Resources and Recommendations
Ah, I remember being completely new to custom sims content and my saving grace was when people posted their resource lists. Also, sometimes people ask and I have no clue, so it's a list for myself as well. In hopes to help others in the same conundrum, here are my resources!
Note: This is not a completely comprehensive list. This is specifically what I use and what I think is the "creme de le creme" of the sims community. Anything you get from here will be great quality!
Default Face Templates:
Regular Sims: Pooklet's Legacy face templates
Multi PT (alien): BrilliantCat's Alienpalooza
Skin Defaults:*
Regular Sims: Selzi's Buffybot-Oepu Blended Skintones
Zombies: Enalaya's 'Undead'
Alien: Nett's Uranium P32 Space Modulator: Alien Skintone Blend
Plantsim: Fantasyrouge's Canvas Set
Werewolf: Fantasyrouge's Canvas Set
Vampire: RenSim's Dumas Vampire Tone (site currently down)
NPCs: Pooklet's Less Pop Concert, More Butchery freckled skins (I didn't do this on purpose, I think I used Wardrobe Wrangler and only defaulted these skins but then I realized WHY NOT have all freckly NPCs??)
*For a comprehensive list of almost all supernatural skins options, check out Nett's entry on WCIF Sims 2.
Eye Defaults:
Regular Sims: Nett's Eyeball Edit: Yumedust's Eyelove on Anva's V1 Legacy Sclera
Alien: Bruno's Pearl Default Eyes
Best General Download Sites:
MTS2
wella_creations
GOS
Hair (meshes):
Peggy/Raonjena/Newsea/XMSims
For pay items go to The Booty
Hair (recolors):
I could list dozens of individual creators who do a great job recoloring/retexturing but your most comprehensive resources are:
wella_creations
Rissa styles
Clothing :
jesstheex @LJ
needlecream @LJ
migamoo @MTS2
alovingdiva @MTS2
sentate @MTS2
ghanima_atreides @dreamwidth
java_creations @LJ
dustinger @MTS2
Sim Stories:
Want to see simmies in action? These guys do it the best:
Who: simtasia (aka naughtydolphin)
What: Dear Diary, Erinsborough Bay, Better Get to Livin' (really any of them).
Why: The frequent updates, "soap opera" style circustances, and character development make her stories a great read.
Who: The McTavishams
What: The McTavishams
Why: The quintessential sim romance story, the McTavishams is extremely passionate (don't let the chilluns read this one!) The author includes the perfect amount of suspense to keep readers addicted to this "Romeo and Juliet" style romance.
Who: Simptopi
What: Simtopi
Why: A better question is why not read this? Although the story is fantastical in nature, the author keeps the story authentic by utilizing a maxis-match aesthetic and keeping the supernatural aspects true to the original Sims 2 game. The author weaves together storylines with such suspense and mastery that you'll forget it's not a professionally published series.