The Sims 2 Opportunity Pack Lectern & Accessories

Title: The Sims 2 Opportunity Pack Lectern & Accessories



UPDATE December 16th, 2016: Routing Improvement

Enthusiastic listeners will now go to the front of the class to attend the talk, rather than the rear.

Please download sdOpportunityLectern_WithMics.zip for the updates.


ACCREDITED December 10th, 2016:

a) With the major upgrade, all the microphones in the set are now University and grade school accredited, meaning that school and college students will earn grade points while they attend the talks. Their educational progress will be displayed at the beginning and end of each tutorial session.

b) To support this more serious purpose, a proper dress code is now enforced for all speakers - no more blunders with pajamas or swimsuits!

c) Speakers who teach autonomously are now more likely to stay on the job.

d) The placement rules for the Lectern are changed to prevent the back of the object (where the Sim stands) from being occupied, but to allow the front to be placed next to a railing such as might exist on a raised stage.

e) A bug that caused listeners not to use audience seating has been fixed. My thanks to gazania for confirming this problem.

f) In checking for valid audience seating, bar stools are now approved for use.

g) The "Frontal Tapestry for the Opportunity Lectern" is being upgraded to be an Opportunity Controller, so the Tapestry and its supporting recolours have been deleted from this thread and will be re-released with The Sims 2 Opportunity Pack Core Files project.

Please download sdOpportunityLectern_WithMics.zip for the updates.




Purpose

To supply a basic lectern together with a desk lamp, teleprompter insert, five styles of skill building microphone, and supporting recolours.



Contents

Except the lamp, each item in this set is available from the Hobby/Knowledge section of the catalogue. The Decorative Lectern costs §77 each and the functional microphones cost §79 each. The Desk Lamp and Teleprompter Insert cost §78 each. The Glowing Opportunity Desk Lamp is found in the Lighting/Table Lamp section.


1) Opportunity Pack Decorative Lectern - viewing the lectern will increase Charisma as well as FreeTime Film & Literature enthusiasm.

This furniture has several slots on the top surface and shelves that are designed for holding Opportunity Pack Books & Notes, Collector's Editions, Reading Desk Accessories, Lady Ravendancer's Magical Arcana as well as the Boom Mic, Fashion Mic, Health Mic, Sports Mic, Glowing Opportunity Desk Lamp and Teleprompter Insert included in this upload.

When Opportunity Pack microphones or textbooks are placed on a Lectern or other furniture, low numbered slots have functional priority over high numbered slots. For example, if a Legal Tome is placed in Slot #0 - typically the slot closest to the speech maker - then a Health Mic in a higher numbered slot further from the speech maker will be disabled. Also, any texts or mics that are on the same tile but not slotted into the Lectern will be similarly suppressed. This is a design feature that allows additional texts and mics to be used for decorative purposes while eliminating any autonomous Sim usage conflicts that would occur if more than one of these devices were allowed to be active on a particular tile.

Any microphone that would be otherwise functional can be "Deactivated" by menu option. This will cause the next text or mic found in a higher numbered slot to become active.

If the Lectern is placed on a stage or in a raised pulpit, an Extension Speaker will be required to relay the talk to the audience below.


2) Opportunity Lectern Natural Recolours - this set of 38 recolours is designed for pre-modern podiums that do not contain an amplifier or speaker. These recolours support the Opportunity Lecterns, Lamp, Microphones and Teleprompter Insert.



3) Teleprompter Recolours - these 37 textures differ from the Opportunity Lectern Natural Recolours in that they include amplifier and speaker graphics as well as feedthrough "holes" for the Boom Mic and Desk Lamp. The list of recolours is identical except for the addition of an Invisible recolour. These recolours are useful if you are using the original basegame Teleprompter or the Boom Mic from this set. In the case of the original basegame Teleprompter, only the boom mic and wooden podium are recolourable - the lamp and teleprompter screens are not.

The Opportunity Lectern and Teleprompter Natural recolours are compatible with the basegame and natural wood textures used in The FreeTime "Broken-In" Desk Recovery Project


4) Opportunity Lectern & Teleprompter Michelle/Pooklet Recolours - this alternate set provides Pooklet recolours compatible with The FreeTime "Broken-In" Desk Pooklet Expansion Set. These recolours are based on Michelle's Pooklet textures.





5) Boom Mic for the Opportunity Lectern - this object slots into the Opportunity Lecterns as well as counters, desks and dining tables. This microphone supplies the functions of the original basegame Teleprompter but it is guaranteed not to flop around. Moderately Charismatic Sims (those with at least three Charisma points) will "Make a Speech" autonomously, otherwise speech making must be selected by the player. Those enrolled in school or college also earn Grade Points. Children cannot make a speech unless they have at least one Charisma point.

Making a Speech will increase Charisma skill at the same rate as the basegame Teleprompter and listening to a speech will increase Charisma at 80% of that rate (the same rate as a mirror). In addition, Speaking or Listening also increases the Politics Interest and FreeTime Film & Literature Enthusiasm. Sims can "Ask For" or "Offer" Charisma speech lessons if the mic is installed in a Decorative Lectern or Reading Desk.

The Boom Mic is college accredited for those majoring in Political Science, but regardless of what major they may be specializing in, attending a lecture at the Boom Mic will grant college credits to all those registered in university.

College and school progress is displayed at the beginning and end of each student's learning session. If a school student earns an "A+", additional study will earn Extra Credits which allow a child or teen to take time off without losing a letter grade, or can be saved for advanced placement (one full term for 1000 points) in college.

Sims will listen to a speech to satisfy Fun and Social motives, but if the speaker is moderately Charismatic then Sims will continue to listen until their needs or mood becomes too low. The mic will satisfy the "Practice Speech, "Read To" and "Be Read to by" wants. Moderately Charismatic Sims will be paid about §25 per hour by each non-family member present. On owned business lots, the earnings will go directly to the business owner.



6) Bonne Chance Fashion Mic - this wireless desk microphone is placeable on Lecterns, counters, desks, dining tables, end tables, shelves, and on the ground. It can be made completely invisible wherever it is placed, can share a tile with another object, will not block the movement of Sims, and is height adjustable if Apartment Life or Mansion & Garden is available. The Fashion Mic uses the same recolours and has the same functions as the Boom Mic except that children cannot Play with the microphone and Sims who "Report on Fashion" or "Listen" raise their Fashion Interest and FreeTime Arts & Crafts Enthusiasm. This desk mic uses a recolourable round base.

Those enrolled in school or college will earn Grade Points. The Fashion Mic is college accredited for those majoring in Art.

If a Fashion Mic, Health Mic or Sports Mic is placed directly on the ground, Sims will stand to speak from it. However, if the Mic is placed on another small object (such as an Opportunity book or paper) that is itself on the ground, then the speaker and all the listeners except for elders with also try to find a place on the ground near it. Children will not sit on the ground when making a speech.

Similarily, if the Mic is placed on a small object that is in turn placed on a coffee table - with a dining chair, sofa or carefully positioned living chair behind it - Sims will sit down to use the Mic.


7) Carpe Diem Good Health Mic - this desk microphone is similar to the Fashion Mic except that Sims can be "Inspired" to raise their Health Interest and FreeTime Fitness Enthusiasm. The Health Mic uses a non-recolourable round base.

School and college students will earn Grade Points. The Health Mic is college accredited for those majoring in Philosopy.


8) Leading Opportunity Sports Mic - this desk microphone raises Sports Interest and FreeTime Sports Enthusiasm. The Sports Mic uses a non-recolourable square base.

Listeners enrolled in school or college will also earn Grade Points. The Sports Mic is college accredited for those whose major is "Undeclared".


9) Seize the Opportunity Floor Mic - the Floor Mic is a standalone object, not made to be slotted into a Lectern or other surface object. In other respects it is similar to the Bonne Chance Fashion Mic, except that Sims cannot "Ask For" or "Offer" Charisma speech lessons, and the performer and the audience increase their Entertainment Interest and FreeTime Music & Dance Enthusiasm.

Listeners enrolled in school or college will earn Grade Points. The Floor Mic is college accredited for those majoring in Drama.


10) The Glowing Opportunity Desk Lamp - this light is custom made to sit on an Opportunity Lectern and can also be used on any surface except for Low (Coffee) Tables. This lamp is especially useful where a small footprint and low cost are desired. The Opportunity Lamp uses the Opportunity Lectern and Teleprompter sets of recolours.

If placed on the ground the Opportunity Lamp becomes invisible when the game is in run mode, allowing it to be used for special effects and supplemental lighting. When in buy or build mode the lamp's ground shadow will reappear so that the invisible lamp can be found.

Like the Desk Mics, the lamp may be freely overlapped with other objects, will not impede the movement of Sims, and is height adjustable with Apartment Life or Mansion & Garden. If the Fluorescent to Sunlamp Converter patch is installed, this object will act as a Seasons sun lamp, sustaining the life of plants and PlantSims.


11) Teleprompter Insert for the Opportunity Lectern - this object slots into an Opportunity Lectern to provide two scrolling teleprompter screens and support arms. The support components are recolourable using either set of Lectern Recolours: the Opportunity Lectern set provides solid recolours that match the Opportunity Lamps, whereas the Teleprompter Lectern set uses the wood recolours of the Decorative Lecterns. In addition, the look of the teleprompter screens can be changed with any of the 34 included textures.




Downloads

This set is distributed in five downloads, as follows:

a) sdOpportunityLectern_WithMics.zip - this archive contains all the mesh files from this set, comprised of the Decorative Lectern, Desk Lamp, Frontal Tapestry, Microphones and Teleprompter Insert.

b) sdOpportunityLectern_Recolours.zip - this file holds Natural, EA, and Michelle/Pooklet Recolours for a non-electronic Lectern, together with the Teleprompter Invisible recolour.

c) sdTeleprompter_Recolours.zip - this upload contains Natural, EA, and Michelle/Pooklet for use with the basegame Teleprompter or an "electronically equipped" Decorative Lectern. The Teleprompter Invisible recolour is also included.

d) sdFourthElementTapestry_MedievalRecolours.zip - holds pre-modern recolours to support both the basegame and included Frontal tapestries.

e) sdOpportunityLectern_TextscrollRecolours.zip - contains recolours for the screens of the Teleprompter Insert.

Those playing pre-modern games will probably not need the Teleprompter and Textscroll recolour sets. The microphones and lamp will likely be used with the Teleprompter Invisible recolour.



Terms of Use

You may include any item from this set in uploaded lots, whether for free or pay. It is nice but not necessary to provide a credit and link to this page.


Recommendation

I suggest using Pescado's Community Lot Skilling and Enthusiasm patch so that these and all other skill building objects are fully functional on all lots.


Additional Credits

GIMP 2 and Microsoft Paint for graphics editing, file conversion, processing, sizing and titling
Jfade's Compressorizer for minimizing file size
Milkshape 3D, Ultimate Unwrap3D Pro and UV Mapper Professional, for 3D modeling and mapping
Numenor's AnyGameStarter, used for testing this project in several game environments
SimPE, PJSE, and CEP for Sims 2 object creation
The handsome, no-monkey-or-fishlips faces in the medieval settings are a result of selzi's default replacements
rugrat0ne's Gift of the Gab: Speech Bubble Replacements are featured in the pre-modern speech making
StephSim's Gwrych lots provide a realistic medieval ambiance
The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers, The Worshipful Company of Fruiterers, and The Worshipful Company of Grocers for the coats of arms used in the tapestry recolours


Polygon Counts

Opportunity Pack Decorative Lectern: 186 faces, 300 vertices
Boom Mic for the Opportunity Lectern: 626 faces, 618 vertices
Bonne Chance Fashion Mic: 484 faces, 508 vertices
Carpe Diem Good Health Mic: 484 faces, 508 vertices
Leading Opportunity Sports Mic: 418 faces, 472 vertices
Seize the Opportunity Floor Mic: 536 faces, 577 vertices
The Glowing Opportunity Table Lamp: 406 faces, 434 vertices
Teleprompter Insert for the Opportunity Lectern: 436 faces, 600 vertices