Proposed Challenges

[MomOfMany]

Don't feel bad Storyteller. I got Ambitions before it came out technically (due to preorder they shipped early and it arrived early) and have been playing it since but still no meteor. And I know several people have yet to experience meteors so I know we are not alone.

[Metropolis Man]

I'm hoping to have a revisit on some of these challenges.  What I like best about them is what I learn as I play.  If this hasn't been suggested yet then I'd like to suggest a revisit on some of your previous challenges.  To be fair you might consider it more of a 2 stage challenge for next year.  I will use the Grim Reaper Challenge for my example.  I already know that I did okay there but from what I've learned since then I know I will do much better.

So how about a challenge with a rematch.  It could be something like this.  You participated in the first Reaper Challenge and your score was say 6500.  You then are eligible for the second portion where your score adds up to 10,000.  On the first challenge you might win with the highest score.  On the second one you or someone else might win with the highest score.  Now here is the fun part.  You might also win by being the person who improved the most between their 2 scores.

Anyway, this is just one example and you might very well have something like that in mind.  The idea just feels like a good fit based on this being a challenge area rather then an actual contest.

An interesting idea. But, here's why it would never work — if the only players that qualify to participate in the 2nd event are finishers from the 1st event, then you're automatically excluding a lot of players that will not join the forum until next year. This forum is a big revolving door. All game forums are. Players come and go to reflect their interests. Sure, a lot of us have been around since the beginning of this forum and do not intend on leaving anytime soon. But, I'm not into excluding anyone from events. Reworkings of past events to make them better? Absolutely. That's a given.

[cndneh]

An interesting idea. But, here's why it would never work — if the only players that qualify to participate in the 2nd event are finishers from the 1st event, then you're automatically excluding a lot of players that will not join the forum until next year. This forum is a big revolving door. All game forums are. Players come and go to reflect their interests. Sure, a lot of us have been around since the beginning of this forum and do not intend on leaving anytime soon. But, I'm not into excluding anyone from events. Reworkings of past events to make them better? Absolutely. That's a given.

Though it would work if it were arranged as an unofficial challenge, between those who finished it.  That still includes a lot of people, but it would have to be unofficial.  (or you were talking about minor challenges somewhere in between the main challenges, this could be one, if people knew there was a 'second chance' you might get more to do the first challenge).  

You could have 'second chances' for lots of them, though I would not want to do a 'second chance' on the Random Sim Wishmaster Quartet Challenge.. too many days!  

[Metropolis Man]

You could have 'second chances' for lots of them, though I would not want to do a 'second chance' on the Random Sim Wishmaster Quartet Challenge.. too many days!  

Ha ha. Ya think? 

[tiff_jewels]

Good feedback.  Still if you have 3 levels of the challenge then everyone gets a chance to participate.  You have the first challenge "winner".  you have the second challenge "winner" then you have the over all improved score "winner".  I recognize that some might not get in to the first challenge.  Still, they might not get in to the challenge at all if they are new players that joined a week after it finishes.  At least in this method a person would still have a chance to try even a small portion of the challenge.

My thoughts are, take the idea for a spin, kick the tires and maybe tweak it so it fits better to what you feel would work better.  After the trial if you don't want the car then no hard feelings.  Yes that was a Fast Lane reference.  


If it is still a no go then I'm up for that unofficial non-quartet idea. 

[samoht04]

I like the improving score idea but I do not like the idea that you had to take part in the first challenge, not everyone has the time to complete all challenges or just gets bored of them. So if the improving score idea was used for new players it would have to be an increase from 0. And as they said below, some challenges a lot of people would never do again, just like me and squishing those berries and making hardly any money.

[tiff_jewels]

I like the improving score idea but I do not like the idea that you had to take part in the first challenge, not everyone has the time to complete all challenges or just gets bored of them. So if the improving score idea was used for new players it would have to be an increase from 0. And as they said below, some challenges a lot of people would never do again, just like me and squishing those berries and making hardly any money.

I absolutely understand.  I was thinking more along the lines of the Grim Reaper one or something just as short.

[ratchie]

This probably is not the right place to put this but here goes, oh and bear with me.
Last night i could not sleep so i started reading through other peoples legacy stories and challenges. I came across a few 100 baby challenges and i began to think how many babies would it be possible to have if:
You played on normal lifespan.
You did not use any mood or money cheats.
You could only use people in the game so no creating Sims just to be baby daddies.
You had to do everything yourself no maids no babysitters.
Only worked self employed jobs.
No fertility treatment (listening to kids radio and watching kids t.v would be o.k).

There could probably be some points system in place for things like teaching kids life skills etc but my brain closed down around 3am

Rachel

[samoht04]

There is already the Baby Boomer challenge but the challenge has finished now - Latest Version

[ratchie]

yeah i know about the baby boomer challenge that has two parents with one working and you could have fertility treatment (i think)
I wasnt really suggesting a challenge it was a more of a what if. Its surprising the things that you think about in the early hours
So again not really a good idea for a challenge just a thought that i had.

Rachel

[tiff_jewels]

I wasn't really suggesting a challenge it was a more of a what if.

Rachel

The first family I ever created had a mom who adored the kiddies.  I believe she ended up with 10 total, one being given over to a game glitch and not knowing how to reset a bugged Sim.  Maybe there is an area we could discuss and try some of these things together.  I love what ifs myself. :-)

[faeryfyre]

Hello.  I'm new to the forums, but I've been a longtime fan of the site and have done 'amateur' play on several of the challenges offered (IE I never posted to participate, but I enjoyed just doing it for myself).  Anyway, I registered and am posting because I had a challenge idea.  I'm not certain if Metro is still considering new ideas, or if something very similar has been posted elsewhere and I missed it.  Anyway, this is my first idea for a challenge so please take that into consideration. I was thinking about a challenge where a Sim must fight his own unpleasant and difficult nature.  So without further ado, I offer:

The Redheaded Stepchild Challenge

The Setup:
Your Sim was the loser in a family of overachievers.  Now s/he's been given an ultimatum.  Either s/he shapes up or s/he's disowned!  The family wants him to prove that he can achieve more than the others or else.  Now, he must start over in a new town, cut off from his family's wealth and influence.  His funds are limited and he's got a lot to prove.  The clock is ticking...

Starting Out:
Make a young adult Sim, life span is normal.  This is your only Sim in the household and must remain that way.  S/he can look any way you like, but red hair is encouraged.  Must have the traits Loser, Clumsy, Absent-Minded, Inappropriate, and Grumpy.  Start in a new neighborhood.  May only have the starting $16,500 funds, but may live on any lot or house they can afford.  Free will must be set to high, aging on.

The Goal:
Complete as many skill levels, skill challenges, career or profession promotion levels, and/or visa levels as possible.  Purchase and upgrade as many businesses and properties as possible.

Rules:
No cheats of any kind may be used.
No modifications or third party content which changes the play of the game allowed.  Purely cosmetic changes are fine.
No town editing may be done with the exception of a book corral may be added to Twinbrook.
No lifetime rewards may be purchased or used.
No ambrosia may be eaten and no death flower may be kept.


Scoring:

The challenge comes to an end when your Sim dies.  Suggestions for scoring is as follows:

10 points per skill level earned.
100 points per skill challenge completed
10 points per career/profession level
100 points per business owned
100 points per level of property owned (max value of 400 points for fully upgraded property)
100 points if Lifetime Wish achieved
1 point per Lifetime Happiness point earned

Possibly also offer points for cash and home property value.

Presumably if your Sim is successful, he won't be tossed from his family posthumously.  Or there could be a set number of days in which the Sim has to make his mark, so to speak.

-Edit- Corrected a few minor posting errors.  Oops.

[Metropolis Man]

@faeryfyre, welcome to the forum. Thank you for the challenge idea. 2010 is completely locked up. The last scheduled event is actually live. But, I'm definitely seeking ideas for 2011.

Scoring:

The challenge comes to an end when your Sim dies.

On the surface after a quick scan, I do like this "loser to winner" type of idea. It's a very common theme, but one I've actually never fleshed out. The one change that pops out is there needs to be a definite finishing time — i.e. 75 or 100 days. Not just when a Sim dies. Otherwise, you have Sims dying at 95 days and others dying at 115 days. 10 extra days is a huge amount of time for an experienced player.

[faeryfyre]

Thank you for your welcome Metro  

The one change that pops out is there needs to be a definite finishing time — i.e. 75 or 100 days. Not just when a Sim dies. Otherwise, you have Sims dying at 95 days and others dying at 115 days. 10 extra days is a huge amount of time for an experienced player.

That's a good point.  I rather like the 100 days idea.  I was originally thinking of how actions like completing skill challenges or going without fire alarms/nearby showers in the game can extend or shorten life expectancy and how that would be another marker of success.  But you're right, it wouldn't be really fair.

[LlamaMama]

"The Redheaded Stepchild Challenge"

As a lifelong redhead, I get really tired of that expression. Why are redheads the last group on earth still allowed to be insulted?

[RubyLovesSims]

Aww LlamaMama, but it's no fun being four-eyes either!

[Aiwe]

When I hear the phrase 'Redheaded Stepchild' I automatically think of the Jaye Welles novel, which seeing as I really like it makes the phrase more positive to me... don't know if that helps any.

Also I have a couple of very vague ideas for challenges:

Idea #1: Opposites Attract.
Social / Traits based challenge, the goal is to make friends with Sims who have opposing traits to your Sim (eg a Good Sim would be looking to befriend Evil Sims, Flirty with Unflirty, etc), could either have it over a fairly short time period and score for each best friend with one or more opposing traits, possibly with bonus points if a best friend has more than one trait that's in opposition, or have it a race to befriend a number of Sims, say five, who have the opposing traits for each one of your Sims traits.

Idea #2: Unemployment Blues, The Not-So-Idle Rich.
Your Sim is unemployed, not only that, but they are persona non grata with all the local businesses, and cannot sell their wares. Basically the Sim is not allowed to earn any money by any means (no searching the galaxy, no novel writing, no nothing), their starting 'Savings' is all the money they will have for the duration of the challenge. The goal is to raise the value of their property (the 'furnished value' from the buy tab) as high as possible within a given time frame.

Sorry if either of these or something similar has already been done and I didn't notice.

[Metropolis Man]

Also I have a couple of very vague ideas for challenges:

Idea #1: Opposites Attract.
Social / Traits based challenge, the goal is to make friends with Sims who have opposing traits to your Sim (eg a Good Sim would be looking to befriend Evil Sims, Flirty with Unflirty, etc), could either have it over a fairly short time period and score for each best friend with one or more opposing traits, possibly with bonus points if a best friend has more than one trait that's in opposition, or have it a race to befriend a number of Sims, say five, who have the opposing traits for each one of your Sims traits.

I like this idea. If you look in the Graveyard at the first Maximum Moodlets challenge, I had a similar set-up with the 2 starting Sims...opposing traits. But, we could definitely kick this up a notch and maybe have 4 pairs of Sims to start — your 4 "couples" would have to be polar opposites of each other and start as strangers (or only acquaintances). The goal would be to see how quickly you could get all 4 polar opposites to marry each other. So, that might nicely qualify for one of the short Minor events in 2011. Forcing players to have their polar opposites immediately start rabbit-hole careers could be an interesting twist and stretch it out a little bit.

Idea #2: Unemployment Blues, The Not-So-Idle Rich.
Your Sim is unemployed, not only that, but they are persona non grata with all the local businesses, and cannot sell their wares. Basically the Sim is not allowed to earn any money by any means (no searching the galaxy, no novel writing, no nothing), their starting 'Savings' is all the money they will have for the duration of the challenge. The goal is to raise the value of their property (the 'furnished value' from the buy tab) as high as possible within a given time frame.

This just sounds like a Klepto Challenge unless I'm missing something.

[Aiwe]

Well I was thinking more of a build it yourself thing than by stealing if that makes a difference?

[Metropolis Man]

Well I was thinking more of a build it yourself thing than by stealing if that makes a difference?

So, you're saying that a Sim has their starting money and that's it? That's all they can use to do something with their lot? And they can never bring in any money via any source?

[Aiwe]

I think so, but not no more resources if you get what I mean... painting is free as long as you have an easel (although I guess you'd have a problem with lack of walls) you can scrounge up metal for inventing without buying it (explosions cost money but digging through junk piles or dustbins doesn't), sculpting eventually becomes free and metal sculptures which I believe are sculpt-able from the start again use scrounge-able resources if there's not enough cash left to work with clay. This was sort of what was in my head anyway.
An alternate version might be instead of having no income to restrict usage of the build/buy menus, basically my main thought was I was wondering how much house you could achieve if you were only allowed to furnish it with things that the Sim acquired themselves, and I wasn't really thinking of kleptos (probably because I seldom play them)... I guess if income was allowed could extend that definition to include anything a Sim can buy themselves (from a in game merchant) which would solve the lack of beds problem as would be able to buy tents to sleep in.
I'm not sure I'm communicating the idea in my head all that well, or possibly it just wasn't that good an idea to start with.

[RubyLovesSims]

Well, I have an idea...
Create a female YA Sim is CAS and choose a hair color for her to have. This chart might not make sense, but-
Black- Easy
Blond- Medium
Brunette- Hard
Red- Mega Hard
You may only have children with the men that have the same hair color as your Sim. Each child must be from a different dad, apart from twins (She cannot use Fertility Treatment LTR, but may watch kids TV/radio) Your score will be the amount of kids vs the difficutiy level (Hair color)
Move her into the normal legacy lot. The Sim must have a skill to pursue and a matching trait.(Painting-artistic, ect)Depending on what skill she has, there are restrictions-
Painting- No lighting in the house
Gutair- No more than 3 cots/beds
Gardening- No electronics
Inventing- You must not go out from 7pm to 6am
Of course there are more but I'm better submit this to start

[samoht04]

I have an idea for a challenge.

Tribal God

There was once a small tribe nestled in the hills, oblivious to the advancing civillization around them, but then it hit. The tribe were afraid they needed to take back their land from the newcomers, to do that they need a god. Someone who will live forever, and fight for their tribe. There is one problem, there is no God, the recipe for the Ambrosia of life was lost, it was stolen by a thief. Your tribe must take it back, learn it and create it, they must create their god.

Create Five young adult sims.
Each will have a role - Gardener, Fisherman, Cook, Collector, Chief.
Their jobs are as follows:
Gardener: Grow the food for the Tribe.
Fisherman: Catch the food for the Tribe and provide a fertilizer for the Garden.
Cook: Cook the food for the Tribe, they also look after any children.
Collector: Collects Gems, Bugs,Rocks and Seeds for the Tribe to use or trade.
Chief: This is the Tribes chosen God, they must oversee all members, They must become a Genius and be the Healer.
Once a job has been assigned to a sim, no other sim can complete or take part in that. If a Sim dies then the challenge is over, Electronics are banned as is the Teleporter, MM and Food Replicator and the 'My Best Friend' reward. Your tribe members may take up additional skills but they must be unique. You must keep the tribe full, there should be no empty spaces. Your sims must be able to breed and they must not have relationships made in CAS. Your God may have children with his tribe members, but he should not be married.

How does that sound? It is quite shrt but the goal could be, who can create their God the fastest, who can buy all the land back the fastest. By all the land I mean the land surrounding the town, AKA the Ponds etc.

[Pam]

@samoht:

The Cook looks after the children?  Does that mean that the parents aren't allowed to do it?  And why the Cooks?  I don't see the connection there.

[Metropolis Man]

Interesting idea, samo. If the basic goal is to see who can make Ambrosia the fastest, then I'm one step ahead of you. There will be a short Mini Challenge with that focus next year. But, I like the idea. Very creative to come up with various roles for the Sims.