This is an excellent idea and I hope it works out fine.

How about extending it to only allow entry to college for teenagers at a certain grade?

linolino, I feel the same way about the changes I'd have like to see. So I started doing it myself. So far it includes: higher bills, higher NPC costs, lower wages and longer hours, less comfortable beds (so they sleep till morning),making skill gain more difficult, fleshing out skills for job promotion, making an A+ grade harder to achieve .....etc

linolino, I can help you if you wish with the specific files on this issue. However, I know that there is some fun in experimenting and learning for yourself.

linolino, in objects.package (group 7FF64E02), you will find BCONs controlling aspiration decay for both sleeping and working. I thought I'd give it a try by using the same constants as for the different ages, also within this group. It makes aspiration success much tougher, as dizzy-two points out, you cannot counter failure during sleep or work. You could tweak these constants to some other level if you wish, giving the result you require but this would probably be unique to your style of play.

I don't have Uni installed so you'll have to use trial and error. As for extracting, no, just alter as you require commit and save

Linolino, have a look in the wants folder. One of the the files there holds the individual points for each want/fear and another holds the aspiration levels for each age group. They are both .xml files which JM informed me cannot be altered by placing in the download folder but it may be possible to change and save if you really want to do that.

If aspiration decay could occur at all times, that would certainly make the game more difficult and could be enough to satisfy your need. On that point, I'd bow to JM's superior knowledge 

The aspiration levels can be increased - though not through a mod - only by changing the game files themselves. So I backed off the idea.

Thank you. Now those sims will have to be a touch more frugal.

The struggle is for them to have relative success in their lives, not for every single one of them to get A+ grades, perfect college marks and reach the top of their career and thats with my 9 year old daughter playing.

Behind that dry wit, your point is profound.                                                           

No, I would just like to see less initial cash.

Financial constraints balanced against aspirational needs probably summarises it.
Changing child care, maid service costs etc. and revamping wages, work hours and skill requirements is within my ability and clearly trivial for you  - but since I can't change aspirations, this is the other option.   

From my point of view, 10000 is more than adequate to acquire everything that is needed on day one. (That does include building walls etc which are hardly needed) PLUS, if two sims get together currently, they get the added benefit of another 20000 (or so). - hardly the scenario for a young married couple needing to make their way. In fact they hardly need to work. Ever!
  This, when compared with their offspring using the no 20k handout mod (my favourite hack), is too generous. I believe a significant reduction compliments that hack.

Am I convincing you?   



 

Pescado, is it possible to reduce the initial start cash from 20,000 to a lower figure - 15,000 or 10,000.
Enough to build a half decent place but without the luxuries?