The Sims Social Guide
Part 2: Gameplay Concepts and Strategies
| Sims Social Guide | Gameplay | Skills | Traits | Tips |
Energy
Sims are limited in the number of actions they can take. This is governed by the Energy stat. Energy is deducted after an action is performed. Your Sim regenerates one Energy every 5 minutes, up to a maximum of 15. When you're out, the simplest way to get more is to wait. Gaining a level will replenish your energy. If you time it correctly, you can ensure that you receive a full 15 energy on gaining a level. You can do that by using the bare minimum of energy items as you approach a level up, and timing visits to friends which give bonus energy. You can go past your maximun energy with bonuses, but 15 is the most you can get with the 5 minute ticks
Visiting a Sim for the first time will give you 3 energy. Time these visits wisely -- you want a level up to give you as much free energy as possible. You can tell which Sims you haven't visited yet by the symbol on their portrait. If it's got a question mark, they haven't been met yet. Upon your first visit to your friends' homes each day, you'll get 5 bonus energy to spend on that lot. These points aren't subtracted from your reserve and can be used to socialize and complete quest objectives. After spending 5, you'll get one bonus energy that can be used at home. You can only get a few of +1 bonuses each day, but no matter how many friends you have, you will always have 5 free points to spend on each of their lots on the first daily visit.
Needs
A Sim's needs are Hunger, Sleep, Hygiene, Bladder, Fun and Social. All needs can be taken care of by clicking them. Your Sim will automatically go to an appropriate object and use it satisfy the need. The only need that requires the use of energy is Social. You can fill this need on the cheap by visiting neighbors and using the five daily bonus energy. Space visitsout to keep need maxed for a longer play session. Some activities can fill multiple needs a once, like watching television with another Sim. For all needs but social, you can find a Trait that will reduce how quickly that need diminishes.
When all six needs are maxed (green), your Sim will become inspired. This will improve the earnings of money-making skills like writing and cooking by 50%. Since other types of actions don't benefit from this, there's no need to seek out the inspired buff unless you plan to be pursuing a career-oriented activity. Quests and actions like rummaging through garbage, harvesting crops, and making repairs are examples of activities that don't benefit from this. So, get those types of actions out of the way when you first log in, then visit friends to max social before building a skill.
Experience and Level
You gain experience from doing many things. In general, pursuing quests will help you to get the most experience thanks to the rewards for completing them. Raising your level will unlock new items for purchase at the store, widening the options you have for decorating your Sim's home.
Currencies and Home Value
Simoleons are gained from many activities. Nearly anything that doesn't fall into the socializing or need-meeting categories will give you this money. Getting better at a skill is the best way to earn more Simoleons. Focusing your efforts in one area will give you more money for each energy you expend. So, pick a skill and stick with it to make the most money.You can also click your friends' wall posts to earn Simoleon rewards.
You'll use your cash to buy new things for your home, which will raise its value. This is mostly a metric for showing how wealthy you are compared to your neighbors. However, despite its weak influence on the game play, many people will want to raise property values.
Social Points are gained by Socializing with the Sims you visit. Save these up for expensive items. There are regular and social point versions of many items. You will find that social points are worth double-triple their value when adding to the worth of your home.
The last currency is Sim Cash, which has to be bought with real money. You start with some, which you should save for a really frustrating item you need. This stuff can let you pay your way through the game. If you're willing, you can spend this not only to buy objects, but also to skip entire quest objectives and allow yourself to advance.
Socializing - Romance and Friendships
The Sims Social's hook is supposed to be its social play. Aside from the possibilities of flirting with people by sending mushy requests back and forth, socializing doesn't play a very huge role. You may need to talk to neighbor Sims, but overall your relationships with them won't matter unless you are tackling Quests. Sims can only be in one official relationship at a time as shown in the screenshot above.
As you talk to Sims, a bar will gradually fill up. In order to advance to the next stage of friendship, the other player has to accept. In order to start a romantic relationship, get to friends status then start doing romantic interactions. You can eventually choose Romantic Kiss, which requires no energy. If they accept, your Sims will start dating. You can then woohoo in the shower, bath tub, or in bed when visiting with them.
Quests
Quests are viewed on the left side of your screen. You'll see the quest givers, who will give you the objectives you need to finish. Quests give great rewards. You'll find components, Simoleons, experience, and the opportunity to share rewards with your friends. Most players will find the most fulfillment from the game by trying to finish them. It gives you goals, but most importantly it's the only way to get Lifetime Points. This special currency is used to purchase Traits and new slots to put them in. It is the main way you can upgrade your character in The Sims Social.
Gifting
Gifting is an integral part of the game. When you first log in, you'll be met with requests from your friends. Some will be returning items you requested, and others will be asking for help. You should always click accept. Watch your news feed for people asking for items and click them. This will also show you opportunities to get reward items like Bling and wrenches for helping your friend. This will help your friend to make progress, and they will help you back! Hold Control on your keyboard while you click and it will open a new browser tab. You can then close the tabs after they have loaded. This is a very handy tip from Amber (gerrr00 at our Sims 3 Forum) for people claiming/helping with multiple feed requests at once.
Any time the game offers you to share an actual item (not just Simoleons but items like Bling, Furies, Paper, Plans, etc.) with your friends, you should do it. This will allow them to pick more free items off your wall. Mutual back-scratching is the shortest path to success in any Facebook game. Be a good gift-giver!
Crafting
The Sims Social lets you assemble items your Sim can use. The best craftables here are the inspired potion and anything that restores energy. The inspired potion is incredible, restoring all of a Sim's needs at once. Check your item levels and hunt for anything you need to assemble items. These will change as the game is developed over time.
