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Magic Realm pack if not into magic?
Simmerville
Posts: 11,673 Member
I'm in need of more lots, and I was wondering whether I should get Magic Realm. I like the vibe of the world (have not seen much though), but I'm not intending playing any of the magic stuff. I already do some vampires which is enough in my quite realistic game.
So, my question is - does the MR pack content enough new stuff if not into the magic/witch thing?
Does anyone play the world more realistically, or is there world elements making it too magical for that?
Is there enough Cas/BB items that are not strictly for magical use?
Are there any new features that can (also) be used with realistic play?
So, my question is - does the MR pack content enough new stuff if not into the magic/witch thing?
Does anyone play the world more realistically, or is there world elements making it too magical for that?
Is there enough Cas/BB items that are not strictly for magical use?
Are there any new features that can (also) be used with realistic play?
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Comments
Gameplay is almost exclusively magic. The only thing I can think of for realism is using the cauldron to cook 12 portion of food at once. You don't need to be a spellcaster to cook food in the cauldron and it's perfect for off the grid or historical situations. In the game there are only 3 dishes available with maxed cooking skill but Bienchen has a mod that adds more recipes. The only other magical object that might be useful is a broom as decoration.
Good thing for you (and sad for me) is that spellcasters are nearly noticeable unless you play one actively or visit the magic realm. Spellcasters in other households don't do autonomous magic except occasionally arriving on a broom.
As for the build/buy it is art nouveau. Art nouveau existed in real life so up to you if it fits your visual style. Most of the furniture is normal furniture, to be used by any sim.
I don't know if the clothing suits your style, maybe you can take a look at them in a video or article.
I keep it disabled in my game. Wish I could return the pack. Worst one I ever bought.
You can probably make some realistic sims with CAS, clothes are a good mix of dark clothes, historical clothes and some fantasy themed clothes.
The world is an odd one, it's small, it has a lot of roads with large parking areas (when they released the world I thought that we were going to get a car update) and the bar in the world is programmed so only spellcasters will visit it.
Oh, will it be stuck like that? Can the lot not be recategorized?
but one thing about that world I will say is that is drives me insane as builder (the weird lot placement etc) so builder to builder I might not recommend
you can change all lot types and lots sure but the magic portal and its sounds might also annoy you if you are trying to not be magical there
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I booted up the game and did some testing since I got curious myself, it seems that if you replace the bar with another lot type (like a night club) then other sims will visit, but if it's a bar lot then it will be mostly spellcasters that will visit the bar.
Gameplay is pretty Magic oriented, but the Spellcasters aren’t intrusive. They don’t autonomously cast spells. You may see them come and go on a broom occasionally, but that’s it.
Glimmerbrook and the Magic Realm are some of the most beautiful scenery in the game, in my opinion.
Tales From The Myst
The Blue Moon Jukebox
I recommend Realm of Magic with Cottage Living & Windenburg for Historical gameplay.
World is lovely, small but there’s no neighbourhoods and it’s all one map. It’s a forest with roads and a river running through it. There’s some nice views and a nice background. No real secrets. The lots are quite small - 4 30x20 and one 40x30 which is where the Charms live.
There’s several fishing spots, and lemon trees, sage and mushrooms. There are dig spots and frog logs. Glimmerbrook is fully affected by all seasons. There’s two plants exclusively to realm of magic that you can grow - mandrake and valerian root and these are logged in the collection and you can research them.
You will see the magic portal if you send your sim jogging or if you look for it, but otherwise it’s at the top of a river and it’s not really intrusive. I’m yet to see anyone casting magic.
The NPCs are mostly good quality. Morgyn, L Faba and the Charm family etc are all frequently walking by my house and join fishing. The bar is really nice. You can customise it but it’s a great little local pub and your sims can just walk home from it. I’ve seen non spellcasters from the gallery there. But it does feel ‘local’ and you will see the sages there.
I don’t personally use much CAS/Build buy. It’s all of a good standard - the less packs you have the more likely are to use it. You’ll find some bits you like for sure but you may have better options for a lot of it. Haven’t been in realm itself so won’t comment.
If you intend to actually play in the world I’d say yes. Otherwise it might be a bit of a waste - not much you can do in glimmerbrook you can’t do elsewhere and the lots aren’t the biggest. Gameplay appears to be magic based. I love the world personally though - really nice backdrop with real feel of community.
I personally love the magic and my sims being spellcasters but I dont know of any realism gameplay with this pack. You can brew potions and i dont think you have to be a spellcaster to do that. However, since you're not interested in that part but you have all world packs except this one then I'd recommend getting it while it's on sale. Otherwise if that's not your style and you dont have all the world packs I'd go for a different pack.
Edited... I just went through comments and saw your reply on the worlds. I don't own HSY yet as I'm waiting for a better sale but it would have the most realism as far as worlds go. Otherwise I'd recommend Moonwood Hills. The only thing about it is there are a lot of werewolves walking around so might interfere with your realistic gameplay. But the world and items in it won't. I'm actually not a fan of the Glimmerbrook world. It is the least world I go to other than to get my sims to the portal to become spellcasters. But all the world's in this game are spectacular and beautiful.
Yes, Copperdale seems like a bigger world, but I don't want the gameplay there either, as I already have my own high school system. For Moonwood Hill I would not mind werewolves, as I don't really mind magicians either, but it just gets too much having all vampires, magicians and werevolves in a game that mainly is realistic. I already got vampires and I love that pack.
Seeing there are only 5 small lots in Gimmerbrook I might hold back a while to see if there will be announced a new pack with a world soon. If I like that pack's content, it might be a better option for me right now.
Agree with most of this but have seen sims that I know are not spellcasters walk into the place. My played installation does not go beyond DU, so maybe whatever causes the limitation doesn't exist in my games.
As for the pack itself, I use the CAS and BB a lot, even for non spellcaster households, same goes for the world. It has a nice out in the woods kind of feel. Sort of like Granite Falls but you can live there.