and clean and then another folder where they can do anything they want.

[sdhoey]

Welcome @rika1431

To make a fresh clean mod/cc free file find your EA file here:

 Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4

Right-click and rename the folder The Sims 4 to The Sims 4.0 or something easy for you. That is what I do. Then you can restart the game in Origin and it will make you a brand new Sims 4 folder that has no mods or CC. It will be just like starting from scratch.

When I switch between my folders for tournaments and reg gameplay I just rename the one The Sims 4.clean.

But you can name them what you like. I hope this helps and hasn't confused you. You can pm me if you have any questions.

Shannon

[IronicBeauty]

@rika1431 I play with a good many mods when I'm not participating in a challenge and normally just remove the mods folder from EA documents and place it on my desktop. When I restart the game it makes a new clean mods folder automatically. Then when I want to play with mods again I just put the one from my desktop back into the original EA folder and chose the replace option.

This, I'm sure, could potentially cause game hiccups if you get a corruption in one file or the other. So, @sdhoey 's is the best way, especially if you have long running legacies or games you want to preserve. I, on the other hand, don't normally get that attached to any one save file.

Btw: if you're used to MCCC, the challenges will be quite... uum challenging. The tips and tricks after the challenges are over are indispensable when learning how to play without mods.

[Nomac]

Hello!
While I've visited the Guide quite a lot over the years and read many threads, I've never yet posted anything or participated in any challenge (but they sound great).
Now, if I were to try out a challenge (which I might just do, heh!), how do I enter the contest? Do I just start playing on day one of the challenge and submit my score on the final day (surprise, I participated!), or am I required to let the team know before that I'm playing (and if so, how)?
Thanks for the help.

[Metropolis Man]

Hello!
While I've visited the Guide quite a lot over the years and read many threads, I've never yet posted anything or participated in any challenge (but they sound great).
Now, if I were to try out a challenge (which I might just do, heh!), how do I enter the contest? Do I just start playing on day one of the challenge and submit my score on the final day (surprise, I participated!), or am I required to let the team know before that I'm playing (and if so, how)?
Thanks for the help.

Hi, Nomac. You do not need approval or anything like that. Just make sure you only play your scoring file while the event is live -- i.e., look at the start and finish dates. I always post rule sets 3 weeks before events go live. That's to allow players to practice before they do their scoring attempt.

[LazyKatie]

Question: I know we can place EA lots, but can we replace default lots with them, or do they have to be placed on an empty lot? Like, for example, could I place Chez Llama over The Futures Past, or do I have to place it on an empty lot such as Dusty Turf?

[Metropolis Man]

Question: I know we can place EA lots, but can we replace default lots with them, or do they have to be placed on an empty lot? Like, for example, could I place Chez Llama over Desert Muse, or do I have to place it on an empty lot such as Dusty Turf?

Good question. The General Rules should be more clear on this, so let's get some team feedback. My view is always keep things as simple as possible with fewer changes = empty lots only, but let's hear from others.

[LazyKatie]

Question: I know we can place EA lots, but can we replace default lots with them, or do they have to be placed on an empty lot? Like, for example, could I place Chez Llama over Desert Muse, or do I have to place it on an empty lot such as Dusty Turf?

Good question. The General Rules should be more clear on this, so let's get some team feedback. My view is always keep things as simple as possible with fewer changes = empty lots only, but let's hear from others.

Yeah, that makes the most sense to me, and is what I assumed, but I noticed the rules don't explicitly state this. Also I accidentally mixed up the name of the museum in Oasis Springs with that of the library designed for OS but isn't actually placed at the start.

[Metropolis Man]

Effective immediately (i.e. beginning with Romantic Interests) the team has the following Seasons restrictions for all Tournament challenges:

Creating Your Scoring Game File
All challenges begin in a fresh, virgin, completely unaltered town of your choosing. If you wish to place an EA lot such as the spa, then you must do so at the beginning of your file. Personal inventory items may be placed on non-home lots, but aside from this, non-home lots must remain unaltered. Unless a particular ruleset lays down restrictions, you are free to travel and/or move to any neighborhood or town. Options - all default settings: Autonomy > Full; Auto Age (Played Sims) > Yes; Auto Age (Unplayed Sims) > Yes; Sim Lifespan > Short; Seasons players > No Extreme weather and Holidays turned off. 

[Metropolis Man]

Okay, hopefully, this is better:

Seasons players > No Extreme weather. Do not start any holidays of your own and turn off any holidays on the calendar.

[Metropolis Man]

Since everyone really does not know in advance when EA is going to toss the various Jasmine Holiday bonuses, the team decided to just ban contact with her in all remaining 2018 events...

No contact with Jasmine Holiday - no visits and no calling her.

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If you accidentally make contact with her and there's no event with her going on, then no harm done. Let us know about it, and we'll go from there.