I've been converting a lot lately and felt a bit inspired to share what I've learnt. I am fully aware that I'm still a beginner and have a lot to learn - I just wanted to share some beginner-friendly instructions while I'm still fresh and remember exactly what overwhelmed me when I started.
There are better tutorials out there, if you know the basics already this probably isn't the video for you, but if you have no idea what's involved then hopefully this will be enough to get you started converting objects :)
I wanted to make a post of what I do to make my game run playable and smooth (and not crash an ungodly amount of times). This is what worked for me so I hope this will work for other fellow simmers. ✨
Click "keep reading" to see the rest of the post!
How to Make a Mods Folder/ How to Install CC
Installing Sims 3 Package Files/Setup and Files
Framework from Simswiki.info
Mods that are a MUST (IMO) for FIXING TS3 and making it PLAYABLE
I highly suggest watching ACottonSock’s Sims 3 Fix for Smooth Gameplay in 2025! For more fixes The Sims 3 Performance & Bug Fix Guide 2026 is more extensive.
TS3 GPU Add-on Support: This is an easy app that adds most of the GPU after the year 2013 to the list and its rules. Requires an account.
Lazy Duchess' Smoothness Patch: This mod makes the game’s logic threads run faster, speeding up loading of Buy/Build and Create A Style tool, smoother UI elements, smoother CAS. Can also speed up live mode and loading, it’s essentially a general improvement.
Lazy Duchess' Overhauled Origin Launcher: Overhauls the awful TS3 launcher. Also adds a search function for Downloads.
CC Magic: A great tool for organizing all your cc! Don’t place mods in here, this is for organizing cc package files such as hair, clothes, makeup and build/buy objects. Watch guide here.
Regul Save Cleaner: Tool that allows you to clean saves and keep them in good condition as long as possible.
Simler90's Gameplay Core Mod: Fixes a long list of issues and bugs with the base game and many of the expansion packs. THIS MOD IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH NRAAS, USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
S3PE (Sims3 Package Editor): Is a lightweight, open-source tool designed for managing, editing, and creating custom content packages for The Sims 3. (Optional but I like to edit and merge my package files.) Tutorial to download and how it works found here.
C# Script Utility: This mod is a C# Library of Methods and Classes that enable script modders to implement various functionality in a simpler way than without it. (Optional but I use mods that need it.)
NRAAS Mods (* recommended for fixing; the rest are optional, but I use them.)
NRAAS MasterController*: This mod adds countless options that allow you to easily control and change just about anything about sims in your town. Featuring a robust filter system to allow you to find the sims you want to target and execute actions on.
NRAAS Master Controller Cheats Module: This mod includes the more advanced, and therefore "cheaty" aspects of MasterController. This is an optional module of MasterController, and as such you must have the base-mod installed for this module to work properly.
NRAAS Master Controller Expanded Tattoo: This mod increases the number of tattoo locations available when using the "Basic/Tattoo" interaction in the base-mod. Note you will also need cmar_XCAS_TattooLocations_V2.zip for the expanded tattoo locations to show up.
NRAAS Master Controller Integration: This mod replaces all the CAS interactions in the game with the one managed by Master Controller, including the "Create-A-Sim" button in "Edit Town". This is necessary if you want to overstuff your households and still want the "Add Sim" and "Pollinate" options to work despite having 8+ sims.
NRAAS Master Controller Progression: This mod adds progression related interactions to the "Master Controller" menu. This is an optional module of Master Controller AND Story Progression thus you must have both base-mods installed for this module to work and to prevent a main menu crash.
NRAAS Careers: This mod is used to load custom careers into the game. It is also possible to load custom book lists, custom skills, and standing social interactions. You are still limited to the set provided by EA (totally new opportunities would require script coding), but you now have the ability to customize and add variations of those events to your custom careers.
NRAASCareers Data Unemployed: Lets me give the "unemployed" career to people without the game auto-finding them a job.
NRAAS Consigner: This mod replaces the "Buy" interaction on the Consignment Register with one that allows the sale of potions, gems, rocks, metals, insects, relics, and sketches.. If you have Pets installed, a new interaction called "Sell Pet" will be added to each consignment, general store, and pet store register in town. A new standing social interaction has also been added called "Sell Pet", available between friends, that allows the transfer of pets for profit.
NRAAS DebugEnabler: Basically developer tools for TS3. One of my favorite NRAAS mods!
Dresser: The focus of this mod is automated alteration of the outfits of all sims in town. The mod has the capability to add accessories, body hair, makeup, and new hair to all sims, increasing the variety of your town's population. Dresser also contains the ability to invalidate CAS parts which you do not want in your town, and will replace them with random choices when a sim rolls them on their outfit. This mod can be tedious, but I use it for my medieval saves to make sure Sims only wear period-appropriate clothes, accessories, and hair that I have selected for them. I’ve linked some posts with more in-depth instructions: Blacklisting, Importing Blacklist, Creating Invalid Parts Tuning the Easy Way.
NRAAS Errortrap*: This is a core-mod intended to catch and correct data corruption errors that can render a save-game unloadable. Any corruption errors that can not be corrected will be trapped and logged, allowing the save-game to load regardless. Unhandled script errors may be posted on the forum for review and possible repair.
NRAAS GoHere*: This mod replaces the "Go Here" interaction, with one that can be stacked in the queue, allowing the user to better direct the route of a sim. It also makes inactive sims less likely to go home, restores haunting ghosts in the graveyard, fixes common routing errors and adds a robust set of door locking features.
NRAAS Mover: Makes the moving system generally better. Also allows you to control how much money a Sim takes when they split from a household.
NRAAS Overwatch*: The primary purpose of this mod is to act as a periodic clean up system for correcting errors and eliminating junk that accumulates over a regular play-session.
NRAAS Porter: This mod adds a custom version of the import and export system used to create Library families. With this, it is possible to transfer entire towns worth of sims, preserving relationships across households, and reducing the amount of manual intervention required afterward.
NRAAS Portrait Panel: This mod changes the Portrait Panel to display a maximum of 24 sim portraits, useful for playing overstuffed families. Clicking a portrait with the middle mouse button will now bring up the sim menu. Similarly, double clicking on a portrait will do the same (for those of you sans middle mouse buttons).
NRAAS Register*: This mod alters the rules governing role assignment in the game, allowing sims to maintain regular careers without losing their roles. In addition, it provides the ability to select which sim you want to perform specific roles in town. I use it to control how many stray animals I have in my town, as well as the disabling of world tourists.
NRAAS Relationship Panel: This mod changes the Relationship Panel. Changes have also been made to correct the "red box" relationship error that occurs when the window bounces while displaying certain types of sims.
NRAAS Retuner*: This mod provides the ability to alter which interactions are autonomous and/or user-directed via an in-game interface, both ITUN and SocialData based. It also allows altering the value of most non-table-based tunable fields normally available in _XML tuning.
NRAAS Tempest*: This mod provides a more detailed approach to controlling weather on a town-by-town basis, providing the ability to adjust weather profiles on a daily basis during any particular season. Has a feature that fixes an issue where fallen leaves do not de-spawn after the fall season is over.
NRAAS Traveler: This mod replaces the travel code, and re-enables the script error logging. If the travel system fails, the logs will make things easier to track down the issue and repair it. It also has the capability to load any World as a Vacation destination.
NRAAS Woohooer: This mod alters the romantic game systems allowing for more relaxed rules when compared to EA's. With added trait scoring, things like jealousy make more sense. It also allows for teen woohoo and pregnancy along with risky woohoo.
NRAAS Woohooer Kama Simtra Module: This is a custom skill to facilitate tracking of woohooing. It also gives the option to woohoo for money. You must have the original mod, NRAAS Woohooer, as this is an add-on.
NRAAS Story Progression*: This mod is a non-core story progression replacement. The EA story progression will be disabled by this mod, and a new, hopefully better, system is started in its place.
NRAAS Hybrid: This mod updates interactions and game systems to properly handle having occult hybrids.
ALL mods below are add-ons for NRAAS Story Progression and thus require the base mod, NRAAS Story Progression, to work!
NRAAS Story Progression Career Module: This module contains the expanded career scenarios for use with Story Progression, which includes (but is not limited to): Custom commuting, Assigning custom schools, Custom Graduation and Prom systems.
NRAAS Story Progression Cops and Robbers Module: Contains the Robin, Cat, Vigilante, and Kingpin personalities.
NRAAS Story Progression Extras Module: This module contains the expanded scenarios of Story Progression.
StoryProgression FairiesAndWerewolves: Contains the Fey, Feral, Pack, and Hound personalities.
NRAAS Story Progression Lovers Module: Contains the Bike, Casanova, Gigolo, and Tart personalities.
NRAAS Story Progression Meanies Module: Contains the Brat, Bully, Thug, and Harpy personalities.
NRAAS Story Progression Money Module: This module contains the expanded money scenarios for use with Story Progression, which includes (but is not limited to): Inheritance, Loans, Billing for the whole town, Purchases of Vehicles, Sales of excess inventory.
NRAAS Story Progression Others Module: Contains the Loon, Mooch, Nerd, and Magnate personalities.
NRAAS Story Progression Population Module: This module contains the expanded population control scenarios for use with Story Progression, which includes (but is not limited to): Newborn/Roommate/Service Sim Genetics, Inactive Adoption, Emigration.
NRAAS Story Progression Relationship Module: This module contains the expanded relationship scenarios for use with Story Progression, which includes (but is not limited to): Gathering scenarios (aka inactive parties), Expanded Friendship and Enemy scenarios, Romantic Affairs.
NRAAS Story Progression Skill Module: This module contains the expanded skill scenarios for use with Story Progression, which includes (but is not limited to): Skill Controls (whether to allow skilling or not), Pushes related to skill gain for inactives.
Story Progression Vampires And Slayers: Contains the Dracul, Lestat, Nosferatu, Helsing, and Slayer personalities.
Cleaning Unnecessary Files
Step 1: Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3
Delete the bulleted files mentioned below each time you close the game. These files will regenerate each time you play the game so they're safe to delete.
CASPartCache.package
compositorCache.package
scriptCache.package
simCompositorCache.package
socialCache.package
Delete all ScriptError files (generated from NRAAS ErrorTrap)
Step 2: Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3 > DCCache
Delete the bulleted files mentioned below. DO NOT delete files ending in .dbc.
missingdeps.idx
dcc.ent
ALL files ending in .tmp
Step 3: Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3 > DCBackup
Delete all files in this folder EXCEPT for ccmerged.package.
Error Codes 12, 13, 16
Error code 12: Save game errors may be caused by having a save file that is too big or there's insufficient RAM for the game to save, thus leading to Error Code 12: See Game guide: Reducing the size of a saved game for additional assistance.
Error 12 & 13: Suggested steps for fixing.
Use save as and a new name instead of save.
Try saving in Edit Town mode as well as live mode.
Try saving your game paused and unpaused and at different speed levels.
Move your saves folder to the desktop.
Never use save & quit. Always save your game first and then quit the game without saving.
Don't use spaces or special chars in your save game names.
If you have lots of stuff in your inventory, reduce it.
If all fails, quit your game without saving and restore a backup.
Error 16: Occurs because of a file system fail failure which can occur if you try to overwrite a file in use or that is that is corrupt. Saving as with a new name should solve the issue.
This tutorial assumes you have knowledge of how to install packages and sims3packs but assumes you have zero photo posing experience.
You will need:
Buhudain Invisible limelight
This backdrop from murano,
This sethour cheat from LazyDuchess
This pose playerfrom cmomoney
any pose set but I'm using this one.
Extra but not necessary:
this light from artvitalex. I use this for all my photo shoots.
Process:
one you have installed the content and loaded your game, press ctrl+shift+c and input cheats: moveobjects on andtestingcheatsenabled true. it's good to press Shift+click on your mailbox at your place of residence and "make needs static" so your sim-needs don't go down while you take photos.
2. go into buy mode and place the backdrop on your lot. It's in decor>rugs. Place the pose player on your lot (decor>misc). make sure the pose player is nearby but outside your scene (i,e make sure its not on the backdrop) If you want to change the colour of your backdrop this is the best time to do it.
3. exit buymode. Press shift+click on the land beside your backdrop and teleport your sim to the location of your shoot. This is a good time to change your sims' outfit if need be.
4. pause your game (so your sim doesn't change outfits while you work.) and click on the pose player. click on "select pose from list" you'll need to unpause your game for the pose selection menu to come up. scroll through until you find the pose you want and click on it. your sim should automatically pose.
5. go into buymode and pick up your sim and place them somewhere in the center of the backdrop. pick your invisible light (lighting>misc) and place it in front of your sim. Open the command center (ctrl+shift+c) and input sethour 21. This cheat should make it night outside and thus should allow you to turn on your lights.
Hold down ctrl+shift and click on the light to bring up the lighting options. The backdrop also has inbuilt lighting that you can change
rearrange the lights (adding more or less) till you're satisfied.
I've changed my backdrop light brightness to "dim" leaving my invisible light at normal brightness, then I changed my invisible light to "flame" colour to give a warm soft look.
6. bring up the cheats command again and input hideheadlineeffects on. this should get rid of your plumbob and any thoughts your sim is having. Exit buymode and arrange your controls so you're facing your sim dead-on. The press the "tab" key to enter the camera controls.
Camera controls:
Tab - enter/ exit camera mode
W - up, A/D - left/right, S- down. Z/X - zoom in and out. Q/E - move camera up/ down.
Shift+A/D - rotate camera. shift+S - return to center.
Ctrl+ W/S/A/D - extreme tilt up, down, left or right.
C - take photos.
here is the result.
you'll find your pictures in your "screenshots" folder in documents>electronic arts>the sims 3> screenshots.
Its best to move your photos and videos out of this folder frequently as they clog up loading time.
Comment or dm/ask me if there's something you need help with. I'll be making more tutorials on setting up scenes and photo editing in future so if there's something specific you want to know, don't be afraid to ask.
Hey Heaven! I was wondering if you have written or would consider writing a tutorial on how you modified the stadium & annex sign to show different images? I would love to do the same thing for a world I'm working on but haven't been able to find any details on how to do it. Thank you!
I made this a really long time ago so my brain is a little fuzzy, but let me see if I can explain in a somewhat coherent manner.
Clone the military sign (usual business).
Open the cloned package with S3PE.
Find the resource ANIM; you will want to open this with S3PE’s Animated Texture Editor.
Export a frame, then when you have the image you would like to use, import back.
Do this for each image.
You can add frames or remove as needed and should be able to adjust the frame rate as desired.
Note: The ‘pixel’ effect on each frame is something I added for aesthetic, it’s not an effect caused by the object so it’s up to you to add if you want it. You can see the original pictures here, before I added the pixelated overlay.
Hopefully that makes sense? If not, let me know. I remember it being a much simpler project than I had anticipated. Can’t wait to see what yours looks like!
Had a request to see me UV the object I meshed the other day. Here it is. Note I did toward the end forget to turn the letter a but I fixed it after the video.
Assigning bones compatible w/ Hat/Glasses Sliders I’m assuming you have a general knowledge about sims creating or at least the idioms of what you need ^.^ First, you will want to import the .wso file of your accessory. After you’ve imported it, go to “Joints” at the right. Enalbe “Draw vertice...
For maa babu @igotsims and anyone else. It’s very simple, but maybe something you haven’t really thoug ht about before to do for any accessory which doesn’t fit exactly on a sims hat and isn’t compatible with any of the custom sliders, because it hasn’t the corresponding joint ^.^
I always wanted to know with building town houses, do you have to have basements or can they be built on foundations so the stairs can be added? Not sure if I'm clear what I mean, I just always get stuck building houses with stairs outside ��
I understand what you mean. And this is how I always start a basement. I almost never use foundations in the game. For me it’s just easier to use the CFE cheat. I don’t always know if I want to do the basement portion of a build and I can always add it later but I can’t really do that if I start out with foundations. Plus I don’t have to worry about routing.
These are the steps though.
Build your outside box with an inside box and cover with a floor
Turn ConstrainFloorElevation False on
With the Modular Stairs, lay out how many you want to go down. Could be 1,2,3 or something custom.
Then with the Level Tool - drag out from the lowest point for the inside of the basement part. (only the inside though)
Go up one level and do the same - drag out from the lowest point for the whole level.
Turn ConstrainFloorElevation True off
If all went well, then you should be able to add walls and stairs to the lower and upper levels.
@elleinvogue I think this is what your asking. Let me know if I’m wrong, but this is the way I used to launch my game.
Find where your game is installed. It will either be the Origin Games or Electronic Arts Directory. Go to Program Files/Origin Games (or Electronic Arts)/The Sims 3/Game/Bin. Then right click the TS3W.exe file and send to your desktop to create a shortcut.
That will bypass the EA launcher and start your game.
I use 3booter and fps limiter so I start my game with 3booter. The process is the same though. If the icon shortcut for 3booter is not on your desktop I just right click it and send it to that location.
