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I dived into mods for the first time. Looking for any recommendations and I have some questions.
60smusicluvr
Posts: 1,982 Member
I always wanted to avoid mods, but this post from April 6 has changed my mind, months after first viewing it. I adore TS3 store content, got into steampunk and was thrilled to have a world dedicated to that sort of theme, but I couldn't really see it, so I only played in the world for a few brief times. 
Yesterday, changed everything. I viewed two videos that showed me how to Install, Remove, & Organize CC and info about .zip, .rar, .sim, and converting files.
Now, armed with the knowledge about it, I could finally download the one thing I just had to have, the one thing that came with one of the games but never came with the game . . .
HINT! It's the unlocked showtime items! Woooo! I don't have to use an exchange lot with the items on it and go through the hiccup of having my sims steal them in order to build stuff anymore! Yeehaw! 
But I also downloaded the recommended mods to brighten up Midnight Hollow.
The terrain paint mod and plant mod do wonders on that world. I think rflong7's Dream Dimension looks stellar. It's got so many beautiful colors in it and I actually prefer that one over her 'Midnight Dream' one, as I think the sky is a little too bright for that particular world. That said, the reds are gorgeous.
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I'm still not looking to go overboard with anything. I don't want any actual CC like skin, makeup, hair, furniture, etc., etc. I'm only about gameplay mods. I prefer a clean game, since I like to upload to the exchange.
There is one mod in particular I'm looking for, since I like to build a lot. I've downloaded some beautiful lots that make use of this mod. I think it allows objects to be placed at any elevation. For example, you could place the toy bears, which would normally be locked to the ground, on a shelf. Or put the decorative pillows from the Generations stuff pack on the bed or windowsill. I just don't know what it's called(?????????????).
There's also another mod out there that keeps the Baker's Bazaar Collection from TS3 store full, so players don't have to restock it all the time(?). I found it! NRaas Cupcake Mod
I know the most recommended mods are overwatch and story progression. I'm leaning towards getting overwatch, since it's supposed to clean up your game and I bet mine could use some cleaning up.
I run all but one expansion pack on a simple laptop that goes barely above the games recs, but it's worked all these years. 
knocks on wood. Story progression I'm a little iffy about, mostly because it seems to change the game dramatically and wouldn't it take up more space, therefore removing the use of overwatch on such a potato laptop? You'll have to convince me on that one . . .
I looked at a few of these and I'm very intrigued.
What do you recommend?
Yesterday, changed everything. I viewed two videos that showed me how to Install, Remove, & Organize CC and info about .zip, .rar, .sim, and converting files.
Now, armed with the knowledge about it, I could finally download the one thing I just had to have, the one thing that came with one of the games but never came with the game . . .
HINT! It's the unlocked showtime items! Woooo! I don't have to use an exchange lot with the items on it and go through the hiccup of having my sims steal them in order to build stuff anymore! Yeehaw! But I also downloaded the recommended mods to brighten up Midnight Hollow.
The terrain paint mod and plant mod do wonders on that world. I think rflong7's Dream Dimension looks stellar. It's got so many beautiful colors in it and I actually prefer that one over her 'Midnight Dream' one, as I think the sky is a little too bright for that particular world. That said, the reds are gorgeous._________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I'm still not looking to go overboard with anything. I don't want any actual CC like skin, makeup, hair, furniture, etc., etc. I'm only about gameplay mods. I prefer a clean game, since I like to upload to the exchange.
There is one mod in particular I'm looking for, since I like to build a lot. I've downloaded some beautiful lots that make use of this mod. I think it allows objects to be placed at any elevation. For example, you could place the toy bears, which would normally be locked to the ground, on a shelf. Or put the decorative pillows from the Generations stuff pack on the bed or windowsill. I just don't know what it's called(?????????????).
There's also another mod out there that keeps the Baker's Bazaar Collection from TS3 store full, so players don't have to restock it all the time(?). I found it! NRaas Cupcake Mod
I know the most recommended mods are overwatch and story progression. I'm leaning towards getting overwatch, since it's supposed to clean up your game and I bet mine could use some cleaning up.
I run all but one expansion pack on a simple laptop that goes barely above the games recs, but it's worked all these years. knocks on wood. Story progression I'm a little iffy about, mostly because it seems to change the game dramatically and wouldn't it take up more space, therefore removing the use of overwatch on such a potato laptop? You'll have to convince me on that one . . .I looked at a few of these and I'm very intrigued.
What do you recommend?
Post edited by 60smusicluvr on
2
Comments
Story progression does have lots of features, such as you can give the kids the summer off from school, set curfew days.etc.I love it, but certainly don't install it if you don't think your laptop can take it.=)
I would recommend the following:
Shimrod's townies out on the town- It pushes more townies, NPCS and service sims to visit the community lots.I can't play my game without it, one of my favorites: http://simsasylum.com/tfm/index.php?/topic/2780-townies-out-on-the-town/ You have to register for an account though I think.
And then
Bluejitsu's More Autonmous Romance- This one I chose "up to proposal of marriage" which makes it so inactives from other households "can" propose to you, or ask you to go steady etc.First time it worked it really caught me off guard, went to send my sims to go eat at diner as soon as he got there, he proposed to her on his own.
http://simsasylum.com/tfm/index.php?/topic/562-more-romantic-autonomy-for-your-sims-requires-certain-eps-for-some-interactionsobjects-update-6-9-15/
https://graceymanorsims3.tumblr.com/
NRaas has moved!
Our new site is at http://nraas.net
Story Progression is big but beautiful at the same time, it is just so helpful at keeping your town alive. But if you're not sure about it, take your time. There's no deadline, right?
Edit:
Oh and btw, I only ever figured out how to install mods by watching YouTube videos too. Once I could see it done I was able to do it.
But did you hear they are closing, bet nobody told you
NRaas has moved!
Our new site is at http://nraas.net
Oh, that would definitely be helpful! Thank you!
Ha!
Hmm. I don't think I've heard of Simlogical or Simasylum before. I'll have to give these a look see.
Yeah, I think I'll definitely do overwatch and wait on the story progression. I do have one saved game that I was switching from townie to townie and another where the family will be split, soon, but I have stories to tell with each family member, you know, mostly trying to advance in their careers. I'm afraid if I get it, my sims will autonomously quit their jobs or do things I don't want them to. I'm wondering if there is a way to opt out of story progression with certain sims or families, so I can play them the way I want to.
Hee! I was on the site, beforehand, and almost thought the entire site was closing down. I was thinking for a second what a great thing it was to get into mods in this exact moment, before it goes poof!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Showcase
NRaas: Story Progression FAQ
NRaas: Story Progression Interactions
NRaas: Story Progression Rotational Caste Settings suggestions for those who play householdsin a rotation
S3 simblr: http://simplysimming.tumblr.com/
S4 simblr: http://simlogic.tumblr.com/
ErrorTrap captures ("traps") errors thrown by the game or other mods that can damage the game or cause it to crash otherwise and reports on them by way of script logs that can then be read or sent up to us at NRaas for help in interpreting them. It also removes data from our games that pertain to sims, copies of sims, objects, etc. that are already so far corrupted that they would never be usable anymore or are really data that belongs in a foreign world that somehow got copied into the current one, and it performs general data trash collection at least a few times each game session to keep our save files free from such debris.
The two mods do not conflict and are designed to be used together.
Simlogical was founded by Peter and Inge Jones, arguably the grandparents of all TS3 modding (and that of the other sims games as well) that followed. They also made the tools so many of us rely on to edit and work with game and package based files. A small number of things there from other developers are now outdated, but much of it is still very useful and valuable.
The Asylum is a very different place but also the home to a lot of very useful mods.
Just to clarify for those reading this now in case this is necessary, NRaas is not shutting down but our landlord is. We are moving (see my signature block for details), the new site should be up and running by October. We will be at Wikispaces through our eviction date on Sept. 30.
NRaas has moved!
Our new site is at http://nraas.net
Errortap and Overwatch. If your computer can handle it Story Progression is pretty fun and useful too . Some other good ones are tempest which allows you to control the weather, Traveler if you enjoy World Adventures ( this also makes any town you have installed a possible vacation destination) and Returner to deal with annoying objects like the Imaginary Friend Dolls.
Link
I installed Overwatch to get started.
Showcase
Just to mention the mods that made TS3 playable to me - Overwatch and Mastercontroller. All Twallan's mods are fantastic and the guys at Nraas are doing a good job continuing in his footsteps - and beyond!!!
I've got a ton of mods already, but never heard of these. They both sound great, thanks for the rec!
Not sure if it was the game world or something else, but last time I used errortrap I was running into problems, although that could have also been because hubby's poor little pc was Not meant to run games let alone sims.
I can't recall where I found it but I also have a mod that fixes all of the in game fountain animations. The one other mod currently installed is the one to help fix missing stencils, and allows for removing stencils.
I'm getting ready for to leave for work in a bit, so it might be Monday or Tuesday before I can come back with links.
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NRaas has moved!
Our new site is at http://nraas.net
It's always good to start with a few first and see how that goes and then read up on the mods that they offer and see if they're beneficial or interesting to you. You may find the amount of settings overwhelming but it's all well-documented on the NRaas Wikispaces website.
Currently trying to pick up The Sims 3 again
You can find me lurking around The Sims 3 board, feel free to say hi!
Oh, both those sound wonderful. The water fountains was actually something that I was considering.
I downloaded a lot from the exchange from Ciane with MrHawk's found stencils and have saved them. I wonder if there's more not included?
Hmm. What do they do?
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