Tips and Strategy (Expired Challenges)

[Veldmuisie]

For the Grandmaster Chess and Martial Arts Challenge:

Traits: Disciplined, Athletic, Genius, Lucky, Ambitious

I decided not to waste time increasing her skills, since she will be given opponents matched to her level.  This turned out to be true for chess, but she lost 19 sparring matches! 

Got her to level 4 at the academy, playing chess matches when fatigued.  Then dragged the tent, shower cans, and high dried food to opponent's houses.  The Inappropriate in a Good Way LTW let me use their shower and camp out in their yard.  For chess matches I also used the base camp chess board but nothing else (no beds, showers, etc). 

After a night match I would find out who her next opponent was, cancel the call, then go camp out on their porch until 5am.  Because apparently that's a perfectly acceptable time for a visit!

[Metropolis Man]

After a night match I would find out who her next opponent was, cancel the call, then go camp out on their porch until 5am.

Very smart. Nice tip.

[rahmbr]

A lot has already been mentioned, but I took the athletic trait and pumped iron to get the 60 hours no fatigue bonus which helped me considerably when I went to China. I had issues with a vampire chess player, but that was a minor annoyance. I just took a quick nap and invited her over at 9pm. My first trip in China could have been managed better, but I got the training I needed and worked on my skills. I did not know I could actually challenge people to chess in China, so all of my games were at home.

[Alexandria_]

Got her to level 4 at the academy, playing chess matches when fatigued.  Then dragged the tent, shower cans, and high dried food to opponent's houses.  The Inappropriate in a Good Way LTW let me use their shower and camp out in their yard.  For chess matches I also used the base camp chess board but nothing else (no beds, showers, etc). 

After a night match I would find out who her next opponent was, cancel the call, then go camp out on their porch until 5am.  Because apparently that's a perfectly acceptable time for a visit!

That was a good approach. I tried the camping in the yard, but I still got the message "It's getting a late.. I think it's time you should leave". Not sure what happened there, but it was my first time using that trait, so I thought that I still wasn't able to stay over without asking. Oh well, now I know!

[Illianna]

Wow! I love how creative some of you were with the traits!   I never thought of "inappropriate in a good way" being useful other than for amusement's sake. Great tips everyone!

I also never thought of stealing books for cash. That is where I had the most trouble, with making money fast. I had my person run all over (trying to get the athletic skill up at the same time) and collect everything (gems, metal, bugs, etc.) I could collect to sell. I was wondering how some of you made money to afford the vacations and stuff. Though I have to admit, I liked the idea of camping out on one's own lot and saving all your initial cash for vacations and things.

Thanks for the fun and the tips everyone! Trust me, I need all the help I can get! 

[NancyJ]

I didn't make a penny and I still had plenty of money left over. First thing - walls are ludicrously expensive (and then you have you add windows, doors, wallpaper, flooring and lights) and you don't need them (if the mail man is interrupting your private time you can build a small self-contained bathroom). For a short challenge like this, you don't need all the amenities - I just had a tent and a toilet on my lot. I had portable showers and dried food to keep me going but in other challenges you can usually get an energy 10 bed, the best pre-late night kitchen equipment, shower, toilet and a small dinner table if you forgo walls until you get on your feet. And if that's too cheesy for you, basements are cheaper than walls - a lot of my sims last year were basement dwellers.

[Illianna]

All good ideas! Thanks for the tips! 

[Gheez]

...

As soon as the challenge started, I sent my Sim to the Science Facility to learn the logic skill, and straight away sent her to China to learn the martial arts skill.
That way, when she was waiting for a chess opponent in Sunset Valley, she could practice the martial arts skill.

As soon as I got there, I took all the books from the bookshelves so that I could sell them when I got back to Sunset Valley and afford the most expensive bed, stereo, etc to always keep her mood high. It also meant I could go back to China faster.

...

I've really appreciated all the hints and tips that everyone has shared. I'm sure that I could manage a faster time if I attempted it again.

I'm also hoping that Alexandria will share how to take all the books from the bookshelves.  When I went to the market area in China, I couldn't seem to get them into my backpack/inventory.  What was I doing wrong?  Thanks.

[Metropolis Man]

I'm also hoping that Alexandria will share how to take all the books from the bookshelves.  When I went to the market area in China, I couldn't seem to get them into my backpack/inventory.  What was I doing wrong?  Thanks.

You can't take those, Gheez, because those are for sale. She's talking about swiping the ones in the two base camp bookshelves which can be opened up.

[Gheez]

Ah, that explains it.  Thank you.

[Veldmuisie]

That was a good approach. I tried the camping in the yard, but I still got the message "It's getting a late.. I think it's time you should leave". Not sure what happened there, but it was my first time using that trait, so I thought that I still wasn't able to stay over without asking. Oh well, now I know!

You are right, even with this trait they will kick you out at 3am.  To avoid this, sleep in your tent (that you placed in the yard) or just be physically outside the house between 2:59am-5:01am.  If you keep to this schedule, your "visit" will never be over.

[TheChronicR]

You are right, even with this trait they will kick you out at 3am.  To avoid this, sleep in your tent (that you placed in the yard) or just be physically outside the house between 2:59am-5:01am.  If you keep to this schedule, your "visit" will never be over.

Nice tip, thanks a lot. My sims always get kicked out. 

[Alexandria_]

You are right, even with this trait they will kick you out at 3am.  To avoid this, sleep in your tent (that you placed in the yard) or just be physically outside the house between 2:59am-5:01am.  If you keep to this schedule, your "visit" will never be over.

Smart thinking!

And yes, I took the books from Base Camp. There's usually 3-10 books in each one and they're quite expensive once you get home. If you try to sell them in China though, the aren't worth anything.

[Twinmum]

I didn't do great in this challenge, so I probably don't have a lot to offer in tips. I was extremely lucky and picked up the martial arts book at the consignment store on day one, so I read that before I headed to china. I camped out at the academy. I did the chess part both in SV and China. It seemed a lot of my chess opponents liked to hang out at the academy so I would get a game in while I waited for my sparring partner to arrive.

It's good to read other people's strategy on how they made such good time.

Norma

[GoslettM]

I chose the following traits for my Sim:
Adventurous – So he could go on another trip sooner. (at least I think that's how it works)
Disciplined – So he could learn the martial arts skill faster.
Genius – So he could learn the logic skill faster.
Over-Emotional – So that all his moodlets contribute more to his mood.
Lucky – To help him win more than lose in both the martial arts and chess tournaments. (It help with the chess tournaments but with the martial tournaments it was not helping at all, in the begin I lost more than win)

I decided not to waste time increasing his skills, since he will be given opponents matched to his level.  This turned out to be true for chess, but he lost 19 sparring matches!

As soon as the challenge started, I sent my Sim to the Library to learn the logic skill, and straight away sent him to China to learn the martial arts skill.  That way, when he was waiting for a chess opponent in Sunset Valley, he could practice the martial arts skill, meditating in between and sleeping, eating, socializing, etc

As soon as I got there, I also took all the books from the bookshelves so that I could sell them when I got back to Sunset Valley. It also meant I could afford to travel faster, now with more money.

I bought a tent,  the martial art dummy plenty of showers-in-a-can and high quality dried food. I went for the high quality food because of the +20 moodlet that lasts for 2 hours. He stayed at the academy for the entire first trip.

My strategy was similar with most of the other players, but most of the time I was sleeping in my tent and ate the high quality dried food.  I tried it both ways the base camp and in the end I preferred the academy. Sure there's the only1 bathroom issue and everyone creating a log jam in the entrance but there's no fridge which I also found helpful.

I read through allot of strategies here and must say I have learned allot and will try them out myself next time.  Good job everyone and congratulations on all your high scores.  


Hi winnow (Norma)

Congratulations, on your win of the Bishop Takes Head Kick: Grandmaster Quan’s Grandmaster Challenge, February 13, 2011.

I have read your interview with Metro, good tips & strategy thanks for that.  

Could you please tell me what traits you gave your Sim?

Thanks again and well done.  

Marisha