Lost Sims (Solved)

[Fluffy Puff]

I first started playing the Sims 3 with EA story progression enabled. All was fine until I lost one of my sims. I created twin sisters and played them awhile; then I left to create and play a new sim. When I returned, I found one of my twins had vanished. She was no longer even in her sister's relationship panel. I received no notification that she'd died, and I saw no "manage dead" option at the mausoleum.

She's not the only sim I've lost. A while back I received a notification that Fiona McIrish died. Yet, no manage dead option has appeared even for her own daughter.

Today I found out that Zelda Mae has/had a son, but I have no way of contacting him or finding out where he is.

Any way I can track down my missing sims?

[Twinmum]

The sister could very well have just moved out of town, which can happen with story progression on. I don't usually concern myself too much with who moves and such, but I think (and someone will correct me if I'm wrong) you have to read the paper each day to learn about the comings and goings of other Sims.

[Fluffy Puff]

Is there any way to get her back in town?

[Twinmum]

No, if they move out due to story progression, they might move back in at some point, but don't hold your breath waiting for it to happen.

[Pam]

No, if they move out due to story progression, they might move back in at some point, but don't hold your breath waiting for it to happen.

I've never seen or heard of a Sim moving back to town on his own.  I really don't think that happens.

Is there any way to get her back in town?

If you had the ability to call her on the phone, you could invite her over to visit.  From there, you could invite her to move in.  Other than that, I think you're stuck without her.

[twallan]

I've never seen or heard of a Sim moving back to town on his own.  I really don't think that happens.

I'm with Pam on this one.

The normal process used for emigration actually completely deletes the full sim from the game, leaving only the information required to display the Family Tree behind.

(The caveat here is if the sim was saved to the TravelDB on your last vacation, it may be possible to recover them by inviting them over, provided you still have a relationship with them)

[Fluffy Puff]

Unfortunately, I can't even invite her over. Any chance I can find her game files and restore them to my game? And what about Zelda's son? Would a child just randomly move out of town without his mother?

It disappoints me that EA designed story progression that way. To think the game would kick out a sim I JUST made and had been playing with! These days I play without EA story progression activated. I'd rather my sims not vanish. 

[twallan]

Unfortunately, I can't even invite her over. Any chance I can find her game files and restore them to my game?

My best suggestion is to return to an earlier save-game where the sim still existed, and export them to the Library.  Then import them into your current game.

However, if the sims don't automatically relink their family tree, you may need to resort to some non-EA Standard assistance.

And what about Zelda's son? Would a child just randomly move out of town without his mother?

Such is the case with EA Story Progression.

Don't ya know that you are not supposed to actually care what happens to your neighbors ?

[Twinmum]

I've never seen or heard of a Sim moving back to town on his own.  I really don't think that happens.

I'm with Pam on this one.

OK, when I said that they might move back in, the emphasis was on the might. As I said, I don't usually concern myself with the comings and goings  of the neighbours so I didn't know if they would move back to town.

[Fluffy Puff]

Don't ya know that you are not supposed to actually care what happens to your neighbors ?

I care about all my sims. 

[twallan]

I care about all my sims. 

And that's why you don't use EA Story Progression.

[Fluffy Puff]

And that's why you don't use EA Story Progression.

Exactly why I shan't be going back to it.

As for Fiona McIrish, did she really die or "move out" of town like the others? No "manage dead" option appeared for her daughter even though I was notified that she'd died.

[twallan]

As for Fiona McIrish, did she really die or "move out" of town like the others? No "manage dead" option appeared for her daughter even though I was notified that she'd died.

Had you ever actively played "Fiona McIrish" during that game ?

If not, EA Standard is to simply delete the sim outright after they die, to conserve save-game space.  Essentially it is the same effect as mentioned above, where all that remains is the information required for the family tree.

If you want the sim to receive a proper urnstone, they need to have been an active sim at least once in their life.

[Pam]

Had you ever actively played "Fiona McIrish" during that game ?

If not, EA Standard is to simply delete the sim outright after they die, to conserve save-game space.  Essentially it is the same effect as mentioned above, where all that remains is the information required for the family tree.

If you want the sim to receive a proper urnstone, they need to have been an active sim at least once in their life.

Is this something new, Twallan?  It's been a long time since I've tried to manage the dead, but I remember that everyone in town who had died was available at the mortuary and I hadn't played any of them.

[twallan]

Is this something new, Twallan?  It's been a long time since I've tried to manage the dead, but I remember that everyone in town who had died was available at the mortuary and I hadn't played any of them.

Good call, I always rely on that being active in my towns (I switch households a lot), my bad.

There is a second check during the Reaper Death Rites that also tests to see whether the sim had a "significant relationship" with one of your active sims (Friendly, Romantic, Ex, Enemy), and retains the stone in that case.