Advice about an open air market

[aUserName]

I’m building a farmers market for a magical neighborhood. The hood's style is fantasy medieval-ish and the market is kind of gypsy-ish. I want some kind of flooring under the market as plain grass or ground cover looks boring. But, every floor I try looks terrible.

Here’s a pic
http://i41.tinypic.com/6fyd.jpg
I was thinking of a wood and grass floor, but that didn't work either. Here’s a pic with a wood and grass floor I made (just ignore the awful quality of the floor.)
http://i41.tinypic.com/nq2ts4.jpg

Anybody have suggestions?

[karen lorraine]

How about cobblestones?

[leesester]

You could try checking out Phaenoh's floors as terrain paint.

http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=261508

[karen lorraine]

You could try checking out Phaenoh's floors as terrain paint.

http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=261508

Ooh yes they're lovely

[aUserName]

Karen and leesester, thanks for the advice. I've download those terrain paints (they’re gorgeous terrains) and tried them on my market.

Here are the pics

Cobblestone
http://i41.tinypic.com/mi32iw.jpg
Wood
http://i42.tinypic.com/v2s5f4.jpg
Nothing
http://i40.tinypic.com/nnpso3.jpg

I can’t decide which I like better or if they are really an improvement. I think the lot is always going to look a little boring.

So, a question for people who download lots. I’m toying with posting my neighborhood somewhere when I'm finished. How do you feel about lots with CC terrain paint?

[leesester]

I would go with the cobblestones, that seems the most practical. I would also try and layer the paints a little - use some dirt and the cobbles and some grass and it can look very good.

It will be hard to make this lot look exciting and be playable, I mean it is a market and those are usually laid out in a fairly open style. CC terrain paint does not bother me - if it is correctly packaged and you make it clear not to delete it then it is not an issue really.

If you want help with the layout then I suggest you post a nice big overhead shot. I think these shots are taken with the in-game camera? You should read screen shot basics in the Creator Guidelines - lots of handy tips there.

[xptl297]

Instead of using only one type of flooring, why don't you use several, by giving phocus to different kinds of space. You have some benches in one area (use grass, gravel or rough stones), barracks where you could use diferent types of cement or stones. Look at your lot from upper view and draw the terrain as if you were painting a master-piece. The result will be sure far from boring.

[sandersims]

I like your booths. They are a nice use of that cc.

You can play with different levels too. Raise your terrain on one side and add a few steps?

How about a fountain or village well?

Some shade trees or a pavillion? Benches?

I like your stage/eating area. I can't tell if you have a grill there?

There are some really cool custom, decorative and playable instruments around. I always seem to need a pond or stream and bridge on my lots, too. :)

Have fun!

[aUserName]

Thanks for all the help everyone. These are all great suggestions and I tried a lot of them out. (I going to remember them when I redo the market in my other hood too)

I’ve decided to use a layer of the soil terrain paint. It’s not perfect, but it looks somewhat interesting without looking too busy. I also raised the level of the ground on some parts of the lot.

BTW, leesester, yes the pics are just from the game camera. Sorry for the poor quality. I know it’s not the best way, but I’ve never bothered to set up a screen capture system. If I upload the hood, I’m going to take better quality pictures.

[karen lorraine]

Thanks for all the help everyone. These are all great suggestions and I tried a lot of them out. (I going to remember them when I redo the market in my other hood too)

I’ve decided to use a layer of the soil terrain paint. It’s not perfect, but it looks somewhat interesting without looking too busy. I also raised the level of the ground on some parts of the lot.

BTW, leesester, yes the pics are just from the game camera. Sorry for the poor quality. I know it’s not the best way, but I’ve never bothered to set up a screen capture system. If I upload the hood, I’m going to take better quality pictures.

Shame you're not going to upload to MTS. It would be a nice addition to our neighbourhoods. :cry:

[aUserName]

Really? That’s good to hear because I actually think the lot’s a little boring. The rest of the neighborhood is turning out nicely though and this lot fits the hoods’ style.

I want to share the hood when I finish, but I’m only 2/3 done. I’ve built all the major structures, but they still need all the extra details as well as furnishing and landscaping. Then I have to figure out the technical details of sharing a hood. It might take me awhile.

I’ve never shared my houses before because I have the worst building habits for sharing lots. I always build while I play and never do the right things like use any game starter to reduce the expansion packs. Plus, I never download lots, so I’m not familiar with the process. But I’ve built this entire hood before playing in it, so I know it will be safe to share.

[karen lorraine]

Why don't you try uploading one of the houses you've built as a trial? Some people upload neighbourhoods filled up and others separate out the hood and the lots.

[chatterboxM]

The wood definatly does not look good there. You should use the cobblestone.

[aUserName]

Why don't you try uploading one of the houses you've built as a trial? Some people upload neighbourhoods filled up and others separate out the hood and the lots.

It’s an interesting idea, but I think it will be better if I wait until I finish the whole thing. Most of my lots aren’t completely finished anyway.

If you want, I’ll pm you the market so you can have it now.

[karen lorraine]

Thank you but I can wait until it's available to download.