Strategy for Townie Skill-A-Thon. I don't have the Vampire or Strangerville packs.
⦁ I did a lot of research on the web on all the pre-mades of the packs to see what their skills & skill levels were. Some pre-mades were at skill level 9 (Lily Feng-logic; Moira Fyres-gardening; Darling Walsh-singing), and one was maxed (Raj Rasoya-Cooking). Then, I looked at which were the easiest skills to do. There are 5 skills that are minor skills that go to 5 levels: Bowling, Dancing, Singing, Pet Training & photography. Next, I wanted to know which skills could be mentored, which would help a "mentored" sim skill faster: Fitness, Painting, logic, writing, handiness, piano, guitar and violin.
⦁ I looked at all the households in all the worlds, and had to eliminate some because the youngest was a toddler and would not age up in time before the challenge ended (Delgato in Brindleton Bay, Kealoha in Sulani, and also later Bheeda in San Myshuno because they had a baby). For any children in households, it was going to take 13 days for them to age normally to teen. Unfortunately, in the Lewis-Kim & Villareal households, Olivia and Max aged up, but the elders died, so, they were then down to a 3-sim household. I wanted to max the most skills with the most members in the house.
⦁ This was actually going to be a test file, but it turned out my sim was doing rather well, so it became my official file. Aspiration: Renaissance Sim Traits: Music Lover, Sel-Assured, Creative, Bonus trait: Quick Learner. Downloaded 2 maxis builds, Dust Bowl and Ashram Yoga Studio.
⦁ Clubs - After gaining the first skill, and joining the first household, created a club called Skillerz. Changed club members & club activities as I joined each household. Saved up club points for "Rally the Troops" and set the club vibe according to what emotion was needed for that skill. At the end of the challenge, I had purchased all reward traits.
⦁ Jobs & School - I just had those sims take a vacation day or two. They never quit their jobs, so they earned simoleons on their days off. If I made good friends with a household member who was at home, while other household members were at work, I just clicked on the ones at work and had them leave work early so that all the household sims could start skilling at the same time.
⦁ Aspiration Traits purchased - Gym Rat, Morning sun, Night Owl, Creative Visionary, Mentor, Savant, Incredibly Friendly, Marketable, Independent, Stoves & Grills Master. I also bought a moodlet solver potion in the beginning, but then didn't need any after I got "Rally the Troops" in the club.
⦁ First skill. I wanted to test the pet training skill. The only household that had a sim with pet training (Brent-level 2) and a pet in the house was the Hecking household in Brindleton Bay. I wondered how 3 sims could train 1 pet without moving in more pets in the household. I wasn't sure on this one. So, I travelled there to visit them, but when my sim landed, Rosie, their dog, was on the sidewalk. I did a cautious introduction and as soon as I did, the pet training option came up. I then started to train Rosie in roll over on the sidewalk. My sim's pet training skill was going up fast. I never did end up joining the Hecking household. But what about strays - could you train them? I headed to Pupperstone Park, which has the Dog Friendly lot trait waiting for some strays. None. I then travelled to the shore and saw a sim grilling some burgers, and suddenly all these strays appeared. At first, it was cats, and you can't "pet train" cats, but then the dogs came, and after doing cautious interaction, did some pet training on them, but they decided to leave. I then went to Deadgrass Isle and ghost dog Captain Whittaker was there. I levelled up the pet training skill with him and he was my first friend! That was funny. Unfortunately, I wasted time on this first skill, and I should have just stayed on that sidewalk and trained Rosie.
⦁ Dj Mixing with the Bro Household (2 sims) in Windenburg, as Joaquin had level 6 in DJ Mixing. Travelled to Windenburg, knocked on their door, and once I was good friends, "asked to join household". Made the Skillerz club, which would be used for all the households to boost skill levels. Purchased 3 portable dj booths which could be placed in inventory. Headed to San Myshuno, Casbah gallery, which had the Great Acoustics lot trait (+50% boost for musical instruments). They also made simoleons from their dj'ing. Partway through, also headed to Discoteque Pan Europa in Windenburg. Wasn't sure if maybe the skill would increase more if they were at a club. Found out that you can't mentor the DJ skill.
⦁ Photography with Johnny Zest (1 sim) in Oasis Springs. Using the cell phone camera, just took selfies and photos on lot. Nothing required. 99 pics later and was skilled. This is the fastest skill and if I was starting this challenge again, would start with this skill.
⦁ Logic with the Fengs (2 sims) in San Myshuno. Lily had level 9 in logic. Bought 2 chess tables and chairs. Bought the focused club trait. Lily was the first to max, then she mentored Victor and my sim.
⦁ Dancing with the Calientes (4 sims) in Oasis Springs. I was originally thinking of doing the Fitness skill with them, but Nina has the lazy trait and I figured that wouldn't go well. Bought a cheap stereo and they all danced to max skill.
⦁ Bowling with the Fyres in Windenburg (4 sims). Even though Moira had level 9 in gardening, I thought it would take too long for everyone to max that skill. Plus, you couldn't mentor gardening. Went to the Dust Bowl and maxed bowling.
⦁ Selvadoradian Culture Skill with Roomies in Oasis Springs (4 sims). Travelled to Selvadorada on vacation - cheapest accommodation Hillview Hideaway- & then travelled to the cantina. TIP: If you travel to the cantina you can use the club features & start a club gathering. You can't start a club gathering on the rental property. Chatted to locals, eat, drank and ended vacation early once they maxed the skill.
⦁ Fitness with Partihaus in Windenburg (4 sims). Marcus Flex had level 7 in fitness & Paolo Rocca had level 6. They all took energized showers. Headed to Skye Fitness in San Myshuno which has the Bracing Breezes lot trait. Asked gym trainer (Supriya Delgato) to mentor Marcus first, so that we could then have 2 mentors. Very lucky on this one, as both Kayla Flemming & Oliana Ngata were there and both could mentor. Had Kayla mentor Paolo and Oliana mentor Jade. Had "Rally the Troops" club trait, but social and hygiene needs still fell, so between greenings, had Eva make the protein shake to keep them energized. When their muscles were sore from exercising and they refused to use gym equipment, they could still use the basketball court and "dribble" which also built fitnss skill.
⦁ Painting with Free Spirits in Windenburg (2 sims). Toss up on this one, because Ulrike had level 5 in Painting & Maaike had level 5 in Writing, but went with Painting. Bought 3 easels and 3 digitalistic sketchpads, both went into inventory. Travelled to Casbah Gallery in San Myshuno, which has Natural Light lot trait. There are easels on the 2nd floor, but I found that these were always in use. Set up easels where the paintings were. Inspired vibe. I had an instance where Maaike went to talk to Ulrike after placing her art in inventory and another random sim came over and used her easel. Luckily, she was able to scrap the painting and continue to use the easel. My sim used the digicalistic sketchpad (which is super fast) & easel. They created several masterpieces & when Ultike maxed painting, she could mentor.
⦁ Singing with Karaoke legends in San Myshuno (3 sims). They all had singing skill. Travelled to Planet Honey Pop! a karaoke bar which has great acoustics lot trait. Had 1 sim use the karaoke machine and the other sims just do singing. They all earned celebrity status and Akira Kibo won a karaoke contest with a score of 100!
⦁ Mischief with Landgraabs in Oasis Springs (3 sims). Malcolm had aged up to YA. He still had mischief skill & Geoffrey had level 6. Bought another computer and a telescope. Funny vibe. You can "spy on neighbors" which is a mischief skill using the telescope - had Geoffrey do this. Mischief interactions with Malcolm and Nancy & trolled the forums on computer.
⦁ Handiness with Kahananui in Sulani (2 sims). Alika had level 4 handiness. Bought 3 woodworking tables. Focused vibe. Once Alika maxed skill, he could mentor.
⦁ Programming with Goths in Willow Creek (4 sims) Alexander had aged to teen; Cassandra had aged to YA. Bella had level 2 in programming. Bought 5 computers. Focused vibe.
⦁ Writing with Munch in Windenburg (4 sims) Lucas had aged to teen with erratic trait! Wolfgang had aged to YA. Gunther had level 7 in writing. Bought 4 computers (one on lot already). Inspired vibe. Several books published, some were nominated for a starlight accolades award, celebrity status gained. Gunther mentored once achieved max skill.
⦁ Guitar with Bjergsen in Windenberg (4 sims). Elsa had aged to teen, Sofia had aged to YA. Sofia still had guitar level 8. Bought 4 guitars (one on lot already) & put in inventory. Headed to San Myshuno Casbah Gallery great acoustics lot trait. There are guitars on 3rd floor, but I wanted everyone to have their own. Went to the bar area and started playing. In between, Clara made prose & prop drinks at the bar for everyone to keep the inspired mood going. Sofia and Clara got lots of tips. Sofia mentored guitar when maxed, and my sim also mentored.
⦁ Video Gaming with BFF in Willow Creek (3 sims). Travis had level 2 video gaming. Focused vibe. While focused, had Summer make the amygdelight drink, which is supposed to help your sim skill faster in video gaming, programming, logic & rocket science. They had a bar, so I gave it a try. Bought a gaming console and a computer (they already had a tablet and a computer on-site). The gaming console seemed to skill up the sims the fastest, so they all played a lot of Party Frenzy.
⦁ A lot of the elders in households had passed away. Should have done those first. There were a lot of 2 and 3 sim households left to play. Then I spied a randomly generated household in Oasis Spring. The Raines family with a household of 4. Latoya had level 7 in mixology. Carlo was her husband, their daughter Brooklyn was a YA, and son Noe, a teen. So, that was the skill we did. It was interesting to note that they all had some bowling skill, too. They didn't have a bar, so bought 5 portable bars and placed in back yard. This is where the fire started with Brooklyn starting a fire at the bar by practicing her bar tricks and blowing fire. The bar was charred.
⦁ Cooking with Rasoya in San Myshuno (1 sim). Geeta had passed away. Raj had already maxed cooking, and I thought this would be my last household. Lot trait Chef's Kitchen. Inspired vibe. Maxed skill at 5:06 am Sunday.
⦁ I still had time to perhaps max another skill before 8am. Judtih Ward had Acting level 7. So, having already become friends with her somewhere, as my sim still had celebrity status, headed to her house, became good friends, asked to join household. Confident vibe. Bought 2 mirrors. However, neither maxed the skill. My sim ended up with level 3, and Judith was almost at level 9.
