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New Challenger: Chris Harper - Hidden Springs
BlackSand
Posts: 2,074 Member
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112 Day Challenge
Challenger:
Chris Harper
Traits:
Loves the Outdoors
Green Thumb
Angler
Friendly
Clumsy
Lifetime Wish:
Surrounded by Family
Chris is coming from a large farming family in Appaloosa Plains.
Accustomed to hard work, having fun and generally being friendly, he is expected to do well in the Challenge.
New to the city and the region, it still may take him some time to adjust.
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112 Day Challenge
Challenger:
Chris Harper
Traits:
Loves the Outdoors
Green Thumb
Angler
Friendly
Clumsy
Lifetime Wish:
Surrounded by Family
Chris is coming from a large farming family in Appaloosa Plains.
Accustomed to hard work, having fun and generally being friendly, he is expected to do well in the Challenge.
New to the city and the region, it still may take him some time to adjust.
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I eat pickles on my hamburgers ... MWWAHAHAHAHA
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Comments
Was expecting you to do (another) one of these
@PalmArrow and @Tamijo ... Thanks for popping in.
I decided to do another Challenge to add some more Sims to my bin and because @texansky had started one.
I have done more than a few because I like the results, and the first few someone does can be difficult.
Players don't need to do exactly what I do, because your Sims and your game are exactly that ... Yours ...
But ... I can share and show you how things can go, and offer ideas on how to help things run smoothly.
I finished Chris' first 7 days yesterday and will post an update shortly.
In the update I will explain how I both hit Challenge goals and respected the general idea of the Sim himself.
I am not trying to make cookie cutter versions of the same Sim.
Thanks again for stopping by ... I hope I offer ideas to others that want to give it a try.
Happy Simming ... Have A Lovely Day ...
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Chris had a very successful first week drawing on his strengths from back home.
Being raised on a farm in Appaloosa Plains, he took to gardening rather quickly ... And the desire to eat made fishing a must.
The first two days he wandered around gathering seeds, made friends with Nicholas Riverhawk ...
And was able to harvest a few vegetables from his Nicholas' garden.
Chris also picked up a few gems while wandering around and cut them at the community Elixir Shop before consigning them.
With the proceeds from the consignment shop, Chris went into town ... And invested in both the Grocery Store and Diner ...
Then decided to workout at the gym before using their showers.
His tasks took up most of his day, and he wanted to get a strong start, especially while Summer was still around.
The growing season is strong, and the weather is amiable ... Other than that he cooked and read books before bed.
Sticking with everything ... He got the solid start he wanted.
Challenger Chris Harper - First 7 Days Status
Skills:
Gardening - 10
Fishing -10
Athletic -10
Charisma - 3
Handiness - 2
Photography - 2
Career:
Self-Employed Angler - 7
Assets:
Grocery Store - Partner
Diner - Partner
Bank Account - 7586 Simloleons
Most Interesting Thing
Once Chris went to the Gym and achieved Athletic Skill to Level 3 ... He could Jog.
Being raised on a farm, Chris had never thought about jogging in his life ...
But he got the idea looking at the people on the running equipment at the gym.
Chris was also a bit out of shape when he arrived at the challenge ... Strong, but a little wide around the middle.
Long story short ... He spent most of the first week jogging everywhere he went.
The reduced diet and extra activity made some changes to his body ... As well as gaining Athletic Skill routinely.
He's almost skinny if it wasn't for the muscles he has now ...
If you have any question on how that all works out, feel free to ask.
If you have anything you want to share, feel free to add.
If you are giving the 112 Day Challenge a shot ... Enjoy your game and share what you come up with.
I am looking forward to more fun with Chris over the next 105 Sim Days.
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Great start - some perfect screenshot.
Do you run with the standard (37) game speed. Actually have you tweaked anything or is it all standard settings besides what is mentioned in the challenge itself.
I am not in a hurry to get done and want to be more effective in the game.
Players set it wherever they want to and that is all fine.
I just generally don't create Sims to watch them hurry up and die.
Which is why I developed the Challenge ... The object is not to pop out babies as quick as possible like the Legacies.
I kind of like my Sims to have a life before they have a family and get ready to move on to the afterlife ...
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For instance ... I may have a stage at the City Park with instruments on it that a Challenger can pick up and start playing.
There may be a Nectary or Dojo in town ... Where they can go and work on skills.
The Consignment store has easels for painting in a garden behind the store ... And so on.
It's all about opportunities and developing the Sim to what suits them best with focus on success.
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Is there a rule against 4 story cellars
@BlackSand
Question:
Would it be considered cheating to sleep in the beds at the fire station if you don't work there? And if you are a firefighter, could you sleep there?
They can buy books from Bookstore ... If you haven't put all the books sold in the Bookstore in the Library already.
Also, space is not a problem ... You can set up a Challenge Lot on a 30x30 lot, if you desire.
But the only thing you need space for is planting a garden ... Because you cannot build anything.
The chest is there so your inventory doesn't get clogged up when you are saving items to use (like for fertilizer).
You can also save gems you find ... And take them all to get cut on a single day ... And so on.
The purpose of the Challenge is to build the Sim ... Not a house, or a stockpile of stuff.
There is a rule that you sell everything you get by the end of the challenge,
although I would not mind players keeping Community Awards they may earn or the Deathflower exception.
There would be no need for four cellars full of nothing ...
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If you are a firefighter it is part of the job ... So also okay.
There is a rule against becoming roommates and moving in with others though.
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Not Ready to put up the Week 2 update yet ...
But, rain set in all day and Chris was a bit tired and had been running ragged.
He caught up on sleep and stayed in the tent reading until late afternoon.
He then went to the Elixir Shop to Consign some items and ran into a nice young lady working the counter ...
Before going next door to Vargs' Tavern for a few drinks and a game of pool with another nice young lady.
I guess it was his day off and night of relaxation.
The week is almost over though.
Chris isn't slipping and is steady moving along.
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@BlackSand: Right, completely forgot about lot restrictions.
Week 2 Update: Chris Harper
The week in two words ... Relentless Rain.
Lots of rain in Chris's second week, but that isn't all bad.
Although he did get struck by lightning while gardening, he managed to survive.
There are some things he wants to do with produce after the growing season winds down in the Fall, so he has planted a sizable garden ...
This would normally take more time to manage, but the rain is doing most of the watering from him.
I also caught Chris playing in the puddles when he was through weeding the plants ...
Chris had some business in town and managed to stop by the Dojo on his way home.
He messed around a little and figured a few things out over time.
The hot tub in the Dojo was broken ...
But he didn't feel comfortable enough to fix it after flirting with lightning a few days before.
Skills:
Charisma - 4
Handiness - 5
Photography - 5
Martial Arts - 5
New Acquistions and Existing Assets:
Outstanding Citizen's Warehouse - Partner
Doo Peas Corporate - Partner
Bank Account - 15261 Simoleons
New Achievements:
Marathon Runner (Athletic)
Fitness Nut (Athletic)
Personable (Charisma)
Everyone's Best Friend (Charisma)
Amateur Ichthyologist (Fishing)
Commercial Fisherman (Fishing)
Master Planter (Gardening)
One of his days was a bit off after catching Deathfish in the Graveyard well after Midnight.
He slept late, did the gardening, read a little while ... Then took some items to the Elixir Shop to Consign.
As I mentioned, he ran into a nice young lady there ... So he actually made a point to stop back by the next day.
Unfortunately ... The Sim powers managed to replace the nice young lady with this somewhat interesting fellow.
Challenge Tips:
Fishing can be an asset and is required for a central requirement of the Challenge.
However ... It can also be a "cash cow" in slow times.
Players tend to know that different fish bring in different amounts of cash.
It is important to also remember that the more fish of a single type a Challengers catches ...
The value of that type increases over time.
Ponds freeze up in the late Fall and Winter, but Saltwater doesn't.
Lobsters are the best money you can make in Saltwater Fish.
You can grow Onions to catch Tuna ... And use Tuna to catch Lobsters all year.
Consigning fish doesn't count the same way towards your Angler Career ... But you can make more money through Consigning fish.
Just remember to alternate between the Consignment Store and the Elixir Shop to keep the prices up.
Since you are going to be in the Graveyard at some point catching Deathfish anyway ... Keep your little camera handy.
Daily, you can snap a picture of the Mausoleum and Tombstones for a little extra value in price and towards your Photography Skill.
Two of the most valuable pictures you can take are "Ghost" and "Wandering Ghost" ... Take advantage of the opportunities.
Two more very valuable pictures you can take are of an "Alien" and "Space Car" ... Keep your eye out for the opportunities.
Thanks For Dropping By ... And Happy Simming!
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Nice update. Handy with rain, save a lot of time if you got a huge garden. A sizable garden is quite time consuming, to manage single handed.
Toyotama Hime Dojo
If anyone wants a Dojo to add to their town, I will see if it lets me upload it to the Exchange.
Week 3 Update: Chris Harper
Still taking advantage of the Summer growing Season, Chris is liable to argue with a tree by now ...
Late nights pulling Deathfish out of the Graveyard have been profitable,
and he is familiar with most of the staff at the Consignment Stores.
Chris did manage to go back and Repair the hot tub at the Dojo and upgrade it to Unbreakable.
He also worked on his Martial Arts skill off and on throughout the week when traveling back and forth from his camp to town.
Skill Changes:
Martial Arts - 10
Photography - 8
Handiness - 7
Charisma - 5
Social Networking - 3
New Acquisitions or Changes:
Grocery Store - Owner
Wilsonoff Community Theater - Partner
Sacred Spleen Hospital - Partner
Llama Memorial Arena - Partner
Bank Account - 36582 Simoleons
New Achievements:
Celebrity (Charisma)
Super Friendly (Charisma)
Reputation (Consignment Store)
Sales (Consignment Store)
Profit (Consignment Store)
Chris has made 77,483 Simoleons through the Consignment Store in 3 Sim Weeks.
Still ... Even with advancements in Charisma, and fairly good luck meeting and people and making a good impression ...
You're still going to run into the occasional Eunice (hotheaded, mean spirited, evil, genius, snob) ...
Thanks for dropping by and Happy Simming!
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Really cool Dojo
Mid-Fall Update: Chris Harper
(more playing and less writing as the challenge gets more involved)
Fall came sneaking right on in and it wasn't long before gardening was not going to take up all Chris' time.
He was sad to see a few of his plants go after he had carefully nurtured them to a high quality.
But ... All good things eventually come to an end ... And he had plans for some of the Life fruit he had been growing.
He also spent some time training members of the Community at the Dojo ...
Stopping by to stay in shape and going back and forth to town.
Called one of the ladies that works at the Consignment Store and she came over for a little while.
They went out on a date later ... But nothing serious although they had fun.
Working on his people skills (Charisma) ... He hasn't passed up a chance to accept invitations to parties.
He's not really the party type, but the networking is worthwhile.
Chris even tried to solve the age-old question men have about why women go to the bathroom together ...
But he still doesn't know ...
Skill Changes:
Handiness - 10
Photography -10
Social Networking - 9
Nectar Making - 8
Charisma - 7
Logic - 6
Alchemy -2
Club Dancing - 3
Business Changes:
Diner - Owner
Bistro - Owner
Theater - Owner
Bookstore - Owner
Corporate Towers - Owner
Warehouse - Owner
Bank Account:
35,297 Simoleons
Current Net Worth:
386,500 Simoleons
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He's coming right along.
Last few days before the end of Fall Update
Having handled up on his Angler Career, Chris spent the last bit of Fall squaring away some loose ends.
He took a Writing Class and started practicing his skills at the Greenwire Java Hut when not at the Gym.
The Greenwire Java Hut is also a great place to meet for lunch or just run into friends when they are in town.
Varg's Tavern is a pretty busy place as well and he can sometimes meet up with friend there for a night of drinks, pool and dancing.
He's getting kind of sweet on one young lady but has a reputation of not messing around during his Challenge.
He would also tell you that is getting to be a bit challenging ...
Career and Skills:
Logic - 10
Nectar Making - 10
Social Networking - 10
Charisma - 0
Writing - 9
Angler Career - 10
Bank Account Ballance:
71,653 Simoleons
Chris is getting ready for the long Winter.
Happy Simming!
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Lots of activity on those venues
Winter Arrives:
Chris has been looking forward to the winter as it allows his schedule to change a little.
He quit his Career and an Angler and after taking a class and practicing, he decided to try and write a book.
Amazingly enough his first book ... Chilly Reception ... Was a Hit, and it wasn't long until he started on his second work.
Chris split his time between the Library, Gym, Java Hut and Consignment Shop ...
He even had a date with Laura at the Consignment Shop where they dance by the Nectar Maker.
Chris took a Cooking Class and read a book on Cooking while at the Library.
Later in the week he was invited to party at the Winterly's house where he made a key lime pie as soon as he showed up.
It must have been good because there weren't any leftovers to put in the fridge ...
Chris decided to take it easy over the first weekend of the Winter.
His schedule was not pressing, so he packed up the burn pit and headed up into the mountains around Hidden Springs.
There was a particular spot he liked to fish and that was away from the hustle and bustle of town.
It had snowed enough to make an igloo, and by midday Friday he had camp set up.
He took advantage of the cold weather and did a little ice skating ... He invited Laura up the next day and evening ...
Before breaking camp on Sunday and getting ready to get back to the Challenge.
Skill Changes:
Writing -10
Cooking - 7
Career:
Writer - 5
By this point Chris has bought most of the businesses in town except for the Science Lab where he is still a Partner,
He has his Eye on investing in the other businesses like the Java Hut now and the Gym now.
Both are expensive but the returns could be substantial, and he still needs to earn a little more.
Bank Account:
82,465 Simoleons
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Winter Update
Chris has still gone out a few times with Laura and his lack of furthering that aspect allowed him material to write about.
He not only bought the Greenwire Java Hut, bur quickly found it too busy to get any writing done.
Chris decided he would use the computers at the Library to write.
He traded time writing with time repairing the facilities, computers and just keeping the place picked up and orderly.
He also got a little studying in when possible.
Chris also took the opportunity to stay in touch with his new friends.
It has become his tradition, and he will cook a Key Lime Pie as soon as he shows up at your party ...
Chris managed to do a little fishing although he quit his Andler Career just to break up the grind Writing.
Chris has invested in or owns all the public properties and is now looking for some new opportunities.
The first he bought after the Greenwire was the The Wave ... An upscale Executive Club with potential and a stiff price tag.
It's not necessarily his style ... But the money he could make plays well into the Challenge he is in.
Another Business he is looking at purchasing is the Gym ... Which would also be a costly endeavor.
Freshly renovated and upgraded ... The investment could also be worthwhile.
Note:
You may notice the Gym ... It's the one in Sunset Valley ...
Renovated and landscaped to the area of course ...
As Winter comes to close he has maxed out the Self Employed Writer Career and written his last book for a while.
But ... Not before putting the finishing touches on 14 hits and 15 Best Sellers ... All Romance Novels.
He will make 162,000 Simoleons and some change in Royalties each week for the remaining 4 weeks of the Challenge.
Oh ... The young lady in the green top pictured above eating pie on the porch in the snow ...
Is Jenny Lho of Hidden Springs without the terrible haircut EA gave her,
Jenny is probably one of the prettiest and most accurate Sims EA made ... Toss up with Simon Cho,
Happy Simming and Have A Lovely Day!
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Nice that although you do the challenge, you get a story feeling at the same time.
Great pictures.