How...does the game spawn NPCs?

[Claeric]

Are they all spawned as actual sims before disappearing into an NPC pool or are they spawned upon being needed?

I uploaded a world just yesterday that is a tiiiiiiny little island and I only just noticed that there are sims spawning near the only community lot on it with items on it, running away, and disappearing. Upon further inspection, these are pizza people, maids, etc.

Is this just the game spawning NPCs or is this awkward behavior that will remain eternally consistently happening? I ask because it has been a game day and I can't imagine there are that many NPCs that it should still be happening, assuming that is indeed what is happening.

[spaceface]

I'ma play your island now because this sounds hilarious.

When I played Coconut Island, there were pizza folk visible about town but none ever actually delivered a pizza because of the lack of roads. Are your sims not phoning for services?

[soozelwoozel]

Lolzers. I thought I saw something in the corner of my eye earlier, but didn't bother to investigate. (Too busy trying to coax my pair into procreating.) I guess uninhabited islands aren't so Pudding-friendly after all.

[The_Goddess]

NPC's always show up in community lots designated as parks.  I had the magician show up in mine a few times.

[kazebird]

What does the Magician actually do?  I don't think I've ever seen one in the game.

[The_Goddess]

What does the Magician actually do?  I don't think I've ever seen one in the game.

They were supposed to be inviteable to parties, but they were removed from the game.  They will probably be added back in at a later date with an expansion pack.  They still show up at the park wearing a tux, top hat and face paint (The one with stars).  I have had no luck interacting with them, but I heard of others who have developed a relationship with them.  

[spaceface]

I've seen him on the Paradise island too. Looks pretty funny, especially as he is running as fast as he can. In Sunset Valley he just hangs out in the park looking mysterious.

[uknortherner]

At least now I can put a name to the face. That magician used to creep me out just standing there in the park at 7am every morning.

[nekochanpurr]

What does the Magician actually do?  I don't think I've ever seen one in the game.

They were supposed to be inviteable to parties, but they were removed from the game.  They will probably be added back in at a later date with an expansion pack.  They still show up at the park wearing a tux, top hat and face paint (The one with stars).  I have had no luck interacting with them, but I heard of others who have developed a relationship with them.  

I've actually married one before.. His kids are pretty.

[Claeric]

Alright, it's happening again.



That guy at the bottom ran out of the building to the right. :\ This lot was "Graveyard". Changed it to "Library" and it still happens.

D:

[spaceface]

I changed the lots to library, art gallery and pool and I have not seen a single NPC. I think I might have left one as a small park.

[Inf]

You know Claeric...I was wondering about something on the subject of NPC's and if there was a way to gain better control over the NPC home? I want to be able to pick and choose who I put in the NPC home and who I do not want in the NPC home.

I did attempt to create a SIM and then give them the job of an NPC but they were not an NPC. They were still controllable by means of my being able to use Twallans SC and AM and select them as a playable Sim. There is no option to take control of an NPC " that I know of " if they are an NPC. Also using the AM Select command does not give you the option either to gain control of the NPC home by selecting one of them by name. Tried that as well. So...How the game chooses to spawn them is one thing but to gain better control over them is another.

Something else that bugs the crap outa me about the NPC's as well. I have tested this on numerous NEW hoods and the same NPC's always spawn. One in particular is Kate Pistashio { AF - Maid } - This one sim " Not that I dislike her " but it's always the same ones. Sure I can kill them off and force a generation of a new NPC sim to take it's place but why does the game choose these specific sims to generate no matter what hood you create. I also get the same thing in my CAW. Weird...

[friendlyquark]

Kate is the new Goopy, I think. She's just freakin everywhere.

What really weirds me out is the kids. You have NPC paper kid, who shows up at school, comes over for parties and then ...what...do they grow up and become babysitters, then maids? Is there some sort of messed up class system here where they are born into servitude and remain in service until death? It's just weird.

[jezzer]

Those "paper kids" are actually 45-year-old midgets, with records as long as your arm.

[J. M. Pescado]

That guy at the bottom ran out of the building to the right. :\ This lot was "Graveyard". Changed it to "Library" and it still happens.

Homeless sims, such as service NPCs, instantiate themselves into the world, and deinstantiate themselves, by pretending to appear or disappear into random buildings. If you look really closely, you'll see the performing the motions of walking into a door, then fading away. You're not intended to look this closely.