Skilling as fast as possible

[TheChronicR]

I'm really concerned that my vampires skill really slowly. It takes hours to go up a level. I lean towards the theory that this happens because they are turned and not born as vampires. Anyways. I'm seeking to find a way at the fastest rate possible.

So far I got this complied list of things that benefit to the initial pace of skilling. Please tell me if they can be combined together, too.

• Good mood, of course! A great way to achieve this instantly is the Moodlet Manager, a very useful lifetime reward. Removes all negative moodlets.
• Taking classes. Some people have been able to take a class in a certain skill more than once, but with a cool down period or a sneaky trick of moving towns. It's also noteworthty that taking a class in a skill is the fastest way to gain the first skill point
• Fast Learner lifetime reward
• Being a Vampire, especially from birth. Also, see this post:
  
  

  Don't only vampire kids get bonuses on skilling? And isn't that only at night in the first place?
  

  
  Firm answer: no. Born vampires do skill faster than their (if) turned-vampire parents. To my knowledge, and according to my Legacy save file, all vampires skill faster than human Sims at all times - as long as they don't get "burned". Lol.
  
  Now about the glitch. I found a proper and most likely reliable information on the official forums.
  
  

  The skill modifier is broken. Every time you reload the game, vampires skill faster. Some skills are instant 1-10, like photography. Eventually, your normal non-vamp sims will stop being able to skill because of this. 
  
  For the very few that actually have had it where your sims cannot skill, this is the problem.
  
  Edit: I know that they are supposed to skill faster, but it's supposed to be 3x not 100x.
  
• the Scholar's Garden in Shang Simla and the moodlet it gives
• the Library and its moodlet, too (in some way - boosts the speed you read books, therefore the speed you learn a skill when devouring a skill book)
• the "Pumped Up" moodlet makes workouts more effective
• the Chinese incense
• a Mixology drink, namely Alien Brain
• having high level of Logic skill (not for Athletic and Charisma)
• being tutored instead of practicing yourself
• traits associated with their respective skills, namely:
  
     Angler for Fishing
     Artistic for Painting, Guitar and Writing skills
     Athletic for Athletic skill
     Bookworm for Writing skill (also boosts the rate you read books, including skilling ones)
     Charismatic for Charisma skill
     Computer Whiz for Logic skill
     Disciplined for Martial Arts skill
     Eccentric for Inventing skill
     Genius for Logic skill
     Green Thumb for Gardening skill
     Handy for Handiness skill
     Loves the Outdoors - Fishing and Gardening skills
     Natural Cook for Cooking skill
     Photographer's Eye for Photography skill
     Savvy Sculptor for Sculpting skill
     Virtuoso for Guitar, Piano, Drum and Bass skills
• the Tri-Forge stove, as well as the Streamlined one that came with Late Night, increase the speed you learn Cooking at

Any others? Thanks in advance.

List updated - 28/7/11

[Schipperke]

The incense from China is supposed to increase the rate of learning skills.  I don't know if anyone's actually tested it, though.

[CarlosLordofTacos]

Logic speeds up the rate you learn skills (except athletic and charisma). That`s the main point of the skill! You didn`t think it was just there for tutoring did you? Also, those two things in additional to chemistry from Generations makes thid actually one of the most useful skills in the game. It seems like it`s lame and is only there for playing chess, but secretly it`s a totally awesome skill!

[TheChronicR]

Thanks Schip. I'll add that to the list. How could I forget, lol.

Carlos, I didn't really understand. Are you saying that...

Sim A has high Logic and tutors Sim B in a skill, and Sim B learns the skill tutored to him at a faster pace than he would if he'd practice it?

[PJSim]

The way it works is that if your Sim has high logic skill the Sim will learn everything else faster (except athletic and charisma as Carlos says). It's a good idea to study logic early in the game.

Sim A has high Logic and tutors Sim B in a skill, and Sim B learns the skill tutored to him at a faster pace than he would if he'd practice it?

I'd like to know that too actually.

[CarlosLordofTacos]

I didn`t mean through tutoring, I just meant having logic helps you learn other skills faster. Although it does seem other sims learn pretty fast getting tutored.

[TheChronicR]

The way it works is that if your Sim has high logic skill the Sim will learn everything else faster (except athletic and charisma as Carlos says). It's a good idea to study logic early in the game.

I'd like to know that too actually.

Ooh, I got to admit that I never knew that. Excellent, thank you! Would like to know that, too.

I'd also like to note that being a vampire a.k.a. having the Vampire hidden trait doesn't help when and if you are trying to increase a skill by reading a book. I can also say the same for Writing, if you don't use the "Refine Writing Skill" option on the computer. That's my experience, at least.

EDIT: Ah, I see. Thanks for clearing that up, Carlos.

[Schipperke]

I've never tried to actually test the difference between learning a skill through tutoring or learning it through practice, but my impression is that Sims learn a lot faster when being tutored.  In the Flowers Waiting for Grim story, my instructors have done a lot of skill tutoring with Sims that have no skills or skill-related traits, and it surprises me how fast it is.  One of the skills that takes a lot of time to gain through practice is painting, and it definitely increases faster through tutoring.  Of course, all the tutoring in that game is at lower skill levels.  I imagine it would take longer at the higher levels.

[grimsoul]

With Mixology you can make skill gain drinks. Or if you don't have that skill you can go to The Grind and order the drink Alien Brain. It's a skill gain drink.

[TheChronicR]

I've never tried to actually test the difference between learning a skill through tutoring or learning it through practice, but my impression is that Sims learn a lot faster when being tutored.  In the Flowers Waiting for Grim story, my instructors have done a lot of skill tutoring with Sims that have no skills or skill-related traits, and it surprises me how fast it is.  One of the skills that takes a lot of time to gain through practice is painting, and it definitely increases faster through tutoring.  Of course, all the tutoring in that game is at lower skill levels.  I imagine it would take longer at the higher levels.

Hmm, sounds like this could be very helpful. I know this is off-topic, but would someone please remind me at which level of Logic Sims can tutor others in skills?

[TheChronicR]

With Mixology you can make skill gain drinks. Or if you don't have that skill you can go to The Grind and order the drink Alien Brain. It's a skill gain drink.

Great! Will add that to the list too. Thanks Grimsoul.

[Schipperke]

Hmm, sounds like this could be very helpful. I know this is off-topic, but would someone please remind me at which level of Logic Sims can tutor others in skills?

I think it's level 10. 

[TheChronicR]

I think it's level 10. 

Thanks! Just checked, yes it is.

EDIT: There is actually no potion that benefits skill gain. Alas.

[CarlosLordofTacos]

Apparently genius helps as well.

[TheChronicR]

Apparently genius helps as well.

Sources by any chance? And it's the trait, isn't it?

Just a note: we forgot the greatest benefiting things. The traits, associated with their respective skills. I'm adding which trait helps with which skill, too.