Things Sims Will or Won't do Autonomously

[Schipperke]

I'm thinking of doing a game in which I control some of the household residents and not others.  But I don't know if I'll be able to achieve my objectives in that sort of a game.  My Sims normally live very scripted lives, with me controlling everything they do.  So I don't have much experience with autonomous Sims.  Any information you can share about what Sims will or won't do on their own would be appreciated.

I'm particularly interested in skills.  I know Sims will use exercise equipment, cook, play the guitar, and play chess on their own.  I've never seen one of my Sims repair something on their own, but then I always intervene and assign someone to repair broken objects, so I really don't know if they'd ever pick up the wrench to fix things or not.  If they have a camera in their inventory, will they ever take pictures?  This sort of thing.

Edit:  Chuckles_82 has given us this list of things Sims won't do autonomously:

So to summarise what I've seen here so far, they won't:

- woohoo
- get a job/quit work
- take photographs/still life paintings
- use the treadmill
- teach toddlers to talk/potty train
- answer the door
- complete opportunities
- move house/go on vacation

[TheChronicR]

I doubt Sims will ever autonomously take pictures, but I know for sure that they love Athletic equipment and computer games. Some activities usually depend on traits - Neat Sims will love making beds, Neurotic Sims - checking stoves, Geniuses - stargazing.

[Saltypaws]

I have never seen them take a picture either or fix anything, maybe with a high enough handy skill, but I have not had one that I know of.  I do know they will water the garden on their own, but I have never seen them harvest.  I know they will paint on their own.  Gee, that is a good question.  I am still thinking about this.  Funny, when you don't have your game in or someone asks something like that, ya just sit here and go, duh, lol.

[Schipperke]

I know they will paint on their own.

Yes, they'll paint and sculpt on their own.  I don't know about inventing.  I've seen Sims with a bit of martial arts skill use the board breaker and training dummy on their own, but I don't know if they'll try the training dummy if they have no martial arts skill at all.

[Saltypaws]

Maybe if they have the disciplined trait, they might.  I can't remember if my sim had none or at least one skill point when I found him using the training dummy.  I can't be 100% sure on that, but I know he had the trait.  I will keep thinking and that hurts, lol.

[TheChronicR]

As far as I know, autonomous access to a specific skill building object is unlocked after the Sim has gained at least one point in that skill.

[ratchie]

I have had Sim use the Athletic equipment and chess table on their own.

Rachel

[Schipperke]

This is all useful and interesting information, everyone.  What about ordinary household objects that Sims will or won't use autonomously (not just skill-building objects).  I know they'll use pretty much anything that raises their fun need.  Will they use a coffee machine or the other drinks machines?  I never buy them so I don't know.

[TheChronicR]

This is all useful and interesting information, everyone.  What about ordinary household objects that Sims will or won't use autonomously (not just skill-building objects).  I know they'll use pretty much anything that raises their fun need.  Will they use a coffee machine or the other drinks machines?  I never buy them so I don't know.

I really don't know about coffee machines, but Sims do love watching TV or listening to radio.

[Saltypaws]

I do know they will use the expresso machine and sometimes, too much.  They go overboard on those, sometimes, almost to the point of being annoying.

[Schipperke]

I do know they will use the expresso machine and sometimes, too much.  They go overboard on those, sometimes, almost to the point of being annoying.

So Sims are caffeine addicts?  Sounds like a lot of people I know!

I've played a lot of bookworms, and they love to read, but I've never seen any of them choose to read a skill book.  Has anyone ever seen this?  What if you took away all the books except the skill books so that was the only thing for them to read?

[Hosfac]

I have never seen a sim autonomously repair anything (and I've had many level 10 Handiness sims), take photos or use the inventing workbench.  However, they will use any objects that raises their needs or gives them positive moodlets.

[Leto85]

I have never seen a sim autonomously repair anything (and I've had many level 10 Handiness sims), take photos or use the inventing workbench.  However, they will use any objects that raises their needs or gives them positive moodlets.

You're sim need to be neat to do that. If you dump Max Skills or another neat trait sim in a random house he or she will take care of alot of things other sims will only walk by.
What sims do autonomously all depends on their traits in combination with their skills, but I'm sure you'll have figured that out already.

[Schipperke]

So, Leto, are you saying that a Neat Sim will autonomously fix the plumbing as opposed to just mopping up the puddle?

[TheChronicR]

So, Leto, are you saying that a Neat Sim will autonomously fix the plumbing as opposed to just mopping up the puddle?

I think any Sim will mop up the puddle.