Possible Project idea - But where do I start?

[Etular]

Anyone here read the Novel "Stone Cold" by Robert Swindells? It's one of my favourite books. The story's based around 2 characters - "Link" and "Shelter". Link left home due to family problems and moved to London, while Shelter got kicked out of the Army due to medical grounds and plans to "clean the homeless trash off the streets" so, he invites the homeless into his home, claiming it's a free hotel, then kills them, hiding their bodies under the floorboards. Halfway through the story the two characters meet and the story begins to merge together - "Shelter" kills "Link"'s friend, and "Link" merely thinks that his friend left him to go back to his other homeless friends. "Shelter" chases "Link" trying to kill him and Link is unaware of it.etc You get the point. (If you don't, look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_(novel) )

My main problem is that in the story, it mentioned "tapping for money" (I assume it means tap-dancing) - so, I need to find a way to mod an action where the person dances, and the person, depending on the Niceness level, gives money or not. Another problem is newspaper beds, ripped clothes, solution to motive decay, no reaction to low hygiene.etc and not to forget about Shelter's Apartment and how we do the killings. Shelter kills subtley, so guns would be no good. Also, I need some form of locked door. I could go on forever about what I need to make, but you get the idea already I hope. Sadly, I don't know where to start. Being a beginner Modder, this seems almost impossible, so, does anyone know what would be easiest and how I would go about making it?

[Aucaria]

I´m sorry I don´t know anything about moding my self. BUT if you have the Open For Business EP, you can lock any door you want! You can also choose who can use the door (family members, employees, everybody or absolutely no one). I´m pretty sure there might be a similar mode in some place. Since not everybody have the OFB. :)

Have you looked all the mods here at modthesims2 and in Sims2Wiki?

http://nene.modthesims2.com/browse.php?f=414


Slar and other people have made some clothes, that may help. Look through them just incase:

http://nene.modthesims2.com/member.php?u=1966351

http://www.modthesims2.com/download.php?t=39399

http://nene.modthesims2.com/download.php?t=134176

...For more downloads, try the search option here at modthesims2. you can find it on top of this screen. ;) Try with words like: poor, proken, old, dirty...ect.

[keef1973]

I always thought tapping someone was to sweet talk them into giving what you require, money, drugs, tabs etc.
Tunafish smart doors may help you with the locked door issue,
http://linna.modthesims2.com/download.php?t=129124
good luck sounds like a fun project

[leesester]

Hi Etular - well, you have a begin point in the begging animation used by fortune sims in aspiration failure; regarding tipping, try taking a look in the bhavs for any instrument. The hard bit will be changing the motivation to tip from how good the music is to how nice the person is.
If this is your first mod then I really recommend Echo's tutorial, making your first custom interaction.
It sounds like an awesome mod, I am surprised it has not already been done. Try searching for panhandle or beg on this site or MATY.

EDIT - and as a native UK english speaker, "tapping for money" is to ask people to lend you money. But begging would be more fun....

[Aucaria]

To tap. Can also mean to eavesdrop somebodys phone. But I guess the real meaning of the word will depend on the whole sentence. Keef1973 has probably the right option in mind. :)

[Etular]

I, myself (having read the book), think that Leesester has the right Idea - As in one paragraph, Link mentions that he started tapping some guy, asking for change and he replied "Change?! I'd change you, me lad, if I had you in khaki for 6 weeks!". Anyways, thank you all for posting - I originally thought no-one would be interested in the idea. This is my first Mod, and I have the Mod Tutorial page in another tab right now, so I'll view that. Thank you, and please keep posting. I'll try to read up a bit more about first custom interactions. I've searched Sims 2 Wiki and found one or 2 things that could help, but not alot (mostly clothes). I'm downloading some of the downloads from above now, but really - Other than the clothes and hygiene, do the homeless look any different to what we do? Thank you all for your help.

[plasticbox]

I don't really understand what you're planning to do -- are you sure this belongs in the build mode forum? You haven't mentioned that you want to build anything. Correct me if I'm wrong, otherwise I'll move this to Modding Discussion where it seems to belong.

[Etular]

I apologise - I was planning to build a neighbourhood, but this neighbourhood would be based around the story. The thing is, it's a neighbourhood but there'll be tonnes of modding, meshing.etc involved, so I'm not quite sure where it goes.

Finally, this is the first thing I've ever done on simPE, I haven't recoloured an object, made a mesh or anything like that yet. Also, in your opinion, Which is the best free 3D modelling program? Blender 3D, Wings 3D or Milkshape?

[plasticbox]

OK, so, as long as you don't have any actual build mode questions I believe this is better off in general modding. Moving.

[Etular]

Thank you, now, does anyone know any good beginner meshing tutorials or Mod tutorials?

[leesester]

Erm, crikey. This is your first ever item? Start here :

http://www.modthesims2.com/wiki.php?title=Tutorials:Sims_2_Start_to_Finish_Object_Creation_Tutorial

[Etular]

Erm, crikey. This is your first ever item? Start here :

http://www.modthesims2.com/wiki.php?title=Tutorials:Sims_2_Start_to_Finish_Object_Creation_Tutorial

Thanks, I have done basic recolouring and very basic sim editing, but that's honestly all I've done with simPE (and the former was from ages ago). Speaking of which - would you choose Blender, Wings or Milkshape?

[Etular]

I'm having trouble deciding the 3D modelling program... For a beginner 3D modeller, which is best - Wings 3D, Blender or Milkshape?

[bluetexasbonnie]

For a beginner 3D modeller, which is best - Wings 3D, Blender or Milkshape?

The one you have. ... and if you don't have one yet, the one your friend has -- not to pirate, but so you have someone to help you figure things out.

[Etular]

The one you have. ... and if you don't have one yet, the one your friend has -- not to pirate, but so you have someone to help you figure things out.

Ok, thanks, I chose one that fit my price range - Wings 3D.

So, time to make simmie poverty. *reads up on tutorial guides*

I can't wait - I'm going to create my first mod :D (But, I could've picked an earlier time to do so, seeing as how Sims 3 is coming out soon :blink: )

[bluetexasbonnie]

I think the sim2 community will be strongly active for at least another few years. Any actual meshing skills you develop will help you with Sims3 meshing -- assuming the mod-fathers work out how to add new meshes. If they don't, and EA doesn't give such a tool -- then the Sims2 community will be strong for a lot longer.

[Etular]

I think the sim2 community will be strongly active for at least another few years. Any actual meshing skills you develop will help you with Sims3 meshing -- assuming the mod-fathers work out how to add new meshes. If they don't, and EA doesn't give such a tool -- then the Sims2 community will be strong for a lot longer.

Great - First mesh thanks to Jwoods Tutorial. I made a Boring Table :D . Sadly, though, I'm having trouble with my second Tutorial (Echo's Custom Interaction tutorial), I do part 1 but can't find the new interaction in-game. I have no idea what I've done wrong or how to find out what I've done wrong. Can anyone please tell me how to locate my mistakes and correct them? :D

[Echo]

...Can anyone please tell me how to locate my mistakes and correct them? :D
Post your non-functioning package, and someone can take a look, hopefully point you in the right direction. :)

[Etular]

Post your non-functioning package, and someone can take a look, hopefully point you in the right direction. :)

Great, It's Tutorial Interaction Failure File. (http://uploading.com/files/5A5O7T7K/tutorial-custom-interaction.package.html)

I hope you can help. :D

[Echo]

Okay, you haven't got any new BHAVs yet, the new entry you've added to the pie menu is still pointing to the existing "Interaction - View". You need to keep going with the tutorial, add a new BHAV, and point the pie menu option to that new BHAV. :)

[Etular]

Okay, you haven't got any new BHAVs yet, the new entry you've added to the pie menu is still pointing to the existing "Interaction - View". You need to keep going with the tutorial, add a new BHAV, and point the pie menu option to that new BHAV. :)

Thank you, I'll try that.

EDIT: Can't find the part where it explains how to add a new BHAV in the tutorial... The tutorial says that it should be in-game as a second "view" interaction, but I can't see the interaction in-game at all... :cry: