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Mad Poster
Original Poster
#1 Old 6th Dec 2018 at 3:55 PM
Default Community Lots: how do you customize?
For me community lots are useless without certain mods that enable sleeping and skill building (and FUN!). And since I have all the EPs, no "vanilla" lot allows all the activities I want in a community lot. So I usually create my own community lots, like a cemetery where there are actually things to DO! BBQ, darts, a grave that they will use as a hot tub (erk), and a bathroom. And a "Summer Park" - swimming, fishing, lots of musical instruments (fun to make a band, and see that some townies actually have some skills!), a few chess tables, a full playground, bathroom (with showers), a snack bar, a wedding arch with chairs (yes, strangers will whip into formalwear), and this is a "pet friendly" park so beds, dishes, and toys for dogs & cats.

Then there is the basic Maxis mall, a big box with stores around the outer edge; I'm now using my revision #5. It includes a beauty shop (fun to give some townie a clown face) with perfume for sale, a clothes store (with jewelry), a pet shop (and usable pet objects), a book store (with 2 chess tables, and book cases - Sims can study!), full bathrooms (with showers), a restaurant & a big radio (for those dates), a "gym" with a sauna, hot tub, and punching bag (where you can ask the Charlatan for lessons), a small grocery store (with souvenirs, very popular) and on the center stage (originally vacant) a coffee bar and couches and a full band. And a job board. And (woo!) a photo booth.

IN EVERY HOOD I have this Big Box, the Summer Park, and the Graveyard.
But I know everyone plays differently, so ...
Are you fine with Maxis community lots? OR how do you change or build community lots; what items or mods must they have? Do you have some community lots that are "must haves" for EVERY hood?

Stand up, speak out. Just not to me..
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Scholar
#2 Old 6th Dec 2018 at 4:07 PM
In my game: I must have a graveyard, a hangout lot for teens & Young Adults and a nightclub for the Young Adults, Adults & Elders. I create these with the Visitor Controller - I don't use Townies unless it's absolutely necessary, otherwise, I ban them from every lot LOL. Every lot (excluding Graveyards) must have music (pop station only unless the lot has a specific theme) and a form of entertainment such as darts, pool table, hot tubs etc and a BBQ. I'm fine with maxis community lots, I just adjust them a little - not too much.

You've actually given me ideas for my lots - pet friendly, weddings etc. Thanks!

P.S Sorry if I've read your post wrong - I'm not the brightest tool in the shed... :P
Mad Poster
#3 Old 6th Dec 2018 at 5:41 PM Last edited by gazania : 11th Dec 2018 at 1:06 AM.
I really customize ... I build at least 60% of my community lots. (It might be more, looking at my lists below!) No more than 30% are other creators' lots, and about 10% are Maxis. It's just that when I look for one, I'm pretty picky about just what kind of lot I want, and how it fits into my neighborhood. My hoods are suburban/small town, for instance, so generally, humongous mega-centers or extra-large lots wouldn't fit. I prefer small- to medium-sized lots, though I do make exceptions. Eventually, I often just wind up building my own lot.

I think I posted a list of my community lots ... somewhere. But here is a list of many of them in my custom hood. Spoilers, because the list is pretty long. If there is no attribution for a lot, it's probably one I made. I'm into that sort of thing!



Mods I use:

Community lot-skilling. That one is on MATY.
Sims sleep on Community lots http://modthesims.info/d/241797
The Sophie-David Lecterns (Opportunity packs)
Several Sun&Moon mods. These mods can take the game in new directions.
Visitor Controller on EVERY community, Uni and hotel lot. I can't stand the Charlatan.
Sim Blender
Inge's Cat (http://www.simlogical.com/sl/Sims2P...Teleporters.htm)
Sophie-David's Buy Clothes Anywhere. Actually, I'd have a pretty boring game without Sophie-David's stuff! Your best bet would be to just look up the name here, since I've used so many Sophie- David mods.
Buffet Tables with Custom/Alternative foods http://modthesims.info/d/237622/buf...tive-foods.html
Community Lot Revolution ... http://modthesims.info/d/493689
Sushi Buffet Table ... http://lilsisterg.tumblr.com/post/1...ce-buffet-table
The runway mod that was on Sims Wardrobe. I THINK someone has Sims Wardrobe downloads archived somewhere.

Thanks to ALL free-site creators, admins and mods.

RIP Sunni ... truly a ray of light.
Mad Poster
#4 Old 6th Dec 2018 at 6:46 PM
ATM I have only one lot with everything cramped: bar, barista, clothing store, pet collar shop, jewelry, groceries, magazines, video games, clothing shop etc.

P.S. Sorry for my bad english.
Field Researcher
#5 Old 6th Dec 2018 at 7:09 PM
My hood is mostly build from scratch, but I have attached a Downtown. I tend to scrap half of the buildings because although I do understand it's realistic to have multiples of everything in the city, my sims don't really need 3 bowling clubs or a handful of restaurants. Most are replaced with something similar and I take the opportunity to add stuff later EPs gave, like a bowling club will be replaced with a sports place/skating ridge, a restaurant is replaced by a coffee bar or one of the food stands, etc. The spa is always replaced because the original has a interesting but impractical layout and needs place for the saunas and massage tables. The interior of most clothing shops are shuffled around, some get make-over station, some a bar and music instruments, most get jewelry stands; I like to make every shop unique so the lot doesn't get too crowded and there is a reason to pick one over the other depending on what my sim needs. Artsy lots get changed around with other statues and paintings. I'll also build a more space-efficient graveyard in every hood that's actually populated. And I prefer to have the public pool in the city. The library gets rebuild so it's less of a place to watch tv.

Lots of places get stuff like coffee bars or more fitting decor or furniture that wasn't around when Nightlife was made (like the themed restaurants). Public Woohoo stuff gets a place here and there. The Electronic Gadget machine from Uni usually goes to a mall.
I also need a few lots because of newer expansions, like a pet shop, a fitness centre, some place for the food judge contests, etc. I also try to make a few simple lots, because I notice Outings go horrible when a lot of fun stuff is around, since sims will just sit in the hot tub or play on the swing instead of socialize (even if they talk in the tub, it's not as effective as just playing or joking with each other).

There are also a few staples in my hoods I never get tired of:
- A very pink nightclub, with music instruments, coffee bar and juice bar. Often called The Flamingo. Usually uses the Family Fun pink castle wallpapers somewhere.
- One library is called The White Lady.
- A green bar, usually also with music instruments and some place to play pool/chess and relax. Has actual small but nice gardens.
- One (standard) restaurant, reddish in colour scheme, vaguely inspired by Asian restaurants called The Red Duck.
e3 d3 Ne2 Nd2 Nb3 Ng3
retired moderator
#6 Old 6th Dec 2018 at 7:29 PM
I build all of my own lots (although many are based on Maxis lots or stuff I've seen on here ) and I always have loads of community lots.

One of my favourite types to build are tiny lots with the fast food kiosks on them- and maybe an arcade game for amusement.
Alchemist
#7 Old 6th Dec 2018 at 9:11 PM
pre-made community lots I generally leave unchanged. also Maxiod-made community lots.
community lots I create; they are generally for custom neighborhoods. such neighborhoods would have 2 community lots; one for shops, another for skilling/Fun.
Inventor
#8 Old 6th Dec 2018 at 9:19 PM
The one absolute must-have community lot for me is a graveyard. Every hood gets one, sometimes before anything else if it's a custom hood. Not to say that it's the only comm lot I put in, just usually the first. I've used Maxis lots, downloaded lots, and my own custom builds. It really just depends on whether or not I feel up to making my own. In premade hoods, I usually just went with whatever was already there. Occasionally I would make them over. I don't use the ones in the lot catalogue very often because I find most of them really badly laid out and end up spending time fixing them when I'd rather be playing.

I do use the sleep on community lot and community lot skilling mods, since sometimes my sims live in small places that simply don't have room for skilling objects. While Monique's computer does allow for skill building on any skill, sometimes I just want to go through the motions of them actually using an appropriate object. Being able to sleep allows me to keep them there a bit longer or have them visit a faux hotel/motel for a 'night away'.

As for what's usually on the community lots, it depends on what I want the lot to be. My computer tends to choke on lots that are too big or too decorated, so I usually just aim for one main purpose for each one. Furnishings and decorations are then chosen to match that purpose. I do try to put restrooms on every lot, if I can, and maybe a food source, but that can be as simple as vending machines or even fruit trees that drop edible fruit. I am experimenting with 'main street' type lots with my newest hood, I just need to be careful not to put too much on to them.
Mad Poster
Original Poster
#9 Old 6th Dec 2018 at 9:43 PM
I do have "specialty" community lots too. A cowboy-era general store (complete with out-house), a board-walk beach lot, several "body shops" (gym, massage table,etc), a winter park (ice skate, big indoor area with food, fireplace, coffee). I have a mod that is a crib that babies & toddlers will show up in (taken by social worker, "given up", or randomly generated), so my new fun place is an adoption center with babies and pets. I like small community lots too, but with my new mod that allows lots of "shoppers", I can't keep a sim there long!
Does anyone take kids and pets on outings? With the blender on a community lot, I can take a female pet and have her get pregnant..
O, and college lots...I have a Student center I always use, and my own 6 to 8 room dorms.

Stand up, speak out. Just not to me..
Mad Poster
#10 Old 6th Dec 2018 at 10:14 PM
My specialty lots-in Tinsel Town:
Lots and uses-
Back to Nature Park: Fishing for those nature enthusiasts
Bus stop & public bathrooms: Just as the description is. There's a burger place in the back for those who are hungry while waiting for the bus.
Chess Club-where everyone can play chess, socialize, and eat hamburgers
Funeral Home: Where the deceased are mourned. Their remains are then shipped off to the cemetery.
Garden Plot: business with plants and flowers for sale
Infinity Pool-another swimming pool, only fancier.
Laundromat-the place where you clean clothes and share dirty laundry.
Meeting House: where charisma skill can be gained when 'give sermon' is used, and money can be made. Usually there are 2 or 3 people who drop in to listen to the sermon.
Movie Theatre: for having fun, meeting friends, eating fattening food. Movies are shown.
Muse, Inc-where creativity is gained by making pottery, painting, or playing the piano.
Playground-where the kids can play and socialize with each other. One adult required for monitoring.
Star Struck: where they can gain creative skills by reciting poety, singing or orating.
Swimming Pool: where body skills can be gained, food available, good socializing venue.
Telemarketing, Inc: When you need fast money and charisma.
Work out Place: is where they gain body skills. Very busy place, always occupied by others exercising.
Wooden Rail-where one goes to get loaded and offend people. Sometimes one even has fun.

There are several others that I've added:

Cash cow-where those infamous pinball machines are. Come play for money!
Launch Pad: Tinsel Town's own version of Cape Canaveral, but only one spaceship.
Warehouse-where all those teens who have slipped the lease go to have fun.
The Dorothy Hamill Skate Center
Old Train Station-with it's unused tracks nobody ever goes anywhere, but everyone shows up anyway.
Of course the standard graveyard and bank are also part of the town.

Receptacle Refugee & Resident Polar Bear
"Get out of my way, young'un, I'm a ninja!"
Grave Matters: The funeral podium is available here: https://www.mediafire.com/file/e6tj...albits.zip/file
My other downloads are here: https://app.mediafire.com/myfiles
Needs Coffee
retired moderator
#11 Old 6th Dec 2018 at 10:34 PM
My lots are mostly owned and specific. Some I built myself but mostly I download and then change it around to suit. I also have way too many to list all of them.

salon + clothes
baby shop
Toy Shop
Vets
pet store
Internet cafe
cafee& lunch
massage & sauna
Laundromat
icecream parlour
Pizza shop
Bank
Gym&dance studio
Bowling ally (unowned)
Lighthouse Restaurant
Beaches (unowned)
cemetery (unowned)
Pub (unowned)
Diner(unowned)
parks (unowned)
Post office
Library
Swimming pool (unowned)
Gift +plant shop
Auto+repair+vehicle sales
Tons of other unowned ones including filler lots like bus stops, walkways, public toilets.

All the mods I use are best seen on my career and business thread.

"I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives." - Unknown
~Call me Jo~
Mad Poster
#12 Old 7th Dec 2018 at 8:51 AM
I used to build lots that almost all were practically owned by sim. Obviously, these need competitives ones, i.e. that share same service/goods, so those who provide could also attain the said thing for their own domestic needs. Stores that sell furniture and objects that can easily be attained from buy mode are sold in home business. Pescado's customer selection is another mod I would recommend who want more customization (particulary for setting social/political demographic atmospheres).

SimWardrobe mods business facility object controller mods open possibilities for more types of venues, so I advice anyone to check those out who haven't.

P.S. Sorry for my bad english.
Alchemist
#13 Old 7th Dec 2018 at 11:18 AM Last edited by Sunrader : 11th Dec 2018 at 9:40 AM.
I customize everything. Always. So, most of my community lots are renovated Maxis from other hoods and sub-hoods - I like stealing them - and just a couple things from here. There's something about finding and modifying something original to the game that I really enjoy.

My fav of these is probably my version of Lucky's bar. I like lots to be very efficient and autonomous and I like to hang out in them and watch the sims, so I nearly always get rid of empty space, choose layout by the best viewing angle, move the phone to a more realistic or hidden spot, add practical things (such as a skate rental for the skating rink, a manager office above floor of the bowling alley, cleaning supplies, dumpsters, employee break areas....), raise the ceilings and paint them, then raise the ceiling lights with OMSPs. I put things in there that the sims need, especially the working class ones, like the only way they get a job is to go look at the Job Board in the neighborhood bar and the only way most of them get real estate is to go use the public computer at the library.

Lighting is important to the feel for me, so I work to make that interesting and realistic feeling for when I join the sims in their lot. I hide the bathrooms with Numenor's walls that don't go down. I also carefully choose the speakers to play the right music to give the lot the best feel, blues for the bar, pop for the skating rink....

I always use mods for skilling and sleeping, VC, enable buy mode and inventory access, Need Freak to make things run autonomously.... Sometimes they are owned or even changed to residential, just depends on how I need them to function for my stories.

Most hoods have my bar, rink, bowling alley (which is also the only restaurant and also has its own manager career), a church (which is owned by the clergy so s/he can call meetings for services), a tiny library owned by the librarian just so she'll be there when others visit, the public pool based on PG's Widespot pool, a community garden with S&M harvestables, One mini-mart that is the only grocery store my sims actually visit.

Sometimes I use lots that aren't visited just to fill space in the hood, because I really like my hood view to look walkable or want something for the story. Right now there's a prop Walmart, but it's not been made usable - it's just the influence that changed the character of the hood for backstory and a parking lot with RVs in it for hood view.

I'd really like to have a small neighborhood clinic, but haven't figured out a good design yet. I also plan to add the elements of a gas pump and a bus stop to the mini-mart (which is always on the highway out of town), an a tiny bakery. Once I get the perfect lot, it's the lot of that type, and I pretend they are franchised or something. I don't have different pools or bars, etc. but I do change their color or character to fit the hood.
Mad Poster
Original Poster
#14 Old 9th Dec 2018 at 1:15 AM
Yep, "location,location,location". So around my WalMart are tacky alleys, dead trees, assorted fires, a seedy bar, a tiny lot for a bum, a few tiny trailer lots, and a horrible rental trailer lot.

Stand up, speak out. Just not to me..
Needs Coffee
retired moderator
#15 Old 9th Dec 2018 at 3:50 AM
Quote: Originally posted by grammapat
Yep, "location,location,location". So around my WalMart are tacky alleys, dead trees, assorted fires, a seedy bar, a tiny lot for a bum, a few tiny trailer lots, and a horrible rental trailer lot.


Is that where Walmart's are located? We don't have Wallmart over here.

"I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives." - Unknown
~Call me Jo~
Mad Poster
#16 Old 9th Dec 2018 at 4:56 AM
We have Walmart here, but not in neighborhoods like that. The ones near me are usually located in shopping centers near highway exit ramps. Not great neighborhoods, but not horrible slums either.
Field Researcher
#17 Old 9th Dec 2018 at 6:20 AM
I like the pre-made Downtown lots, but I always modify them a little to maximize their usefulness to my sims.

Red's 50s diner is always my teen hang out spot.
LuLu's Lounge is a gay bar.
P.U.R.E. is a romance sim's dream, where everyone else is looking for the same thing you are - and that is not a relationship.

I add the ability to buy jewelry to the clothing stores, and places to buy cell phones, etc, to more locations. I also think about what I want my sims to be doing when they go to that lot and make sure that they have whatever they need to have a good time.

I need to build my sims more outdoor park type spaces. I used to steal maxis lots from other neighbourhoods but I am afraid of corruption so now I am going to have to build those from scratch.

I just redid a bunch of the Far East vacation lots - I only kept one hotel and turned the others into a high-end Casino, a spa and a kareoke bar.

It takes time to redo all the lots to be the way I want them, but it's worth it, right
Scholar
#18 Old 9th Dec 2018 at 6:51 PM
I have the comm-skilling mod but otherwise tend to leave the Maxis lots as they are, except for adding a kiosk for electronics at the grocery store if there's no Downtown attached to the hood.

I always make a cemetery, which is usually a walled and gated lot with trees, flowers and sometimes a fountain. The one in Riverblossom Hills has a separate fenced area at the back for the nobility, and a small mausoleum within the fenced area for kings and their consorts.

If I'm making a custom hood, it will usually start out with a very small store that just has room for a few basic groceries, clothes, the kiosk and some pet collars. Later, I might make a big one that allows for fishing, barbecuing, ice skating or otherwise having fun; it will also have washrooms and a cafeteria or self-serve coffee bar and microwave. When I had a BaCC, one Sim owned a sports bar and another a nightclub, plus there was an outdoor market for food and clothes, a store for baby things and a custom pet store. My Roman hood had an entire forum, complete with columns, arches and a lot of marble everywhere.
Mad Poster
Original Poster
#19 Old 9th Dec 2018 at 8:22 PM
Quote: Originally posted by RoxEllen1965
We have Walmart here, but not in neighborhoods like that. The ones near me are usually located in shopping centers near highway exit ramps. Not great neighborhoods, but not horrible slums either.

Actually, you are right. It's just me, being prejudiced (ever watched videos?)

Stand up, speak out. Just not to me..
Scholar
#20 Old 10th Dec 2018 at 9:00 AM
Yes, please watch "The people of Walmart" on Youtube, but keep your eyebleach handy... And no, it is NOT exaggerated...

For my business lots, I have made a generic business that is small and cheap enough to be owned pretty much right away and then I can customize it to whatever business my sim wants to own. Just change colors on roof and walls to keep them apart in hood view.

Paladins/SimWardrobes downloads: https://simfileshare.net/folder/87849/
Mad Poster
#21 Old 10th Dec 2018 at 9:44 AM
I like to have a variety of community lots - they are specialized rather than offering everything - restaurants are for eating, although some offer dancing or karaoke; bars are for drinking and a BBQ and pool tables and darts; swimming pools are for swimming - my sims may go from lot to lot on a great outing (or not). This suit my play style, since I have a huge hood try to provide for all the types of sims.

The Unemployment Center is my most important lot since it is there to improve the skills of everyone including the unemployed

I actually prefer having the weddings at home but there is a wedding arch at the town hall which has been used a number of times under the right circumstances.
Forum Resident
#22 Old 11th Dec 2018 at 3:38 AM
I have been making community center lots where sims can go to use hobby items and meet others in the neighborhood. My recent addition was downsizing the lot so it would load faster and adding a cooking competition table, which I've actually never used before. I usually make my own unless there's something super cool, like I found a great wedding chapel here. I like to have a grocery store, pet store, wedding chapel or park, and some kind of skilling lot. As far as must haves, I like to make the lots pretty small so they don't lag and I don't lose my sims somewhere in the great beyond. I always have the community skilling mod and the community time mod. The time mod is absolutely necessary- before I had it I very rarely used community lots because I hate that it makes you play the day twice.
Alchemist
#23 Old 16th Dec 2018 at 3:35 AM
Quote: Originally posted by Justpetro
The Unemployment Center is my most important lot since it is there to improve the skills of everyone including the unemployed



What's in your Unemployment Center? Can you show us a pic?
Mad Poster
Original Poster
#24 Old 16th Dec 2018 at 3:06 PM
My Walmart actually HAS that! The band teaches creativity (and makes money!). The book store has 2 chess tables, and a hacked bookcase that lets you study anything. And in the gym is a punching bag - with so many people in the mall, someone will be able to "teach" (and the local pick-pocket always says a cheerful yes). O yea, and a job board. The mall and the park are where my "homeless" Sims spend all their time; cheap education, cheap food, cheap dates....

Stand up, speak out. Just not to me..
Alchemist
#25 Old 16th Dec 2018 at 4:00 PM
Quote: Originally posted by grammapat
My Walmart actually HAS that! The band teaches creativity (and makes money!). The book store has 2 chess tables, and a hacked bookcase that lets you study anything. And in the gym is a punching bag - with so many people in the mall, someone will be able to "teach" (and the local pick-pocket always says a cheerful yes). O yea, and a job board. The mall and the park are where my "homeless" Sims spend all their time; cheap education, cheap food, cheap dates....


That's an odd Walmart.
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