(Big Sim) Just a few notes.
I finally have some time to play with the BB game during this weekend. Starting on the second day there was more of a schedule in plan, and in future updates I'll try to explain more than with the first one, but they will still be more like commentary-mode picspams than anything else, so don't expect much of a story in general.
I'm trying not to use cheats or tricks to get the chores done in the house (expect for money cheats), but the game doesn't run 24/7 in free-will either. I half control part of the day, especially in mornings, meal times and during activities. I'll also be changing the sims makeovers slightly every couple of days, but not all once, just a few sims everyday for the fun of it, and only the everyday clothings for something just a bit different. (Not hairs and nothing too radical either so it's not too confusing.)
I don't have an actual update ready, but I've played a couple of days and the daily schedule goes, more or less, like this:
Early Morning: Waking up, get ready for the day (showering, getting dress etc) and clean up bathrooms and rooms as they go. Clean sims tend to clean up immediately after themselves, while others need a bit of a push, but I try to make sure that no one leaves the rooms until they are done. (or at least as best as possible, sometimes some sims still manage to sneak out before doing their beds or with their PJs still on)
Morning: The first few sims ready, prepare and serve breakfast, giving preference to those who actually wish to do it (like Julien always wishes to serve food, and knowledge sims like learning new meals) , and of course they must clean up after themselves in the kitchen too, but it's usually done with very lit' help on my side. I also make sure someone cleans up the bathroom in the living area at this point too.
Note: After breakfast will be the moment when the group will gather briefly, to find out who will be leaving everyday, but this won't happen until the 3th day, so I'll explain more on that later. (This will be done between 10/10:30 to 11/11:30 the latest)
Midday: This is when the sims spend a couple of hours doing different skill building activities in the back room. The idea is to make them gain one point per skill, or at least learn to do something new, as they move on the competition. Sims with high points in the respective skill, either help the rest or work in something different or more difficult.
Afternoon: Afternoons are a bit a mix of everything. I pick whoever wishes to and/or is in the best shape to prepare a quick lunch, usually outdoors, and check around quickly for any warnings in needs and/or aspirations, but for the most part, I just let them be in free will. I tend to lock the bedrooms doors at this time, though, because some of these guys only have one thing in mind and would spend all day long in bed if I would let them. (I even turn off autonomy in ACR for a few hours a day or they drive me crazy, tbh. Romantic interactions is pretty much all some of these sims do lol)
Evening/Night: During evening the sims have almost complete free will and, except from sending someone to get a few leftovers from the fridge to eat, they do pretty much anything they want. Rooms are open too, so they also go to bed at any time they want, but I try to stop sims from going to sleep too early (as in 8 pm! lol), and try to let the double beds unoccupied by single sims if possible.
Right before going to bed, the sims cast their votes and they are counted over night.
They are suppose to vote out the sims they dislike, so for this I decided to keep in mind both relationships and chemistry when adding points. It's one point for each sim they have 0/0 relationship, except if the chem is high, but adding one extra point if the chem is bad or the relations is actually in negative level. It may not seem like the fairest voting system, but it made the most sense to me.
I figure if you are in a situation like this you would pick the sims you dislike the most, and chemistry plays a very important role on that, even more if the relationship levels are 0/0. In other words, if sims don't even know know each other, I assume they would favor those they find attractive over the rest, so, for the first couple of days at least, the points system will be (it will be changing slightly as relationship levels grow, of course)
- 0/0 relationship + good chemistry = 0 point
- 0/0 relationship + neutral chemistry = 1 point
- 0/0 relationship + bad chemistry = 2 points
- negative relationship points (no matter chem) = 2 points.
And finally, a quick look to the house as it's looking after a few adjustments and decor (tho, I'm constantly moving/changing a few things as needed)
The dinning room with more, but smaller tables, which works better.
The living areas, with more decor for a homey touch
And now with desks and computers too.
The bedrooms
Two hot tubes outside,
And a final look inside the activities room.
This is the part that will be changing everyday for the activities...
Guess what will they doing first :P
I'll do my best to have the next update soon, but I'm trying to use my time playing as possible and I don't think we'll be having any polls either, or at least not soon anyways. So far the points are very clear (tho very unexpected at time too, tbh), but maybe the selections will get tougher over time.
Cheers!! :)