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Sims 3 Essentials
TheDarkRose
Posts: 230 Member
I want to make a YouTube video about which packs are essential when getting into the game along with some tips. Kind of a sims 3 starter pack. Anyway, i thought a best way to do the packs part is to ask what other people would say are the essentials and why and all that. Get a range of opinions. So this is where I need help. Which expansions and stuff packs would you say are essential and why?
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I'd also say Pets because literally everybody I know has pet/s. A house is not a home without a pet
After that it is hard because there are so many ways to play this game that effect which EPs and SPs are essential. What the initial household's age(s) are and what life span and age cycle lengths are used also effects how people play their game and determines which EPs are essential.
I like to have my sims acquire skills, acquaintances and lifetime happiness points by traveling since I play on a "normal" life span so World Adventures and/or University Life are essential to me.
I like self employed professions so Ambitions is essential to me.
I like household members jamming together and going out to bars and vampires so Late Night is essential to me.
If I Iiked to play a lot of supernaturals then Supernatural would be essential to me. Even though I don't like to play that many kinds of supernaturals in one game I wouldn't do without the Supernatural EP.
When I want to play horses and/or ranches and/or farms then Pets is necessary.
When I want to play beach/island life, diving and boating then Island Paradise is necessary.
Even when I concentrate on family life I don't find Generations necessary while others do. And it is nice to have.
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I finally bought all the expansion packs yet could live without University and Showtime. I mean, I'm glad I have them but in no way find them essential.
I'd also have added generations but only if it didn't have so many annoying actions such as pillow fights for adults and creepy imaginary friends, so it's supposed to be essential but I personally have mixed feelings about this EP. It's just my personal opinion of course.
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Also world adventures, Sims need a break from work sometimes don't they?!
And late night, i like my sims going out and partying, plus the apartments and it's nice to have an option of a City instead of towns all the time.
I think i'd have to include University Life too, i adored all the clothes that came in that one, plus i love the option of my Sims getting a degree, i never let my sims become a doctor before they've been to university for example. Also the social groups are fun.
....i would have included Island Paradise, as it is actually my favourite sim EP ever, if it weren't for all the problems that come with it.
Like @Candyd i too have mixed feelings about Generations, I love the added schools and some other features but I don't always want my Sims to have an imaginary friend, they were fun the first time but when every child has one it gets too much of the same in my opinion
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It was so hard to limit myself to answering this question with just 4, but they're the one's i'd never uninstall
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But from being self employed,the professions and Twinbrook to kiddies in strollers and driving lessons, prom and not forgetting Daycare, those are the 2 I'd never uninstall.
Late Night and Supernatural really flesh out the game too, in fact for me they're pretty essential too.
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I would probably go with Generations and Ambitions as "essential." They add a lot of little things to the game which really fill it out. Late Night is probably the next most "essential" EP to me due to the bars and clubs it brings to the open world experience.
If you have the computer specs, then yes, I'd say Seasons is right up there too on the "essential' list.
All the other EPs seem to me to be fairly focused on different types of gameplay and would not all appeal to everyone.
As for EA/ Maxis stuff, I agree that Seasons is one of the best EPs available. I would list Generations as a 'Must Have', too - most of the content *should* have been in the base game, but since it wasn't, get Generations to fully flesh out all ages. Frankly, the directed play of World Adventures and Ambitions really turned me off - I actually stopped playing TS3 for a while because of them (I am a proud sand-box-style player). Late Night adds some much needed activities for community lots, and it has Bridgeport, the only 'City' neighborhood - but celebrities and vampires were completely broken, so you must update the game with later patches to make that EP playable. I loved Island Paradise because of the houseboats, etc., but I wouldn't call it a necessity. University, Pets and Showtime are the same - great if you like those features, but not necessary to have a fun game (I thought TS2's University was much better than TS3's). I still haven't bothered to buy "Into The Future", it just doesn't appeal to me - I would have preferred an "into The Past" EP instead.
Which leaves Supernatural - this is actually a great EP, even if you aren't into vampires, werewolves, witches or faeries. It has some amazing objects and the furniture styles are really attractive. Not a 'Must Have', but I highly recommend it anyway.
As for the Stuff Packs - none of them are necessary to enjoy the game. If you are going to get them, buy them on sale or through eBay because they are overpriced and really lack content. That said, I do have three: "Town Life Stuff" (which I got as a free give away), "Master Suite Stuff" and "Fast Lane Stuff" - Master Suite probably has the best objects, but Fast Lane adds some nice new cars.
Instead of Stuff Packs, I would recommend getting things from the Store. If you like Supernatural you really have to get Midnight Hollow - it is much better than Moonlight Falls. Monte Vista, Dragon Valley and Roaring Heights are all well designed and really attractive, too. You can buy some of them online, others are only available through the Store (get free Sim Points by watching Ads or just beg for gifts on the boards). Riverview, of course, is free - and it has some really great houses.
As for Premium Content - Grandma's Canning Station is my personal favorite, with the Wood-fired Oven and the Multitab 6000 coming in a very close second place (they are tied). The Savvy Seller's Set and the Industrial Oven are sad attempts to make open businesses and restaurants - if you get them (and I do NOT recommend that you do), get the appropriate NRAAS Mods so that they actually work as promised. The Dragons are fun, and the walker and playpen are useful, but the rest of the Premium Content is just 'meh' in my opinion.
And then there are the sets - these are great for filling out and diversifying your decorating options - but only if you are using points to get them. And if you pick up one of the neighborhoods, the associated decorating sets are really nice to have.