Sims 3 group blog

Twallan's Mods have moved

2012-01-14T18:30:00.000-08:00

NRaas industries had to find a new home when the current site owner decided it was time to stop hosting NRaas. So the mods have moved to a new wiki http://nraas.wikispaces.com

One advantage will be the http://nraas.wikispaces.com/Update+History update page for the mods. You can subscribe to that and know when there have been updates.

From the words of Roy - The IT Crowd

2011-12-26T19:32:00.000-08:00

Have you tried turning it off and on again?

I've been getting increasingly frustrated after installing Pets. AFT save didn't give me any problems but WAG froze time and time again. Then the new save for Sammy also froze during the night.

The worst day of all - trying to load WAG. First try, Disc verification fail. Have to try again. Finally loaded save, when I went to save I had an error 12. What I should have done is restart, what I did was quit to menu and reload. That's when I had a crash to desktop. Next try, Disc verification fail. I think I played all of 5 minutes that night.

Add to this the general frustration of having although the blogs have more readers than ever, my blogs are also getting fewer comments.

While installing Skyrim on the virtual PC on this Mac, I was doing heaps of other updates and restarted both the virtual PC and finally did a few Mac updates and restarted it.

Low and behold, WAG is working. It's gone nearly a full day with no freezing and no problems saving (I'm saving ever few Sim hours.)

I don't tend to restart the Mac much. The manual says just put it to sleep when not in use and that's what I do. But if I start having problems again, I think turning it off and on again is now *way* up on my to try list.

And if you've never watched the IT Crowd, just do it. Too funny for words.

Collection Folders for Dummies

2011-11-29T18:21:00.000-08:00

How nice that we have collection folders that we can create and edit to make finding our favorite items easily. Sounds great, right?! Just one problem? I can't figure out how to save an item into a custom folder. I have a nice empty folder I named, 'Bathroom', for, you know, bathroom stuffs, decor, etc. I'm losing what little mind I have left trying to figure out how to save a blasted decor item into the folder.

Help me, Obi Wan, you're my only hope.

Don't Fear the Reaper

2011-11-01T11:09:00.001-07:00

Ollie and Shannon were devastated when Death came for Mr. Pickles. Ollie was disgusted with Shannon's tearful display. "Get a grip, woman!" Since it was obvious that Shannon wasn't going to man up and do something about Mr. Pickles demise, Ollie did what only a real man could do.

"Take that, Foul Creature! Give me back my sweetums, Mr. Pickles!"

To Ollie's shock and horror (and delight?), Death was oddly thrilled by the beating. Soft fluffy feathers flying around Death along with the cooing of Oliver made him fiendishly happy. Not able to stop himself, Ollie continued his assault.

Shannon listened to the sounds in the hallway and thought about Ollie's "performance anxiety."
"Suddenly, everything makes sense!"

I am in mourning - Sims 2 site is gone

2011-09-24T16:05:00.000-07:00

I think it actually happened some time ago but I wasn't paying attention. I am mourning for 2 things. The first is that I didn't get a chance to copy some of my material from the forums for reposting to the little Sims 2 blog I have. Damn. Nor do I have a spare copy of my Sims 2 bachelor challenge story.

But the main thing I mourn is that means that Candi's Uglacy is no more. That uglacy was the first legacy story I ever read and one of the funniest Sims stories around. Last time I had checked, Candi was still working on a Apocalypse challenge which was done in the same style. And it's all gone.

Cool new blogger feature

2011-09-20T04:36:00.000-07:00

One of the updates to blogger is adding a 'lightbox' facility to all blogs. Basically, if you click a single image in a blog post, you get to scroll around all the images in that post in a separate window at a larger size. A nice way to concentrate on the images and easy to use.

Some of the recent changes to the blog interface are good, a few are annoying. Like some of the advanced settings aren't available - you have to go to the old interface to choose if you want people to type in the word verification or not. But this one is cool in my books.

Hi there people

2011-08-25T16:29:00.000-07:00

It's been quiet and I've been missing all of you heaps.

Anybody still out there or am I by myself in Sims world these days?

PiB/Nicarra stories - not Sims related

2011-08-14T16:12:00.000-07:00

A few of you will know by now, I've started digging out my old old old stories.

If you have some desire to read those stories, let me know. If I have your email, I'll add it to the Share list for each story. Those of you on Google+ are probably already in the right circle to get the story links.

Be warned, one thing is my first novel - which isn't going to be the greatest thing you ever read. Possibly not the worst but definitely not the best.

Also, will be doing NaNoWriMo this year and updates on that in November will be happening.

i'm almost back!

2011-07-29T17:23:00.000-07:00

so after months and months of my computer being broken, it's FINALLY fixed!!! the good news is i have a better hard drive and have recently purchased generations... the bad news is that all my sims games are lost forever. no rojos, no katalina. but i'm kind of excited about starting fresh. i have yet to install the sims 3, because i literally have just taken my computer out of the box. but i already have a new town in the planning phases and within the next couple of days i should have my game up and running. it's going to be awhile before i officially post anything, because i don't know who my blog will be about, and i have a lot of setting up to do. i'm thinking about using twallan's mods instead of awesomemod, so if anyone has any tips on that or which of twallan's mods you like let me know! :)

New upload - the wedding chapel

2011-07-16T17:26:00.000-07:00

For those that liked it

The wedding chapel is now up.

As was featured in Penny and Nick's wedding with a few modifications - like landscaping.

More Random Pics

2011-07-09T23:03:00.000-07:00

Ooo La La

Twallan's Relativity and a new page for Sam

2011-07-05T16:18:00.000-07:00

Twallan's Relativity mod has changed a lot in the most recent incarnation. You have far more options like having skilling rates set relative to age length. So your Sims might be able to skill up even if you do a speed legacy. :) I'm a bit overwhelmed by the changes, it was so ultra simple before.

And I wrote a new background page for Hi Mum, It's Sammy. It's just a page about his various spouses and their creators. At which point, I realised how much I adore Tomasi women. Cause they rule Sam's life - mostly. LOL

Some of the new generations stuff is so cool

2011-07-02T22:00:00.000-07:00

So when your Sims asks a parent for the offspring's hand in marriage, you can get this.
Mind you, since they are engaged anyway, whether or not Em or Brad approves isn't really going to stop me from marrying them. But this is sweet.

I think I've blown the chance for Prom or graduation for Penny, Ronnie and Nick. Sorry kids.

Oh, and a new option (beyond Reminisce about the old days) for Vanessa on chatting to child aged Miriam was Pinch Cheeks. :)

-----

Parent blessing is +20 for 10 days. Wow!

Just ranting for the moment

2011-07-02T18:31:00.000-07:00

I'm really really tired of number of 'new' challenges in the Story forum that are 'acy'

They aren't new, they are legacy challenge with a new rule or two. Back in Sims 2, you can find people doing Uglacy and Prettacy but no one claimed they were 'new' challenges. There was just a goal of breeding uglier or prettier Sims in each generation. And some of the current 'acy' things no one tried to pass as a 'new' challenge. As far as I can tell, rainbowacy wasn't called new, it's just about the colours coming into the family with each generation.

But now there is traitacy, wishacy, careeracy, houseacy, ad nauseam. Each one declared to be a new challenge - use the legacy rules plus... THAT'S NOT NEW!

ok, rant over. Feel much betterererer now. :)

My New Uploads

2011-06-27T05:27:00.000-07:00

Ok, I know this is going to be a surprise but no Grants no Lemans.

Presenting
Cyclone Sword and his family, Trina, Nicole and Rock BTW - why Rock? Well, in one of Chrysame's blogs, Cyclone had a son called Brick. And that got my brain on the track that ended up at Rock Hudson (Don't ask, it is a very twisty track.)

And the Harkness family Jack and Ollie Mayweather Harkness. The twins Stuart and Lizette. The youngest Tyrone.

Give them a reccy if you get a chance.

SILC - reader choice poll one up

2011-06-24T16:12:00.000-07:00

http://officialsilc.webs.com/readerschoicepolls.htm

Best short - how about that, I was beginning to doubt they were ever going to organize anything.

One thing that Sims 3 blogging is teaching me

2011-06-23T17:35:00.000-07:00

Namely, I write light fluff. While I can write a few intense scenes, murder a few Sims, break the occasional heart - you know if it's my blog, it won't happen for long.

Guess I'm just a hopeless romantic at heart. :)

So I can envy Kaleeko and Amelia and their ability to keep writing intense - heart wrenching stuff. I just have to admit to myself, there is simply no way I'll ever write like that.

On the other hand, I also love reading light fluff so this is probably not the most surprising thing on the planet. We've recently started watching an old old tv series "Jeeves and Wooster", which makes me want to go back and read PG Wodehouse again. Light fluff at its best.

Real Sim Weddings (Sammy spoiler warning)

2011-06-23T16:23:00.000-07:00

With arches and guests seating themselves and wedding cake

Makes PiB a happy camper.

Something for PiB & a note to Kaleeko

2011-06-23T14:09:00.000-07:00

I just set up Riverview with some families that had happened in BB. I'm rotating to 10 families like back in the old days. One of the families I moved to RV was John Edward Grant, his wife Carolina North and their son Benny. They married and had Benny on their own. Now where Benny got those eyebrows from I have no idea. I just took him to CAS but the only thing I changed about him was his clothes.

Going back into school to sign up for after school class.

Leaving School.

I have no idea how anyone could get along with Carolina but apparently John Edward found a way. They did that on their own.

Before going to CAS.

When I first entered the house.

While I'm here I will let you know that I am going to be okay according to the neurologist. I just have a brain that is very very old. *laughs* Shouldn't that mean I am very wise?
The ear problems are still improving; just very slowly.

Loving the stories. I have fallen behind and am going to try to catch up.
To Kaleeko, I read your latest update and am seriously worried about Jeb's state of mind. I fear he may do something drastic and possibly to himself.

Need grown Grants?

2011-06-18T21:28:00.001-07:00

Probably not but I just uploaded all 4 of Phillip and Vanessa's kids as young adults to the Exchange
http://www.thesims3.com/userExchange.html?persona=Nicarra60
Please note, I do not promise that all their outfits make sense. I didn't check. :)

Random Pics

2011-06-10T20:50:00.001-07:00

Rose, "Who says redheads can't wear pink. I look cute!"

To cop, "Sure, whatever, blah blah blah. Way to ruin my party." *surlyslouch*

Thomas: "I've HAD it! Time out, Rose." Rose, "I'm not five. " *pout*

Jacob, "Is the sink gonna explode? Is the stove on? Is the moon gonna crash into the earth?!!"

Rose, "Prom Queen and a date with Tony Walker!" *swoon* "And he asked me to be his girlfriend! Best. Night. Evar."

Rose, "Tulip is the cutest baby. Evar. "

Jacob, "She stinks and she cries and I think she did something to the sink..."

Tulip, "Just you wait until I'm big!"

Baby Gnome!

Marta, "Getting old sucks. SUCKS!"

She kept checking her wrinkles in the mirror and getting very sad and depressed. I sent Thomas in and a few kisses a woohoo in the tree house and she felt much better.

"NO, Daddy! NO!"

Jacob and crush, Renee Blackheart, daughter of Dee's Greybeard and Gilda Mayweather

Rose became a YA, moved out and married Tony Walker as soon as he aged up. Almost immediately, she was pregnant. She's such an impatient sim.

A couple of Father's Day pics.

Thomas and Marta's first grandchild, Timothy. Looks like he inherited Grandpa's hair.

Teenage Tulip.
A nice combo of Marta and Thomas.

Tulip got caught by the police when she was innocently hurling a carton of eggs at a neighbor's house. Marta was not amused.

The One?

2011-06-07T17:27:00.000-07:00

Which character is the one? That character you keep going back to, keeps you on your toes and is your favorite (don't tell the others!)

Is it the same character that best shows who you are as a gamer and/or writer?

My fave is Marta. I luvs her.

I'm not sure she's the character who best represents me as a gamer or writer. Ollie might fill that role. Whoops, Marta just whacked him with her wrench. She wins, again!

Added these pics. Wonder what Marta is whispering to her husband after his long day at work? That's quite some stargazing outfit she has on...

Pissed off Momma is pissed off. Darling Rose dumped water on her mother during her sleepover.

Generation Pics or It's Not Easy Being Marta

2011-06-05T22:49:00.001-07:00

Marta is engaged to the man of her dreams. The man she choose with her wishes. A party is thrown and arrangements are made for "entertainment." No one said it was going to be good entertainment.

The dancers are supposed to be lifeguards; hunky, hip thrusting, dancing machines who drives women wild. Um...okay.

Meanwhile...

Meet Cherry Pie and Candy Bar. They're happy to show the boys a good time at the bachelor party. Marta gets the *cough* lifeguards and the boys get Hottie 1 and Hottie 2. But none of that matters because Marta is getting married!

Isn't her new husband handsome. See how happy Marta is as they exchange rings? So many people come to witness her love for Thomas and his for her. Including his best friend and her old lover, Wyatt Walker. Wyatt, being the town Casanova, has many loves and intends on adding more. Perhaps one of the pretty females attending the wedding? It can't hurt to try! Or can it? Marta is royally pissed. How DARE he flirt with another woman at her wedding to another man. The nerve!

So being Marta, she does what comes naturally...

Which is to insult her guest. Wyatt is rather surprised as Marta just married a fine fellow. Wyatt and Marta haven't been together in some time. Why the fuss? Maybe Marta is thinking about what she's missing. It's her wedding day, after all. He should give her a little something. Now, what does Wyatt do best with females?

Marta is stunned! He's hitting on her after she just married his best friend? How DARE he! First he betrays her at her wedding to another man by flirting with another female and now this? Wyatt is confused. How can she deny his flirtations? Isn't that what she wanted? Women don't make any sense. Hmmm...maybe she doesn't understand his thoughtful gift. He'll try again and again and again. Marta is not amused, in fact she's seriously creeped out. There's only one thing left for Wyatt to do.

Attack the bride, of course. A full on smack down, take down, face slapping, hair pulling wedding fight. Marta, who has level nine athletic ability is confident that she can take Wyatt. She would be wrong. He kicks her wedding dress wearing butt around the dining room after an epic battle. The guests aren't bothered by the disturbance. This is Marta, after all.

In the end, it all becomes a funny story to tell the children someday. Right?

Thomas and Marta's daughter, Rose. The child who will someday hear how her mother got her butt kicked at her own wedding. How embarrassing! Speaking of embarrassment; please excuse Marta's hair, she just had a baby and doesn't have time to do anything other than tie it up with a couple of rubberbands she found in a kitchen drawer.

Little Rose is the apple of her father's eye, naturally. The happy couple have made a wager regarding Rose's hair color. Thomas is sure Rose will be a ginger like him while Marta is banking on the Tomasi genes coming through. If Thomas wins, he gets woohoo in the shower. If Marta wins, she gets woohoo in the hot tub. You know what that means, don't you? Everyone wins!

((I'm having a blast with Generations. Thomas is a very good daddy and husband to put up with Marta's antics. He's a teacher and very, very happy with his family. The big flirt only has eyes for his girls. :P))

Looks like Thomas won the bet. Except for having Marta's eye color, Rose is pure Leman. She already loves her IF, Birch.

This last pic is for PiB.

And after Generations there will be

2011-06-03T06:24:00.000-07:00

Pets

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2qDluiIzys&feature=youtu.be

Including the much longed for horses, as well as cats and dogs.

Days 29 and 30 of the 30 day Sim challenge

2011-05-22T03:57:00.000-07:00

Day 29 - The reason you started playing Sims in the beginning

I avoided Sims 1, heard that it was an addicting and a huge time sink.
Finally got Sims 2 and discovered that it really was addicting. I almost lost interest when I had only the base game but then I got Open for Business and that had just the elements I needed.

Day 30 - The reason you are still a Sims fan today

Sims as a story telling medium and

More than anything else, all of you. The people who comment/read/blog, who share Sims and our stories. I treasure each of you, your posts, your comments and the Sims you share.

Thank you especially Dee, Chrysame, Sue, Kaleeko, MJ, Cheezy, Raisin, Amelia, Felicia and all the lurkers on this blog.