Author Topic: Great Explorer Tips  (Read 21624 times)

Online Metropolis Man

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Great Explorer Tips
« on: March 09, 2010, 01:49:39 PM »
I've committed to writing a Great Explorer walkthrough for Guide. I'm excited about it because tomb exploration is uncharted water for me. But, I seek whatever advice anyone can provide. I don't want to take more than a few weeks knocking this out, so if there are time-saving strategies, then please throw them my way — i.e. get Pangu's Axe first, etc. Stuff like that.

I'm also writing a Physical Perfection piece, so the angle I'm going with this is it will be a 2-part story. The first part will be focused on one of the parents who will be pursuing Physical Perfection, then the next story will be focused on the child who will be shooting for the Great Explorer. So, I want to be careful of which traits to choose for the Great Explorer LTW that would bring that child the most success.

So, any tips you can throw at me is appreciated. Thanks.

Offline samoht04

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Re: Great Explorer Tips
« Reply #1 on: March 09, 2010, 02:58:44 PM »
Here's all I can think of...
  • Get the Survival Stuff (Food, Tent, Shower in a Can etc.)
  • The Prepared Traveler LTH reward will extend tomb exploration time
  • Don't rush the exploration and check for anything you may have missed
  • Train in Sim Fu
  • Go in to a tomb with goodish needs
  • Some Tombs will require Opportunities

Traits I think might help...
  • Adventurous (Obviously  ;D)
  • Disciplined
  • Brave
  • Athletic
  • Lucky (Not sure)
  • Genius (May help with traps)
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Offline wildredchild

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Re: Great Explorer Tips
« Reply #2 on: March 09, 2010, 03:00:49 PM »
The first 3 items you need for the explorer are Pangu's Axe from China, Thieves Coin from the Special Merchant in China (Visa level 2) and then the Tears of Horus, from the Special Merchant (Visa level 2), from Egypt.  

As for traits for this Great Explorer, you will need Adventurous, Brave, & Athletic are the basic traits that should make a great explorer for you.  

I am looking forward to your stories!

Online Metropolis Man

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Re: Great Explorer Tips
« Reply #3 on: March 09, 2010, 03:13:34 PM »
Yeah, I think I'l max Athletic, Martial Arts, and maybe even Logic before I have the Sim pursue the 1st tomb. It should not be that difficult since I'll be starting with a child and can build some of those skills early. Although can a child learn Sim Fu?

Offline samoht04

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Re: Great Explorer Tips
« Reply #4 on: March 09, 2010, 03:16:21 PM »
Although can a child learn Sim Fu?

No, but a Teenager can, If they max logic as a child then that frees up Sim Fu and Athletic, I also found I can just concentrate on Sim Fu and Athletic often stays close behind it or unless you decide to max it out first...
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Online Metropolis Man

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Re: Great Explorer Tips
« Reply #5 on: March 09, 2010, 03:19:36 PM »
Oh, that's awesome news on a Teenager being able to learn Sim Fu. I really wasn't planning on my Great Explorer getting into the meat of their adventures until they were a Young Adult anyway.

Offline samoht04

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Re: Great Explorer Tips
« Reply #6 on: March 09, 2010, 03:23:35 PM »
My Gen 3 Teen - Fred is level 5 in Sim Fu at the moment.
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Offline LivvieLove

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Re: Great Explorer Tips
« Reply #7 on: March 09, 2010, 04:27:54 PM »
I have to agree with most of the tips on here. Though I'd honestly never really tried this one fully, I was planning to at one point but changed my mind because traveling a lot tends to glitch up my favorite games... anyways, I digress, from what I learned when starting this would be the easiest to start in China, and seeing as that's where your Great Explorer's father will be at most of the time... if the father happens to get fatigued, take that time to learn some logic, if he can max it out while the child is still young he can teach Sim Fu to his child earlier then the normal along with several other skills. But it's up to you.
Might I suggest another thing, having logic does not affect how you disable traps, logic, in my opinion is only good for 1. Wishes that require logic (including World Renowned Surgeon) and 2 when you want to pass on the knowledge to future children/grandchildren etc. So don't push spending time on logic, I never understood how the athletic system worked for children because they were able to swim and stuff and get the skill bar above their head but I've never actually had them gain athletic... So try things like that as a kid for the head start stuff and I think Handiness skill also helps with floor traps (have you ever noticed that when your sims get caught in a trap they instantly want to raise their handiness skill?) Just a thought. Good luck :)

TylerDurden

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Re: Great Explorer Tips
« Reply #8 on: March 09, 2010, 05:22:18 PM »
Yeah, I think I'l max Athletic, Martial Arts, and maybe even Logic before I have the Sim pursue the 1st tomb. It should not be that difficult since I'll be starting with a child and can build some of those skills early. Although can a child learn Sim Fu?
Be sure to start with China as Pangu's Axe is critical to being able to get past the big boulders that block areas in other dungeons in Egypt & France.  Since you will be a level 10 Sim-Fu specialist, you can zeneport past them, but that takes far too long to charge up unless you really need to use it.

I would also suggest getting both the pup tent and the huge tent (level 3 visa tent) as some areas of dungeons will fit a pup tent where they won't fit a grand tent.

Offline TheCub

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Re: Great Explorer Tips
« Reply #9 on: March 09, 2010, 10:51:06 PM »
I have yet to see a tomb with a toilet, so the Steel Bladder reward would be very helpful. The first time I explored a tomb in France, I had to leave the tomb to go to the nectary just to use the bathroom. Steel Bladder turned out to be a big time saver.

If necessary you can always use "toilet-in-a-can" (let your sim pee himself, then use shower-in-a-can) but I think Steel Bladder would be a much better option.  :D

Online Metropolis Man

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Re: Great Explorer Tips
« Reply #10 on: March 09, 2010, 10:59:17 PM »

If necessary you can always use "toilet-in-a-can" (let your sim pee himself, then use shower-in-a-can) but I think Steel Bladder would be a much better option.  :D

Heh. Yeah, I'm pretty sure adult diapers won't make an appearance in a future stuff pack.

Offline LivvieLove

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Re: Great Explorer Tips
« Reply #11 on: March 09, 2010, 11:02:30 PM »
Haha, this is very interesting to read, oh and thank you for reminding me about steel bladder. (I usually always have that one on my sim so whenever I restart a sim-family and I don't have that reward I always end up forgetting my sim needs to use the bathroom. :/ woops) As for the adult diapers... haha that would probably make me die laughing if that was ever included in a future stuff-pack.

Offline Justine

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Re: Great Explorer Tips
« Reply #12 on: March 09, 2010, 11:38:32 PM »
Each tent requires the same amount of space, the only difference is in the quality of rest. After a good night's sleep in the tent from the Special Merchant you get a "Slept like a King/Queen" moodlet.

I've completed this wish, so what I can say is:

Most importantly: You need to search for the right adventures!, 'cause there are some referring more to the lifestyle than tomb-exploring, some are purely run-errands type. Each gives you visa points, ancient coins and simoleons. Even though I did take up the challenge and groomed a Sim who is a formidable cook, gardener, fisher (it all goes together, right? especially if you're a single Sim) and nectar maker, if anyone wants to quickly finish this LTW, they probably should avoid those time consuming activities.

-*Always* go on your own.
-Immediately buy the better tent - no point in buying the small one, the better the tent, the more time you've got for exploring.
-Shower in a Can - lots of it for firetraps/signed etc.,
-High Quality Dried Fruit - you wouldn't want your Sim to eat low quality food for days, right?
-The Hours Tear would be the first item I'd spend my money on next time I have an adventurer in my family, because it's helpful with collections, and spares you opening some of the chests where there are only coins which you don't need as much later. The next would be the tent.
-Start in China up to the moment when you get Pangu's Axe, take your time to learn martial arts, it'll help with the mummies.
-If you're scared of mummies, you should spend sometime with the snake-basket. You can purchase it in Egypt.
-*Don't* buy an expensive vacation house, which usually are mansions outside of town unless you're curious about the inside. The closer the location to the base camp/town center the better. Less time spent travelling.
-Maybe not in China or Al Simhara which aren't vehicle friendly, but in France you can save time by having a fast means of transport.

About "Athletic"... I think it's a waste of time to build it up. I've been through 6 tombs, and it got me from 0 to level 8 athletic skill. Better get started on looking for those hidden doors.
And handiness might be a good idea, but I wouldn't say it's connected with traps.

I don't know if it'll be the case with other people, but since I was doing a lot of adventures, when I accomplished my Life Wish I had level 3 visa in China and France, and on the next trip after I explored the 6th tomb I had level 3 visa in all vacation spots, so I could've chosen the other one instead, because it's a lot more point-rewarding.

-Adventurer is a good trait, because it makes your Sim happier while he's sleeping underground or when you're trying to figure out the combination to rebellion HQ.
-Prepared traveler will give you some extra time, and the certificate of partnership with any country too - but you need to be a level 3 visa to buy it, so it doesn't help that much.



About Martial Arts:
One adventure string requires you to master it and win the tournament. do both at the same time by sparing with your tournament opponents, so that when the time comes you won't be bored getting the tournament ranks. It's an invaluable skill when fighting the mummies.

Since a lot of the people were victims of the out-of-the-blue foreign families, myself included, untill EA manages to fix the bug*if* you want your Sim to have a proper wedding, you had better do it before running off to explore the tombs. In other instances you might want to always save before going on vacation, and check your Sim's family tree for any unknown foreign offspring. when you arrive at your destination and return home.

Offline kat

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Re: Great Explorer Tips
« Reply #13 on: March 10, 2010, 04:26:43 PM »
Once you have enough coins, I suggest buying some escape dust as a few times I have become stuck inside a tomb that was bigger than I realised, my Sim has lost all needs and there is NO ROOM to place a tent (a common occurance, and very annoying).
The traits I use are Brave, Adventurous, Disciplined, and I often throw in Lucky and Daredevil.

Offline AriaGirl77

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Re: Great Explorer Tips
« Reply #14 on: March 10, 2010, 05:08:39 PM »
My favorite traits for an explorer are Adventurous, Brave, Handy, Athletic, and Lucky.  Not sure if lucky actually helps in getting better treasures or defeating mummies, but it does give a nice moodlet for each day they're "feeling lucky".  Brave is important because each time they reach in a hole w/ bugs they don't get that "scared" moodlet, same goes for when they accidentally set off a trap.  I do think athletic and handy help out with traps and moving statues and doors, but I agree that you shouldn't worry about building up athletic skill beforehand because moving statues gets it up pretty quickly.  Could be helpful to work on handiness skill at home.  I noticed a much greater success rate of defeating traps the higher my skill became.

I think the most important tip is to use your eyes.  Put your cursor across every wall/floor to check for secret doors or traps, look around for piles of money or treasure chests.  Take your time, if you rush you'll miss things.

To avoid bugs I would not buy vacation homes or have romantic relationships with locals.  If you want to marry a local invite them to visit when you're at home.

Whoever said that the sultan's tabernacle would fit anywhere that the pup tent would is wrong.  There are some rooms where I have gotten the message "the ceiling is too low for this object" when trying to place the fancy tent, but then the cheap tent would fit just fine.  Carry both.

Buy the high quality dry food.  It's gives a nice moodlet and is worth the extra cost to keep your sim happier while exploring.  I usually buy a stack of 10 before I start a tomb.

I think it would be helpful to have a map of where all the tombs are located in each vacation destination.  I'm pretty sure I haven't explored them all.

Most certainly go to China first, both for the axe and martial arts skill.

There is a great blog that you might wanna check out, I won't post the link here due to forum rules but if you google World Adventures Walkthrough blog I'm sure you'll find it.  She's taken screen shots of each Adventure and it's an extremely helpful reference for when you're down in a tomb and get stuck.

One trick I use, especially in China, I put up the sultan's tabernacle in the yard of the base camp and sleep in it instead of the beds they provide so that I can get that nice "slept like a king/queen" moodlet.  I try not to visit the China base camp, ever.  Takes way too long to walk up and down all those stupid stairs.  The only time I visit there is when I have to pee or shower.  But that doesn't happen too often since I get the bladder control and dirt defiant LTR.