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THE SIMS 2 TUTORIAL - HOW TO BUILD TALL BUILDINGS WITH NO GLITCHY FLOOR/CEILING
Hi guys! I made tutorial on how to build apartments in The Sims 2. If anybody ever had problems with disappearing floor/ceiling, when building a tall building, this might help. Feel free to ask more questions in the comments.
And I apologize for my broken English haha <3
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.
TS2 Tutorial - Permanent Height Change to your Sim.
There is a way to change your sim's height with a cheat in the game (Many use that for fun, to make titan sims but it can be used for realistic height change.) If they use the cheat, the height will only last as long as we close the game or we leave the lot.
So there is a pretty easy way to change permanent the height of a sim. Here is how!
We will only need The SimPe and this chart i have down there.
Using the Cheat (Not Permanent Method) :
Select a sim and open the cheat menu (ctrl-shft-C). Type the following without the quotes: "StretchSkeleton value". The "value" is the number that you will enter to tell the game which height to make your sim. Hit "enter" and voila, you have changed your sim's height.
Using the Permanent Method :
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).
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.
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).
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
