Tinkering Mod

Note: This mod does not affect the Kitchen & Bath trash compactor (Garbage Ninja), because Maxis didn't even bother to add the Tinker interaction to that object. However, if you have LordDarcy's Stuff Pack Objects Fix Collection, then that mod does add the missing Tinker interaction. Obviously, it still does not increase sims' Mechanical skill while they are tinkering, so I am releasing a fix specifically for that object called zzz-simler90-TinkeringMod-KandBCompactorAddOn. Download this add-on, then extract it and you should have a package file with the same name. Put it where you have LordDarcy's mod installed which should be the following folder in Program Files for the Ultimate Collection: Fun with Pets\SP9\TSData\Res\Overrides. Thanks to ekamishirov for notifying me.

ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION

Freetime allows sims to tinker with certain objects. This allows the sim to increase their Tinkering hobby enthusiasm, and also their fun motive. There is nothing else to this interaction. I don't understand why this interaction does not increase the sim's Mechanical skill. I think this is a missed opportunity. I am pretty sure nobody bothers with tinkering in this game.

This mod makes it so that tinkering now increases the sim's Mechanical skill. The rate is slower than repairing. The rate is higher depending on the complexity of the object. So, tinkering with televisions has a higher rate of skill gain than tinkering with baths. I HIGHLY recommend you combine this mod with a new addition I made to my Slower Skills mod called Slower Skill Gain From Books, which heavily reduces the rate of skill gain from reading regular books. In fact, I may as well say that Slower Skill Gain From Books is required for Tinkering Mod to make any sense, because the rate of skill gain from reading regular books in an unmodded game is very high. It is as high as actually repairing objects, in fact.

This mod also makes the game consider tinkering a skilling activity, meaning that sims won't stop tinkering when their fun motive is very high.

NOTE: This mod adds a new skill gain dialogue for tinkering, because no such dialogue exists in the game as tinkering does not increase any skills. The game will show the dialogue "Sim has gained a point of Mechanical skill tinkering!" when the sim earns a new skill point while tinkering. This notification is only available in English. If you play the game in another language, you will have to translate this text, here is how to do it:
- Open the mod in SimPE. Click on each resource called [Text Lists] and Dialog prim string set, and then click on the line that says "$NameLocal:0 has gained a point of Mechanical skill tinkering!".
- Now, select your language from the drop-down menu, and translate the text.
- Click the Commit button, and save the mod.

You need the latest version of 7zip or WinRAR to get this mod.

Requirements: Freetime, but you may need Apartment Life and/or M&G, too.
Resources: See the image.