I Need Help

[tom789]

Hi.  I am new to this forum and I also just started playing the Sims 3 and I don't know everything about it.
OK here's my question: I want my sim to know a lot of people, have a nice house and have a good job.  Could anyone tell me what skills should I choose for him?  I know there is self-employment.  I was reading about being a professional author on Carl's website and I really enjoyed it, but am still not sure about it because I don't want to play the Sims 3 for a long time and then think that that was a rubbish choice.  I want to play with one person/family for a long time and really enjoy the game.  I've already tried being a rock star.  I only got to level 5, then I wanted to be a gardener.  (I got the idea from Carl's website) and I don't like it either.

I hope you will help me!

[jinhong91]

From my experience, you just have to try out everything to see which one that fits you best.
We can only give you recommendations and suggestions but ultimately the choice is yours.
After all, its your story.

[tom789]

yes any tips or suggestions would be nice

[tom789]

I think am going to choose being a business man. I hope it will be good and you can still give me some tips.

[igzigpuff]

When I first got the game I wanted to play a single Sim to explore the new game play.  I made a Sim in CAS (not a simself) but gave her the natural cook trait (which I have in RL).  Then of course I gave her the LTW of 5 Star Chef.  It was something that interested me and therefore made my Sim interesting to me.  I haven't grown tired of playing her, but made other Sims since and have been trying different traits and careers.  She is still my favorite Sim to play. 

[Pam]

There are so many ways to play that it's virtually impossible for anyone to give general suggestions about traits and such.  There's something to appeal to just about everyone and you'll do best by just trying different things and see how they are.  The game has enough variety that you can switch things around and have a totally different experience...  even with the same Sim!  There are also many challenges that you can try for something different. 

Personally, I tend to stay away from the "mean" traits like Evil and Hotheaded.  I'm not looking for a fight with any other Sims.  I also tend toward larger families.  I get a big kick out of the toddlers in the game and like having them around.  It's just about what you enjoy and wish to experience! 

[tom789]

I already tried to be a rockstar.  Someone started a fight with me for no reason.  But I like being a businessman.  I know it's so so rubbish, but I won't manage any other careers.   Well, I might just use cheats to start off, then play without cheats.  That might work.

[Kreathyr]

I agree with Pam (a lot lately) about the fact that there's no right or wrong way to play the sims.
However, I think the easiest way to play the first time is an artist/virtuoso with the master of the trades LTW.
You can learn to paint really fast and make quite some money off it.
If you have enough you can play guitar in the park which gets you a lot of acquaintances and friends.

I think that comes toward your first description.

[Derenic]

Yea, I'll also agree on if you start the game the way you are.  I just chose him as a musician and ended up seeing him old.  Got tired and made a new one alone.  Alone is good for start, then you can marry of course.

First game and the first account didn`t ever work well with me in any games.  I suppose that's how it is.

So I learned a bit and started over as a gardener and since I'm a green person did gardening and enjoyed it.  Mastered it and found that it`s also profitable!  Greatly actually .  with rare seeds.
My sim was a night shift actually.  I chose my sim also as a hacker, so from 10 pm to 7 am I could get enough to buy stuff and also fruits to plant and also pay for maids (the better the computer the more the money from hacking).  Also learn fixing your pc because they`ll burn it if they find you. 

In my opinion, careers don`t work really at start 40$ per hour, lol.

[Kreathyr]

Well, I wouldn't say careers don't work at all.
It's just a little easier when you don't have to keep to the time schedule of a job.
When you're painter you can paint in between taking care of the sim and working on relationships.
This will give you enough money after a while and lets you get familiar with the game in your own pace.

[jinhong91]

I would send my first sim to work to earn enough money to experiment on things.
I could have used cheats but that is very addicting and its very hard to quit. Not to mention, it ruins the fun.

[Honeymooners]

Sometimes I like to start with the pre-made families in Sunset Valley.  They stretch me away from what I feel comfortable with.   I can test careers and different traits without making a commitment with sim self or other sims I want to use.

[tom789]

Am an artist now and I got a lot of money (200-300) for a big painting.  Soon I will add some photos of my house!

[Pam]

Playing the pre-made Sims is a good idea.  That's a very good way to learn about the different traits and careers.  Plus, you don't have to live in the cheapest house to start with.  You can experience all the nice houses and mansions in town by playing the families who live in them.

I usually do very well with a regular job.  The pay isn't much to start with, but it increases pretty quick.  Plus, it's steady and that can be important, too.  I've actually done better with steady jobs than with the self-employment work.  And even when you reach level 10 of your career, there are still raises and opportunities.  I had a Sim reach $600 per hour as a Star News Anchor before she retired!

[RCHaynes]

I want my sim to know a lot of people, have a nice house and have a good job.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure that any 1 profession will necessarily fulfill all of these criteria (Your fulfillment, not the Sims'  )
To simply know a lot of people: nothing has beaten getting to 5 in guitar, and go to the park and play for tips, either as a revenue stream/get paid to have fun practicing for a Music profession, or just a way to have fun and meet people. I've gotten huge long lists of people I know. Then would come the fun of calling them individually before they decay off your accquaintance list, but that's a different issue.
Have a nice house : I honestly feel you can do this with any profession, or none. When not dictated by challenge rules, I select one of the 'Beautiful view' lots, and build what starts as a 'studio' shack. No walls except the exterior, so everything is in one medium-large room. I expand the building's footprint as I can afford it (all hail the power of the wall/foundation dragger!!!!) and add walls as I start to get company that would want privacy while using the bathroom, or folks would want to sleep in one place while others' want to listen to the radio.
Have a good job: I've had fun with all of the professions, and scratched my head at a couple requirements for promotion. I think you can have just as much fun with a non-profession income like gardening and fishing, and selling off any/all production you can't use, or as an artist or musician or writer. You won't make many simoleons as steadily at first, but if you don't have a traditional profession sucking down you're time, then can eventually become very lucrative.
There is no wrong way to play, if you're having fun, you're winning!