The SimTech Dynasty Challenge

[MarianT]

The SimTech Dynasty: A Challenge in 5 Eras

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This Dynasty will have 5 parts: No Tech, Low Tech, Mid Tech, More Tech, and High Tech. The idea is to take your Sim family from the Stone Age to the Space Age and beyond. Each era will have different rules regarding what is allowed. Your Sims' life span will change from short to normal to long. Life extension (except because of pregnancy) is not allowed, however. Where your Sims can go, what furniture they can have, even what clothes they can wear, will change. Because each era is different, we recommend that you study only the era you're working on.

 For quick reference:

• Parties are allowed starting in the Low Tech era, but goaled parties should wait until the More Tech era.
  Clubs are allowed beginning in the Mid Tech era.
  The Wishing Well is allowed only in the Mid Tech era.
  Vampires in the household are allowed only during the More Tech era.
  You may gratify whims and buy rewards, but they should be consistent with your current era.

For this dynasty only, you may download buildings from the Gallery. You may also use CC clothing and furniture and use the bb.showhiddenobjects cheat. We can't anticipate what builds or clothing you'll want, so if you need a castle from Japan's Shogunate Period or a hoop skirt, feel free to look for one. You may also go into Household Management to dress townie Sims in appropriate clothing for your era. Regarding furniture, we can't specify every piece that's allowed in every era. If you think something would work in a particular era, go ahead and use it, even if it's not on the approved list.

You may move your household to a different lot at the beginning of each era. You may use any lot traits, but you can't change them until the next era. You may also add community lots as they become allowed. Before bulldozing community lots, you might want to add them to your Library for use later. You may use the Off-the-Grid lot trait for the No Tech, Low Tech, and Mid Tech eras. Items that have the "functional off the grid" description can be used in the Low Tech and Mid Tech eras.

The only expansion pack required is Seasons, but you'll have more options if you have more packs. Because changing season lengths can cause problems, you'll start with seasons that are 4 weeks long. Blizzards and thunderstorms are your choice, but you should have weather on and have your Sims affected by it.

For a new or existing SimTech Dynasty, Neighborhood Stories System settings are Player's Choice.

Overall, your Sims will have to max 25 skills, 20 aspirations, and 10 careers (branches will count as separate careers). Your score will be based on how many Sims you need to complete the requirements, with the low score being the best. We thought it would be fun to keep a leaderboard running, but you don't have to report scores if you don't want to. You'll have to complete all 5 eras to be eligible for the Hall of Fame, though.

Lena has prepared a spreadsheet. Which can be found here
If you experience any trouble or errors with the spreadsheet please, tag LenaLJ here or PM her.

If you have any questions, you can ask them here. Strategy discussion is okay.
This will go "live" on December 3, that is, you can start posting stories then, and that is when the rules will be finalized.

Player	No Tech	Low Tech	Mid Tech	More Tech	Hi Tech	Total
callycat	2	2	1	1	0	6
Joria	2	3	2
callycat	1	0	0	0	0	1
sone	2	2
kattiq	3
sdhoey	2	1	1	3	1	8
ballerinahippo	2
oshizu	2	0	0	1	0	3
Emmariley192	2	1	1	1	1	5

[MarianT]

No Tech Era

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Goal
Maybe your Sims are the only survivors of the Apocalypse, maybe they were kidnapped by aliens and dumped on a planet, maybe they're starting from scratch in Paleolithic times, the point is, they have no technology. No electricity, no skills, back to Square One.

Required Content and Set-Up
Seasons is required along with Get Together or Jungle Adventure. Outdoor Retreat is recommended.

Options: Lifespan -- short. Autonomy -- full. Do not check Fill Empty Homes. Aging on for everyone.

Holidays: No scheduled holidays allowed. Popup holidays allowed: Neighborhood Brawl Day, New Skill Day, and Prank Day.

In CAS, create 2 Human or Alien Young Adults capable of having children together. You may not change aspirations. Only one outfit allowed (i.e. everyday, formal, athletic, etc. are all the same). Tattoos are allowed. Toddlers can wear only diapers, and children should dress like their parents.

Move your Sims to a 40 x 30 lot or larger that has access to fishing in Oasis Springs, Willow Creek, Newcrest, Windenburg, Glimmerbrook, Brindleton Bay, Forgotten Hollow, or Sulani (note -- if you choose to start on Sulani, your Sims will have to stay there until the More Tech era). Bulldoze all the other lots, residential and commercial in that town. Your Sims' shelter should resemble a cave.

Build/Buy mode items allowed: large tent (OR) and 4 columns with roof overhead or basement. Cheap double bed and toilet inside if you have no tent; bassinet under roof; toddler bed under roof; mirror; firepit (OR) or grill; woohoo bush (GT, JA); potty chair under roof; rock chairs (OR) Enlarged rocks to form cave around tent or room; pool, but no equipment; cheap kiddie pool; trees and shrubs. You may add a pond to your lot. You should have the lot challenge, Off-the-Grid.

Optional: You may dress townies as bears, raccoons, zombies, etc.

Once you've set up your cave, set your household income to 0.

No Tech Rules
Addition to household: by birth and marriage. Your Sims must choose try for baby unless they are elders or in a same sex relationship. Babies must be born at home. Elopement marriages only. No aging up early. No NPCs can be hired. Infants from Sixam may not be returned.

Travel: No moving to a new lot. No travel to any lot. Your Sims are limited to the public areas around their lot. No careers. No school or scouting for children and teens.

If anything anachronistic (skating rink, for example) is placed in your Sims' public area, they must ignore it. They should also ignore other Sims except when the heir is seeking a mate.

Your Sims may harvest plants but not plant anything themselves. They may take food that has been left behind on picnic tables. They may remove clothing to swim in pool or click on the ground to shower in rain to satisfy hygiene needs.
 
Requirements to move to Low Tech Era
Your founders and heirs must max 5 of these 7 skills: charisma, comedy, fishing, fitness, mischief, parenting or singing. It's okay to pick up points in other skills, but maxing them won't count.

[MarianT]

Low Tech Era

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Goal
Congratulations! Your Sims have survived their first era. The next era brings an awareness of other people -- enemies mostly. Your Sims will want to have fortifications, not only against beasts but also against strangers...

Set-Up
Options: Lifespan -- short. Autonomy -- full. Do not check Fill Empty Homes. Aging on for everyone.

Holidays: One scheduled holiday is allowed. The only pop-up holidays allowed are Neighborhood Brawl Day, New Skill Day, and Prank Day.

Clothing: Your Sims are allowed one formal outfit. Otherwise, only one outfit allowed (i.e. everyday, formal, athletic, etc. are all the same). Tattoos are allowed.

Travel: You may add a park in your Sims' town, which they may travel to.

Build/Buy mode items allowed: One 8x8 square hut with flat roof. You must build a wall around this hut as money is made. You may put things on the roof. If you need more indoor space, you may put more square huts inside your wall to form a compound. No electrical items allowed, but you may have toilet, bathtub, and sink. Only the grill is allowed for cooking, but you may have the flower arranging table, guitar, violin, yoga mat, meditation stool, and wood-working table. You may use furniture that you've built. You may use the fish trap and canoe, but not the Aqua Zip from Island Living. You may have chickens, llamas, and cows, all of which must be kept inside your walled compound. You must have the Off-the-Grid Lot Challenge and the Wild Foxes Challenge if you have Cottage Living.

General Rules
Addition to household: by birth and marriage. Your Sims must choose try for baby unless they are elders or in a same sex relationship. Babies must be born at home. Elopement marriages only. Alien babies must be kept. No aging up early. No NPCs can be hired.

Travel: Travel only within your town and to Granite Falls. Rental buildings in Granite Falls should be bulldozed, but you can keep what's in the National Park and the Hermit's house. No careers. No school or scouting for children and teens.

If anything anachronistic (skating rink, for example) is placed in your Sims' public area, they must ignore it. They should also ignore other Sims except when the heir is seeking a mate. They may pick fights with Sims dressed as Bears, Raccoons, Gladiators or Aliens.

Requirements to move to Mid Tech Era
Max 5 of these skills: cooking, gardening, fabrications (candles only), flower arranging, guitar, herbalism, knitting, violin, wellness, or any previous unclaimed skill.

Complete 5 of the following 7 aspirations: Angling Ace, Freelance Botanist, Friend of the World, Outdoor Enthusiast, Serial Romantic, Soulmate, The Curator

[MarianT]

Mid Tech Era

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Goal
Welcome to the Renaissance! Wealthy Sims have more opportunities for commerce, travel, and comfort. Better food and medicine means that your Sims live longer. They can have pets now, and own businesses. And there's a little bit of magic, too -- the Wishing Well can be used.

General Rules
Options: Lifespan -- normal. Autonomy -- full. You may check Fill Empty Homes. Aging on for everyone. Try for baby only. Pets may join the household. Your Sims may form clubs.

Clothing: Your Sims are allowed 1 outfit in each category. If your household has more than 100,000 simoleons, your Sims may have 3 outfits in each category.

Travel: Your Sims may go to any lot in their world and may also travel to Granite Falls and Windenburg. Your Sims may own a retail store, restaurant, or vet clinic and may live much of the time on the premises. Sim children and teens may go to school but not join after-school activities or have part-time jobs. You may add retail lots, a gym, a museum, and bars to your world. Your Sims may live in Henford-on-Bagley. Your Sims may attend the University of Britechester, but may not use a computer.

Build/Buy mode items allowed: Still nothing with electricity (except the Vintage Icebox and Auld-Crow Wood-Burning Cookstove), but you may use the cupcake machine, cash register, and restaurant items in your store or restaurant. Try to build with half-timber walls from Get Together, or you might try building a castle if your Sims have the money for one. The Wishing Well is allowed, for this era only.

Holidays: 2 scheduled, plus above pop-ups, Talk Like a Pirate Day, and Night on the Town.

Requirements to move to More Tech Era
Your Sims must max 5 of the following skills: baking, handiness, logic, painting, pet training, veterinarian, writing (you'll have to keep a journal because still no computer) or any previous unclaimed skill.

Your Sims must complete 5 of the following aspirations: Big Happy Family, Body Builder, Fabulously Wealthy, Friend of the Animals, Painter Extraordinaire, Super Parent, or any previous unclaimed aspiration.

[MarianT]

More Tech Era

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Goal
This era covers the 19th through early 20th centuries. Your Sims might be living like the Victorians or perhaps the pioneers of the Wild West. Everyone has electricity now. Computers aren't available yet, but the library does have typewriters, which can be used for writing only. Vampires have become fashionable, and your Sims can join their ranks, but will have to be cured before moving to the High Tech era. Your Sims can take an interest in archaeology and travel to Selvadorada.

General Rules
Options: Lifespan -- normal. Autonomy -- full. You may check Fill Empty Homes. Aging on for everyone. Your Sims can woohoo without trying for baby. You may hire NPCs. Vampires are allowed during this era only. Although your Sims might gain fame points, they cannot buy any perks.

Clothing: Your Sims are allowed 3 outfits in each category.

Travel: Your Sims may go to any lot in their world and may travel to any world except San Myshuno, Sixam, Batuu, and Del Sol Valley. Sim children may go to school and after-school activities, and careers are allowed for adults. You may add libraries to your worlds.

Build/Buy mode items allowed: Anything except computers, computer-related technology, televisions, the DJ table, the media production tables, sleeping pods, crystal helmets, the science equipment, and the rocket ship. Your Sims may vacuum and use the medium table. They may live in a Haunted house.

Holidays: 4 scheduled, plus all pop-ups.

Requirements to move to High Tech Era
Your Sims must max 5 of the following skills: archaeology, cross-stitch, gourmet cooking, mixology, piano, pipe organ, Selvadoradian culture, vampire lore or any previous unclaimed skill.

They must complete 5 of the following aspirations: Archaeology Scholar, Good Vampire, Joke Star, Jungle Explorer, Master Chef, Master Mixologist, Musical Genius, Master Vampire, Public Enemy, Renaissance Sim, Vampire Family, or any previous unclaimed aspiration.

They must max 5 of the following careers (each branch can count as a separate career): Athlete, Criminal, Culinary, Entertainer, Gardener, Painter.

[MarianT]

High Tech Era

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Goal
Welcome to the Future! Your Sims have at last reached the point where they can play The Sims on their computers. And they can even become famous for playing video games. Does life hold anything better than that?

General Rules
Options: Lifespan -- long. No vampires.

Clothing: Anything goes

Travel: Your Sims may go and live everywhere. You may add spas, lounges, and cafes to your world.

Build/Buy mode items allowed: Anything you can fit on the lot. They may buy and sell items on Plopsy.

Holidays: 8 scheduled, plus all pop-ups.

Requirements to Finish
Your Sims must max 5 of the following skills: bowling, dancing, DJ mixing, fabrication, photography, programming, rocket science, video gaming, acting, media production, research and debate, or any previous unclaimed skill.
 
They must complete 5 of the following aspirations: Academic, Bestselling Author, City Native, Chief of Mischief, Computer Whiz, Leader of the Pack, Mansion Baron, Nerd Brain, Party Animal, Master Actor, Celebrity, any Star Wars aspiration, or any previous unclaimed aspiration.

They must max 5 of the following careers (each branch can count): Actor, Astronaut, Business, Conservationist, Critic, Detective, Doctor, Interior Designer, Politician, Secret Agent, Scientist, Social Media, Stylist, Tech Guru, Writer, or any previous unclaimed job.

[MarianT]

December 13, 2018 -- Blizzards and thunderstorms are player's choice, but you do need to turn the weather on and have your Sims affected by it. Regarding furniture, we can't specify an era for every single piece. If you think something would work in a particular era, go ahead and use it.
July 28, 2021 --
In the No-Tech era, you may add a pond to your Sims' home lot. You must use the Off-the-Grid Lot Challenge.
In the Low-Tech era, you may add chickens, llamas, and cows. Again, you must use the Off-the-Grid Lot Challenge, and the Wild Foxes Challenge if you have Cottage Living. Your Sims may get the knitting skill.
In the Mid-Tech era, you may move your Sims to Henford-on-Bagley. You must use the Off-the-Grid Lot Challenge, and the Simple Living Challenge if you have Cottage Living.
In the More-Tech era, your Sims may vacuum and do cross-stitch. You are not required to have any lot challenges. You may have the Haunted type of residence, and your Sims may work on the Medium skill.
In the Hi-Tech era, your Sims may use Plopsy, and they may become Interior Designers.
September 18, 2021 -- Update Money Offer "You look Low On Funds" You must Decline the Offer
November 11, 2021 -- Sims may attend the University of Britechester in the Mid Tech era. In the Hi-Tech era they may max research and debate and get the Academic aspiration.
April 1, 2022 -- For a new or existing dynasty, you are allowed to select your global Neighborhood Stories System (NSS) settings for both "My Households" and "Other Households" one time only, after which they must not be changed.  Changing NSS settings for individual households is not allowed.
July 9, 2022 -- Neighborhood Stories System settings are Player's choice.

[HelenP]

Oooh, this looks fun, I hope I get seasons for Christmas. 

Thanks Team, you always come up with great ideas.  Looking forward to the full rule set.

[GlazeyLady]

This looks awesome! Kind of reminds me of the Apocalypse Challenge that I started but never finished.   

First I have to get my computer out of the shop, then do the Collection Challenge, then finish my Sharebear Legacy, then this one will have to be next because it just looks SO FUN. I do still have a goal of someday completing an Immortal Dynasty, but this one is so compelling that immortality will have to wait.

[Razhrfyre]

Looks fun, checks a lot of boxes I like in the dynasties! I can't wait to give this one a try!

Do we assume if it doesn't mention it, that it's not allowed?  For instance, clubs and lot traits in No Tech are not allowed?

[MarianT]

Looks fun, checks a lot of boxes I like in the dynasties! I can't wait to give this one a try!

Do we assume if it doesn't mention it, that it's not allowed?  For instance, clubs and lot traits in No Tech are not allowed?

Clubs have to wait until the Mid Tech era. You can have any lot traits, but you can change them only at the beginning of each era.

[KTK10]

If either founder completes an aspiration (ie: soulmate) are they able to pick another? Or is it one only?

Edit: Just another question, if there are monkey bars and pirate ship available, can the kids play on them? Am assuming that's a no, but wanted to just double check

[KTK10]

Me again, sorry.. I might have missed it, but are you able to use the satisfaction points earned? And is it ok to have whims on?

[MarianT]

Me again, sorry.. I might have missed it, but are you able to use the satisfaction points earned? And is it ok to have whims on?

Yes, you can have whims on, and we didn't put any restrictions on satisfaction points. As for the monkey bars and pirate ship in the area, that's up to you. We're trying to put as few limitations on players as possible. One player might want to do an apocalypse story, in which case monkey bars might still be around; another might want to get prehistorical, and not let the children use them.

[oshizu]

This sounds like an amazing challenge! I love the varying lifespans and the option to move around.
It has a ton of replay value, too, if played from the standpoint of different civilizations.
Thank you, Challenges Team, for all the thought you've put into this new challenge!
Here are a few questions:

Q1: Bulldozing other lots: Whenever we move to a new town at the start of an era, do we bulldoze the other residential lots? Or is that only for the No Tech Era?
Q2: Aspirations: After the No Tech Era, are sims free to switch aspirations? May they complete more than one?
Q3: Manage Households: Are we allowed to enter Manage Households for the sole purpose of tagging related households as Favorites to prevent them from being culled?
Q4: Moving: Are we allowed to move back into a town where we previously lived? I'm thinking here of the town used for the No Tech Era (which would require rebuilding).
Q5: Are we allowed to move out family members? Or do household members stay together unto death do them part?

That's all I can think of for now.
Okay, I need to get hopping on the Collection Challenge and finish my legacy story first...