More Awesome Than You!

Since so many of us use the clean templates and hate the MAXIS fugly townies...

Is it possible to make up a custom set of townies that can be traded between other neighborhoods?

For example:

Create empty neighborhood.

Make dozens of townies.

Makes dozens of Vacation Locals.

Make 1 or 2 NPCs.

Now you're hood is ready to go. So, in theory, can you make a copy of the character folder for use in other games and/or other empty hoods? So that you don't have to go through the long drawn out process of creating 30+ townies? Also provides the added bonus of being able to share a MATY cast of characters that are ready to go, just plop down in the characters folder and viola!

Madame Mim has neighborhoods at Genensims that seem to do this.  I keep planning to try them, but haven't yet.  This is, admittedly, not helpful in itself, but it looks like a good place to start.

You can't actually just trade townies, but you can make templates. Marhiz and Marvin Kosh did some work on templates other than just for townies and NPC's. The consensus is that you have to either work with Numenors anygame starter or get really proficient at deleting Sims.

I'll also put some info on the threads that these discussions were in when I find them. To start with though I'd read SaraMK's thread on clean templates. There's a lot of information there as well as some other links IIRC.
http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,3996.0.html
http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,6872.0.html
Should have some useful information.

Well, I have read the clean templates thread, since I use them and all.

I'm just tired of making a gazillion townies every time I start a new hood. By the time I finish with all of them, I don't want to play anymore. =p I was hoping that I could copy of the characters folder or something once I finish, to copy over to new hoods whenever they catch my fancy.

Well, you can make a template with the townies you want, instead of clean templates.
Put the clean Pleasantview (N001) in your MyDocuments/etc./Nhood folder (zip or move out the current N001, if you have any). Load it in game - better if in AGS with base game only, create all the townies and NPCs you want to use as recurring template. Save, exit.
Move this N001 into Programs/The Sims 2/TSData/Neighborhoods/ substituting the old one (cleaned or original); restore your game folder.

From now on, whenever you'll create a new neighborhood, it will be automatically populated by default with your townies/NPCs set: new fresh copies, with no move in/move out, memories, etc. issues.

Is there a similar template for the vacation locals? That way, all Hoods would have the same locals?

You're suggestiong the AGS Base Game just to ensure that the template would be compatiable for other players, yes? So, if it was for personal use, I could use my custom content and whatnot? The Holiday Pack kimonos are much prettier than the BV ones, after all.

There is one way to get your custom characters as townies forever: just set up a custom neighborhood as you want it, from SaraMK and Jordi's great guides (put clean templates in place etc), then make a backup of the neighborhood. If you want to revert to your original townies, just delete the old neighborhood from the Neighborhoods folder and replace it with your backup. I like keeping an OFB neighborhood because you can start off with minimal NPCs. You can adjust your new NPCs in-game with Christianlov's great new DNA fixer after you give them face-lifts (available at MTS2_christianlov_769393_CPackEditor_0.2.4.128_Release_x86.zip). I know you are asking whether you can transfer townies, but using Pescado's terrain modifier means you can make your backup neighborhood quite new each time. I don't know if this helps?

I haven't done it myself, but it's worth a try; do the same with the BV hoods (they should be V001 for turists, A001 for Asian, T001 for Island, M001 for Mountain, in NeighborhoodTemplates folder). At least in theory it should work.
If it doesn't work, you may anyway load them in SimPE and perform surgery on those already existent (I did this on mine).


Yes; also, to be sure it will work in any case (original Pleasantview is base game, I don't know if further EPs will modify the hood structure to the point it will not be recognizable or usable when the game will copy the townies in new neighborhoods).

Well, this time I decided to make the v. locals in Body Shop, so that they'll be saved there. FOREVER. This way, if I get purge happy, I will have them available to plunk down with minimum effort.

This only works if you're willing to trash the first 'hood you made.  However, the general idea does work well if you want to share the entire 'hood.

Jelenedra, if you do experiment with this, would you report back, or share your 'hood?  Other people with matching EPs could play with your townies if they're willing to take them as a whole 'hood rather than a template.  With SimPE, people could even switch terrains if they wanted. 

I also take an age to get around to playing a new 'hood.  I don't even have the attention span to finish the townie job; I get bored and go off to play my older 'hoods for a week or two.  Eventually, I get back to making townies, locals, socials, then building -- it takes me months.  As annoying as it is, I find I don't really want the same townies.  I'm much more interested in new faces, so I've used Madam Mim's templates and swallowed some other neighbourhoods as a whole, to satisfy myself.

I suppose the only thing to be concerned about would be the neighborhood name, if you just copy over the character files... any custom townies that get shared, would have to be for the exactly same neighborhood for everyone. Unless, of course, if the method Marhis suggested works and any new neighborhoods would use the template saved in N001.

I wouldn't copy or move the character files of a shared 'hood.  I suspect that might lead to corruption, if you tried to insert the new townies into an existing 'hood.  The Neighborhood file links to all the character files, so they'd have to stay together.

What I was thinking was that I'd do terrain surgery on a regular 'hood containing the custom townies.  If you shared Lake Jelenedra, I'd rename it, surgery the terrain and then get on with building and playing. :)  Of course, templates are even better since they offer the flexibility of taking out the noregen hacks and filling any 'hoods that you might deem underpopulated.  It's just that I'm not so picky about populated 'hoods, because there aren't very many offered.

Definately the template method works. It's what some of my Neighbourhoods are based on and they're completely swappable so that you can use a different template to create different themed hoods. In theory I suppose you could use any Neighbourhood that you have previously set up as a template if you're not worried about excess sim bloat.

I desperately would like to see a sharable set of (maxis only but made with different face template) townies and vacation locals with clear instructions. Maybe we could make a list like 16 males, 6 with S1, 1 each color eyes, one each color hair, and people could sign up to make them and then share. Sims with "interesting" faces. Something other than the template face 1 standby and without having to download a bunch of custom content. Maybe instead of just having a house of fail contest, we could share sims for people to townify.

There is a program called PowerRen 2000. I know that other players have used it to rename the files in a Nxxx folder, if they want to run the same hood in different ways. Apparently it works fine for them, so with that and Terrain Surgery, it shouldn´t be impossible.

Pes says that having multiple copies of the same neighborhood (with different names and numbers) is not safe, since the GUIDs are used globally (across neighborhoods).  I can try to find a link, if you'd like to see the discussion.

That's why it's best to use the template method. If you turn your Neighbourhood into a template then the game uses it to create new Neighbourhoods with completely unique GUID's.

I agree that a template is better.  I've made extensive use of both of yours. :D

I don't think there is any harm in renaming files if you're willing to swallow a whole 'hood though, including the terrain, sub-'hoods, and any lots visible or hidden.  Terrain surgery is safe for the sub-'hoods as well as the main 'hood.  The only limitation is that you can't keep more than one copy of a shared 'hood, so the townies couldn't be recycled.

Well, if Pes says that, it might be a good idea to listen.


If it is me you are asking, then don´t bother. I only play one hood and have no need for testing it out. Just repeted what others have said :)

Mmkay, so if I were to work on a MATY template would most people prefer a template based on the base game? Or would it be okay to assume a certain number of EPs or SPs? I know not everyone has the latest EPs, but generally, everyone here has up to Pets, yes?

Also, I would need moar CC-less MATYzens.

I'd definitely be interested in a base game template.  I have all of the EPs and SPs for my work on the LotAdjuster, but most of the later ones seem more annoying than positive, so I often play with everything up to OFB.

I have up to Seasons, with Holidays/Celebration, Glamour, H&M and Family Fun. No TSS, no Mansion & Gardens, Ikea or Kitchen & Bath. I think I also have a cc free copy of my simselves, or at least info on what to put them in. You have them, yes?

I do.  :D I am kinda hoping I can could make BV templates that include Holiday/Celebration pack items, as the kimonos are moar accurate.

Also, does anyone care about 6s, 12s, or 60s? I could make said townies, but if no one cares to have townie 6s or 60s I won't bother to add any. Except for those that actually have a self sim in that category; I believe most of our "elder" MATYzens prefer to have adult self sims.This will be beneficial, because it means that your 6s won't bring home friends unless there is another playable 6 in the Hood.

Pescado, of course, will be made first, so he will be the telescope shover.  :P

I'd also like feedback on the lack of males that will be in the townie pool. Should I leave it as is? Or should there be some gender swapping?

I don't think it should matter if you make townies that use content from SPs.  I think they will revert to random townie- (or BV-) wear, at least that's the way it worked when I used one of Madam Mim's templates with an incomplete set of CC.

I would play with a full complement of 6s, 60s and males, but it makes sense to use your own play style as the guiding principle here.  Others can supplement or tweak their MATYzens as desired.

I would really like it if we could have a contest for decent townie sims. Honestly, I'd be happy if I just didn't have to make all of them myself in CAS. Adding pre-made sims to the neighborhood and then using Inge's shrub to make them into townies would be acceptable to me.

Suggested Criteria:

1. No custom content
2. Sim must look acceptable as both male and female (prove it with pictures).
3. Three pictures should show how the sim will look as an adult, one full shot, one portrait, and one profile picture.
4. Sim should breed well with other sims and not produce fugly children. The best way to avoid this is to make sure the height of the eyes/mout/nose and length of the face doesn't vary too much.

Your first two criteria are easily met by many sites hosting sims.  The remaining two I admit are harder, but I've solved it in the past by getting most of my townie gene pool from just one or two creators.  I think it must be human nature to lean towards a certain facial geometry as appealing, and most creators don't stray too far from whatever their personal preference is.

I like LL30 Sims. (http://ll30sims.com/) Clear pictures, good variety.

I have 72 sims that you can have. See them here http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v157/Mizz_Rose_Bud/RoseBrook/Sims/ (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v157/Mizz_Rose_Bud/RoseBrook/Sims/)

These are old pics and they are using Lyrans skintones, but they do not look very different with the EAxis skintone. If you are interested, I will fire up BS. :)

I'm not worried too much about any wierd variations, but what I do do when creating new townies is use a combination of random generation (dice) for their personal characteristics and the in game breeding factor. I create 4 adult Sims, breed them together in CAS, breed their children together in CAS and my new townie is that third generation. Delete the previous and import the result. Means I don't have to think too hard in order to get that small amount of random into my game.

I've been trying to do this and have run into a snag. I made my 32 townies. And then moved/summoned (using inge's cat) them to a lot, and made them selectable, and then made them a townie. (I didn't know that the first townie you made became the last name group for all townies). The last CAS made sim I townify, however, then makes the lot stop and he doesn't leave.

Then I go into SimPE and (hopefully) remove the correct files (Sim Relations, Select all, right click and delete and save).

Then I place my (renamed) N001 in the Program Files (eagames, sims blah blah blah) spot and then enter the game and make a new neighborhood. When I check the number of character files, however, I only have31, probably  because that last guy doesn't leave the lot.

Solution?

Bulldozing the lot should work.

Oops. should have mentioned that I'm pretty sure (90%) that I did bulldoze the lot before exiting the neighborhood and going into simpe to delete relationships.

Of course, after I posted, I realized that if it doesn't leave the sim in any form in the folder (hence generating only 31 instead of the 32) I can just make a throwaway sim for the last townie (that doesn't get townified). D'oh.

I just use an option on Inge's teleporter to remove all non-residents. The sim leaves, the lot freezes and turns into a normal uninhabited lot, I save and exit to the hood. I can use the same lot over and over again, I leave all the customisation tools on it permanently.

Yes. I usually do it that way. Then you can have a hood that either generates as N001 with playables or is used as a base for other new hoods.

I must be doing it wrong somehow. Because as soon as I tell the last resident "Make me a townie" and they turn to walk off the lot, I get the stopping red square around everything. So it never completes that leaving. Or something.

Just save and exit the lot at that point then, because there are no longer any residents. All your townies will still be townies.

Not to be obtuse, but that is what I did. Twice. And both times when I then deleted relationships and substituted that neighborhood with townies into a template and then generated a new neighborhood, then did a character folder count, I got 31 instead of 32 (the number I had made). I'll try it again this weekend.

Did you pause the game before you made all non-residents bugger off? Usually they'll just drop off the UI and disappear that way.

I did figure out my previous problem. Before telling the last actual resident to "make me a townie" I instead summoned someone already a townie, made that visitor selectable, then made the last resident a townie, then using the selectable visiter, zapped all visitors (all using inge's cat).

I made 32 townies. I designated one a garden club member, but the game generates a different one anyway.
I made 12 dormies
I made 6 each vacation locals
I made 1 downtownie (extra person)

All that adds up to 63. When I put those character files in the C:\Program Files (x86)\EA GAMES\The Sims 2\TSData\Res\UserData\Neighborhoods\N001\Characters and the neighborhood package file in N001 and generate a new neighborhood, I get 44 character files in the new neighborhood.

So I'm confused. I can understand if the game doesn't generate the townies with no associated subhoods. But that would leave me with the 32 original townies I made, not 44. Anyone else working on this? Anyone else seeing something like this? Any ideas?

Do you have Freetime? How many hobby mavens are there?

ETA: there should be ten hobby mavens, it seems, so if you're just counting main hood sims, you would have 32 normal + 10 mavens = 42 sims. You said you have 44, so maybe the other two are Grimmy and some other NPC that's generated immediately. Or maybe not even Grimmy? Newspaper girl + postal carrier?

I think I am just missing some essential element of this. So unfortunately, after making 63 townies myself, I think I'm going to abandon this. I took my test person on vacation and none of my locals showed up.

Did you make new vacation templates as well? If you just had them in the main hood and copied that as a template, it won't work that way. Once you zap a townie as a vacation local, they will be in that hood, and that hood only. That's why the dormies and the downtownies didn't work either.

Also, did you summon any NPCs or go to a community lot?

doh! The vacation templates. Thank you!

And hmmm I don't think I summoned any NPC's or went to a community lot in the hood I'm using to make the templates. The test hood I did. Should I in the creation hood?

Well, when you ran the test hood, did you check the number of character files before or after testing? You could've gone to a lot with a barista or a bartender or a [insert npc here] and the game summoned one.

Oh, yes, I obsessively checked the number of character files so that I was sure I knew that I was creating each one. In the (hopefully) template creation hood, I went to a res lot, paused, sethour to 6 am, and then did the summoning and "make me a..." process, everytime it reached 6:45, I went back to 6 am.

So, for the now vacation local character files. In My Documents, they are in the main character folder. Do I figure out which locals are which using SimPE, and then move those files to the Programs Files .... [vacation neighborhood/characters] folder? And what to do about the Program Files/ .... A/M/T001 neighborhood.package files? Since in the playing hood in My Documents, those characters just get dumped into the all-in-one character folder, I didn't consider this.

As I suspected, I was missing an essential element of this.

It could be that we can't make a new templates for the v. hoods, unless someone can figure out where the game is generating those from. I suspect it's just random townie generation, so there is not really a way to edit that. Other than using facial template hiders/replacements.

Could you go through the character files from your test hood and see what the two mystery files were from? It couldn't be the racecar or helicopter or something, right?

Ok, I've figured out, I think, the count inaccuracy.

I had 63 files
- 32 "townies"
- 12 "dormies"
- 18 "vacation locals"
- 1 "downtownie"

When I use that neighborhood as a template for N001, in my newly created neighborhood I get
- 44 files
probably:
- 32 townies
- 12 dormies

Because I didn't/don't know how make a new vacation or downtown template, those character files are just "poof" I'm guessing.

Well, at least I understand what's going on, even if I can't fix it.

None of the "NPC" family or default family is included in that character file count. I can see them in SimPE, but because the game hasn't run to generate them, they aren't actually character files yet. I think.

Well, I suspect most people don't have a desire to create ugly sims, because if you WANT to make ugly sims, there's no reason not to simply let the built-in ugly sim generator do its thing.

That would make sense, although I wonder why it would keep your dormies, but burninate the other subhood townies? Did you make a UNI hood right off the bat?

It's even weirder than that. It generated them one by one as the game needed them. But they were definitely my townies/dormies. I was thinking it would do the same thing when I went on vacation but it didn't.

Ever heard that thing about beauty and the beholder?  I meant that each creator's idea of what is not fugly tends to be narrower than what could be considered acceptably attractive.  I suspect that it's even somewhat narrower than the full range of what they themselves might find attractive in human faces.

Some creators tend to make sims with elongated, slender faces, others make rounder, shorter faces.  Separation of the eyes, width of noses, fullness of lips can all have a pretty big range and still be un-fugly.  Even so, faces which all come from one creator lean towards a certain uniformity that doesn't encompass the whole of what could be considered appealing.  I'm not certain whether it's truly human nature as I suggested above, a limitation in CAS, or the simple fact that TS2 creators are generally not professional portraitists.

Well, I tried taking the character files of the townies I made into vacation locals in my creation hood and putting them in Program Files ....../A001/Characters (etc) but that didn't work. So I guess I'll make them all back into townies. *sigh

Frankly, zapping 6-8 townies into vacation locals isn't as bad as 32-60. At least we discovered that the template for the main hood works. That's something.

Although, I am curious, is deleting relationships necessary for custom townies? Don't they get lobotomized when they get zapped with the townie gun?

I never checked into this when I made my own custom townies, but then, I was trying to be quick. I didn't even give them all different last names. They're all Smiths. The dormies are all Walkers.

That's a good question. The only relationships I made when I created the townies was the necessary parental ones.

However, I did go into SIMPE and delete all the relationships in the list. So obviously there were a significant amount of relationships made and kept even after using Inge's cat to townify.

One of my hoods has a core of two big families with all but a few townified.  The sibling/child relationships are still there in the family tree, and while the relationship levels plummeted on townification, it was easy to get them back up.  I even townified a married couple with a pregnant woman, the idea being that she's always pregnant (if I move her into a house to play her, I'll have to get her a bunch of kids before she finally has this one).  The couple had something go odd in the family chart and weren't listed properly until I Blender'd them, but it seems to be working.  I am not sure I have checked sufficiently, though.

As usual, my game may (almost certainly is) riding the edge of ginormous asplosions, but it's generally more fun that way.