Let the cruelty begin

[Scout]

There is just something so wrong about every sim family ending up wealthy in a generation or two. Not to sound too cruel, but there simply isn't enough poverty or suffering naturally occurring in my game.

So I'm currently setting up a new neighborhood and intend to make the money more realistic. Which translates into more poor sims. And I also intend to generally make the sims suffer more. I thought I would post some of the hacks I'm thinking of using and see if anyone else has others they might suggest.

Thanks to Berg who suggested a couple for me recently and made me decide that I needed to see what else was out there that I hadn't seen yet. So please suggest away!!

School:
I will eventual use a custom school using tools from Simlogical but am looking at these for now.
syberspunk's Harder Grades (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=131960)
Cyjon's Harder Homework (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=230191)
Simlogical's No Social Worker (http://www.simlogical.com/sl/Sims2Pages/Sims2_Childcare.htm) (so kids with bad grades aren't taken but hungry kids still would be)
Monique's Hacked Computer (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=64137) (Has fees for private school)

Housing:
monique's Tenant Landlord Mod (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=171883) (for renters)
Simlogical's Mortgage Shrubs (http://www.simlogical.com/sl/Sims2Pages/Sims2_MovingHouse.htm) (for buyers also can be used for loans for other things)

Expenses/Financial:
monique's Automatic Payment Mod (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=203984) (can be used for so many things)
Pescado's Money Order (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php?topic=7.0) (also useful in multiple situations)
monique's Child Support (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=163933)
DJS Sims Cat Litter Costs (http://www.djssims.com/index.php?category=10)
DJS Sims Driving a Car Costs Money (http://www.djssims.com/index.php?category=10) (I probably won't use this as I have a different plan but I thought someone else might want to)
Morague's More Expensive Bills plus Dorm Billing (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,8312.0.html)
Jordan M.G.'s No Inheritance (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,9555.0.html)
Pescado's No 20k Handout (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php?topic=7.0)
(via the Graveyard) Squinques Increased Bills (http://files.sims2graveyard.com/squinge/) (Thanks zizismommy! Just a note - You wouldn't use this with the other increased bills hack from earlier)

Suffering:
Avadon's Realistic Sickness (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,8062.0.html) (who doesn't love illness you can die from?)
Slower Skill Gains (http://www.omniloth.net/sims/ts2_hacks.htm)
Alexx58's Harder Relationships (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=241232)

Jobs:
Pescado's Harder Jobs (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,5991.0.html)
syberspunk's Uni Career Hack (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,6773.0.html) (changes what jobs require an education)
Paladin's Playable Maid Mod (http://simwardrobe.com/) (Thanks Berg! That links to their site which you should look around anyway but the maid doesn't seem to be listed so here (http://208.109.175.73/playable-maid-controller.htm) is the exact page.)

Unexpected Pregnancies (oh yes they make life harder):
There are several to choose from so choose wisely grasshopper
Inteenimater (http://box156.bluehost.com/~aestudi1/forums/inteenimater/viewforum.php?f=6) (Has it built in as well as miscarriages although you can use a flavor pack to disable the miscarriages if you wish)
Sweatm's Risky WooHoo (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=40087)
syberspunk's Hide Try for Baby (http://modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=146920)
syberspunk's Risky WooHoo, Quiet Preg, Reduced Chance for Pregnancy (http://modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=108011)

Edited yet again to add:
This would definitely go under Suffering. Not sure which EPs it works with though.
Carrigon's Intense Fire Hack (http://www.sims2workshop.com/viewtopic.php?t=124) (Warning: Fires will move very quickly with this mod. Sims may die. That's ok with me but make sure it's ok with you before trying.)

[Zaggytiddies]

This is a really neat idea and sounds like a way to make your game more interesting. I don't think that I could do it cause cheating is sooo easy... but the illness thingy sounds cool ... :devil:

[Ghanima Atreides]

I might try these, at least some of them...the game is not challenging enough for me anymore and I'm sad to say I'm a little bored with it :(

Great ideas :)

[Scout]

This is a really neat idea and sounds like a way to make your game more interesting. I don't think that I could do it cause cheating is sooo easy... but the illness thingy sounds cool ... :devil:

Oh yes cheating is very easy. And I've done more than my share. And I still intend to cheat in many ways.

For example, I don't think one should have to have friends to advance in their career. The hack to fix that conflicts with another of the hacks I've chosen so instead I'm going to use a cheat to keep relationships from decaying over time (or at least decay very, very slowly). Because I can't be bothered to have my sims calling people all the time to keep the relationships up. I'm lazy. :D

I might try these, at least some of them...the game is not challenging enough for me anymore and I'm sad to say I'm a little bored with it :(

Great ideas :)

I'm hoping that by increasing the number of struggling sims it will spice up my game as well. With that and an increase in deaths I'm hoping to keep things interesting.

[burning desire]

I like this. A LOT! All that will fit finely in my game. Except for the child support it doesn't work for me. Anyway I am sure I will download all of that! THANKS!

xLondonx

[ani_]

I love playing poor families 10 times more than the rich.

I tried the landlord and tenant hack - but hated that when the owner bought the house - the sims who were suppose to be poor got the the amount the new owner payed. This is why I switched to using monique's Automatic Payment Mod - it's better in many ways - icluding that you don't have to play the owner to set the rent.

Pescado's No 20k Handout is absolutely wonderfull - it's really challenging when the kids leave and only have a few hundred simoleans to live from.

I'm going now throught your list and downloading things I didn't even know existed like the car payment. Please keep us updated on what's happening in your hood.

[foolinthemoon]

wow, you did your homework! I love this idea, like i need more hacks, but i love the reality and the challenge added to it! <3 Great job!

[maxpax318]

I love this idea, if I get some time I might have to download all of that and try it out myself. Keep us updated!! :D

[Berg_SC]

Cool! I didn't want to hijack the Uni-thread but now we can keep discussing this topic. Good initiative!

Thanks for the tip about "expensive bills" - I didn't know about it and will def. get it. Some of my sims only pay §18 in rent! To pay that little they have to live in miserable shacks, of course, but still...

I don't use Monique's "Landlord&Tennant" mod yet... It scares me a little :P. What are your experience with it?

I do however use her Automatic Payment mod for my sims daily income taxes and I love it! It's so easy to set up and works like a charm! My sims pay 10% income tax but with a minimum of §50. It really sucks for my playable maid who on a good day earns §100 for her and her child to live on :D

Playable maid? Yes, with Paladin's playable maid controller you can hire any playable sim as your maid. You schedule when s/he should come and after that it works just like the ordinary maid (sans the ugly van). The playable maid of course keeps the money for her services but s/he don't leave his/her house to go to 'work' when you play his/her lot. This is a great solution for my single mother (mentioned above) who can't have a regular job becuase paying a nanny would make her lose money by going to work!

layable maid mod available here http://simwardrobe.com/

[Scout]

Cool! I didn't want to hijack the Uni-thread but now we can keep discussing this topic. Good initiative!


I had that same thread hijacking thought and was looking to avoid it. :D

I haven't used the Landlord/Tenant mod yet. I had previously downloaded it but could never break away from the Automatic Payment mod to use it since I had already set up those payments and was too lazy to change everything. I'm going to try it with this new neighborhood and will post how it works.

I'll have to try the playable maid mod as well. I have used Dolphin's All In One before and it worked well but Paladin's has such nice mods that I'll have to try it. I downloaded Paladin's Produce and Fish Packing stations to use with my farm for supplying groceries for the people. Basically I'll give them a home business and then use a teleporter and one of the control a sim mods to make them selectable and make each family that needs to buy groceries during the farm house's turn.

[Styledx_SC]

I've been trying the landlord/tenant mod. it's pretty good. I have it set up as 500 simoleans weekly to pay haha. I really like this idea. I downloaded most the things you listed and tried it out and found myself less bored with the sims.

[Scout]

Styledx, thanks for letting us know about how that mod is working for you. I can't wait to try it myself. I'm glad you enjoy all the mods. The mod creators have really added so much to the game.

[JadeEliott]

Monique's mods are excellent. I actually do not use the L and T mod anymore, I just use auto pay mod instead. When she made the L and T mod she was fulfilling a request for me that she misunderstood. The second time she made the Auto Payment mod which was what I really wanted. That mod is the core of Thymian Government.

Good job on the list of Mods, Scout!

[Scout]

JadeEliott, yes that Auto Pay Mod is fantastic! Your Isle of Thyme really changed how I play. I'm sure it changed how many other people play as well. Once you go to an integrated economic system it is hard to go back to using the in-game careers. So thank you for that.

It also opened that realism door which puts me where I am now - looking to increase some of the difficulty in order to maintain a balanced (few rich and more poor) society.

[JadeEliott]

Thanks Scout. I have not used a maxis career in two years. Pointless when everyone has their own business in town or is working for someone else.

In fact, I usually need more employees! It's a hiring market in Thyme!

[zizismommy_SC]

Scout here's another to add to the list. It's squinge's increased bills hack x10. I haven't had it conflict with any of the other 100+ hacks I have.
http://www.mediafire.com/?65482zebpk0

Berg thanks for the playable maid link. Will definitely check that out. :D

JadeEliott, yes that Auto Pay Mod is fantastic! Your Isle of Thyme really changed how I play. I'm sure it changed how many other people play as well. Once you go to an integrated economic system it is hard to go back to using the in-game careers. So thank you for that.

It also opened that realism door which puts me where I am now - looking to increase some of the difficulty in order to maintain a balanced (few rich and more poor) society.

I agree with scout. It wasn't until I came across your site that I even started using the mods I use now. It changed the whole way I play. My renters pay $3000/wk each. And if they can't manage..... :flamer:

[Scout]

Thanks zizismommy! I will add it and a couple other things in a little bit.

[ani_]

Playable maid? Yes, with Paladin's playable maid controller you can hire any playable sim as your maid. You schedule when s/he should come and after that it works just like the ordinary maid (sans the ugly van). The playable maid of course keeps the money for her services but s/he don't leave his/her house to go to 'work' when you play his/her lot. This is a great solution for my single mother (mentioned above) who can't have a regular job becuase paying a nanny would make her lose money by going to work!

layable maid mod available here http://simwardrobe.com/

Is the playable maid still there? it should be under objects -> other objects but I cant seem to find it. I do remember seeing it ages ago but not today - oh - and sorry guys for making this a wiki :)

[Scout]

That's odd as I don't see it either. So I did a quick search and found the page here. (http://208.109.175.73/playable-maid-controller.htm)

[zizismommy_SC]

It's been taken down. He made a post on his forum about it. It's the first thread under sims 2 object support.
http://support.simwardrobe.com/

[Kaotic Bliss]

I couldn't find that maid hack anywhere on the site period. The link you provided just went to the page where it said he fixed it and it said where it was located but it wasn't there darn it. I really wanted to try it too.

[jenny]

this looks interesting...I like this idea....

[Scout]

zizismommy, thanks. At least I won't have any maid needs for a while so maybe by the time some of my sims can afford them it will be fixed.

Kaotic Bliss, I downloaded it from the link I posted so I'm unsure why it wasn't available for you. Since it isn't working properly it probably would be best to wait anyway.

[JadeEliott]

Huh. I have not yet had problems with that playable maid controller. I got it before he took it down.

But, sadly, I do miss Christianlov's NPC. That was the best and ALMOST made me get rid of BV to have it back again.

And thanks Zizismommy. I saw you visiting Thyme the other day, in the comments. Thanks for dropping by!

[zizismommy_SC]

But, sadly, I do miss Christianlov's NPC. That was the best and ALMOST made me get rid of BV to have it back again.

And thanks Zizismommy. I saw you visiting Thyme the other day, in the comments. Thanks for dropping by!


Im soooo hoping christianlov comes back. I'm going through withdrawal missing some of his hacks.

And your welcome. I can tell a lot of thought and work went into Thyme. I read the laws and was like wow. Got a lot of great business ideas as well. ;) I was actually over there earlier trying to catch up on the scandal. :lol:

[Berg_SC]

Oh what a great timing for my post about the playable maid :P He must've taken it down hours after I posted because I remember that I checked for it when I typed that post, just to be sure. Ha!

But like Jade Elliot, I have no problems with it either, other than the known issues (she won't mop up some puddles). Oh well!

Jade, btw, I'm glad to see that your site is up again - I didn't know :). I was also of course greatly influenced by "Isle of Thyme" when I started to play as I do now. Thank you for the wonderful inspiraton!

[TLAWBLIQUE360]

This sounds awesome, I already had two of the hacks and I just got two more. Taking it slowly, my family is gonna be shocked cus they think I make my sims suffer too much as it is.

[JadeEliott]

Thanks Berg! Also, Dahlia Daughtry, daughter of my Mayor, wears your black dress with ballet slippers and red markings alot!

Lovely clothes you make.

[broo_SC]

Nice list! ? Some new mods to add to my collection :)

[Scout]

Add me to the list hoping christianlov returns. They created some wonderful mods.

I'm still going to try that playable maid controller when I get some sims with enough money. But that won't be for weeks. I don't care if they don't clean puddles as it is like those who don't do windows. :D

TLAWBLIQUE360, think of it less as suffering and more as really appreciating it when something good happens.

[blackivy]

Can't wait to try out these hacks XD

[ToxicBritneyfan]

Because I can't be bothered to have my sims calling people all the time to keep the relationships up.
I know, I hate that! My Sim will be in college and the nanny will be like "I know your busy but it can't hurt to call." Then in like 2 seconds it will go "Britney and Stupid Old Lady Nanny are no longer friends." I hate that! lol

The miscarraige thing and the illnesses sound cool! I might download some later!

[ani_]

A few more items to add the the list
- expensive npcs (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,8.0.html) you need to download the full zip and it's there

- Harder Grades (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=131960)

[~Charlotte~]

Thanks for the thread, Scout. I've been trying to play for the last few days with my sims not gaining skill points, not getting jobs, and having loads of kids, just to make the game more difficult.

[Sim Sagas]

I agree that keeping your sims happy and prosperous is much too easy once you get the hang of it (it was challenging for me for maybe the first 3 days!)

I've been using a lot of the hacks you mentioned for quite a while now. I also force my sims to take out large loans (on Monique's computer), then donate all the money to charity so they get larger bills.

I've altered most of the custom careers I've downloaded in SimPE to make them pay far, far less.

Also, I often make my single sims get pregnant (often with twins or more!) while simultaneously going to university and bringing in some sort of income.

As for children, I often make "rules" for myself that sims' kids can only attend college if they get above a certain grade and if the family can afford the tuition (I make them donate 20,000 simoleons per child).

Lately I've been finding that the game doesn't hold my interest the way it used to, so I'm anxious to see what TS3 will be like, and if it will be worth buying a new computer just to play. In the meantime, I'm always up for an extra challenge in my game to make it new and exciting again...if only temporarily! :)

[Lenoba]

Oh I'm so cruel. I made my sims pay so BIG taxes. If they alltogether earn 1000 a day, I'll give them a bill for 980. That's how I keep my peasants broke.

[darkannie]

For example, I don't think one should have to have friends to advance in their career. The hack to fix that conflicts with another of the hacks I've chosen so instead I'm going to use a cheat to keep relationships from decaying over time (or at least decay very, very slowly). Because I can't be bothered to have my sims calling people all the time to keep the relationships up. I'm lazy. :D


Since you already have the Monique's hacked computer you might find this useful, but the email option allows you to send and receive bulk email to all the sims in your arsenal and when the response comes in, it boosts the relationship to ten points. It doesn't make friends, but it's the easiest most effecient way to keep friendships up. Just badabing badaboo and you're done.

[Valerie_SC]

This is what I have been looking for, I haven't been able to put my finger on it but now that I have found it, it's a joy.
My sims need interesting bills and deaths rather than 'old age' 'new generation' old age' continued :)

Thank you so much,
Valerie :duck: