Belmondo BACC: 2.4 Flora (Port Promise) (23 June update)

[oshizu]

Round 1.0: Communal Camping

Year 1/Week 1/Sunday (Spring, Day 1)

Leilani: Not much of a story to tell during our first days camping together.
We are prioritizing unlocking electricity and townies.
For electricity, Marlon's starts learning Handiness which he needs to max.
That's why I'll be narrating this update.

We also need to earn the privilege of socializing with this world's inhabitants.
With that end, we begin hosting the first of five gold-medal parties: a Kava Party!
Um, yeah, we found two kava bowls back in the spacecraft wreckage...


I accidentally set the grill on fire while trying to prepare a group meal.
To our surprise, lazy Mie steps forward to put out the flames while Marlon panics.
She must have brought that fire extinguisher from our spacecraft wreck.

Mie: If you want something done, you have to do it yourself!


Leilani: The fire destroyed both our grill and bar, forcing us to replace them. Ouch!
That's another $950 right there!
Anyway, we earn a gold medal for our fiery Kava Party.


Jesper can't decide on his second aspiration. He's really all about sports and fitness.
He's considering The Curator, because it's fast and easy to complete.
A more suitable choice would be A Big Happy Family, since he's family-oriented.
In that case, he needs a spouse willing to raise three children.


We manage to get gold on a second Kava Party, without any fire this time.
Poor Marlon remains chained to the woodworking table.
He's hardly had the chance to interact with any of us today.


We find some odd clothing in the spacecraft wreck.
They inspire us to throw a Spooky Party. Marlon's so excited to be an invited guest.

Mie the forest fairy sits next to Jesper who's dressed in his spacesuit..
I'm the Llamacorn sports mascot, while Ayumi comes as an interstellar smuggler.


Marlon: I finally get to join a party but spend the whole time carving a pumpkin?
Takumi: You and me both, buddy! At least you get to be Darth Vader!
I'm stuck wearing a Llamacorn mascot uniform. So lame!


Leilani: I'm so jealous of Mie and Jesper! They're already best friends!
Ayumi and Takumi are already best friends, too.
Meanwhile, Marlon and I are barely friends.
Poor Marlon! He spends nearly every waking moment at the woodworking table!


Our last party today is a Weiner Roast and, of course, someone catches fire.
We think Mie will rescue Ayumi, since she's sitting right next to her.
This time, Mie is the one to panic and run off to save herself. Go figure!


Despite the fire and other issues, we earn a gold medal in the end.
We didn't even need that guitar we'd bought for this party!

Time to hit the sack, y'all. It's been a looooong day!


Monday

Strange noises outside our tents wake me up early in the morning.
The gnomes have arrived to celebrate Eggfest with us!

In the Flower Bunny's absence, explains the gnome, they shall hide the eggs.
I give the gnome some coffee, which appeases him.


It's afternoon when geeky Takumi completes the Decorative Egg collection.
Sweet! He's unlocked his career of choice: Scientist!
Too bad none of us can take careers until we've grown to five households.


As soon as we end the holiday, the gnomes also stop dropping seasonal seed packets.
I so appreciate their generous gifts, which include lilies and snapdragons!


Our Watcher hates Greek Life with a passion.
But when Takumi finds a juice keg in the crash wreckage, she's give the go sign for a keg party.
We only have two toilets so it takes forever to drink up the entire keg!
I want to do a keg stand with Marlon, but everybody just wants to go to sleep.

Hey, that's our fifth gold-medal party! Now we can interact with townies!


Tuesday

Marlon: Early Tuesday morning,  I finally max Handiness and we get electricity!
I'm free from the woodworking table!


Leiliani: I'm glad to have the chance to fish for cowberries, but why are we here?
Takumi: Jesper has decided to do Curator and is looking for more collectibles.
Meanwhile, Marlon has found an old mine entrance and is trying to open it.

Leilani: Hey, are we all splitting up tomorrow morning?
Takumi: Sure seems like it


Wednesday

Marlon: Where has all our money gone?
Jesper: To our campsite, the parties, and your woodworking, I guess!

Marlon: Since I can now own a retail store, I buy the Nookstone lot.
Our big sellers are my handcrafted furniture and paintings by Ayumi and Mie.


While we're cleaning up the shop, Ayumi maxes painting.
Back home, we all take turns asking Patchy for gardening tips and checking his pockets.

Patchy gives Jesper his sixth magical bean, completing that collection.
Does this mean we now have two openings in the Scientist career?.


Thursday

Folks, we're not actually rushing to complete all the unlocks!
Leilani has us all checking Patchy's pocket for an orchid or death flower.
Mie will have income from books and Ayumi will grow rich from her paintings.
Leilani hopes the garden will provide her with a steady income.

This morning, Leilani also asks Patchy for gardening tips and maxes Gardening.
I foresee a park in our near future!


We are waiting on Jesper to finish The Curator.
Once he gets his elements in the mail, he harvests plants to complete his aspiration.

We are now ready to split into three households!


Jesper: Mie and I choose to move to Yuma Height on a remote mesa.
It's rather isolated but has the best scenic view in this neighborhood!
Mie: I've been hoping to live in a hacienda style house.
So our Watcher finds an affordable supply of adobe bricks and builds us a starter home.


Mie: Eventually, we hope to have an inner courtyard, a pool, the whole works!
For now, though, we only have about $2,500 in household funds.

Jesper: Wish us luck in our barely furnished adobe micro house!


Ayumi: Next, Takumi and I move out to Bedrock Straits.
I'd hoped to stay in Skyward Palms, but Marlon already has other plans for Arid Ridge.
Takumi: Ayumi, this area is so laid-back and there are so many fishing spots!


Takumi: Watcher hauls over and renovates an abandoned trailer, which Ayumi redecorates.
Do you think it's a little too cute?
Ayumi: How can you say that, Takumi? I chose your favorite color: blue!
 
Takumi: Uh huh. Anyway, we only have about $3,000 left in household funds.
But we're not worried in the least. I mean, Ayumi is a painter!


Marlon: So here's our progress report for our first 4.5 days.
Though it looks like we achieved a lot, there was one major mistake.
Apparently, our Watcher doesn't like to play within a budget.

When it was time to split up on Tuesday, we only had about $6k total!
Where did all our money go? (Granted, I spent a lot on crafting dining tables and bathtubs, but still.)

We ended up needing two days to earn enough to start 3 households.
So during the rest of Round 1, our main priority will be earning income!
We have a park to build!


Coming next: Marlon & Leilani are alone at last!



Watcher's Remarks
*Living Together: The starting group of sims typically lives together for the first week.
That feels too long for me, because I want each couple to start a family.
After 4 days together, the  17 days left will be split up among the 3 households.
After that, every household will be played for one sim-week.

*The ICYA Storage Chest: While living together, Households #2 and #3 each had one of these to simplify tracking which household had what.
After moving to Yuma Heights, Mie & Jesper couldn't remove items from that storage, so I had to reload an earlier save before anyone moved out
and moved the chest contents into personal inventory.
This is an open bug on EA Answers HQ.

*Narrative inconsistencies: Sorry for the many plot holes.
I wanted to be unlock Townies for various reasons, so the sims had to occasionally discover various party-related items (costumes, juice keg, etc.)
"back at the spacecraft wreckage."
And I couldn't think of a good reason why, as soon as Marlon unlocked electricity, Mie could suddenly buy a laptop to write her first book. Oh well.

*Unlocking the Park: I misinterpreted the requirement for unlocking the Park, so that lot isn't unlocked at this time.
It requires three families (with children), not simply three households.

[reggikko]

You’ve accomplished so much! I feel like a major slacker over here. Can’t wait to see the nooboos.

[oshizu]

It's not that way at all. Some of the unlocks were a result of my poor planning or just a happy coincidence.
Because the sims were too poor to split up and move, I had Ayumi and even Mie (since journaling is painful) painting for the retail store.
Leilian maxed Gardening and Jesper completed the Magic Beans collection because everyone was spamming Patchy, hope to find orchids or dragonfruit in Patchy's pockets.
Anyway, my sims are too poor to build any community lots and they need more settlers.

I'm trying to finish another aspiration or two before maxing anyone's charisma so I can take advantage of the Joker mechanism.
And thanks for letting me know that keg parties are easy. I know you threw one in your P10 but I'd never had one before.

[reggikko]

Still, good job! I have one party to go to unlock Townies. I went ahead and split my households at the end of week 1 even though Juan still needs one more Handiness point to unlock electricity. He would have gotten it done but I let him go off fishing by himself a few times because his Loner trait was making him a bit tense being around so many people all the time.

[oshizu]

How does the Loner trait actually work? Is a loner sim okay if they're alone in an enclosed room? Or is the mere proximity of other sims enough to make them tense?
I had to make a no-ceiling room for Marlon and his woodworking table. For some reason, all the other sims constantly wanted to chat with him.
I'd initially thought the chattiness was due to the Socializing club activity.
But since we don't have access to clubs yet, I remember that the devs tweaked the sims to socialize with each other more. Personally, I think it's too much.
All my sims wanted to do was research plants or chat with another sim who's trying to get something done (woodworking, painting, cooking).
Do your sims all try to chat with Juan, since that's exactly what he doesn't want?

Also, I'm really looking forward to seeing your different households get started!

[reggikko]

Putting a Loner Sim in a room by themselves does work, but my starting lot didn't have a room to put him in and I didn't want to build one on that lot. And, yes, Sims do seem to seek each other out to socialize a lot. I often had the issue with my P10 Spooky parties that when Sims were outside on the patio of that bar in Brindleton, Sims would stand right outside the fence and chat with them, which made carving a pumpkin take much too long. My Sims are also having issues where things drop out of their queues and they go to play basketball or watch TV. The TV thing obviously isn't happening in this save, but in my Rival Dynasty, I had to queue up "continue preparing" meal 4-5 times because the Sim kept stopping to go watch TV.

I should have an update this weekend. I keep forgetting to take pictures because I was a little overwhelmed with 6 Sims on the lot.

[PeregrineTook]

Nice!!  Super jealous that I didn't get in on this, but also super aware of how behind I am in putting together updates for my poor Po10!
Love that Marlon and Leilani got to be a part of this!!  Such a cute power couple!
Congrats on all the quick progress you've made and on getting three households going!
Looking forward to more!

[reggikko]

@PeregrineTook

Please feel free to jump in. We've only just started!

[oshizu]

@PeregrineTook

We would, of course, love for you to join us with your own BACC project.
I'd mentioned the challenge to you awhile back but I wasn't sure if you would be interested or not.
As reggikko mentioned, the two of us have just started recently.
You should totally create six or so starting sims and think up a short trailer! 
They can just sit there in your imagination's back burner while you get caught up  in your P10?  Izumi Ishikawa? Pippin & Morgyn's kid?
Hurry and join us in the crater, friend!

[Heart Foam]

I'm here to gush over the house on Yuma eights, which I oughto have gushed over days ago, but this sent me down a rabbit hole. I really like the blue highlights. On the trailer to. Too cute? No, when stranded on an alien planet, one needs Comfort.

[oshizu]

@Heart Foam

Thank you! That Adobe Starter is my favorite of the Micro starters I've built so far for this BACC. A photo I saw online inspired the turquoise door & windows.
I've uploaded four of them to the Gallery and, oddly, the container house has the most downloads. You'll see it in the next update.
Haha, I'm not a huge fan of cute houses, but it seemed to fit Ayumi the painter...

[oshizu]

Round 1.1: Mahalo

Week 1/Thursday (Spring, Day 5)

Marlon: Only Leilani and I are left here now.
We pack up our few belongings and move across the street to Arid Ridge.
After all the woodworking and partying, it's nice to just chill with Leilani. Alone, at last!

We're engaged!


Leilani: No, I don't think so, Marlon! I definitely want us to get married first!
We'll just have to wait until the Belmondo World Center is built, okay?
Marlon: Sure, fine. Meanwhile, wanna see my…um…firework collection?
Leilani: You collect fireworks? Alright, I guess…


Leilani: Oooh, those kind of rireworks....


Saturday

Marlon: After arriving here Thursday, we scavenged for recyclable building materials.
The guys helped me build this little container home that day.
But Leilani and I needed to save up to decorate it before sharing it with you.
Ta da!


Leilani should have given birth by now.
She must not have taken her pregnancy test right away on Thursday.

While she waits, she maxes Logic which unlocks Contraception.
That's great news! We won't need to try for baby every time we woohoo.


When she goes into labor, I optimistically place two bassinets.
(I've never assisted at a home birth before. Hot water? Clean towels?)

Oh no! Triplets!  Two boys and a girl!
They're born with Leilani's family name and I think I'll become a Mahalo, too.


Leilani: I got the Fertile trait, but hadn't dreamed we'd have triplets!
Marlon: Hey, I got it, too. I just wanted twins.

Leilani: How are we going to manage triplets without a nanny?
Marlon: We could try inviting the others over to help tend the garden or cook?


We feed and change the kids, then Leilani goes off to bed, thoroughly worn out.
Yes, the bed! I've been upgrading the Murphy Bed little by little.

I manage to max Wellness, unlocking the Spa!


Before going to bed, I try fiddling around again with my Interplanetary Communicator.
Yes, I salvaged it from the spacecraft wreckage a few days ago. How did you guess?

Tonight, I manage to reach Spacelab HQ on Planet Earth.
They've been worrying ever since we failed to arrive on Mars.
They ask question after question about our well-being, the planet where we  crash-landed, and its location.


Based on my coordinates, HQ quickly locates this planet in the simverse.
I explain that six of us survived the crash on this world we've named Belmondo.
Then, I request permission for us to remain here and build a new settlement.

In response, HQ explains how we can attract more settlers.


HQ: Many settlers at the Mars colony have expressed the wish to live somewhere greener.
Whenever your settlement reaches a milestone, Marlon, let us know.
We'll arrange transport for the new settlers to Belmondo.

Marlon: Hey, we've already earned two new settlers!
One for opening my Nookstone shop and another for unlocking the Spa!

HQ: Excellent work, Marlon! Be expecting two more settlers in the near future!


Sunday

Ayumi: Thanks for the invite, Marlon, but what exactly am I looking at?
Marlon: To unlock a Museum, we need 10 masterpiece paintings and 5 excellent sculptures.
Those are my sculptures and Leilani painted 4 masterpieces.

Ayumi: So, I only need to paint six more masterpieces?
Marlon: Yes. And then we need to raise $20,000 in building costs.
Leilani and I will donate as much as we can tomorrow night.
 

Monday

When our triplets age up to toddlers, we give them random traits.
Here they are after their first potty training and makeovers, in order of birth.
At this point, they look identical, don't they?


Yesterday, Leilani completed the Freelance Botanist aspiration when her cowplant matured.
And tonight when she maxes Charisma, we decide to use her aspiration as a Joker.
Leilani rolls a five! We ask HQ for one 3-sim household and one two-sim household.


Our world now consists of six households, which means we've unlocked careers!
You'll be meeting all of the new settlers very soon!


Tuesday

It's time for you to go see what's up with Mie Rick and Jesper Noddesbro!
We'll see you again next time!




Report from HH 01/Mahalo

Lots Unlocked:
✔️Spa: Wellness 10 (Marlon)
📌Museum: 5/5 excellent sculptures & 4/10 masterpiece paintings
📌Park: 2/3 families + Gardening 10/10 (Leiliani)
📌Gym: The Curator (Jesper) & Fitness 10 (Marlon), need another sim to max Charism

Miscellaneous Unlocks:
✔️Contraception: Logic 10 (Leilani)
✔️Careers: 5/5 households
📌Money tree: Level 0/10 Gardener, Gardening 10 (Marlon)

New Settlers:
7 sims in 3 households

Watcher's Remarks
*Starting Together: I've made a complete mess of the 1st week, but don't feel like starting over.
I was unaware that I, as Watcher, could have created a campsite for the starting sims in a separate lot in Build Mode (costing my sims nothing).
Instead, I used their starting household funds. Oh well.

*Uneven 1st Week: I initially planned for the sims to live together for 3 days, then split into 3 households to be played 3 days each.
Looking back, I should have let them stay together the entire first week. So, I'll be play the first 3 weeks of Round 1 as follows:
21 days = 4 days together + 5 days (Mahalo) + 6 days (Rick)* + 6 days (Tasaki). *sighs

*Pacing: I know it must seem to you that I'm overly rushing things.
Once the gym, park, and museum are built, I will calm down. Probably.
If anything, this  rotation-style challenge will encourage me to put together shorter updates....

[PeregrineTook]

Why on Earth (or Belmundo, for that matter) would we want shorter updates?  ;=)
Loving how things are going for you so far and the triplets were a wonderfully pleasant surprise for your readers even if they are extra hassle for Leilani and Marlon.  Yes, Maile is already my favorite of the toddlers.  I mean, she seems like she'll be a little Leilani clone, so how could she not be?
Anyway, great work, excellent update, lovely home, and a wonderful little family!!  Looking forward to meeting the new residents!

[oshizu]

Why on Earth (or Belmundo, for that matter) would we want shorter updates?  ;=)
Loving how things are going for you so far and the triplets were a wonderfully pleasant surprise for your readers even if they are extra hassle for Leilani and Marlon.  Yes, Maile is already my favorite of the toddlers.  I mean, she seems like she'll be a little Leilani clone, so how could she not be?
Anyway, great work, excellent update, lovely home, and a wonderful little family!!  Looking forward to meeting the new residents!

@PeregrineTook
Thank you for your kind words. I'm thinking shorter updates because Round 1 consists of five more households making babies and/or raising toddlers.
I love seeing how the toddlers turn out, so I'm looking forward to this! Toddler skilling, not so much.
As for Maile, I hope she grows up gorgeous, too! A nice thing about this challenge (hint, hint) is that every child will eventually have their own played household.
No more neglected spares whose lives go nowhere.

[reggikko]

I waited until I posted my update before I came over to read yours. Don't worry about "messing up" your first week. There's definitely a learning curve to this challenge. Fortunately, a mess-up isn't a fail, just an adjustment. My first week was far from optimal.

I love the houses and the triplets are adorable.

By the way, I noticed that the school unlock is listed under "Optional" rules, so I'm probably going to let schools be open from the start and keep that unlock for Scouts.