Acrostacking Objects in "The Sims 3"

[QBUILDERZ]

http://thumbs2.modthesims2.com/img/1/1/5/5/0/4/4/MTS2_QBUILDERZ_977216_Title.jpg

So, yesterday I found a way to cover objects with terrain. Today, while experimenting again, I managed to find a way to cause objects to FLOAT. It was really an inverse process, so, it wasn't that hard to discover. Anyway, I whipped up a tutorial for you guys to play around with. I have noticed though that you can't stack plants, both decorative and real. Enjoy!


Step 1 (http://thumbs2.modthesims2.com/img/1/1/5/5/0/4/4/MTS2_QBUILDERZ_976902_1.jpg)
Step 2 (http://thumbs2.modthesims2.com/img/1/1/5/5/0/4/4/MTS2_QBUILDERZ_976903_2.jpg)
Step 3 (http://thumbs2.modthesims2.com/img/1/1/5/5/0/4/4/MTS2_QBUILDERZ_976904_3.jpg)
Step 4 (http://thumbs2.modthesims2.com/img/1/1/5/5/0/4/4/MTS2_QBUILDERZ_976905_4.jpg)
Step 5 (http://thumbs2.modthesims2.com/img/1/1/5/5/0/4/4/MTS2_QBUILDERZ_976906_5.jpg)
Step 6 (http://thumbs2.modthesims2.com/img/1/1/5/5/0/4/4/MTS2_QBUILDERZ_976907_6.jpg)
Step 7 (http://thumbs2.modthesims2.com/img/1/1/5/5/0/4/4/MTS2_QBUILDERZ_976908_7.jpg)
Step 8 (http://thumbs2.modthesims2.com/img/1/1/5/5/0/4/4/MTS2_QBUILDERZ_976910_Out.jpg)

Again, PLEASE test and play around with this, I wanna see how it works for yinz guys!

~Q

[squeam]

QBUILDERZ, that's a fun thing you found there. Thank you for taking the time to share it.

[Deluxe Designs]

Wow, another super tutorial, and a brilliant name to go with it :lol: look at you, you little name technique making person! :rofl:

[Rikachu]

You must have a lot of time on your hands. :P

[QBUILDERZ]

You must have a lot of time on your hands. :P

It is summer and I discovered these while writing for the site - I figure it was the nice thing to do by sharing my findings, it's what the site is for ;)

[Asante81]

Hmmm never thought of using it like that. I usually use that terrain thing to hide fountains in pools so you can just see the ...uh... fountain... you know the water sputtering... geez, missing some words again here, lol.
Means I'm using some sort of inverted version with lowering the terrain, putting a fountain in and closing the gap above it.

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/5108/fountainpool.jpg
Just a plain undecorated version

[QBUILDERZ]

^ That would relate more with geoblending, but yes, the same basic principle applies.

[Asante81]

^ That would relate more with geoblending, but yes, the same basic principle applies.

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/3433/outdoorpool.jpg

Better now? ;). (Now that I put some objects where I wouldn't have been able to put them without "geoblending" the pool... lol)

[QBUILDERZ]

XD - Looks really cool!

[Rikachu]

Wow, That's awesome! :O

[Asante81]

Ok, today I was trying to build a cave with those huge rocks with that technique, but I had some serious troubles with pathing. Did you try that yet? Any tips maybe? Or am I just whack with trying to let my sims live like a bat?

[QBUILDERZ]

I don't think you'll be able to do the method with anything in the landscape section. I haven't managed to successfully do it so far. Same thing applies with potted plants.

[Asante81]

I don't think you'll be able to do the method with anything in the landscape section. I haven't managed to successfully do it so far. Same thing applies with potted plants.

Well, I have this perfectly working swim-through arch...
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/3153/swimthrough.jpg
Hmmm so maybe the pool might be the key?
Ah stupid me wasn't precise enough with describing my problem. I can store the stones pretty high one on each other, the problem is that I cannot get them to be "closed" on top, without ruining the walking-through ability. I had them about twice as high as a sim is, but as soon as I tried to close it, the way was blocked.
And then I had a version where some of the top rocks fell through even below the floor and blocked the way from there...
Hmmm maybe I'll do some more tests... Just thought you might know something or maybe someone else who experimented with that.

[QBUILDERZ]

AH, I see what you mean, it has to be at LEAST 16 clicks high for a sim to pass under it ;)

[Asante81]

AH, I see what you mean, it has to be at LEAST 16 clicks high for a sim to pass under it ;)

Ah... *scratches her head*
Oh my, that will end in some stupid counting with those rocks... *laugh*
(or trial and error...)
Thanks for the info :)

[niol]

Thanks... very clear, so the TS3 objects won't be readjusted by the grid level layers, cool. :anime:

I wish there's a thanks button if good.

[ClicknPsycho]

This is cool, I was able to use this method to stack/arange paintings at different hieghts on walls.

In the proccess I stumbled upon another thing that I'm not sure if anyone else knows, with 'moveobjects on' fireplaces can be dismantled.

[QBUILDERZ]

^ Yup, that is how people adjust their chimneys. As for the paintings I demonstrated that right...

http://linna.modthesims.info/download.php?t=361942

...there! It is a fascinating technique to play around with, I am glad you took the time to perform it :D

[ClicknPsycho]

I just downloaded those paintings, haven't played them yet.
I didn't realize you used that on them, I thought they were just at that height.

I was just excited. lol

Keep wowing!!

[cookniro]

Thanks all for the great tutorial and other usefull inpute by other simmers

[krd123]

wow this will definitely make houses in the sims 3 even more creative and unique, great job QBUILDERZ very cool :)

[cameranutz2]

Nice technique for a slum hood! LOL...Thanks Q!

[QBUILDERZ]

Thanks for the support guys :D Glad to know it is working for yinz

[Ishizusv]

Really awesome :D. I think that would be great for decorating a... don't know the word... but that little rooms where people stack all the things that don't use and don't want to trow away :P

[QBUILDERZ]

Cubbyholes?

[girlfromverona]

Awesome!! This technique is gonna be used and abused in my game. Thanks! :)

[Reyn]

Attics?

[Alan_Gast]

Thanks for this. It should have been in the base game without having to use this cheat, so great repacement! Love the whole arch thing, Asante. You could make a grotto like that, using the same method. ;)

[Rapsheba555]

storage room.

[Megbo84]

We have Junk Rooms at my house, but we call it the craft room =)

[Catcrazzy]

Hi saw your tutorial and i think that it is awsome..I was going to do a tut and post it on TS3 i figured out how to do this a few days ago..But you had beat me to the punch on posting it.Would it bother you if i still posted a tut?Thank you in advance..

I was trying to stack rocks and this is close to what i came up with..I was at sim interior designs and they have it your tut posted there..So i was like dang i was to late.

http://www.siminteriordesigns.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=6512105

[QBUILDERZ]

Cat - As long as you don't steal my words or pictures, I don't have any reason to care, do I :D

Good luck with it :)

[Catcrazzy]

Thank you QBUILDERZ

You know what..I was thinking that you did a good tut on this already.I would not want to do take it from you!!I will leave it alone for now..

But in the near future i might.And i will let you know if i do so you could see it.I have been telling people about this awsome idea..And i posted links to here.You just saved me some time LoL!!

Since mine is based on the inside i guess i could do one for the interior..Hmm.Make up my mind already gee wiz.. :rofl:

http://www.siminteriordesigns.com/apps/forums/topics/show/1179714-interesting-tutorial-stacking-objects

[QBUILDERZ]

It is always very humbling to me when my stuff gets found or noticed around the community :D Thanks for the link! The site itself looks really interesting.

And hey, if you can take this idea, apply it to the interior or make it better, go for it! Who am I to stop you. Heck, who am I to stop others from getting better at what they do even! Either way, if you write one, post a link! I would TOTALLY love to read it :D

Good luck!

[dakkie13]

Is this 100% SAVE?

[Jasumi]

I have a question regarding this technique. I had once placed trees onto a tile roof, and saved the game, and upon reloading the trees were inside the home and the lot was generally missing a large sum of objects.

So, upon saving a lot with "acrostacked" objects, has it re-loaded properly?

[QBUILDERZ]

Dakkie - yes, no issues

Jasumi - I stated that it doesn't work with plants ;) I have entered and reentered the lot multiple times, no issues at all, so have many others :)

[skeletalscreams]

this is so great thanks for posting
=]

[thesims3rules]

:help: its hard on step 4

[whitewaterwood]

It's a shame. It seems this no longer works. It might have been a patch.

[QBUILDERZ]

Are you positive? My game isn't working any more, but it you are 100% I will change it to obsolete :)

[mystiqueblue]

thanks for sharing!

btw you said you found out how to cover things using the terrain? how do you do that?

[The Shoveler]

I hope someone can help me. I've just finished a home that features arcostacked columns to create 1.25x and 1.50x tall columns to support a curved roof above the main structure. This was to be my first upload to MTS and much of the house is centered around these odd height columns. Everything has looked perfectly fine over the last few weeks that I've been working on this house, but when I package up the lot and then reinstall it into my game, some of the columns "unstack". Specifically, the top columns drop down and end up occupying the space of the bottom columns, leaving the ceiling floating in the air. :(

I've arcostacked the "upper" column to just press upwards into the ceiling a little bit to match the sloped contours of the roof above, but they do not protrude completely through (ie: the tip tops of the columns aren't visible from above). At first I thought that it was this "interaction" that was causing the columns to unstack when unpackaged, but a little test run proved that wasn't the case. In fact, my test left me more confused than I was before hand, as some of the columns remained stacked while others unstacked themselves.

I'm hoping somebody can shed some light on this. The house I plan to upload relies on arcostacked columns.

[The Shoveler]

Forgot to explain the pics...

First pic shows six arcostacked columns. The back rank all protrude through the roof and are visible from above, while the two outer columns in the front rank are just making contact with the ceiling. The middle column in the front rank actually penitrates into the ceiling layer in order to make it appear as if the column is contacting the ceiling at an angle.

The second pic was taken after packaging up the lot and reinstalling it elsewhere in Sunset Valley. The two left columns have remained intact, while the other four have "unstacked" themselves.

[Mikikitty]

So, yesterday I found a way to cover objects with terrain.

How? :)

And thanks for the awesome tutorial!

[Mikikitty]

Ok, nevermind, I found it (http://www.modthesims.info/article.php?t=361097). And somehow I cannot enter the 2nd page of this thread, so can't edit first comment. Sorry.

[QBUILDERZ]

The Shoveler - I'm not sure how this trick effects columns. They try to force a grid so you can build on it, and that is the only thing I can think of for why it popped back up.

[The Shoveler]

I guess I'll keep hammering away at it. I just found it strange that only some of the columns unstack, while some do not. Gotta figure out how to make this work... and stay stacked. I don't think I can upload a "broken" house, now can I -- even if I do include instructions on how to fix it. :cry:

[heaven]

Okay, so I am having similar problems as the Shoveler. Kind of anyway. I can get my items buried or raised (see below), can save the game, quit and restart and everything is lovely. However, if I save to the library and plop the lot down somewhere else, everything pops back to the ground level.

http://www.modyourpanties.com/hosting/29701_110814140159Sim Big Town Entrance Error.jpg
http://www.modyourpanties.com/hosting/29702_110814141458Sim Big Town Entrance Error 02.jpg