How to Get Split and Spire Cuts of Other Gems

[Pam]

I know I've seen this more than once on the Forum, but I can't seem to find it.  How do I get a split cut and/or spire cut of all the different gems?  I know I need a certain number of split cut and spire cut mixed with a certain number of another gem, but I don't remember the specific formula.  I've got a lot of gems ready to transfigure and I really don't want to waste them experimenting to figure out how it works. 

[Naga]

Well you can always just save the game, experiment, and if it goes wrong, load it back. I'll edit this post in a few minutes with the answer.

[Pam]

Well you can always just save the game, experiment, and if it goes wrong, load it back. I'll edit this post in a few minutes with the answer.

I can't do that with this save file because it's my Immortal Dynasty.

[Naga]

Well in that case we're basing on luck, mostly.

Here's what you gotta do:
Get spire cut tiberiums, from 1 to 3, for each transfiguration;
Get 5 to 7 (depends on tiberium number above) of the gem you want as Spire Cut;
Make sure you aren't using more than 4 cut types;
Make sure you aren't using more than 4 different gems.

Notes: For higher chances to succeed, you need 3 Spire Cut Tiberiums (large or not, doesn't make a difference), and 5 of the other gem, in different cuts. Transfiguration works in a "the more of this, the higher the chance" system, so to make your chances to get a Spire Cut final result higher, you need to have either more spire cuts, or less of the other cuts. Same system applies to the gems, so you must make sure none of them have an unfair majority. You can use 1 Spire cut tiberium and 7 other gems, but that will lower the odds of you getting the Spire Cut.

The highest-chance setup, although requiring more Tiberiums, is something like this:
(I'm using Pink Diamond as an example. The result I want is a Large Spire Cut Pink Diamond)
Slot 1 (top left): Spire Cut Tiberium
Slot 2: Spire Cut Tiberium
Slot 3: Spire Cut Tiberium
Slot 4 (top right): Emerald Cut Rainbow Gem*
Slot 5 (bottom left): Heart-Shaped Pink Diamond
Slot 6: Heart-Shaped Pink Diamond
Slot 7: Brilliant Cut Pink Diamond**
Slot 8 (bottom right): Brilliant Cut Pink Diamond**

*The gem used in slot 4 is a random gem, but since it also has a small chance of being the final result, I used a gem that I also wanted as Spire Cut (Rainbow Gem), just to make sure. It's cut, however, must be different from all others.
**Slot 7 and 8's Pink Diamonds aren't Heart-Shaped because then the number of Heart-Shaped would be higher than the Spire Cut's, giving it majority and changing the final result to Heart-Shaped. We don't want that, so we change the cut of two of the Pink Diamonds to something else (this "something else" must be different from the cut used in Slot 4).

The setup above gives majority to Spire Cut and Pink Diamond, so the game should read this and pop out a Large Spire Cut Pink Diamond (You always get Large cuts when you transfigure gems into Spire Cut).

PS: Sorry if it sounded too complicated. Also, sorry for yet another huge post. On a sidenote, I didn't have time to test this, but I will after lunch (christmas lunch, yay), so if you don't want to risk your gems you may want to wait a little longer.

[Pam]

Thank you, Naga.  I'll give this formula a try. 

[Anushka]

google helped me find this topic on this forum regarding this question:

http://www.carls-sims-3-forum.com/index.php?topic=1059.0

but I'm shore I read some other here too about this.

Also, wherever I looked, there is no guarantee formula, only a setup for highest possible chance. It would be great if some of the members who can read game files check this, as they did for nectar recipes. Anyway, I tried this 4 / 4 method, which gives 25% chance, but I waisted more than 25 tiberiums trying. Same with split halfs but I had better luck there. Also, everyone are suggesting exit without save while doing this, but in dynasty it is not an option so we have to count on luck. Naga have you tested your formula and what are the results?   

[Naga]

Using a 4-4 combination is really a waste, because you're giving the game a 50%-50% chance. I have used my formula back in the World Adventures days, and a few times during Ambitions, and it only "failed" two times out of 12 or so ("Failed" because it didn't give me the gem from slots 5, 6, 7 or 8, but the one from slot 4, which was still useful). I haven't used it in Late Night yet, but the system should be the same.

[Anushka]

Well, I just placed 3 heart cut soulpeace, one brilliant cut opal and 4 spire cut tiberiums and got spire cut soulpeace worth 264.546$, finally!

EDIT: Naga, you never got large spire cut tiberium using your formula? If there is a small chance to get random gem you put on slot 4 in your formula, then there is even more chance to get tiberium, at least that is what I concluded logically.

[Leto85]

Be aware Pam that the change of success is just 20%. But I got my spires by placing 3 spire cut tiberiums one the platform thingy with 7 other gems in heartform. If you can't save than I hope you really have a lot if gems, especially tiberium.

[Naga]

Well, I just placed 3 heart cut soulpeace, one brilliant cut opal and 4 spire cut tiberiums and got spire cut soulpeace worth 264.546$, finally!

EDIT: Naga, you never got large spire cut tiberium using your formula? If there is a small chance to get random gem you put on slot 4 in your formula, then there is even more chance to get tiberium, at least that is what I concluded logically.

I don't use 4 Tiberiums because then Tiberiums have more chance to show up than the gem you want, but you were lucky enough to get it the other way around . Also, you always get large spire cuts when you're doing this stuff.

[Pam]

This is interesting so far.  I haven't gotten a spire cut gem, but I got a large pear shaped Tiberium.  

Edit:  I've also gotten a marquis, sculptor's egg, and a skull cut Tiberium.

[Naga]

Would you mind posting what gems you were using each of those times? If possible, include the slot in which each were placed.

[Pam]

I finally got a blue topaz and opal spire cut.  Woot!

For the other cuts of Tiberium, I used 3 large spire cut Tiberiums and 5 of a different gem, all the same cut.  I had success with the Tiberiums in the first 3 spots on the top level and also in the first 3 spots in the lower level.  So, for example, 3 large spire cut Tiberiums and 5 pear cut rubies gave me a large pear cut Tiberium.  This is the same combination I used to get the spire cut blue topaz and opal, too.   If I used 4 Tiberiums (either top or bottom), I would get a single large cut Tiberium back.  I'll do some more and take proper notes for you to post later.

Edit:  Here are some screenshots of my gems.

[Naga]

By using 3 Spire Cut Tiberiums and 5 Pear Cut Rubies, you give the game a higher chance to make the final result be Pear Cut, that's why you should try to make it so that no other cuts are more present than Spire Cut. Careful not to get 5 different cuts, though, or you'll just get a Skull Cut in the final result.

[Pam]

I have some more specific notes to share now.  This was using the XL Display Case that has 8 slots.  All Tiberiums were large spire cuts.  All other gems were regular size.

1.  Top row:  3 Tiberium, 1 oval Amethyst
     Bottom row:  4 oval Amethyst
     Result:  Large spire cut Amethyst

2.  Top row:  4 emerald cut Citrine
     Bottom row:  3 Tiberium, 1 emerald cut Citrine
     Result:  Large emerald cut Tiberium

3.  Top row:  3 Tiberium, 1 brilliant cut Lapis Lazuli
     Bottom row:  4 brilliant cut Lapis Lazuli
     Result:  Large brilliant cut Lapis Lazuli

4.  Top row:  4 heart cut Jade
     Bottom row:  3 Tiberium, 1 heart cut Jade
     Result:  Large heart cut Jade

I'm happy to have the Tiberium in the different cuts.  I'll make a collection of large Tiberiums to go with my other large gems collections.