Game Play Rules
Sims 2
These are the rules I use to play rotationally in my neighborhoods. I use these rules in my Maplewood series.Aging
I use normal Sims 2 aging. I send my teens to college just before they are to age up to adults. I may send me elders to live in the retirement home and age them up to meet the Grim Reaper early if they have no purpose.Aspirations
I choose aspirations based on my Sim’s zodiac sign. In the Sims 2, townies and other game-spawned Sims are automatically given an aspiration matching their zodiac sign. (This is not the case with premade playable characters.) I apply the same rules to my born-in-game Sims.| Zodiac Sign | Aspiration |
| Aquarius | Family |
| Aries | Popularity |
| Cancer | Family |
| Capricorn | Fortune |
| Gemini | Fortune |
| Leo | Popularity |
| Libra | Romance or Pleasure |
| Pisces | Knowledge |
| Sagittarius | Knowledge |
| Scorpio | Fortune |
| Taurus | Romance or Pleasure |
| Virgo | Knowledge |
Secondary Aspirations
Once Sims have used at least three points in their primary aspiration tree, they may roll for a secondary aspiration. There are seven total aspirations:
- Family
- Popularity
- Fortune
- Knowledge
- Romance
- Pleasure
- Grilled Cheese
Roll a number between 1 – 6 to choose their secondary aspiration, and then count clockwise from their primary aspiration to choose their secondary.
Careers
Sims may choose to go to college or not, depending on their wants, but this will affect their ability to progress in their careers. I use Cyjon’s Edukashun Iz Gud mod to limit promotions based on education.
Sims can get into any career track regardless of degree, but promotions will only be granted if Sims meet the following criteria:
- College graduate – maximum level 10
- Completed two years of college – maximum level 7
- Didn’t attend college or dropped out before completing two years – maximum job level is based on final high school grade:
- C or better – maximum level 5
- C- to D- maximum level 3
- F (high school dropout with no diploma) – maximum level 1
Sims who have hit their ceiling only have a 10% chance of being promoted past the job limit.
NOTE: If I am playing a premade ‘hood like Pleasantview, I give the playable adult Sims a college degree using the Batbox if I feel they would have previously attended college.
Clothing
I try to let my Sims wear the clothing they choose upon aging up (unless it’s just a really stupid combination or doesn’t fit their personality). I try to let them keep at least one piece that they choose and fix the rest if necessary. Sometimes this isn’t possible, like if they choose a really terrible full outfit, but most of the time I can work with their choices.
Sims can always purchase more outfits if they roll a want for it. If a Sim has a wish to buy new clothes, I allow them to go to the clothing store (or shop online) and buy a new outfit. I usually buy a replacement for whichever of their outfits is the worst first.
Favorite Colors
I assign each of my Sims a favorite color to help me with clothing choices and decorating their rooms/homes. I choose the color based on whatever clothing color they’re wearing when they age up. In my eyes, they chose the color themselves so it must be their favorite.
Each Sim’s favorite color changes at each life stage (unless they choose the same one again by wearing the same color as the last age up). I do not assign favorite colors for toddlers. Sims get their first favorite color when aging up to a child.
Fertility
I only force Sims to “try for baby” when one of them wants to. Otherwise, they just do normal woohoo. I never force them to woohoo unless it’s on their wedding night or if they roll the want to do so. I use a Risky Woohoo mod that makes normal woohoo have a 20 percent chance of resulting in pregnancy.
If they “try for baby” three times and don’t get pregnant, I assume that one of the couple is infertile. I have them adopt at this point to fulfill their desire for a baby. If they want a second child, they can try again naturally up to three times.
Same-sex couples always adopt when they want children (unless one of them is abducted by aliens and gets pregnant that way). I don’t allow male Sims to get pregnant unless it’s via abduction (for realism).
I never give Sims the “super fertility” aspiration benefit because it results in way too many babies. I like my Sims to have twins only rarely, just like in real life.
Taxes
Taxes are due every seven years (or every 1 Sim week). I usually have each household pay taxes on Monday morning of each new play round.
Current tax rate: 10% of net worth
Net worth includes household funds, bank accounts, and property value. Renters are not taxed on property value.
Deductions:
- $1,000 deduction for home ownership
- $1,500 deduction for married couples
- $ 500 deduction for each dependent (children under age 18)
- $1,500 adoption credit (once per adoption)
- $1,500 deduction for each local business owned
Exemptions:
- Renters do not pay property taxes.
If a Sim is unable to pay their taxes, they must take out a loan from the Loan Jar at 3% interest (or sell enough of their possessions to pay). Some Sims may even get a refund, depending on their financial situation.
Lifetime Wants
I ignore lifetime wants randomly assigned when my Sims are teens. Instead, I wait until they finish college and become adults. Then, I assign the lifetime want that most closely fits what they truly want to do with their lives.
If they roll a want for a specific career and take a job in that career, I will often give them the lifetime want for that career. Some Sims may have a non-career-related lifetime want if it fits their personality. For example, Popularity Sims may have the want for 20 BFFs or Fortune Sims may have the want to earn $100,000 or own 5 Top-Level Businesses.
I don’t really have a method for choosing these types of wants. I just look at the Sim’s personality and make the most logical decision. For example, a really shy Sim with no interest in money probably won’t be a business owner. An outgoing Sim with an interest in culture and travel would probably love to make 20 BFFs, etc.
Gender Preference
I randomize gender preference for each of my Sims when they become teens using the Sim blender. There is a 10 percent chance they will become Gay or Bi.
If one of my Sims becomes Gay through the randomizer, I will make another Sim of the same sex in their generation gay so they will have a partner. If there is no available Sim of the same sex in their generation, I will allow them to choose the townie they like best.
