#co2testcenter

[cityof2morrow]

(Re)organizing Your CAS/Bodyshop Folders

Published: 2-16-2025 | Updated: N/A SUMMARY One of the challenges of themed worldbuilding in Sims 2 is finding the custom content (CC) to bring your world(s) to life. Between October and December 2024, I reorganized my CAS/Bodyshop folders, purging ~4-5 gigs of CC. I wanted to share the strategies I use - Plan, Shop, Sort & Delete!

PHASE ONE: PRE-PLAN WITH A BASIC BACKSTORY Having a backstory for your world is not required  – simming is supposed to be flexible and open-ended after all – but it will make organizing CC easier if you do. The backstory is your rationale for why your sims look the way they do…the basis for whatever CAS/Bodyshop-related CC you decide to use. This should evolve as you start shopping/sorting CC. Skip to PHASE TWO below if you want to skip the “backstory” phase and jump straight into (re)organizing files. First, figure out the WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, and WHY details of your world. You don’t have to figure out everything now. If anything, try to come up with the most basic details. (1) WHAT kind of society do your sims live in (utopian, dystopian, mixed, fantasy, etc.)? Example: Pleasantview is pseudo-utopian, midcentury-style, pedestrian, mostly middle-class neighborhood. Strangetown is an eccentric, comically dystopian town nearby. (2) WHEN do played events in your world take place (recent or distant past, modern-day present, near or distant future, timeless, etc.) Example: Pleasantview and Strangetown are set in the early 2000s, after an alien abduction. Veronaville is 2000s-era take on the English/Italian elements of Shakespeare's universe, inspired by 13th century political factions.

Pictured: My game takes place in a retro-afro-futuristic setting...it's not uncommon to see A.I's, drones, and other non-human sims through the world. (3) WHERE do your sims live in this world? There should be some climate/seasonal clues here. People tend to dress for the weather – your sims should too! Example: Pleasantview is a lush, mostly temperate, hilly/mountainous, waterside, suburb outside of SimCity. Nearby Strangetown is a rural, militarized spot along a desert highway, not far from an alien crash site.

Pictured: My sims live on an arid planet that they terraformed and altered with advanced tech. Their clothing reflects the climate. (4) WHO are the sims in your world? Whether you focus on social groups or individual families and sims, make sure your ideas hint at the kind of lifestyle those sims have (jobs, hobbies, abilities, income, social roles, etc.). Example: Take the social groups from the Apartment Life EP for example. Gearhead townies often have darker, torn, utilitarian clothing. Meanwhile, socialites have more expensive looking outfits appropriate for leisure and high-status career paths. Lilith and Angela Pleasant are sisters with highly conflicting personalities – so they must have drastically different looks.

Pictured: My simlish society includes plantsims and hybrid plantsims (half plant, half human). These sims are more likely to be a part of my eco-friendly faction. (5) WHY do they appear the way they do? Dress them appropriately for the climate and time but make sure they actually look like members of their given social groups. You don’t have to make things historically accurate or logical unless you want to – have fun. Example: The utilitarian/punk-style look of the gearheads reflects their lower income and “toughness.” As nonconformists, bohemians dress in loose, artsy and colorful pieces. Lillith’s darker/gothic style reflects her grouchy/rebel personality in opposition to her more suburban/agreeable sister Angela.

Pictured: I'm using lots of trait and occult mods to reorganize my supernaturals into elemental classes. Here is a waterborne conjurer (left) and a grimborne necromancer (right). PHASE TWO: GO CC SHOPPING (AGAIN) This is the fun part. Now that you have a general backstory, go CC shopping! Grab everything that might fit – don’t overthink it! If you like it and think the sims in your world might rock it, download it. However, I recommend coming up with some ground rules, such as (1) A maximum poly count range (“faces” in simPE) for hairs, accessories, and/or clothes. Example: I have 32GB of RAM and decent hardware, but I still avoid hairs above 10K poly. If I really want it, I might go as high as 12-13K – no more than that. This is admittedly a conservative limit compared to lots of contemporary simmers. (2) A maximum file size (in gigabytes/GB) for all CAS/Bodyshop CC you’re willing to put in-game at one time. For windows players, SIZE is the actual size of your files/folders. SIZE ON DISK is the amount of storage they take up via system processes such as (de)compression, duplication, etc. Example: A maximum of ~6GB (actual size) of CAS/Bodyshop CC is my self-imposed limit. This keeps loading times and performance ideal since I also use several gigs of build/buy CC and mods. (3) Choose custom body shapes sooner rather than later. More than 50 (!) custom body shapes have been made for Sims 2 over the past two decades. Make sure you can find enough clothing for whatever shape(s) you choose…including career/work clothing. Example: Currently, I use 8 custom shapes - 3 for male/masculine sims (Bodybuilder, Fat, Bear Bodybuilder) and 5 for female/femme sims (Bodybuilder, Classic Pin-up, Dummy Thicc (not pictured directly below; pictured at the end of this post), Momma Lisa, Rio). I eliminated others to stay below my maximum file limit.

Pictured: When choosing body shapes, I spent a lot of time comparing options. If you really like a shape but it lacks clothing, try using it alongside a similar shape. For example, I used clothing for the 'heavy male' and 'chubby guy' shapes on the same sims for a while. (4) Choose REPO’D versions whenever possible. Reposited/texture-linked skins, hairs, clothing, and accessories share image resources across multiple files. In contrast, standalone versions contain a copy of all necessary texture images in each file. Repo’d files are typically smaller in size/quantity and easier on game performance. PHASE THREE: SORT & DELETE This is the annoying part – but the payoff is worth it. I sort my CAS/Bodyshop CC in phases. If the CC doesn’t fit the backstory for my hood or exceeds my limit for poly counts – I remove it right away! I sort what’s left using the following criteria: - weakest fit for my backstory compared to other CC - poly count is too high - broken/bad CC (missing mesh, warped/distorted, excessive clipping, causes lag) - duplicate files and repetitive looks (too many items that look about the same) - repetitive colors (12 colors of each outfit, in 3 different shades/textures each, is too much for me!) I repeat this process anytime I add more CC to my game. During steps 4 and 5, I start recategorizing/townie-fying CC as well (see recommended programs below). I usually save the color/texture-sorting round for last. I just might be able to keep more color/texture options if I’m still below my max file limits (repo’d CC really comes in handy here!). …ENJOY! Organizing CAS/Bodyshop CC is often tedious and frustrating, but smooth, performance-friendly gameplay is worth it! The recommended mods/programs below allow more random diversity in my simlish population, and the sims truly look like they come from my world – not one dreamed up for me by maxis. I don’t play with pre-made sims, so seeing townies and NPCs with “maxis face” in my hood is considered an act of violence! Repo’d items, separates, and recategorized CC makes the same items available to more sims. I end up needing less CC overall…..then again, they also make it easier to justify more CC shopping. 😊 See how I organize my individual mods/cc folders for Sims 2 HERE (2024).

Pictured: Rough drafts...recreations of Urbz sims. RECOMMENDED CAS/BODYSHOP-RELATED MODS -Shared Maxis Outfits for YAs, Adults & Elders (Sim-Wolf, 2009; or Motoki, 2005) - young adults, adults, and elders will share the same default outfits. -Buyable Maxis Work, NPC, and Maternity Clothes (Motoki, 2005) – outfits are buyable when creating sims in CAS or shopping on community lots; clothing racks by Gayars (2019) HERE. -Separates For All (LazyDuchess, 2021) – dress sims in separate tops/bottoms in all clothing categories (you still need to download CC separates or recategorize default separates). Outside of the everyday category, you can only view/pick separates in-game via CAS (not Bodyshop). -Sim BIN NPCs (Test Version) (Free via Patreon - LazyDuchess, 2022) – townies/NPCs will generate using the genetics of custom sims saved in Bodyshop instead of default genetics. You need to download and/or save a larger-than-usual number of sims to your SavedSims folder for best results. Requires RPC Launcher (LazyDuchess, 2020).

-TS2 CAS Makeup Lag Fix (Test Version) (Free via patreon – LazyDuchess, 2024) – minimizes the infamous lag players experience when using the CAS makeup tabs in-game. -Townie Body Diversity (Nysha, 2017) – townies/non-playables will generate in different sizes (i.e. thin/fat/fit). RECOMMENDED CAS/BODYSHOP PROGRAMS -Sims2Pack Clean Installer (Mootilda, 2014; 2010) – use it to safely install custom sims (as well as lots, store content, etc.) or select CC used to make them; scan/sort duplicates and specific file types as well. -Bodyshop Organization Kit (BSOK Editor) (WHoward/PickNMix, 2024) - sort clothing/accessories according to default/custom body shapes. FYI: Sometimes, hairs may show up as “clothing.” -Outfit Organiser (WHoward/PickNMix, 2024) - sort and recategorize items across the CAS/Bodyshop catalog. -Delphy’s Download Organiser (Delphy/Tashiketh, 2020; 2007) – organize and investigate package files; compare poly counts at a glance. NOTE: Reported counts are global (total count for all versions contained in the package file) rather than the actual/original count (the count for the object in its normal/static state). If you’re unsure, double-check the count in simPE.

[cityof2morrow]

Mod Organizing & Load Order Shenanigans

Published: 5-1-2024 | Updated: N/A MOD ORGANIZING During the [first] "pandemic summer," I started reorganizing my game folders. I also started  a "conflict management" list, containing all the known conflict info from download pages, new conflicts I discover while playtesting, etc. It's 44 pages long at the moment....a testament to my unapologetic mod addiction. I encourage all simmers to keep a list like this. It’s very reassuring (and handy!) to be able to look up known conflicts or keep track of mods which have been merged (duplicate files can break your game FAST!).  **I won’t be able to share mine at this time but most of my info comes from the same pages where I download CC/mods - shout out to the creators who take the time to include this info.

MY LOAD ORDER(S) I number my folders and use mostly lower case filenames to force the load order I want – these were the most important changes I made re: how I maintain a heavily-modded-but-still -very-functional game. With few exceptions, this has been much more effective than keeping track of the number of z's and cases. It also means I don't need to rename downloaded files - I just put them in the right folder. When I played exclusively on mac, I learned that numbering the store cc folders was the ONLY way I could get all the content to work. I never figured out why but I imagine it was because the mac series doesn't include expansions required for some of this content.

DETAILS (the codes) I put that grad school debt...I mean...those grad school research skills to good use and made up my own codes. Here they are... 0= files needed in every save aka my "essentials." These include repair files, shader/UI files, CEPs, global probes (like scriptorium, money globals, inteen checker, inventory checker, etc).

1= mods that do NOT need a load order, some OFB-themed sets I want to keep separate from other CC - like the #co2bellabrand or upcoming #co2cdkseries stuff.

2= mods that require a hard load order. As @episims writes HERE, this only works for mods with non-game-breaking conflicts between them. Only the last mod in the sequence will retain ALL its intended functions. The code for this section goes like this: [number]-[what the mod deals with in-game; i make sure to consider alphabetical order]-[load order number] -name of the mod(s)

I have several global mods that need to load as close to LAST as possible. These folders all start with "2-z-[load order #]-." The "2" tells me they need to load in a certain order and the "-z" makes them load after all the other #2 folders.

See Object Freedom 1.02 (@fwaysims, 2023) and Shiftable Everything (@lamare-sims, 2022) both load at #78? I don't have them BOTH in game at the same time, but giving them the same number ensures that the right load order stays no matter which one i'm paying with. 3 = build mode and neighborhood deco/defaults

4= buy mode

"ts1," "ts3," and similar labels = content that was converted for Sims 2.

5=CAS/bodyshop

OTHER DETAILS I also label folders with certain "type codes" - these tell me things like whether they add permanent data to my saves (custom memories, careers, foods, etc. do this) or whether they are maxis-match. Here are some examples:

-BIN = mod files which go in the program folders -DEF = default replacement -MEM = this content includes custom memory data -MM = maxis-match or an add-on for default game furniture -ADD = content that is not maxis-match -NPC = this content includes or changes one or more NPCs -FIX  or -EDIT = this is a fixed or uniquely edited version of a pre-existing mod -BETA and -TEST = this mod is unfinished and/or a test version Remember, conflicts do not always mean something has to be removed from your game, nor are all conflicts unresolvable. No matter what kind of method(s) you use to organize your game – it’s just important to try/have at least one in the cut.

CREDITS Thanks: Episims, PleasantSims, and all simmers who include load order/conflict notes. Sources: Beyno (Korn via BBFonts), EA/Maxis, Forcing the Load Order of Mods (whoward/Pick’N’MixSims, 2021 via sims2tutorials), Image(s) (Alexander, 2016), Offuturistic Infographic (Freepik).

...Oh and yes...I AM in fact an INTJ/Capricorn.

[cityof2morrow]

Tutorial: Custom Sidewalks & Sewers

Published: 5-24-2024 | Updated: N/A SUMMARY Here is a quick step-by-step guide for making sidewalks with the Streetscaping 001 (Simmons, 2024) and Repo Pack (Simmons, 2023) sets. Make sure you have some niche/repo pack recolors in-game as well. I recommend these for the sewer material. This method is ONLY for lots with a 2-click or a 4-click foundation (the default height). I recommend using a road default or overlay without grass/sidewalks. Feel free to alter steps based on your gameplay needs. DETAILS Requires all EPs/SPs + the Streetscaping 001 (Simmons, 2024) and Repo Pack (Simmons, 2023) sets. If you’re using a 2-step foundation and want large dogs to access the building, get the Stair Mod (Simler90, 2021). SIDEWALKS

Once your building has a foundation, add steps (or ramps) so that sims can get from the street to the first floor. You won’t need Simler90’s Stair Mod for buildings on a 4-click (default) foundation. If you want steps/ramps to match everything else, add the step/ramp cover pieces (front/center and side).

2. Add 2-click platforms and/or foundation pieces to the existing foundation of the buildings. I always put one row in front and a few pieces on the left/right ends of the lot.

3. Add curb pieces across the front and any other deco you want. You may need “move objects on/off” and “grid on/off” cheats.

4. Play around with recolors/swatches to get the look you want. For matching and variant maxis textures, check out the #co2repopack tag.

NOTE: Due to default game coding, your sidewalk will be visible in neighborhood view with some slight quirks. Objects in this set may appear to float slightly above the foundation in neighborhood view on 2-click foundations and any other foundation less than the default 4-click high (default height). This may also happen with the steps/ramp. This wasn’t a big deal for me, and everything functions/looks as it should otherwise.

SEWERS

The sewer canal is made for a 4-click foundation, deck, or stage – this comes in handy if you plan on having sims walk around your sewer tunnels - BUT you don’t have to use it. Add it and recolor the “sewer material” as you wish (look for element recolors HERE and under #co2repopack tag).

2. Using the tunnel is optional –place it on the same tile as the canal piece.

3. For functional sewers – where sims can walk around the interior – add floor tiles. You can even make a “bridge” across the water.

4. Add other deco and walls as needed. NOTE: You’ll probably need to combine pieces and use placement cheats.

CREDITS Thanks: TS2 building communities and other creatives. Sources: Beyno (Korn via BBFonts), EA/Maxis, Offuturistic Infographic (Freepik).

[cityof2morrow]

Tutorial: Fixing Exploded Lot Imposters

Published: 8-25-2024 | Updated: N/A SUMMARY Using dozens of the same object on a lot—such as a window on a skyscraper, or lots of the same tree/hedge on a large park lot—may cause “exploded” lot imposters. The lot imposter is the version of a lot seen in neighborhood view or from adjacent lots during gameplay. The error often appears in the form of warped or smeared objects – as if someone wiped part of the screen with a wet cloth. In other cases, the mesh looks like broken shards and/or pokes through other parts of the lot. Meanwhile, everything looks fine when you enter it. This error seems rare, having only occurred about 4-5 times over two decades, but that doesn’t make it any less annoying. Don’t panic! The object itself is likely not broken (although double-checking wouldn’t hurt) but the error happens as your game tries to render the same object/textures multiple times. In my testing, the culprit was usually a single object and one of its recolorable subsets. SOLUTION I used to delete the blown-up lot and rebuild it until the problem went away. Yet, a much easier solution exists – recolors! Apply 1 or more recolors across copies of object and that should fix the warped/exploded object on the lot imposter. In most cases, this should take care of the problem. In this example, the windows “exploded” in hood view. After applying plain glass recolors from THIS (Simmons, 2023) set, the problem didn’t go away. The true culprit was the metal detail on the glass – for which I had no recolors for. I made some (HERE), using similar colors which looked the same from a distance, and that solved the problem.

Simmers who use lots of greenery in their landscaping might encounter an exploded lot imposter. Keep similar recolors in your arsenol…just in case. During gameplay, this happened when I used a ton of custom hedges repo’d to the default one (“boxy lady”).  This has also happened with the default birch tree in-game, so I recommend keeping something like Gwenke33’s recolors (2011) handy. DOWNLOAD THIS TUTORIAL (PDF) (choose one) from SFS | from MEGA CREDITS Thanks: William, Gina, Catherine and others on discord who helped me think through solutions years ago.

[cityof2morrow]

Event: Repository Technique Workshop

Published: 3-4-2024 | Updated: N/A WHEN: FRIDAY, MARCH 8TH, 10AM EST WHERE: Sim 2 Shenanigan’s Discord Video will be uploaded to the youtube channel afterwards. SYLLABUS In this workshop, I’ll show you how to repository objects (not clothing) to a single mesh – but why repository?

It applies recolors for the mesh to ALL objects linked to it.

That means fewer recolors to make and fewer files overall in your game.

It means more matching CC objects in your game.

I’ll show you two methods: (1) using SimPE and following Huge Lunatic’s “The Repository Technique” tutorial, and (2) using Pick n’ Mix’s new Repository Wizard. DETAILS – REQUIRED MATERIALS: If you want to work on your own repo’s during the workshop, have the following materials handy:

Huge Lunatic’s “The Repository Technique” tutorial

Pick n’ Mix’s new Repository Wizard

An object you want to use as a mesh for other objects (aka the thing you wanna repo stuff to – commonly called mesh, parent, root, master, or donor file). I use parent/mesh.

An object you want to link to the mesh (commonly called repo, child, reference, slave, or dependent file). I use repo.

EXAMPLES My Neon Lites Pack 001 (Simmons, 2023) collection uses the repository technique – lighting objects are repo’d to a neon light from the Nightlife EP. This project was delayed for years until I found this add-on template (PineappleForest, 2022). I was NOT about to make that many recolors for every single mesh in the set.

The Gallery Collection 001 (Simmons, 2024) contains one mesh file and several repo’s. I made 30 recolors for the mesh and reposited the other five paintings to it. Otherwise, I would’ve had to make all 30 recolors SIX times in total. That’s at least 150 more files you’d need to put in your game!

The Nook and Niches series (BuggyBooz, 2012), the Super Stone Set (Frac, 2017), Jonesi's Bed Blanket and it's many repo's (Jonesi via HugeLunatic, 2009), and my Repository Pack (Simmons, 2023) sets use the technique. It allows sharing of texture materials across dozens of objects (dozens upon dozens and counting!).

Objects in the Bella Brand series (#co2bellabrand) rely HEAVILY on repo’s – there are over 25 sets and hundreds of files to choose from – and there would be 3 or 4 times as many (we’re talkin’ actual thousands!) without the repository technique. Yikes!

BONUS: Repository technique works for certain CAS items, such as clothing and skins, too! CAS items won’t be covered in Friday’s workshop but know that it’s possible! The technique differs in some ways when working with these items.  See examples below. SKINS: Wide range skin palette for maxis/custom bodyshapes  (2nd edition, @letomills, 2024) HAIR: 4t2 Hair Defaults (@platinumaspiration et al., 2024) CLOTHING: The Bella’s Secret (2023) and Bella Park (2023) sets by @somedaythesun.

CREDITS Thanks: Sims 2 Shenanigans Discord community, @hugelunatic, @picknmixsims. Sources: Beyno (Korn via BBFonts), EA/Maxis, Offuturistic Infographic (Freepik).

[cityof2morrow]

Tutorial: Anno-to-Sims 2 Conversions

Published: 8-15-2024 | Updated: N/A SUMMARY This is a tutorial for converting Anno 1404/2070/2205/1800 models into static, non-animated objects for Sims 2.

If you want to retain original animations and/or modify models for use in the original games, you’ll need additional tools. See the “Installation” notes for the Blender-Anno-.cfg-Import-Addon for Blender v3.31 (Xormentor, 2022)  - this is one of the tools you’ll need when working with models from 2205/1800. Additional instructions can be found in the “04-Making-New-Ship” tutorial by Hier0nimus (2023) (scroll about halfway down to the “Model for the ship” section to learn how to access 1404/2205 game models).

DOWNLOAD THIS TUTORIAL (text only, choose one) from SFS | from MEGA

[cityof2morrow]

Pictorial: Setting Up The Lifestyles Mod

Published: 9-23-2023 | Updated: 11-21-2023

SUMMARY The Lifestyles Mod (alongside earlier versions of the religions mod on which it is based) can be tedious/annoying to install and set up – but I promise its worth it! Here is a quick walkthrough for setting up the mod. If you’re skeptical, generate a new ‘Neighborhoods’ folder in your game and use it to test the mod first. Before we get started, make sure you’ve downloaded the Lifestyles Mod (Simmons, 2023) and gameplay PDF. Finally, re-read the info related to compatibility, load order(s), and troubleshooting. DOWNLOAD THIS PICTORIAL (PDF) INSTALLATION 1. When starting a new save, setup this mod BEFORE adding The Globe/Global Overrides (Meduza, 2023; Hatch, 2017-2019) if you also use that mod. 2. Place all package files in a folder and move that folder to your Sims 2 ‘Downloads’ folder. 3. Load them AFTER The Globe/Global Overrides (Hatch – excluding Home YAs), Taxi/Vehicles Cost Money (Dhurt). *If you receive errors try loading this mod (and any add-ons for the Lifestyles/original religions mods) BEFORE them instead. 4. Load them BEFORE Annoying Games Suite (Simlogical/Inge Jones), Baby Personality (Episims, 2020), Fight Club (Pescado), Inteen/Inteenimator, Less Belching/Farting (TwoJeffs), Mood Swings/Midlife Crisis (Piqiwi, 2018 – see the additional notes on this under Troubleshooting and Conflict With), Single Slap Only (Squinge), Zombie Apocalypse (Pescado). ADDING THE FIRST LIFESTYLE(S) TO YOUR SAVE 1. Testing Cheats ON Please! While in the neighborhood screen and BEFORE entering a residential lot, turn testing cheats ON (do this manually because Start-Up cheats don’t always kick in). If you have conflicts/issues they will pop up as error messages here. If your lot won’t load but you can hear it running, the game is paused on an error message – that you won’t be able to see if testing cheats aren’t turned on. See the Troubleshooting section of the gameplay PDF for solutions.

2. Setup Dialogue: Enter any residential lot and wait ~10 sim-minutes for a set up dialogue. Choose between 1 and 5 initial lifestyle groups – the first FIVE will be townie-enabled and sims can be manually/randomly added to these. Any additional lifestyles (the sixth one created and so on) are “exclusive” – you must manually add sims to these with the Lifestyle Manager. We’ll get to that part…keep reading You can add/edit (but not delete) groups later using the Lifestyle Manager object (a fairy statue formerly called the Heaven & Hell Fairy). Find it in Misc > Misc.

3. Background NPCs: Choose the gender of the NPC character that will act as a controller for each group. They will generate off-screen and remain permanently out of sight during gameplay. If you want to include them in your gameplay, they are safe NPCs and can join playable households - but try not to let them die in-game

4. Name the Lifestyle: You’ll be prompted to “enter a name for this person…” (“person” = lifestyle for the purposes of this mod). Using proper nouns, enter a name for the individual, place, or idea that defines each lifestyle (18 characters max, including spaces). Names can be generic (i.e. Happiness, Power, Science, Law & Order – great for the general population) or more specific (i.e. The Grim Reaper, Fate, The Wiz, The Watcher) I like to think of sims i’m not invested in and likely will never play as part of a “general population.” Since all playable households must have a lifestyle group assignment, I usually make two “general population” groups for playables (or for sims whose lifestyles I haven’t figure out yet).

-Law & Order: Generally nice, law-abiding people who don’t steal, fight, etc.

-Fate: They retain free will – the equivalent of how sims would behave without this mod in-game. This is for villains, fight-club members, General Buzz Grunt, the Beakers, most of the Landgraabs, and other butt-headed sims 5. Allow/Ban Behaviors: Sims express their lifestyle via behavior and social interactions. Customize each lifestyle by banning or allowing behavior in the following categories. You can only ban or allow whole categories.

Wrath = routing failure tantrums are replaced by a calm notification to the player.

Theft = newspapers, gnomes, and hotel towels Violence = poke, slap, shove, attack, red hands, punch game, cops/robbers game

Indiscretion = belch, gossip, tell secrets, gross out, brag Disrespect = nag, annoy, insult. New behavior categories aren’t possible but new interactions can be added to existing categories with mods such as: G-Rated Religion Expansions and Side Mods (Almighty Hat, 2016). Instructions for adding even more behaviors are available with this mod. In my testing, non-violent sims would never defend themselves when violent sims attacked them. They would just cry or take the beat down (and then cry again). Whenever this got too annoying, I would just move the violent sim to a non-violent lifestyle group. Keep this in mind if you play with fight club mods which prolong fights or making fighting/attacking others fun for meaner sims. This is also a good reason to have meeting spots (explained below). Sometimes your sims needs to be among friends…*sings* where everbooody knows their naaaame! *takes bow**exits stage left

MANAGING YOUR LIFESTYLES

1. After Initial Setup: Sims can only be in one lifestyle group at a time. At unassigned households and households which recently gained/lost members, you’ll be prompted to choose a lifestyle for sims living there after ~10 sim-minutes. Townies and some NPCs are randomly assigned by default. You can assign members of the same household to different groups using the Lifestyle Manager but this will impact behaviors, relationships, and more importantly - group devotion and zeal.

2. Lifestyle Manager: Use this object to view, change, or randomize lifestyle assignments and check neighborhood statistics. Playables/townies can be randomized into the first five groups with this object. 3. Playing 6 or more Lifestyles: You can create more than five lifestyles but remember: 1) townies can only join the first five groups, 2) sims can only be randomized into the first five groups, and 3) only the first five groups get a separate line on the census – the rest will be totaled together under “Lifestyle > 5.”

To assign groups 6 and up, go to a playable residence. For each sim:

-Select "Change lifestyle to..." on the lifestyle statue. Only the first five will show at first, choose any of these. -Re-select "Change lifestyle to.." again. Groups 6 and up should be available in all appropriate menus now. -Save your game. The census should reflect these changes when you enter the next lot.

DEVOTION, ZEAL & INTERACTIONS (aka ‘how this mod changes the social scene in your game’)

1. Devotion: Devotion refers to a sims’ commitment to their lifestyle (out of 100). Sims with high devotion will observe their group’s values but defy them if devotion falls below 30-ish. 2. Zeal: Sims with high zeal (out of 100) may be judgmental towards others. Sims with high zeal and low devotion may even become hypocrites. They’ll scold or hit others for defying values they themselves are no longer observing. Worry not, these behaviors improve as their devotion increases.

3. Ask About Lifestyle: Sims can ask others about their lifestyles and receive a range of replies. This social, along with talking, chatting, and hanging out with fellow group members will increase devotion/zeal. Devotion/zeal will NOT change attraction/relationships, but relationships with non-group members may decrease devotion/zeal.

4. Conversions: Repeated interactions between sims with exceptionally high devotion and those who are unassigned or low in devotion to their own group may result in the latter being convinced to join the more committed sim’s lifestyle. CREATING/MANAGING MEETING SPOTS (OPTIONAL)

1. Meeting Spots: Places of worship are now called meeting spots – they’re not required but make lifestyles even more interesting. Designate any vacant community lot as a meeting spot using the Lifestyle Manager (Misc > Misc). Live mode will activate, and The Friend/Aneeta Friend will appear – ignore this sim and continue setting up the lot. Save and exit when done. Autonomous visitors will be limited to those assigned the corresponding lifestyle. If you send other sims to this lot, their own group devotion and zeal decrease, or they may convert.

These are the New Peterans of Strangetown (test hood) and they hang out at a church/community kitchen on the weekends. Devotion/Zeal improve faster at meeting spots for appropriate members (and has the opposite effect on non-members – but non-members won’t show up unless you manually send them there). Meeting spots are especially handy if you want to play a private social group with exclusive membership. You don’t want the general population/authorities to know about certain groups, right? Good thing they’re only vaguely referenced in the census as “Lifestyle > 5.

2. The Friend: An NPC named Aneeta Friend will visit community lots, including designated meeting spots. Talking/Hanging Out with her will boost devotion and zeal regardless of group membership. She’ll generate with default looks, but her name and appearance can be altered with mods. Do NOT add her to playable households or age her down. The Lifestyle Manager can summon Aneeta Friend at any time. Selecting the object from the catalog on an empty lot will always summon this sim. If you click the statue by accident, you can ignore her – she only appears in case you want to designate a meeting spot. It is safe to save/exit the lot 3. Renaming Lifestyles: To rename a lifestyle, shift-click and use the “Spawn” option OR use another mod to teleport the Background NPCto a residential lot andrename them. If you can’t remember which NPC this is, select “Learn About the Ways of…” on the Lifestyle Manager and choose the group you want to rename. When the dialogue pops up in the corner of your screen, hover over the NPC’s photo to see their name. This is the NPC you should summon UNINSTALLING/UPDATING THIS MOD 1. Uninstalling: To safely uninstall, 1) place, then shift-click, the Lifestyle Manager on a residential lot. 2) Use the available options to remove the mod data. This will remove the NPC number from the Background NPCs and move them to the orphan townie pool. 3) Afterwards, delete the package file(s) from your downloads folder from your downloads folder – but leave the NPC file for Aneeta Friend in your downloads folder (“simmons-ah-cjh-lifestyles-thefriendNPC”). 4) You do not need to include the friend file in new saves (i.e. for completely new “Sims 2/Neighborhoods” folder) 2. Updating: If you haven’t removed the NPC file or renamed any files from this mod, you should be able to replace the main file for updates without having to remove/reset data. This has been tested several times, but your game setup may function differently. DOWNLOAD THIS PICTORIAL (PDF) CREDITS Thanks: ChocolateCitySim for testing. Sources: Beyno (Korn via BBFonts), EA/Maxis, Offuturistic Infographic (Freepik).

[cityof2morrow]

Help: Can't Export Textures in TSR Workshop

I'm unable to select/display/export TS3 textures for objects in TSR Workshop (version 2.0.88 aka the 'good" version). The drop-down menu in the "Texture" tab is always blank, and no textures are ever listed in the "Project Contents" window either.

I've re-installed the app/TS3 and can't seem to fix it. It's happening for all objects accessed via cloning or loading the package/sims3pack file. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas on how to get around this issue, I could use 'em.