Author Topic: Flight of the Starship Crescent Wrench: the Upgrade Quadrant (Read 20608 times)

Metropolis Man · « **on:** January 30, 2011, 05:00:38 PM »

Flight of the Starship Crescent Wrench: the Upgrade Quadrant

Goal
You’re the captain of the U.S.S. Crescent Wrench. Your Starfleet CO has organized a challenge for you and other competing captains to form teams of 4 engineering Sims to upgrade all public facility objects in 4 different game worlds as quickly as possible: Sunset Valley, China, Egypt, and France.

General Challenge Rules
The General Challenge Rules always apply. If applicable, exceptions will be noted below.

Specific Challenge Rules

Create 4 Young Adult Sims.
You must play in Sunset Valley and have it include a consignment store, tattoo parlor, fire station, and junkyard.
You may not add to the household.
You need to be familiar with how to turn on cheats in the game. Here's how to do it.
Play with testingcheatsenabled turned on.
You are allowed 1 kaching cheat for each completely upgraded building.
Starfleet Command is allowing you to use your ship’s teleporters whenever you wish.
In the event of any deaths from electrocution, you continue to finish the challenge with your remaining Sims.
This challenge ends when your Sims have upgraded all 4 worlds (down time while waiting for your ship to be refueled to leave for another world is NOT to be counted).

Please copy and print out the following list to ensure you upgrade all necessary objects.

Sunset Valley — Building (# of objects to upgrade):
Landgraab Sell n’ Swap (4)
Papyrus Memorial Library (14)
Central Park (4)
Le Petit Shark Pool Center (14)
Sunset Institute of Modern Art (4)
28 Hour Wellness Gym (16 total objects, but only 15 can be upgraded)
Barney’s Salon and Tattoo (7)
Community Fire Department (17)
Grady's Junkstop (1)

Shang Simla, China:
Base Camp (14)
Camp Orchid (4)
Camp Peony (4)
Camp Lotus (4)
Camp Chrysanthemum (4)
Hot Springs (8.)
Resolute Fist Retreat (4)
Phoenix Martial Arts Academy (5)
The Scholar's Garden (2)
Emperor’s Plaza (7)
Shang Simla Market, near Food Merchant (1)
Shang Simla Market, outside octagon building (4)

Al Simhara, Egypt:
Base Camp (7)
Camp Sun (1)
Camp Moon (1)
Camp Earth, in mountains behind Abu Simbel (1)
Lotus Oasis, up the trail from the Pharoah's Oasis (3)
Al Simhara Market (5)

Champs Les Sims, France:
Base Camp (21)
De Goncalves General Store (4)
Alexis’s Relics (3)
Circle of Knowledge Bookstore (2)
The Catania Cafe (2)
The Rose Campground, near Eastern Hills Cemetery (4)
The Rose Campground, near Chateau du Landgraab (4)
Champs Les Sims Nectary (18)
La Gallerie d’ Art (10)

Scoring
Always treat your first day in a world as if you began work at midnight (i.e. count all hours on the clock). Please follow the example below as to what is exactly needed for your final post. Ultimately, it all boils down to minutes, but you also need to provide Week/Day and time you finish upgrading each world.

Here's a great Scoring Spreadsheet that Gheez, my Number One, has come up with to make this easier for everyone. Thank you, Gheez!

Time References:
One Day = 1440 minutes
One Week = 10080 minutes (I’d be surprised if anyone takes a week in a world)

Sunset Valley — When you have upgraded all objects in all Sunset Valley buildings, pause the game, mouse over the game clock and note the Week and Day. Then jot down the time of day also.

China — When you have upgraded all objects in all Shang Simla buildings, pause the game, mouse over the game clock and note the Week and Day. Then jot down the time of day also.

Egypt — When you have upgraded all objects in all Al Simhara buildings, pause the game, mouse over the game clock and note the Week and Day. Then jot down the time of day also.

France — When you have completed upgraded all objects in all Champs Les Sims buildings, pause the game, mouse over the game clock and note the Week and Day. Then jot down the time of day also.

Total — Everything needs to be converted to minutes (see above references). It’s not that difficult, but if you want to leave it to me, I totally understand. I’ll walk you through an example.

Example: You finish Sunset Valley on Week 1, Day 4, 12:06 PM. You finish China on Week 1, Day 5, 7:30 AM. You finish Egypt on Week 1, Day 1, 10: 24 PM. And finally, you finish France on Week 1, Day 6, 9:51 AM.

Okay, for each town you now want to look at the above info and break it down into full days + the minutes that is added from the last day. So...

Sunset Valley:
3 full days = 4320.
12:06 PM = (12 X 60) + 6 = 726
4320 + 726 = 5046

China:
4 full days = 5760
7:30 AM = (7 X 60) + 30 = 450
5760 + 450 = 6210

Egypt:
0 full days
10:24 PM = (22 X 60) + 24 = 1344

France:
5 full days = 7200
9:51 AM = (9 X 60) + 51 = 591
7200 + 591 = 7791

Total = 5046 + 6210 + 1344 + 7791 = 20391

Helpful Guide Articles
Sims 3 Handiness Skill Guide

This Event is Now Closed

I’m pretty sure I overheard Admiral James T. Kirk say that if you do not do this challenge it could be interpreted as a violation of the Prime Directive. Or maybe he was saying something about being the Priceline Negotiator. Anyway...Engage!

Final Leaderboard

Player	Sunset Valley	China	Egypt	France	Total
winnow	5,793	3,534	1,239	4,308	14,874
omega2alpha	6,396	4,504	1,508	4,917	17,325
ClayMask	7,160	5,060	1,744	5,497	19,461
Largo The Stampede	7,302	5,230	1,713	5,294	19,539
TheChronicR	6,927	5,588	1,751	5,494	19,760
Alexandria_	7,421	5,844	1,718	5,686	20,669
LenaLJ	7,359	5,909	1,702	5,721	20,691
sarcasticsuperherogirl	7,630	5,657	2,149	5,544	20,980
Metropolis Man	7,527	5,916	1,764	6,233	21,440
Anushka	7,813	5,692	1,789	6,227	21,521
Veldmuisie	8,120	5,639	1,687	6,075	21,521
ratchie	8,492	6,480	1,997	4,665	21,594
liliygirl	8,445	5,530	1,830	6,353	22,158
Nyteglori	8,047	6,008	1,842	6,468	22,365
BellaClo	8,086	6,272	1,969	6,185	22,512
fluffyj00	7,714	6,172	2,343	6,287	22,516
crth	8,120	6,085	2,029	6,312	22,546
rahmbr	7,128	6,462	1,578	7,472	22,640
Twinmum	8,602	5,757	1,890	6,398	22,647
alyssa.cole	8,260	6,374	1,909	6,215	22,758
RJ	8,627	5,571	1,960	6,633	22,791
GlazeyLady	8,458	5,701	1,897	6,793	22,849
Agneza	7,940	6,342	2,114	6,821	23,217
annieb	8,565	6,100	1,915	6,702	23,282
NancyJ	9,689	5,677	1,995	6,022	23,383
Thoughtfairy	8,771	5,776	2,070	6,919	23,536
nzgirl	8,898	5,733	1,951	6,991	23,673
Nicky	8,190	6,788	1,996	6,992	23,966
A.Drake	8,098	6,676	2,074	7,316	24,164
TheCub	8,902	6,586	1,918	6,960	24,366
Ricalynn	9,597	6,579	2,060	6,215	24,451
CarlaluvsSims	9,330	6,006	2,257	6,966	24,559
Anjielicka	9,690	6,409	2,000	6,673	24,772
cndneh	10,106	6,313	2,238	6,274	24,931
tjsmetana	9,131	6,275	1,986	7,552	24,944
malteser60	9,359	7,408	2,119	6,058	24,944
ClumsyMum	8,818	6,640	2,531	7,202	25,191
Lizzy3272	10,914	5,160	1,625	8,200	25,899
Danielle	9,792	6,910	2,270	7,103	26,075
Jinx13	9,388	5,971	2,284	8,626	26,269
Paula2424	10,510	6,639	2,277	7,279	26,705
callycat	9,748	7,126	2,281	7,665	26,820
momofmany	10,295	6,702	2,429	7,566	26,992
Illianna	10,016	7,185	1,996	8,016	27,213
WhiteRhinos	10,383	7,287	2,012	7,327	27,464
smastbrook	11,959	6,877	1,963	6,909	27,708
Katluvr	10,531	7,482	2,127	8,154	28,294
Nikitachi	10,233	7,300	2,258	8,564	28,355
Gheez	12,373	6,790	2,270	8,113	29,546
Joria	14,506	5,542	2,431	7,182	29,661
fortheloveofcake	12,584	6,419	2,041	9,070	30,114
Nandiara	11,455	8,866	1,963	8,667	30,951
ladydragon76	12,799	6,879	2,348	9,531	31,557
mtglady	13,248	6,063	3,675	10,077	33,063
stephalina	13,980	9,628	2,106	9,918	35,632
rakasrain134	20,351	9,748	2,258	10,688	43,072

CharlotteDaBookworm · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2011, 05:06:27 PM »

As an epic Star trek fan i must say i love the idea behind this.

The Prime Directive must be followed at all times.

Alexandria_ · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2011, 07:04:40 PM »

Sounds great!

Quote

Play with testingcheatsenabled turned on.
Starfleet Command is allowing you to use your ship’s teleporters whenever you wish.

I was a bit confused by this. Are you saying we're allowed to have testing cheats on and we're allowed to teleport instead of walk/drive?

Metropolis Man · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2011, 07:05:52 PM »

Quote from: Alexandria_ on January 30, 2011, 07:04:40 PM

Sounds great!
I was a bit confused by this. Are you saying we're allowed to have testing cheats on and we're allowed to teleport instead of walk/drive?

That's correct. But, you're only allowed to use the kaching cheat and the teleporting. No other cheats.

Alexandria_ · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2011, 07:24:03 PM »

I understand now.
Sounds like a fun challenge; unlike anything I've ever tried on the Sims.

bored1 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2011, 08:04:15 PM »

france has two rose campgrounds. should we do both or just one?

I've been practicing this challenge even though it hasn't been officially posted until now. I may need all the practice I can get.

Metropolis Man · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2011, 08:20:38 PM »

Quote from: bored1 on January 30, 2011, 08:04:15 PM

france has two rose campgrounds. should we do both or just one?

Really? Okay, I missed that. I'll check that out again the next time I fire up the game. Thanks.

LenaLJ · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2011, 01:16:47 AM »

Metro when you write, the time between fillups of our starship doesnt count. Will that say we can start out finishing Sunset Valley, then go to china finishing all there. And then back in Sunset Valley we just let them stand doing nothing when we wait right? We are not allowed to let them train there handyness werent they wait right?

EDIT: And maybe there should be noted that the 28 Hour welness gym has 16 objects, not 15 as listed but the tv cant be upgraded so there are 15 upgradeable objects.

BellaClo · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2011, 06:19:34 AM »

Quote from: LenaLJ on January 31, 2011, 01:16:47 AM

Metro when you write, the time between fillups of our starship doesnt count. Will that say we can start out finishing Sunset Valley, then go to china finishing all there. And then back in Sunset Valley we just let them stand doing nothing when we wait right? We are not allowed to let them train there handyness werent they wait right?

I second LenaLJ's question: does the 'cooldown' time between travels count or not?

Besides this, am I free to choose the upgrade I want to apply to an object? It seems obvious, but since I didn't take part in the challenges last year, I just want to be sure :-)

Metropolis Man · « **Reply #9 on:** January 31, 2011, 06:43:27 AM »

Quote from: LenaLJ on January 31, 2011, 01:16:47 AM

Metro when you write, the time between fillups of our starship doesnt count. Will that say we can start out finishing Sunset Valley, then go to china finishing all there. And then back in Sunset Valley we just let them stand doing nothing when we wait right? We are not allowed to let them train there handyness werent they wait right?

You can do whatever you want during the downtime. If you've already completely upgraded Sunset Valley, then go to China, then come back to SV, your downtime in SV before going on another trip does not add to your score. You mark your score at the time you are finished upgrading.

Quote from: LenaLJ on January 31, 2011, 01:16:47 AM

EDIT: And maybe there should be noted that the 28 Hour welness gym has 16 objects, not 15 as listed but the tv cant be upgraded so there are 15 upgradeable objects.

Okay. Thanks.

Quote from: BellaClo on January 31, 2011, 06:19:34 AM

Besides this, am I free to choose the upgrade I want to apply to an object?

All you need to do is upgrade an object. Completely. The choice of upgrade is yours.

TheChronicR · « **Reply #10 on:** January 31, 2011, 08:16:00 AM »

Sorry if this was in the rules. What will be if one of the four sims dies of electrocution? Will we have to continue with the other three sims, or just stop and post the current score?

Metropolis Man · « **Reply #11 on:** January 31, 2011, 08:21:52 AM »

Quote from: TheChronicR on January 31, 2011, 08:16:00 AM

Sorry if this was in the rules. What will be if one of the four sims dies of electrocution? Will we have to continue with the other three sims, or just stop and post the current score?

Excellent question. I will note what to do in the rules, but yes, you'd need to simply carry on with your remaining Sims.

TheChronicR · « **Reply #12 on:** January 31, 2011, 08:32:12 AM »

Quote from: Metropolis Man on January 31, 2011, 08:21:52 AM

Excellent question. I will note what to do in the rules, but yes, you'd need to simply carry on with your remaining Sims.

Now that's great! I've read many cases of mid-challenge deaths and I'm relieved to read this now.

Metropolis Man · « **Reply #13 on:** January 31, 2011, 09:09:23 AM »

@bored1, thanks again for the heads up on the two Rose Campgrounds in France. I noted those in the list.

Schipperke · « **Reply #14 on:** January 31, 2011, 09:34:19 AM »

•Starfleet Command is allowing you to use your ship’s teleporters whenever you wish.

Sorry, but I don't understand this at all. Perhaps it's because I rarely use cheats. Is there a cheat for teleporting?

TheChronicR · « **Reply #15 on:** January 31, 2011, 09:47:23 AM »

Quote from: Schipperke on January 31, 2011, 09:34:19 AM

•Starfleet Command is allowing you to use your ship’s teleporters whenever you wish.

Sorry, but I don't understand this at all. Perhaps it's because I rarely use cheats. Is there a cheat for teleporting?

Open the cheat box (CTRL + Shift + C), type testingcheatsenabled true, Shift + Click on the ground (the place you want to teleport to) and choose the option teleport me here. You should see your sim after less than a second, just like zeneport. It works practically anywhere (in tombs, houses, community buildings etc.).

Metropolis Man · « **Reply #16 on:** January 31, 2011, 09:48:09 AM »

Quote from: Schipperke on January 31, 2011, 09:34:19 AM

•Starfleet Command is allowing you to use your ship’s teleporters whenever you wish.

Sorry, but I don't understand this at all. Perhaps it's because I rarely use cheats. Is there a cheat for teleporting?

Absolutely. You'll have testingcheatsenabled turned on for this event. There will be a Teleport option on any area you click on.

--------

Oops, right — Shift-click the ground. Thanks, ChronicR.

Schipperke · « **Reply #17 on:** January 31, 2011, 09:49:52 AM »

Well, well - to think I never knew that! Thanks, Metro and ChronicR. I'm off to try out my new teleporting skill!

Jonna · « **Reply #18 on:** January 31, 2011, 10:53:26 AM »

Since we'll have testingcheatsenabled already on, would it be okay to shift+click on (i.e. delete) the had-a-good-trip moodlet so that we can go on our next vacation right away? The moodlet is what keeps you from being able to travel.

Metropolis Man · « **Reply #19 on:** January 31, 2011, 10:59:24 AM »

Quote from: Jonna on January 31, 2011, 10:53:26 AM

Since we'll have testingcheatsenabled already on, would it be okay to shift+click on (i.e. delete) the had-a-good-trip moodlet so that we can go on our next vacation right away? The moodlet is what keeps you from being able to travel.

Yeah, I'm aware of that. But, no—just the kaching and Teleporting cheats will be allowed.

Schipperke · « **Reply #20 on:** January 31, 2011, 11:44:37 AM »

Admiral Kirk, sir, does our landing party need to include all members of our crew? [do we have to take all 4 characters along when we travel?]

Metropolis Man · « **Reply #21 on:** January 31, 2011, 11:58:22 AM »

Quote from: Schipperke on January 31, 2011, 11:44:37 AM

Admiral Kirk, sir, does our landing party need to include all members of our crew? [do we have to take all 4 characters along when we travel?]

Are you out of your Vulcan mind? The size of any Away Team is completely up to each Captain. Please report to sick bay.

Schipperke · « **Reply #22 on:** January 31, 2011, 12:16:04 PM »

Quote from: Metropolis Man on January 31, 2011, 11:58:22 AM

Are you out of your Vulcan mind? The size of any Away Team is completely up to each Captain. Please report to sick bay.

Aye, aye, sir! Logically speaking, of course taking a smaller Away team should be reflected when the total time is being added up. [when we're calculating the travel time, is that going to be time per team member?]

Metropolis Man · « **Reply #23 on:** January 31, 2011, 12:22:32 PM »

Quote from: Schipperke on January 31, 2011, 12:16:04 PM

Aye, aye, sir! Logically speaking, of course taking a smaller Away team should be reflected when the total time is being added up. [when we're calculating the travel time, is that going to be time per team member?]

Nope. Too complicated. Your Away Team size is up to you, but what the clock says when you're all done upgrading a world will not be adjusted for the number of Sims you take. I'm pretty sure that fact just changed your mind about some things. Carry on.

Metropolis Man · « **Reply #24 on:** January 31, 2011, 12:31:48 PM »

Double post just to flag everyone that I missed the Shang Simla Market items, so they've been added to the list. (Thanks, Lena)