Quote: Originally posted by freeasabird
I am a science nut and I agree that there is not enough for my guys to play with. I love the biotech station, its detailed and looks the part but the babysitting really does suck the paint off a battle ship! lol I am sure that my guys have discovered loads of planets while on the scope? At uni its a great way for them to top up their cash. Maybe its because a lot of them are in the zone while watching. I have a bunch of mods to cancel out the annoying bits you mention above, bees, crumplebottom, no alien preggie etc so for me its all about the performance. I do wish there was more across all the hobbies, the clubs/lots all seem to have major errors which for me makes them unplayable (the kitchen has no bloody windows?, the science place has a toilet door that can't be accessed). Like you I am attempting to build some labs for my Uni students, would be great to get the biotech station and that medicine reward down there, still thinking though how, as the buyable rewards mod doesn't work for me.
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Aspirational Laboratories also has an island counter that Sims keep getting stuck in somehow (and it's usually one of the grand vampires who gets stuck in it, oddly enough). If we could edit hobby lots, I wouldn't hesistate to delete that counter. Too bad we can't edit secret lots; several of the hobby lots could use fixing, like you mentioned (and I'd like to add a few more trees to Hidden Burrows while I'm at it).
The Biotech Station would be radically improved if it behaved more like the toymaking bench or the Robot Crafting Station: just click on it and select Make Many. Your Science-loving Sim would then make a dosage of medicine, stick it right into her inventory and move on to the next one. The medicine could come in four types: a placebo (the worthless kind that you have to dispose of), good/over-the-counter medicine (that sells for pocket change), great/prescription medicine (that sells for 50-100 Simoleons) and a miracle drug (that sells for even more). That way, your scientist's work could only be interrupted by that damnable chance of accidentally concocting a disease, along with the usual stuff (dropping into a red mood, somebody sets the oven on fire, et cetera).
As for the sicky stuff, I'd say that the Make Virus option should actually do something, whether selling it for even more Simoleons (probably to some questionable contact, or perhaps to the CDC to aid them in
their research) or passing it off to someone you don't like in the hopes that they'll be bedridden (and off your lot) for a few days. And for goodness sake, could we also lower the odds of your Sim accidentally getting sick from using the Biotech Station? This is supposed to be some top-of-the-line equipment here! You would think that the onboard diagnostic computer would say "Uh oh, I'm detecting some nasty airborne free radicals inside the centrifuge. Here, let me just siphon all the gases out of the centrifuge and funnel them into the autoclave for extermination."
But the Biotech Station does have a certain charm to it, I agree. My longest-lived vampire, who lives in a creepy mansion atop a tall, black hill, has
three Biotech Stations in her lab. (She's a Science hobbyist with Knowledge aspiration and she has worked her way up to Mad Scientist three times. Having a Physics degree helps, of course. Yes, I'm also aware that college grads with sufficiently good Skills can just repeatedly do job searches on a computer to score as many Career Rewards as they want, but I don't do that because it's a lame thing to do.) But those Biotech Stations are just for show, because the stars will probably burn out before I ever force her or any other Sim to toil with a Biotech Station ever again (barring the installation of a mod which actually makes the use of Biotech Stations worthwhile, perhaps).
Quote: Originally posted by Charity
I didn't know about some of the interactions, so thanks for the info.
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You're welcome.
Quote: Originally posted by Charity
I want more from the Science hobby, damn it! It had the potential to be such a good hobby for my nerdy sims. I don't really care about money making, but come on. A few more objects that build Science enthusiasm would have been nice. What about a microscope that they can use? There is a mod for the Biotech Station that makes the medicine etc. more useful, but although I have it I haven't even tried using the thing yet lol. Bug collecting should build Science enthusiasm too. Ever heard of Entomology?
Heh, you poked a sore spot. But Science could have been so much better.
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Oh. There
is a mod that improves on the Biotech Station? Is it on Mod the Sims, by chance? I may have to go find it.
I think I agree with you about entomology and collecting bugs. Nature already has more than enough goodness to it, and the bulk of the hobby's activities make bug-collecting a bit pointless by comparison. So why not hand bug-collecting over to Science instead? Perhaps filling your Sim's bug box with a specimen of every beetle, spider and butterfly known to Sim could earn some sort of special reward, like a visitor from the International Entomology Review Board saying "Hey, you've done a tremendous job with your field research, so here's $2,500 and a big plaque which repeatedly improves the Social rating of anyone standing near it. Have a nice day." Something like that. Or is there already some sort of bonus you get from filling the bug box? I've never quite succeeded in accomplishing that.
We can just leave butterfly-catching and firefly-catching to Nature, though. It's not like you're subjecting the poor critters to any sort of study, close examination or cataloging; all you're doing is oohing and ahhing at them before you open the jar and let them flit away (or forget about them and leave them to die in their bleak, mocking prison of cold, unyielding glass, as I've accidentally done a few times).
Quote: Originally posted by Peni Griffin
Chess creates game enthusiasm, too, Pizza, and that, of course, increases logic. Chess is the great friendship builder for shy sims; and it's very satisfying when your shy little chess nerd husbles videogames when dragged to a party. "Oh, what does this button do?...Beginner's luck. Best two out of three? You'll beat me this time." And they triumph again.
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Now now, I
did mention chess and Games enthusiasm back there. *points back to the bit on Games*
But speaking of hustling, I
did forget to mention that Games enthusiasts do a tidy job of hustling billiards for cash, though. I wonder if I have room for a few pool tables at that privately owned casino that I've built, come to think of it....
Quote: Originally posted by Charity
Er, Pizza?
Oh and I'd really like to see that microscope if you can remember where you got it from.
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"Pizza" being shorthand for "Pizzatron-9000," apparently.
And I wouldn't mind having a look at that microscope mod either.
Quote: Originally posted by joandsarah77
The term paper and the homework have promise, but I can't agree with the other two mods, as they feel too much like robbing Peter to pay Paul. Taking away something minor (like, say, Nature's bug collecting) and giving it to Science is all right in my book, but chessboards are staple Logic-building objects for many a beginning Sim family, and the Robot Crafting Station is, without a doubt, the best thing that Tinkering has going for it. Even the mighty Junk Car must kneel before it.
But I do admit that the field of robotics is a gray area here. Is there enough raw application of mechanics and electronics to make it Tinkering, or is there enough computer coding, theory and experimentation to make it Science? The jury may be out for a while on that one.
But there's no way that the game of chess, time-honored though it may be, could ever be considered a contributor to the annals of science, not as I see it. So that mod's never going to grace my Downloads folder.
Quote: Originally posted by gazania
Without Katy 76's modded microscope, I think science would indeed be a suckfest. That microscope also builds logic skills somewhat quickly. It's an essential feature in my Science building on Uni lots. The game's hobby lot is "meh" as well.
"There's a mod for that" re sports ...Axe-throwing builds body skill, fitness and sports. Thank you, Sophie-David. http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=435442
Re Fitness: Log-rolling builds fitness: http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=446789. Again, thanks to Sophie-David because really, these two make sense. According to the description of this mod, log-rolling also builds Sports enthusiasm. Admittedly, though, many lots can't exactly stick a log-rolling pit on the premises.
I subscribed to this thread. Very useful info. Thanks!
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I'm definitely going to have to look into that microscope.
It would make sense that axe-throwing should at least have some minor effect on Body; anyone who has ever thrown a hatchet at a large tree stump (or a mini-sledgehammer at an old TV, as I've
also done for entertainment here in the great state of Texas) knows that dealing with that sort of exertion and fatigue is no small task. Logrolling does already build Body, though, and my Sports dorm features two logrolling pits in lieu of exercise machines; they wouldn't want to lose anyone to that rascally Fitness camp, after all.
Quote: Originally posted by EmeraldFalcon
Pizza, that was a very good read--Entertaining, thorough, and informative.
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Thank you to you too.
Quote: Originally posted by EmeraldFalcon
I have a few contributions:
An additional good thing about Cuisine is that everyone eats, so most sims have some enthusiasm in it. It's the hobby I most often have my sims talk about to other sims to get that want out of the panel.
An additional bad thing about Cuisine is that my sims who really get into it sooner or later find themselves fat. They usually want to serve a meal, instead of making one plate of food for themselves, and the food they make is often of such high quality that it has way more food points than needed to fulfill the occasional peckish feeling. I don't think I'd want this changed, because it makes sense that sims who really liked food would be on the heavy side, but I do consider it a negative because sims themselves often don't want to be fat and will roll wants to get fit or fears of being fat. (Silly little pixels should enjoy it when it doesn't entail the health risks that it does in real life!)
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This is true. But now that I think about it, drinking juice from a bar or a wine rack (admit it, Maxis, it's a wine rack) also builds Cuisine enthusiasm, and I have yet to see any of my Sims turn fat while they're out binge-drinking at Sue's Secret Kitchen. Perhaps drinking juice and nectar is a welcome alternative to building Cuisine, rather than sitting down to a fifth helping of bass with squash.
But then, Cuisine can go hand-in-hand with Fitness or Sports as well. Gorge on food, then hit the logrolling pit or go jogging with your friends. My married pair of chefs (both Cuisine hobbyists) have two treadmills right there in their dining room, and that's no mere coincidence; they're both pretty strong in Fitness enthusiasm as well. So if you don't mind subjecting your Sims to an Oprah-style roller coaster of weight gain and weight loss, you could probably score some decent Aspiration points from filling multiple "Get Fit" Wants that way (particularly since the "Get Fat" Fear doesn't seem to exist).
Quote: Originally posted by EmeraldFalcon
A very important benefit of science that you forgot (or maybe didn't know about? It seems to be an accidentally well-kept secret) is that the "Watch for UFOs" interaction on the big telescope actually increases a sim's chance of being abducted. I do not know what it's increased to, but under normal circumstances, the chance is 0.5%, or so I've read. That's incredibly slim odds for a non-knowledge, non-Curious, non-Strangetown male sim who you want to have a baby, so I'll take whatever increase I can get. In fact, I just did this ingame with a girl called Sonja--she grew into a teen and before I'd even rolled her aspiration, she rolled the want to get the Extraterrestrial Reparations Grant. I locked that post-haste, and she rolled Fortune. I guess she was willing to do whatever it took to get that hunk of cash! Anyway, when her science was high enough to Watch for UFOs, she got abducted the same night. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I kind doubt it.
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I was wondering if there was any benefit to searching for UFO's, since I've never seen a Sim earn a single Simoleon from doing that. It does make sense, though; if you can see the aliens, chances are pretty good that they can see you too. And they might just get the idea to come down and have a word with the Peeping Tom about that.
I'll try that little experiment sometime, though. "Okay, Fred Sim! Get on that telescope and Search for Planets. Joe Sim! Get on the other telescope and Search for UFO's. Jill Sim! Get on the third telescope and do some casual Stargazing. Let's see who gets abducted first, people! For Science! Annnnnd....
begin!"
Quote: Originally posted by EmeraldFalcon
But regarding Science--
I just discovered how frustrating the hobby is for myself ingame yesterday. I was looking into alternatives to continue the Mann family line, (since Candy is holding onto her newborn ball of blackmail tighter than a life preserver in a sea of middle-class morality) and the thought occurred to me that Junior might unfortunately find himself a father to a little someone from the Great Green Beyond. I wanted to use "Watch for UFOs", since this was Widespot and Junior is Fortune, but his science wasn't high enough to get there. After one night of stargazing, he was at three points--still not high enough to browse the web. I started looking at alternatives for him to use during the day to get his hobby enthusiasm up, only to find that there were none! Just the ant farm. So now I have a collection of pictures of Junior Mann pretending to be an ant over and over all day because he has nothing better to do with his life.
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Well, Career Rewards of varying worth aside, there is another alternative to building Science enthusiasm during the daytime: the telescope. Using telescopes to spy on your neighbors still builds Science enthusiasm. Unfortunately, it comes with the downside of being interrupted at times whenever the oldest storyline Sim in the neighborhood notices you peeping around and comes barging through your house to confront you about it. Carmilla von Carstein (my Science-loving, three-time Mad Scientest Sciencey Vampire of Science living in that creepy hillside manor back there) used to have a steady rivalry with Mortimer Goth broiling over her indiscriminate uses of her telescopes, but that rivalry has cooled--and its source negated--ever since some dastardly grand vampire went up to her and nibbled on her neck. So since then, Doctor Mal Evolence (my Tinkering/Science hobbyist and leader of an army of robots who shall surely rise up one day in a contentious bid for global conquest) has taken up the cherished role of "Esteemed Daylight Telescoper and Persistent Thorn in Mortimer Goth's Wrinkled Backside" in her stead. :D
Quote: Originally posted by Sunbee
Science is one of my favorite hobbies. My sims easily average $1000 a night from the telescope. For non-knowledge sims who want an alien baby (yeah, yeah, but they're family sims with locked baby wants so close enough for me) there's search for UFO's. I know I've heard that sometimes the UFO doesn't impregnate them, but I haven't had that happen yet.
I don't like film and literature--that should be two separate things and I wish my bookworm sims would stop rolling watch movie wants and vice versa. Likewise with music and dance. I feel that it would have made more sense to combine sports and fitness, which at least are closely related activities, than film and literature and music and dance.
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I can see why Film and Literature would be combined, though, with as many books which get turned into movies and vice-versa. It all started with someone taking the movie projector's great granddaddy back in the late 1800's and using it to cast their friends and families in silent film versions of Bram Stoker's
Dracula and Victor Hugo's
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (long before the lofty careers of Charles Laughton and Bela Lugosi were but twinkles in Tinseltown's eye, mind you), and books have enjoyed a steady relationship with movies ever since (even if that means all-too-commonly subjecting the masses to such squallid storytelling as the Twilight movies as well as literary adaptations of such cinematic offal as
Bloody Chainsawfest VII: It Came from the Charnel Pit or whatever).
Joining Music and Dance isn't much of a stretch, either. If
Madonna can spin a 30-year career out of composing songs, singing said songs, thrash-dancing in questionable attire before the eyes of millions and dry-humping someone's groin in a music video every now and then,
anyone can do it.
Quote: Originally posted by Sunbee
EmeraldFalcon, have him watch the weather channel and check the weather report in the newspaper until he can read the relevant newspaper section--if someone hasn't stolen the newspaper. This is Widespot, after all, though at least Junior lives with the worst newspaper thief! (Too bad the stolen papers don't show up in Rich's inventory, huh?)
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Did you ever wonder
why Sims have such an easy time cleaning their birdcages?
It kind of makes you wonder where all those newspapers
have been going, doesn't it?
Okay, that was a very long post. I'm going to take a nap now. See you later, Simmers.