This mod was created for

I have no affiliation with EA, Maxis, or The Sims. I'm just a fan creating content

BetterSims

Hi, I'm Midiar.

I created BetterSims with the intention to bring a more customized experience to the game. I've been a fan of The Sims for decades now. I always loved creating stories and living them through my sims.

In the latest generation, The Sims 4, over time, I found myself recreating the same story over and over again which can easily get boring. I figured out that I wanted my sims to have more agency over their lives. I wanted them to choose and tell me what life they are trying to live. This is how this project started.

I'm Back!

The last time I posted an update, the future of my mods was uncertain and I was not sure how to approach the issues. Other than being busy with life I found myself unable to fix BetterSims and make it compatible with the newer game patches. I have been working a lot in my health and figuring out how to keep up well with all my responsibilities.

I find myself now in a better spot and about a month ago I was able to fix those issues that I was struggling with before. I decided then that if there was a chance for me to go back to posting regular updates it would require simplifying and doing a full rework of BetterSims So, this is what this update is all about: Rework and Fixes.

New in V1.3

DLC content is now integrated into the main modules.

BetterSims now Requires Frankk’s mod Pack tests.

Updated and tested all the triggers for preference discovery:

Location Preferences.
Activity preferences.

Fixed and updated all auto-assignment of:

Music Preferences.
Decor Preferences.
Color Preferences.
Fashion Preferences.
Characteristic preferences.
Communication preferences.

Reworked Character traits.

Added a cheats Menu with options to select:

Archetypes.
Character traits.

Fixed and finetuned Life choices for Base Game and all DLC that were already included in the last update.

Fixed all aspiration bonus trait selection.

BetterSims Guide

Main

In this Main module I include all the archetypes and hidden traits that this mod needs to work.

I created a set of logical systems that are referenced within the mod to make sure that anything that your sim chooses has a reason and is based on their personality, preferences, skills location and story.

BetterSims Menu

Click on your sim and you will find options to customize your experience by turn features on and off. You'll also find an easy way to select your sims' aspiration bonus trait, in case they changed their aspiration or goals.

Skill Learning

Traits that are assigned to sims automatically, that make their general skill learning speed different.

Archetypes

This system works in the shadows. These are traits that help BetterSim understad your existing sims' personality and preferences better. They dictate future trait addition, life choices and more.

Talents & Weaknesses

This is an optional module, meaning that you can choose to have it installed or not.

These are traits meant to make your sim's experience even more personalized. On top of your sims' general learning rate, they will have a set of skills that they are good at and bad at.

This traits will be given to your sim through gameplay and visible on their Simology panel.

Talents

ARTISTIC
CRAFTY
CREATOR
GREAT COOK
MUSICAL
PIONEER
POETIC
COMPETITIVE
INVENTOR
OUTDOORSY
SCHOLAR
ADRENALINE CHASER
ATHLETIC
RITHMIC
DEVOUT
PERFORMER
SOCIAL STAR
SPIRITUAL

Weaknesses

UNARTISTIC
UNCOORDINATED
COPYCAT
TASTELESS
TONE DEAF
UNENTERPRISING
TONGUE-TIED
UNCOMPETITIVE
TECHNOPHOBE
BIOPHOBIC
UNAWARE
SCAREDY CAT
SLUGGISH
ARRITHMIC
UNRELIABLE
STAGE FRIGHT
ASOCIAL
DISCONECTED

Personality

This is an optional module, meaning that you can choose to have it installed or not.

Character traits

These are traits that are added through gameplay and can be selected or changed through the BetterSims menu options.

In the Game, not all personality traits are built the same, in my opinion, and for my gameplay, I wanted to reduce the amount of traits that take a slot in you sims personality, and more of these to be gained through gameplay.

So, if you see some of the traits disappear from CAS, Do not worry, they are just categorized as character traits now, you can still access them through gameplay.

But it's not all bout reorganizing existing traits. Here is a list of new traits I added.

Charismatic
Easily Bored
Extrovert
Illogical
Insecure
Introvert
Logical
Start Material
Studious

Preferences

This is an optional module, though I strongly recommend using this one!

In this module we have all the systems that add preferences to your sim based on their personality.

Traits can be added when you load the game, visit a new place or try a new activity.

New Preferenes

Another goal for BetterSims is to fill in the gaps of content in the game, by adding new preferences and categories that will help us explore the many features available in game.

Some of these additions are:

Location Preferences for each region.
Expanded Fashion preferences.
Expanded activity preferences.
More preferences to come.

BetterSims Story

This module has evolved over time. Originally, and before likes and dislikes were added to the game. I created the location preferences mod, my first mod which then evolved into BetterSims. With one of it's original features also being fashion preferences. Some aspects of the early versions of likes and dislikes are still present but now incorporated to the game preferences system.

Life Choices

This is an optional module, though I strongly recommend using it!

This module focuses on giving your sims the ability to change and guide the course of their lives.

In the game you'll get notifications and buffs whenever your sim has decided it's time for change. Whether it's time to change careers, choose an aspiration , have a makeover or move to a new place. All of this choices are informed by your sims' unique personality and preferences.

Secondary Aspirations

This is a part of the Life Choices Module.

Inspired by The Sims 2, Secondary aspirations are traits that you sim can unlock though gameplay, These impact mainly the wants and fears your sim gets.

As your sims' life progresses they might try to choose a few different aspirations. Whenever these Life choices happen, Your sim will have a new option in BeterSims menu for their secondary aspiration.

My plans for this module is for your sim to make choices that are available to them in the following categories.

Move to a New Region.
Go on a vacation.
Choose a career and career path.
Choose a university major.
Leave a Job, or school.
Choose an aspiration.
Get a pet, or livestock.
Have a Child. Get Married and other big relationship choices.

Some of this categories might seem redundant given that in game we already have wants and fears, but in my opinion these can feel fleeting, impersonal or inconsequential. So, the purpose of life choices is to give the player a clear path to follow to satisfy your sims' desires.

These are traits that are visible in you simology panel and are meant to interact with other aspects of the game. Adding to the complexity of your sims' desires.

If you want to have more control of the story you are trying to tell, there's also an option to choose your sims' secondary aspiration though the cheats menu.

Required & Recommended

Frankk's Pack Tests (required)

This mod is now fundamental for how Bettersims works. It allowed me to incorporate DLC content in the main modules, therefore, making it possible for me to start posting updates again

I will be posting more recommendations as I keep working on the mod.

Downloads

BetterSims Public Release

BetterSims on CurseForge

Make sure you remove previous versions of the mod before installing.

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