I realize you are an artist while some of us think in terms programming and things like code, and a whole bunch of other variables and factors in between, but there is some common ground here. Reminds me of a quote on a tee shirt I once shared with our lead developer back at NRaas.
"Document my code? Why do you think they call it 'code'?"
Some of the best things that exist or we have created ourselves in this world didn't require structured planning. They just happened.
I used them just one or two times at the beginning of my building experience in the game. But at that time I was a complete newbie at building and at playing computer games.
At that time building was very hard for me, I didn´t know how to re-color things, didn´t know anything about cheats and I despaired of my Sims, everytime they got stuck somewhere in my buildings, not knowing how I could help them finding out of my traps.
And placing the blueprint was so complicated from my point of view, that I had to build on my own. Mostly 4 walls an a roof and somewhere hidden the bathroom (where my Sims got stuck )
Even though I voted for "Sometimes", I've only used the blueprints once in my game. And that one time that I had used them was when I wanted to place a pool on one of my lots but didn't feel like designing it myself. And then I think afterwards, I had forgotten all about them.
Ok, I know they excist, but I never use them (actually, I would have to figure out how, if I wanted to). My houses are more or less boxes with a roof, mostly decorated with my sims stuff. Not much of a builder...
I've only used a blueprint once but found it very handy when I was always building the same floor plan and can help if you need to build more than one of the same house.
By now you are wondering what I am talking about!
velocitygrass created a mod that allows you to create your own custom blueprints that can be found on Mod The Sims: Blueprint Maker
My answer would be sometimes, but definitely NOT when I'm being lazy. It's more work (and more frustration) to get the various rooms to fit together than it is to build a house myself, and much more time-consuming. But it's kind of fun, when I'm feeling like taking on the challenge. I found that sometimes the only way to make it work is lots of modifications - moving walls, windows and doors, etc.
The largest house I made for Hylewood, a two story, five bedroom plus nursery, three bathroom, log house, was made entirely of blueprints, except for the halls, balcony, and entry etc. I used the log rooms for the kitchen, dining room, living room, master bedroom, and bathrooms, and the miscellaneous blueprints for the art studio/study, the boys' room, the girls' room, the nursery, and two spare bedrooms.
I didn't plan on making it with so many bedrooms, but that's what came of my attempts to fit in what I wanted on the ground floor without modifying the blueprints' size or furnishings and decor, then fitting in whatever fit well on the second floor.
I'd kind of like to try making houses from each of the different sets of room styles, mainly just for the fun of it, but that will have to wait until I have lots of time and actually feel like dealing with the difficulty of fitting the rooms together.
velocitygrass created a mod that allows you to create your own custom blueprints that can be found on Mod The Sims: Blueprint Maker
That would be great! I'm definitely going to get that mod! I have had to completely rebuild some of my houses and community lots from the ground up many times, when I wanted to place one of them in a new town, but on a smaller lot. It would be so much better if I could make blueprints of the rooms. Then I could put them together in no time, except, of course, when I'm copying a house with a foundation and a basement. I don't think there's any shortcut for that process.
Haha @igazor@emorrill , sorry for the confusion and misinterpretation
I must say by the way I have tried them when they were introduced, but for me it’s not exactly helpful. I remember it just meant a lot of time breaking down walls and doors and whatnot before I could start building.
ETA: yes, exactly that @IreneSwift: “It's more work (and more frustration) to get the various rooms to fit together than it is to build a house myself”
I once tried to make an entire building out of the stock blueprints, but I couldn't get the rooms to line up correctly, and always had awkward spaces on the sides that needed to be filled in. I think I was trying to make it into a retirement home for elderly Sims.
Honestly, didn't know they were a thing!!! Sounds awesome and really helpful though. I always have trouble building house and a big part of that is me having trouble with the floor plan. This sounds like it might be a lifesaver!
I better clarify a bit on my vote. I hardly ever build anything at all but one house I made used the blueprints. Otherwise, I use prebuilt houses, or download houses.
I think I would have a difficult time with trying to puzzle/piece various preset rooms together and still create a structure I’d be happy with.
^I'm with you on that. Which is why I only sometimes, actually rarely - that should've been an option, use the Blueprints.
***I know many of us don't consider ourselves Pro's at building or decorating, but...I wanted to add that in to make us all feel good and believe that we ARE Pros at it! In our own ways.
That’s probably the biggest reason I don’t use the blueprint feature, besides having developed my preferred building methods through years of trial and error experience.
I can understand your reasoning about using the word pro. And I’d add that, based on past screenshots shared on this forum, there are a great many simmers here who are very skillful and creative builders and decorators, no matter which word we use.
I just remembered, when I played in IP and had my sim there build resorts, I did use the blueprints for everything. I didn't really feel like actually building, and using each blueprint as a building in itself in most cases, made it very simple. I did have to make a few modifications, but I was very happy to have those blueprints
I'm a pro at building stemming from my TS2 days and have made some advanced builds in Sims 2 which are things others had trouble with.I would use blueprints I create using the blueprint maker and I even use my own buy mode CC a lot.I like to use the blueprint maker tool to make a house in a box for sims to start with instead of building from scratch.I've even had to redo EA builds before using them to fix any routing issues found in the building's design.I even built my own shopping center and build my city hall shells for my towns as a main library and use rabbit hole replacers.
I used them once or twice when I first started building but never now, it’s all organic building for me now. I’d never say I’m a pro at building, I’m okay but have you seen some of the stuff on youtube? They are pros!
There is a blueprint of a pool somewhere that is very pretty, but most of the time I would feel very confined and coerced by a fixed structure, and like the meandering gameplay of building, adding, renovating and placing out each object. I would not hausse my own building skills though.
I forgot those were a thing. I think I pulled them up one time, but they seemed weird to me. Now I can see how they could be useful, but I prefer to just remodel lots, not start from scratch anyway.
@IreneSwift That house out of blueprints is really cool! That's what I meant with getting ideas, I like the log collection, but I haven't tried to put them together.
Comments
"Document my code? Why do you think they call it 'code'?"
Some of the best things that exist or we have created ourselves in this world didn't require structured planning. They just happened.
NRaas has moved!
Our new site is at http://nraas.net
At that time building was very hard for me, I didn´t know how to re-color things, didn´t know anything about cheats and I despaired of my Sims, everytime they got stuck somewhere in my buildings, not knowing how I could help them finding out of my traps.
And placing the blueprint was so complicated from my point of view, that I had to build on my own. Mostly 4 walls an a roof and somewhere hidden the bathroom (where my Sims got stuck
https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/953447/streuner-a-cat-s-tale
http://store.thesims3.com/myWishlist.html?persona=lisasc360
My stories on this site:
https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/991317/my-sims-stories/p1?new=1
My studio: http://www.thesims3.com/mypage/WatrDragon/mystudio
Just assume that every edit I make is because of typos.
By now you are wondering what I am talking about!
velocitygrass created a mod that allows you to create your own custom blueprints that can be found on Mod The Sims:
Blueprint Maker
The largest house I made for Hylewood, a two story, five bedroom plus nursery, three bathroom, log house, was made entirely of blueprints, except for the halls, balcony, and entry etc. I used the log rooms for the kitchen, dining room, living room, master bedroom, and bathrooms, and the miscellaneous blueprints for the art studio/study, the boys' room, the girls' room, the nursery, and two spare bedrooms.
I didn't plan on making it with so many bedrooms, but that's what came of my attempts to fit in what I wanted on the ground floor without modifying the blueprints' size or furnishings and decor, then fitting in whatever fit well on the second floor.
I'd kind of like to try making houses from each of the different sets of room styles, mainly just for the fun of it, but that will have to wait until I have lots of time and actually feel like dealing with the difficulty of fitting the rooms together.
That would be great! I'm definitely going to get that mod! I have had to completely rebuild some of my houses and community lots from the ground up many times, when I wanted to place one of them in a new town, but on a smaller lot. It would be so much better if I could make blueprints of the rooms. Then I could put them together in no time, except, of course, when I'm copying a house with a foundation and a basement. I don't think there's any shortcut for that process.
I must say by the way I have tried them when they were introduced, but for me it’s not exactly helpful. I remember it just meant a lot of time breaking down walls and doors and whatnot before I could start building.
ETA: yes, exactly that @IreneSwift: “It's more work (and more frustration) to get the various rooms to fit together than it is to build a house myself”
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I better clarify a bit on my vote. I hardly ever build anything at all but one house I made used the blueprints. Otherwise, I use prebuilt houses, or download houses.
I think there's a mod out there that lets you create your own on MTS.
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S4 simblr: http://simlogic.tumblr.com/
I can understand your reasoning about using the word pro. And I’d add that, based on past screenshots shared on this forum, there are a great many simmers here who are very skillful and creative builders and decorators, no matter which word we use.
So true. Even things that began with such a plan benefit by accidental inspiration. And often enough, there are positives to be found in “mistakes.”
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I'm always in awe over your builds!
Man, that cracks me up!