I think a similar thread was started and became outdated. I pretty much spend all my time playing as merfolk in my game, and I've created quite a few mersims while I was at it. I share their story in other threads, but I thought I would share them here. These are the current merfolk as they appear in my game right now, and I may not have them updated in the Gallery if it's down. I generally share the merfolk I share here in the gallery.
Also, I think it would be cool to share any merfolk themed builds here too. I've been experimenting with some things to find what is functional using pools. When I get things figured out, I'll share some of the builds I create for my merfolk.
I split my merfolk designs into two groups: Pure-Blood Merfolk and Half-Blood Merfolk.
Pure-Blood Merfolk have hair in unusual colors, sea green eyes, and pointed ears. Their design involve less clothing because the idea behind their design is that they don't prefer to spend time on land, and they are supposed to look out of place among human sims. If the game had an underwater world for them, that's where they would spend most of their time. It makes having all the human stuff pointless if it's not what you wear in your merform. All pure-blood merfolk use tattoos on their legs to help them take the appearance of a human form. The illusion is so realistic that they can walk on land and look like they have human legs. The illusion fades and reveals their tail when they enter water. The experience of having legs is uncomfortable to say the least.
Half-Blood merfolk retain normal human hair color, their original eye color, and they don't have pointed ears. They wear clothes that help them blend in more with human society. Half-bloods are either naturally born humans that eat mermadic kelp, or one of their parents is a human while the other is a merperson, either half-blood or pure-blood.
For both Pure-Blood and Half-Blood merfolk, the feeling of having a tail never leaves them. For the pure-bloods, this makes walking around with legs feel even more unnatural. All merfolk regardless of gender wear a skirt. The clothing type is the only one that would be functional if they had a tail all the time.
I'll start by sharing my two main sims. These two mermen are the Elemental Twin Mermen, and even if the game doesn't load them as twins they were born in game as twins. I've gone back and forth between giving them a complete outfit and an outfit that is shirtless. I decided to go with a very simple design, and now, all of their outfits are virtually the same as their swimwear. My idea for these two is that they are pure-blood mermen that are most at home in the water and the most out of place on land among humans. They are sims that should appear more often swimming in the ocean, and honestly, what's the point in wearing or owning a shirt if you spend most of your time in the water. They don't need a bunch of heavy clothing slowing them down while they swim.
On the other side of things, this should make it easier for people to include them in their game and pick the outfits they think will work in their worlds.
Dylan and Zephyr are Identical Twins, at least that's the intended design. Dylan is artistic and creative while his brother is a genius and very handy with tools. Both of these twins have in origin that strongly connects them to the islands. Their mother is a former Island Elemental, and their father is a naturally born merman. Their mother was a child of the sea, and their father turned her into a mermaid for a time. The twins were conceived in the waterfall on Mua Pel'Am and raised by mythical beings. They never had a ton of contact with humans and are children of the sea. They posses many abilities including mermadic and elemental powers. Their voices are capable of singing melodies perfectly. Dylan can capture any emotion in his art and aspires to be a musical genius. Zephyr can bring out the full potential of any technology and aspires to learn everything the worlds has to offer.
Their development is still in progress, and I would expect updates as I complete aspirations and acquire new traits.
Dylan and Zephyr
Dylan of the Sea (The Creative)
Zephyr of the Sky (The Genius)
Dylan and Zephyr's father is another Pure-blood merman. He's both a denizen of the sea and has an ancient lineage with a connection to the islands. Calum Zalrian summoned Island Elementals and received judgement from them. Arihi was an Island Elemental Calum grew closest too. They quickly fell in love, got married, and had the twins. Calum and Arihi placed all their power into the Twins in the hopes that they would always maintain the balance of the Islands and keep the peace between the land and sea. Calum had one skill he held onto and that was the ability to capture the essence of life in a book. He used that power to ensure that his sons would have a way back to life should their power attract the wrong attention.
Calum Zalrian (The Island Poet)
The Darkfins
I will likely update them with new traits in the future.
The Darkfin Siblings were punished by the Island Elementals and banished to the dry deserts of Oasis Springs. They are all evil and mean with their own unique negative trait. Despite their pure-blood, their curse from the elementals changed their eye color to grey and marked their faces with scars. Their scars also allow them to take a human form and hide the cursed mark. The Darkfins are deceptively friendly-looking, and they used their looks to deceive and manipulate their prey.
The Darkfins have clothes from their time as merfolk in the sea and their time during banishment when they were forced to blend in with humans. The only merfolk they fear enough to leave the islands for good are Dylan and Zephyr.
Volcana Darkfin (The Child-Hater)(The Eldest Sister)
Quote from Volcana: "I enjoy the tears of children when I break their doll house."
Flaira Darkfin (The Spoiled-Hot-Head)(The Middle Sister)
Quote from Flaira Darkfin: "I always get my way."
Sara Darkfin (The Klepto-Princess)(The Youngest Sister)
Sara Darkfin: "Look at your stuff, isn't it neat. Now my collection is complete."
Nyx Darkfin (The Snobish-Prince)(The Youngest Brother)
Quote from Nyx Darkfin: "My Pardon, I thought you were the staff."
Freddy Darkfin (The Slob)(The Middle Brother)
Quote from Freddy Darkfin: "Shopping carts are obviously not trash cans, but I use them like they are."
Archer Darkfin (Jealous Spy)(The Eldest Brother)
Quote from Archer Darkfin: "I swear. That bug wasn't mine."
Comments
Makoa Kealoha
7250AC34-0620-41A1-B15A-BBA55480D62C by Metior Ice, on Flickr
[img][/img]1098A77D-EA6B-4A5A-B5C1-184288944FD3 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
[img][/img]E699B26C-D36E-4348-B759-4EB52511F23B by Metior Ice, on Flickr
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The Kailani Legacy
Reef Kailani is the Founder of this Legacy. The Kailani Family once had an ancient connection to both the Islands and the Sea. Their family was a mix of humans and merfolk. As time passed, members of the family left the Islands and slowly lost their connection to their origins. Those with merfolk blood and a connection to the island vanished from the family. Reef is the last member of the family with a connection to the sea and the ability to interact with Sulani's Spiritual Energy. He and his heirs are the only one with the potential to free Dylan and Zephyr from their spirit prisons and bring them back to life. Reef is unaware of Damion, the one who murdered the twins to control their power, when he returns to the island.
Reef Kailani (The Founder)(The Collector)
He became a merman after living on the island for a while. This is him as a young adult, but in the game, he's well on his way to becoming an Elder. You could say that this is what Reef would have looked like if he lived on the Islands his whole life.
[img][/img]936CEDC1-51ED-4105-BD45-98E73553C74F by Metior Ice, on Flickr
[img][/img]21419AC5-B615-472E-9729-9738004FF005 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
3FD40F26-8196-46F7-AD7B-E1DA6FCFE717 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
Kylen Kailani (The 1st Heir)(The Musical Genius)
Unfortunately, Children don't have a Merform. They dress to blend in more with humans, and this is likely a product of their human mother and former human father.
[img][/img]D9F846D3-36AF-44E8-9B4D-51154755F97E by Metior Ice, on Flickr
[img][/img]AED83125-940C-46BA-9C0F-A2622B788EBC by Metior Ice, on Flickr
Rylan Kailani (The 1st Spare)(The Intellectual)
Again, Children don't have a merform, but the design is an anticipation of getting a merform as teens. I'm also imagining that they do have merform and making my design around that.
[img][/img]FC14E7F3-F9C2-4D07-8C9E-94068E7028DC by Metior Ice, on Flickr
[img][/img]6BCB667A-0CB0-4B38-9544-5675D51ED3A7 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
Developing these sims took a lot of time. As for my main sims, even though they had plenty of normal outfits to wear, they would autonomously change into their swimwear and run to the nearest spot to swim if there was one available. I gave up fighting with them, and I just simplified all their outfits.
Sea may rise, sky may fall, My love will never die..
My heart, my heart, My drowning heart, Oh all the tears I've cried
Oh I may weep forevermore, My love will never die..
They had a traditional island wedding, on the restored Mua Pel'am:
I honestly would have to load the old save to recall the name of my tester Sim, but I do recall that he and Kai were very happy together.
Normal form after slight makeover:
Mermaid form:
With George:
Using her powers on litterers:
George doing her laundry:
Here are some of mine:
On my blog (German) you'll find two completed vampire stories 🦇 and an ongoing ghost story 👻.
I'm also posting about my I'm surrounded by idi🤪ts! - challenge, in which I've now reached gen 9.
Thanks for stopping by! 👋
Elder Reef
[img][/img]1625EC55-E74F-4CBB-BB4E-EE1114BD1122 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
Merboy Kylen (Teen)
[img][/img]CFCC7B98-72E5-4A33-BBE8-54C5B4EB6759 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
[img][/img]7C4061E7-E246-4EE6-BCCA-F406DFCBDDBC by Metior Ice, on Flickr
[img][/img]61C99D2F-38DE-45FF-94AC-591C949A33DB by Metior Ice, on Flickr
[img][/img]331D4425-78F8-4D74-98B6-11B9158A681F by Metior Ice, on Flickr
Merboy Rylan (Teen)
CFC30AB9-8EB2-41A8-83AE-4BF7A2BE9DA2 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
76D07925-0233-413E-835F-8F65305533A4 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
92166263-033C-4B4B-94D1-31BEF7529345 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
0C4B9B84-CF94-4C53-AA3D-71DB9A6DF3CB by Metior Ice, on Flickr
(I recommend posting maybe one picture of each character, then put the rest in "Spoiler" to condense your post when making such a large post. Makes it easier to scroll through.)
I recently, (well about a month or more ago since I haven't had much playing time lately), created a male merfolk sim that I was going to upload to the gallery. The story-line, that I had already played in-game a bit is that he is being "chased" by a non-merfolk female 'pirate' character.
Either way though the mermaid sim is active, non-committal and romantic and has had quite a few brief 'romantic relationships' with sims already. (male and female). I thought it would be interesting having a sailor-woman chasing a male mermaid. And he doesn't stick to the sea and beaches, he runs around the cities in disguise also.
Merfolk have lots of story telling potential. Because they are half-human, their stories can include all the elements with human characters, but their half-fish form allows their story to take place underwater.
Mermen, unlike mermaids, are regularly depicted with the ability to shapeshift. In some stories Mermen can take a human or water-horse (or normal horse appearance but races into the water and drowns the rider) form at will. Horses are said to be born from the ocean in greek mythology. This is just one gender difference that gets lost when merfolk gender gets ignored and mermen are called mermaids.
Here is land-walker form:
[img][/img]
Her is mermaid form:
[img][/img]
My Plumbob is GREEN today
The cheat:
Traits.Equip_Trait Trait_OccultMermaid_MermaidForm
Allows merfolk to move around on land in their merform. I've used this cheat to see what things merfolk normally can't do in their merform would look like on land. The idea being: If they created an underwater residential lot for merfolk, what would merfolk be able to do in their merform while in their underwater home?
Some of what I've seen has been very interesting, and I share it in the other thread in my signiture.
However, I did get one interaction I liked too much not to show off here. The thought bubbles from my merboy twin while I had him dance in merform was on point. Considering the name of the dance move, it was even funnier because he didn't struggle with any other dance move.
The MerStyle Jimmy Leg Failure
Be Like the Squid. Be Like the Octopus.
04c6ee30-ffde-11ea-85ca-027ec55895e0 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
@Metior_Ice Instead of posting it all again here, check out my thread I made awhile ago. Don't forget to expand the 'spoilers'
https://forums.thesims.com/en_us/discussion/971076/admiral-8q
So I adopted Kalamainu'u Iona, Sulani's most dangerous siren, as one of my main sims. Her unique appearance and insanely abrasive way of interacting with other sims makes her such a fun character. A few people have fought their way through her harsh exterior and find her a eccentric conversationalist full of mischief and spiteful humor. When she hunts, there are no friends..and even the strongest swimmers would be wise to get out of the water when she's around.
Banora
Sharkbite
Kai
Jessie
Cerulean
Marin
Auryn
Merman Kylen Kailani (Human Form)
8A5C5940-7E3C-438D-A5EE-5A007350B5B4 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
00464D56-9188-4349-8E83-EA141EC2C5BC by Metior Ice, on Flickr
Merman Rylan Kailani (Human Form)
83E5E3CE-CA33-4B2A-9AA1-A524076354A4 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
C3171D51-175B-4E4D-A92F-7116C3D657B7 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
Elder Mermaid Sara Kailani
3618FAC7-305B-45A5-9295-FA0CA816F66D by Metior Ice, on Flickr
23134428-CF04-4B8C-8A7E-90523B7EEF6D by Metior Ice, on Flickr
Mermaids are much easier to customize. Mermen are limited by the variety of clothing that would be functional in the water and with a tail. I give all merfolk a Tattoo on one of their legs. This tattoo has the magical properties that allows them to take a human form.
I use tattoos, necklaces, and bracelets to create variety for the mermen. The only two tops that are functional in the water are Island Living's Rash Guard and the Netting. Most of the mermen, as a result are shirtless with less noticeable differences in how they look.
This is how she looks when she transforms into full mermaid.
She fell in love with Ukupanpio Hekekia.
They got married and brought this little cutie into the world.
The general story is:
Reef Kailani was the last of his bloodline. His ancient and very distant ancestors possessed a strong connection to Sulani's Spiritual Energy. Reef rediscovered this power and released Zephyr's Spirit from its prison. After becoming a merman, Reef returned Zephyr to his home. Through his actions, Reef ended the endless fighting that splintered Sulani's Spiritual Unity. During all this Reef met and fell in love with Sara. They had twin merboys that would continue the legacy.
In thanks for everything that he and Sara did for the islands, the Island Spirits restored their youth and gave them eternal life, so that they could live to see Sulani restored.
Reef Kailani:
Job: Conservationist Enthusiast
Life Aspiration: Become a Curator for a Museum in Sulani.
Occult Traits:
Sulani Mana: (marker for a potential heir to the legacy and abilities will not be used during the legacy)
Merman: Has a merman form that allowed him to enter the Island Elemental Temple and return Zephyr's Spirit to his home. The Island Elemental Temple has lower chambers that are flooded. Sims that aren't adept swimmers risk drowning when entering the temple. Most of the Elemental Temple is flooded and only merfolk can truly make the most of living in that environment. It has few places where a merperson will take human form.
Does not use any other mermadic powers other than his immunity to drowning.
Traits: Collector, Appraiser, Self-Assured, Clumsy, and Child of the Ocean, Plus Satisfaction Reward Traits
153B8041-E9DF-4BD6-9BDE-15CFBB8F4946 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
A9D99C4F-6778-4565-8925-B2307043FB74 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
9CC19205-0FE2-4C26-B7A1-1162930E603F by Metior Ice, on Flickr
Sara Kailani:
Job: Marine Biologist
Sara pursued a career in Marine Biology after becoming a mermaid.
Life Aspiration: Make the world a greener place. Lift the unnatural fog plaguing the island skies.
Occult Trait:
Mermaid: Uses the ability to take a mermaid's form. Does not use any other abilities other than the abilities that come with the physical form.
Traits: Muser, Music Lover, Outdoors Lover, Green Fiend, Plus Satisfaction Reward Traits
DA771EEA-EBE1-4F29-9AC8-CA00E6BD8875 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
4A37F28F-AAF1-42BE-B63B-4B674F1D09F1 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
E06E95B6-0AB4-42EB-9024-60677BDFBF90 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
Working background info:
Kylen Kailani: A twin merman and creatively gifted. His dad brought to his attention what the legacy would deal with. Reef passed on stories and knowledge Dylan and Zephyr's spirits shared with him. Kylen truly understood the shadow looming over Sulani when the monster responsible for the state of the islands rampaged through the Kailani home and fed on everyone's plasma. Fortunately, the vampire left them alive, preferring to satisfy his thirst for blood over stopping them from successfully freeing Dylan and Zephyr's Spirits. Unlike his father, Kylen and Rylan are heavily immersed in the more magical and spiritual elements of sulani. Their attire reflects their preference for their merform. Kylen and Rylan have also begun to tap into their mermadic powers. While reef took advantage of the physical abilities of a merform, Kylen and Rylan use mermadic magic like controlling the weather and summoning creatures from the deep.
Reef showed Kylen where Dylan's Urn could be found. Much like how Reef needed to become a Curator and Complete the Collection of Shells to retrieve Zephyr's Urn. Kylen needs to become a Musical Genius and win a Karaoke Competition to retrieve Dylan's Urn.
Kylen Kailani was the first of the twins, and the current heir. If something happens to Kylen, Rylen has the marker trait to carry the legacy.
Kylen's Base Traits: Muser, Piper, Lazy, Goofball, Dance Machine, Emotional Control, Responsible, Good Manners
Occult Traits:
Sulani Mana: (Legacy Marker Trait)
Half-Merman: A half-blood born from two human sims turned into merfolk. At the time of conception, Reef was a merman and Sara was human.
Jobs:
Former Life Guard
Currently: Entertainer
E80F7D3E-ADAA-4318-8B35-17745036909E by Metior Ice, on Flickr
8905F7CD-2E8A-47AA-A949-BEBB924EA523 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
181A4339-28BB-461C-B506-557918E88B06 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
Rylan's Base Traits: Quick Learner, Genius, Goofball, Self-Assured, Emotional Control, Responsible
Occult Traits:
Sulani Mana: (Legacy Marker Trait)
Half-Merman: A half-blood born from two human sims turned into merfolk. At the time of conception, Reef was a merman and Sara was human.
Jobs:
Former Life Guard
Currently: Painter
C5E3C38F-5713-483A-B3BB-B8802B657BE8 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
EE306D5B-967A-4385-9FDC-ED0055D95A2D by Metior Ice, on Flickr
CEE9CFCE-DF21-434B-8C26-7A97C5F4D57F by Metior Ice, on Flickr
In a way, things have been playing out nicely with this legacy. The Neighborhoods occasionally tip into an industrial state, but they have been in flux ever since Reef was successful. Considering that Zephyr represents the sky and the skies have stayed in a neutral state longer thanks to in game activities, I think the details align nicely. Dylan represents the sea, so it makes sense that the legacy twins are using more ocean magic and spending more time connecting with the ocean and spending more time in their merform. I share more of the story in another thread for serial stories.
The only thing that I'll find challenging is the incompatibility of the lot build with toddlers. I may need to design a completely separate section of the house for toddlers because toddlers and children. The main house is quite literally an intricately designed pool, and the lack of a merform and risk of drowning would force a separate build for the merkids until they become teens. I find that incredibly annoying that the toddlers and children will be separated from the parents because of something as small as not having a merform. Oh, well.
(Human turned Mermaid)
(Rylan Kailani's Wife)
A952B0B2-AB56-40B5-8BC0-9DC25998A306 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
4E405636-E038-40AF-9962-3615B25E34C5 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
4ED7B7E3-76DB-4199-96C7-8D792EEC2B71 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
Kylen Kailani
(Born half-merman)
(Aaron Kailani's Husband)
Aaron Kailani
(Human turned Merman)
(Kylen Kailani's Husband)
89D2B649-A44E-463B-B7D3-D75ECEB597FC by Metior Ice, on Flickr
A094851F-0EF2-45D5-A40D-248C03E5FA52 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
Aaron Kailani: Kylen's Husband
FA35A553-14A7-4B9A-9447-FD078C0F7244 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
4F3F3F6D-87C9-4BED-B10B-7AC34E0B3473 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
The 1st Spare: Rylan Kailani
6D419CE2-FAFE-4E5F-854C-74CB4559BFC8 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
D069DCEA-EDFE-4F4E-A73D-9A4F8151EF04 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
Ashley Kailani: Rylan's Wife
0198142C-9B29-482F-A947-7B3EC3C1E9B7 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
B2190A4F-CFD2-44DC-9C46-42462670F582 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
Lir Kailani: The 2nd Heir
6D419CE2-FAFE-4E5F-854C-74CB4559BFC8 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
A27D0FF6-D5E4-4A43-AF12-8CC0E5E517A2 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
Loch Kailani: The 2nd Spare
9D63804B-9895-4449-9DB1-E8385D2E932A by Metior Ice, on Flickr
211EEF14-0A5A-45A2-A49B-5C9989905461 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
Cole Kailani: The Cousin
EA968B51-8D46-48A5-8F5F-86FB42767EF2 by Metior Ice, on Flickr
A63ABE9B-52DF-4D93-9A37-B83920A6C01B by Metior Ice, on Flickr