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Rebuilding Viper Valley and The Apocalypse Challenge

The rules for this challenge have been moved to a WIKI (http://s3ac.wikia.com/wiki/Sims_3_Apocalypse_Challenge_Wiki) so that they are easier to read through and for me to edit.

I will start trolling through all posts here to add to the FAQ and I definitely could use some help with tightening things up :) Constructive criticism and friendly suggestions are always welcome.

Please enjoy playing the challenge!

God Bless,
mik

Comments

  • mikitta47mikitta47 Posts: 2,250 New Member
    edited July 2010
    Ok, for some reason I can't load Viper Valley to the exchange. It may have something to do with having loaded it before in it's beta phase and now the site won't let me load up the finished version, even though I deleted the beta out of my portfolio area.

    Well, the mediafire file does work and it's not in a zip file, so you shouldn't have any issues downloading it.

    God Bless,
    mik
  • lberen00lberen00 Posts: 15 New Member
    edited July 2010
    Nice rules! I look forward to trying them even tho they are strict. I downloaded the beta Viper Valley already & am trying it. Is the other version better?
  • mikitta47mikitta47 Posts: 2,250 New Member
    edited July 2010
    Not necessarily better, just a few things adjusted (like the cost of the townie lots to 18500, and the cost of the other 3 empty challenge lots up to 14700) nothing really critical to play or anything :)

    God Bless,
    mik
  • lberen00lberen00 Posts: 15 New Member
    edited July 2010
    I really like not having to build houses! Thank you for all your hard work!
  • mikitta47mikitta47 Posts: 2,250 New Member
    edited July 2010
    So, I'm playing the challenge and Generation 3 has been born and are now teens, in fact. I've unlocked Military, Culinary, Education, Medical, Caring Child and Business. I'm not sure what to unlock next.

    Generation 3 is actually triplets, one of whom unlocked Caring Child. I'm torn between Atletics/Politics and Ghost Hunter/Overlord of Evil tracks to unlock with the other two girls. Maybe Politics/Overlord would be best?

    I don't know LOL!!

    God Bless,
    mik
  • hannahcclarkhannahcclark Posts: 19
    edited July 2010
    heeeeey other than your world wich would you recomend
  • BabyThisLoveBabyThisLove Posts: 7
    edited July 2010
    Awesome! I'm looking forward to this challenge, though it sounds hard..
  • mikitta47mikitta47 Posts: 2,250 New Member
    edited July 2010
    There are some other desert worlds on the exchange. RFLong's Mesa Valley is very nice :)

    God Bless,
    mik
  • BabyThisLoveBabyThisLove Posts: 7
    edited July 2010
    This challenge is awesome!! My second generation are now children, and I think I'll have them persue the food and medical restrictions, as those are the ones causing my sims the most trouble. As of now, I've lifted the political restriction and am trying for the business one.
  • mikitta47mikitta47 Posts: 2,250 New Member
    edited July 2010
    Yeah, the medical one is always a doozie - Sims are soooo much happier when they can bathe!

    I finally finished Master Thief and Athletic last night. I hate that when I marry a sim in, they have like 10 days till they hit elder and my sim is still a young adult! Hoping I can get my G3 Heir's husband to body 10 so he can complete Journalism before he dies. My heir is preggers and she'll probably have twins (extra fertile lifetime reward) It seems to be going quite a bit faster with several multiple births to ensure things get taken care of.

    Maybe I'll tackle politics with G4. I want to build a better house. But I also want to clear Mastermind so I can amass some money - my poor sims have been living on the edge of penury having to pay protection money!

    God Bless,
    mik
  • FuutenFuuten Posts: 1 New Member
    edited August 2010
    Loving this challenge so far. I'm personally finding it much more challenging then the other one posted. Though I passed over this restriction and am extremely curious of what all these ellipses could possibly be.
    mikitta47 wrote:
    Architecture
    “A doctor can bury his mistakes but an architect can only advise his clients to plant vines. “ Frank Lloyd Wright

    -Sims, except for the Architect sim, may not use the drafting table.
    -Sims may not purchase anything with an environment score over …
    -Sims may not purchase anything with a comfort score over …
    -Sims may not purchase buy mode objects over … in price
    -Sims may not have any but the cheapest fridge, washer/dryers, or ovens.
    -Sims may not have fire places
    -Sims may not use any curtains, rugs or picture frames.
    - Decorative build items (flooring, wall covering, fences, etc) must be the most basic, least expensive options.
    - Sims may not paint paving stones on the lot
    - Sims may only have the 2 smallest windows (the … and …).
  • mikitta47mikitta47 Posts: 2,250 New Member
    edited August 2010
    LOL I hadn't finished it ... thanks for catching it.

    -Sims, except for the Architect sim, may not use the drafting table.
    -Sims may not purchase anything with an environment score over the lowest possible
    -Sims may not purchase anything with a comfort score over 4
    -Sims may not purchase buy mode objects over the cheapest possible for that category in price
    -Sims may not have any but the cheapest fridge, washer/dryers, or ovens.
    -Sims may not have fire places
    -Sims may not use any curtains, rugs or picture frames.
    - Decorative build items (flooring, wall covering, fences, etc) must be the most basic, least expensive options.
    - Sims may not paint paving stones on the lot
    - Sims may only have the 2 smallest windows (the single bathroom window and the triple bathroom window).

    Sorry about that!

    God Bless,
    mik
  • BabyThisLoveBabyThisLove Posts: 7
    edited August 2010
    I DID IT!!! Viper Valley is back to normal!
    Mainly because I play my game on superspeed most of the time, but still.
  • mikitta47mikitta47 Posts: 2,250 New Member
    edited August 2010
    YAY!!!

    I'm still working on it. Generation 8 was just born yesterday and I've got almost everything out of the way except for the careers. I've still got Rock Legend, Super Spy and Symphonic to clear for the jobs. It's going to be madness to do 2 sims with careers at a time. I suppose I'll be using pause a lot LOL!


    Quick update - I updated the rules just a little for Amazing Naturalist and Decendant of DaVinci

    Naturalist requires 13 perfect plants (the number you can grow w/out any special quests in the base game) to be grown and harvestable at one time, and 20 perfect fish that you either keep in aquariums OR have mounted. DaVinci requires 5 painting masterpieces, 5 sculpture masterpieces and all the inventions, including Simbot to clear.

    You will need to clear naturalist and go on world adventures to Egypt to clear it, or use the buydebug cheat to purchase the correct metal spawner (it's the last one in the gems and metals list, Egypt RGM or something like that) and place it on a public lot.

    If you have already cleared it w/ the previous requirements, don't worry about it till the next time you work the challenge.

    God Bless,
    mik
  • mikitta47mikitta47 Posts: 2,250 New Member
    edited August 2010
    Opinions please ...

    Should it be all inventions including Simbot or all regular inventions and 5 travels each to past and future?

    Basically, I'm trying to keep it from just being a level quest.

    God Bless,
    mik
  • lberen00lberen00 Posts: 15 New Member
    edited August 2010
    I haven't traveled to the past or future yet. Not sure how that should work. I think the inventions should include the Simbot tho.
  • rambleramble Posts: 70 New Member
    edited August 2010
    Does the Descendant of DaVinci restriction apply to anything and everything that raises fun, ie. TVs, radios, computers etc.? Am I allowed to purchase a boom-box (allowed in the Science restriction) if I haven't lifted this one first? I guess not, which means my sims will be in a bad bood for a long, long time... Or are they allowed to watch TV on other lots once the Military restriction has been lifted?
  • mikitta47mikitta47 Posts: 2,250 New Member
    edited August 2010
    You can have a boom box and other very basic items, but fun is pretty restricted at first. When you start out, you can dance to the radio, but that's about it! (it was like that too, in the sims2 version). Computers, until you clear science, are ONLY typewriters. After science you can play video games.

    Thanks for bringing it to my attention - I'll get some things tightened up after next week (kids go back to school this Thursday and I've got a terrible head cold right now - hard to think). Mostly just making sure I've got everything written out correctly.

    Oh - The TV restriction is on Symphonic and Science, not DaVinci. Once Late Night comes out, I'll likely make the symphonic restrictions apply to the movie star restrictions and make music clearing EITHER rock OR Symphonic. Not sure how I'll handle other careers in Night Life, or Vampires for that matter.

    God Bless,
    mik
  • rambleramble Posts: 70 New Member
    edited August 2010
    Ok, thank you mikitta!

    I started the challenge earlier today and was surprised to find how little can be purchased with $1800! I could hardly buy two pillars, stairs, and some floor and walls before I ran out of money. (I do wonder whether building a house was cheaper on TS2...) So my sim moved in to his tiny 2x6 one-room house (+stairs). That was the biggest I could make it so that the house would have four walls and a roof!

    After some three weeks, I'm pleasantly surprised to find that he's still alive :D
  • mikitta47mikitta47 Posts: 2,250 New Member
    edited August 2010
    Hehe, yeah I've found out you can make a basement JUST big enough for stairs and one bed and add a toilet - and that's about it LOL! But it's desperate measures for our sims, for sure.


    Update on the Marks household - I'm at Generation 9 with a pair of twins who, with the spouse of the heir, will finish out the challenge! I just have Private Eye, Architect and Stylist to do.

    Of course I'll play the N-hood long enough to rebuild the town. I've rebuilt the City Park, the Pool and the Graveyard so far.

    After I get everything rebuilt, I may work on some other legacies IN the neighborhood and then release a save file at a future date :)

    God Bless,
    mik
  • JanLauren7JanLauren7 Posts: 63 Member
    edited October 2010
    Hey, Mikitta47! Thanks for doing this update. I have trouble remembering all the rules! This is by far the toughest challenge I've ever done. Do you play this on Normal aging? I've currently got mine on Long.
  • rambleramble Posts: 70 New Member
    edited December 2010
    Hi all!

    As long as I've already played this challenge I never remembered to ask this question: are my sims allowed to roam the neighbourhood as long as they don't go into any community lots (if the Military restriction is still in place)? ie, can they for example jog along the roads without breaking the restriction? And even socialise with people who happen to pass by?

    This is what the Military restriction says about the matter:
    -Sims may not travel to any community lots.

    ---

    What about collecting seeds for the Amazing Naturalist restriction - are my sims only allowed to have three seeds in their inventory at a time? I suppose so, but I just want to be sure...
    -Sims may carry no more than 3 items in their inventory at any one time, with the exception of career specific items (ghost hunter paraphernalia, fingerprint kit, stylist and architect portfolios, etc).
  • mikitta47mikitta47 Posts: 2,250 New Member
    edited December 2010
    can they for example jog along the roads without breaking the restriction? And even socialise with people who happen to pass by?

    Sims may not leave their home lot for anything but going to work, or going to the hospital for a pregnant sim UNTIL the Military restriction is lifted. Children may go to school, but teens may not (game forces that on you). They may not invite anyone over unless they own a car (ie they go by and pick them up theoretically). Once the Military restriction is lifted, they may wander the neighborhood at will.

    What about collecting seeds for the Amazing Naturalist restriction - are my sims only allowed to have three seeds in their inventory at a time? I suppose so, but I just want to be sure...

    Until you have Athletics cleared, you may only carry 3 items at any one time in your inventory. I think that applies to seeds, rocks, fruits, fish (stacks of those things anyway - 1 stack of apple seeds, 1 stack of minnows, 1 stack of eggs etc)

    The only sim allowed to pick up seeds, go fishing, etc is a sim attempting to clear Amazing Naturalist. Until Amazing Naturalist is cleared, other sims may not collect seeds or go fishing.

    Read through the rules carefully - there are some things that can't be done until other things are cleared. I think that Naturalist has pre-requisites. And there are some things that are very nearly impossible until you have others cleared. Military is a HUGE one - because until you have it cleared, you are stuck on your lot. I almost ALWAYS clear military first - just because everyone gets all cabin fever on me and I can't do things like get skill books to help them out till I do.

    I hope that helps some :)

    God Bless,
    mik
  • mikitta47mikitta47 Posts: 2,250 New Member
    edited December 2010
    JanLauren7 wrote:
    Hey, Mikitta47! Thanks for doing this update. I have trouble remembering all the rules! This is by far the toughest challenge I've ever done. Do you play this on Normal aging? I've currently got mine on Long.

    I play on epic because normal just doesn't seem to be enough time to do everything that needs to be done. Perhaps when it's too easy on epic, I'll shorten up their lives.

    General announcement - hubby got me Sims3 Nightlife for my Bday and I just installed it today. I need to get a good idea of what's what so I can make amendments to the rules.

    I'm also thinking of posting the rules on a blog to link here - which will make editing a bit easier. The biggest things with this EP, I think, are deciding what items can be used at what stage of play and how to incorporate the Movie Star/Director careers into things. Perhaps I'll do it so you can't watch TV till Movie Star and Director are cleared and you have to have one or the other cleared in order to have parties. Since we now have more musical instruments, I'll retool the music careers too - perhaps combine Music and Movie careers in some way that you have to clear all of them, but certain things become available with each one - and make it so it's not TOO irritating to clear them.

    God Bless,
    mik
  • rambleramble Posts: 70 New Member
    edited December 2010
    mikitta47 wrote:
    Read through the rules carefully - there are some things that can't be done until other things are cleared. I think that Naturalist has pre-requisites. And there are some things that are very nearly impossible until you have others cleared. Military is a HUGE one - because until you have it cleared, you are stuck on your lot. I almost ALWAYS clear military first - just because everyone gets all cabin fever on me and I can't do things like get skill books to help them out till I do.

    I once tried lifting something else than Military first, but it didn't work out well at all so I gave that up - now I always lift Military first because it makes life that much easier... :lol:

    As for Amazing Naturalist, I've been trying to find the rules that might conflict with it. The ones I've found so far are with Military (of course) and Culinary, and even with those, I'm not sure if the latter actually conflicts: the Culinary restriction states that "sims may not hold food in inventory", but I'm not sure if seeds and produce count as food per se. Athletic may conflict as well if one's not being careful with the amount of items in the sim's inventory (by the way, may I assume that at the time of a sim's death (when their items are passed on to a family member), the recipient may temporarily have more than three items in their inventory (until I've removed the extra ones)?).

    I have some questions about other restrictions as well:

    In Athletic restriction it says: "Any item that takes up more than one square may not be moved or placed back into inventory once placed on the lot, with one exception." What is the one exception? I can't seem to find it anywhere, lol.

    Also, if I have to lift the Ghostly Encounter restriction instead of the Ghost Hunter one, there is one oddity concerning the rules: Paranormal states that "only sims in the Ghost Hunter career may perform social interactions with ghosts", yet Ghostly Encounter cannot be lifted without such interacton. After all, it is said in the rules that all Ghost Hunter restrictions are to be moved into the alternate Ghostly Encounter restriction. Shall we simply ignore this one rule or is there another way to make friends with ghosts?

    I'm sorry I keep asking so many questions, but this IS a complicated challenge, and even after all this time I don't remember every rule by heart. I'll be out of your hair soon, though, I hope...

    Thank you!
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