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Field Researcher
Original Poster
#1 Old 14th Mar 2014 at 5:10 AM Last edited by MistyDW : 17th Aug 2014 at 7:53 PM.
Default [UPDATED] Escape to Nowhere Challenge
Update 08.17.14: I am currently working on a YouTube Let's Play of this challenge and realized I'd like a little more variety in the daily rolls so I have modified the original challenge to add TEN new roll options. If you want to use the original, that's fine too. Basically I just inserted an extra on every other number (so instead of 1-2 being measles, 1 is something new and 2 is still measles. Hope you enjoy!


--INTRO—
I really enjoyed play testing this challenge and I hope you will as well. The concept is fairly straightforward but it is a definite struggle and you will have to rely on some problem-solving skills to endure it!

--STORY—
Rebekah glanced down at the copper-haired toddler sleeping peacefully on her lap. How she wished she could rest like that, free of the worries of adult life. She smiled gently and placed a protective arm around her young daughter. Aiden, her 7 year old, sat slouched in the seat directly next to her reading this month’s edition of “Super Hero Squad” comics. Unlike little Amelia, he was old enough to know what was going on around him but didn’t quite know how to process it. Her eldest, Alex, sat sternly in the aisle seat, headphones blaring as usual, staring directly at the seat head of him. Rebekah feared for him the most. He had experienced the trauma of their lives head on, now at the young age of 15. The age most boys spent in football practice and learning how to be a man from their dad. Instead, he was her rock and had tried to protect her time and time again against the raging inferno that was her husband’s temper. He was forced to grow up way to fast in a home where fighting and arguing were the norm. Whenever her husband, their father, took it too far, Alex would always rush out of his room to protect her. How many times had he taken the blow that was meant for her? Far too many, although she had taken more than her fair share until she could no longer stand to raise her children in such an environment. Not to mention finally gathering up the scraps of her own dignity and getting away from that life for her own sanity.

It had taken almost all of the money she had secretly squirreled away over the past few months just for bus tickets for four. With only 500 left, she didn’t know how they would survive. They were on their way to a new town, a new beginning, but there wasn’t even a home for them to go to! She would have to start with nothing, rely on the kindness of others, until she was able to provide a proper home for her kids. Still, it was better than what they left behind…

*Note: This is one possible story. If your character is male the roles could easily be reversed and your sim could be taking his children from a wife that was abusive, a drug addict, whatever you want to use.

--EXPANSIONS—
The “Ambitions” expansion is highly recommended for this challenge. The reason being that many of the careers that came with ambitions provide housing (of a sort) for your sims (more on that below). If you do not have that expansion, you can create similar community lots.

Having “Late Night” is also very helpful as part of the challenge calls for the mixology skill. If you don’t have late night and you get to that part, you’ll have to substitute with something else.

--MODS—
None required (unusual for my challenges).

--SETTINGS—
1. Seasons (if you have them) should be set to normal. All 4 seasons should be active for 7 days each.
2. Pets are not available at challenge start (unless you want to say they took the family dog but it would almost be impossible to place dog food bowls, etc. on pubic lots and you cannot edit them to include special items. I would recommend adopting a pet after you get your first apartment or house.
3. This challenge takes place over a 60-day period. Children are not intended to age up (think of it as real life, you have to put up with toddlers for a lot more than a few days). I would recommend turning aging off entirely for the challenge or setting all ages to 60 days (except infant which can be whatever you like). If you absolutely cannot tolerate a toddler for 60 days you can modify the rules (but the challenge is not designed for that).
4. You can have more children, if you like, but starting with 3 as a single parent is already a big challenge!
5. Obviously children cannot go to school until you have a physical address. The school would notify child protective services if you listed “the junkyard” as a residence. Once you have your first apartment, your kids can go to school. Until then, just don’t send them (there will be time for them to raise their grades) or if you have the home school mod from NRaas, you can use that.

--GETTING STARTED—

1. Create your family in CAS. You can choose traits as you see fit. For the mother, I chose traits like family oriented, nurturing, natural cook, etc. For my teenager, I made him athletic and brave but also artistic (he likes to play guitar).
2. Select a lot. It can be any size honestly; you are only purchasing it because the game requires it and once you have the first apartment, you’ll be moving (or building it there).
3. Once you are on your lot, you may use some of your money to purchase the following items that must be placed in each sim’s inventory as follows:
Parent – Stroller (any kind), laptop (the cheapest you can buy), sleeping the following store items if you have them (baby walker, playpen, and multi-tab).
Teen – Sleeping bag, stroller (any kind), laptop (the cheapest), a leisure item (i.e. guitar), and multi-tab (if you have it)
Child – Sleeping bag, toy that can be placed in inventory (i.e. I gave him the Robo Bearbot), an athletic toy (football, etc.).
Toddler – A toy (I gave her the fairy bear).
Note: These items represent things that you took from your old house when you escaped.
4. Set your funds to 500 (use the “familyfunds” cheat).
5. Go to the grocery store. Mom should go in and spend at least $250 on groceries.
Note: In this challenge, having a toddler represents a cost (diapers, etc.) of at least $15 per day. While you are at the store, purchase something for approximately that price (I purchased jars of honey and pretended they were baby bottles). Each day, have someone “consume” the item or delete it entirely. If you do not have one of these in your inventory you cannot change your baby’s diaper until you do!
6. Now go to the bookstore. Purchase at least one skill book (mine was Cooking 1), the 3 cheapest toddler learning books (ignore the jimmy sprocket ones), and a few books for your child to read. The teen has a laptop and multi-tab, he doesn’t need books unless you want to buy one. This should leave you with less than 100 simoleons, your starting cash!

--MAKING MONEY—
As you advance from residence to residence, different money making options will be available to you. If you don’t see something listed, then assume you can’t do it.

--BABYSITTERS—

Until you at least reach the apartment, you may not have a babysitter.

--MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN—

Your sim has been through a lot and is not willing to even consider re-marrying until he/she is on their own two feet with their own house. They can; however, have more children if they are crazy enough to do so (or if you’re unlucky enough to roll it in the random events below).

--RANDOM EVENTS—

Life has a way of throwing you a curve ball and so does this challenge! Every day when your adult sim gets out of bed, roll a random number between 1 and 20 (you can use random.org). If you don’t want to do this, you can omit it or reduce the frequency (every other day).

If you do not have the money and you get charged for something, you’ll have to pay in installments (i.e. if your kid breaks a window and you only have $50 on you, you’ll owe the rest and have to pay it immediately as you make more money.)

01: Your teenager informs you that he/she is going to be a father/mother. Could life possibly get any worse?
02: Your toddler comes down with the measles and you must keep her indoors and care for her the entire day. To make matters worse, you’ve had to take her to the doctor which cost you $50.
03: Your boss is cutting your hours and forcing you to take the day off without pay (you cannot earn money today).
04: Some of the locals have seen what you’re going through and took up a little collection of $100 for you.
05: Someone dropped their wallet containing 500 simoleons and no ID. Cha-ching baby!
06: Your younger child was playing ball and managed to break someone’s window! You agree to pay $200 for a replacement!
07: Your teenager was caught shoplifting! You have to reimburse the store and pay court fines for a total of $250!
08: Your teen takes up babysitting for the local neighborhood and makes a tidy sum. He/she gives you $50 to contribute to the household and insists you take it.
09: One of your friends is desperate. She see's that you are barely making it but asks if you will adopt her toddler! If you agree, she is willing to babysit for you whenever you need it for free (reimburse yourself any babysitting costs from here on out using familyfunds cheat ONLY if you agree to taking on another mouth to feed). This also gives you access to a sitter in the junkyard and fire station!
10: Your elementary school aged child comes home with lice! Take him to the salon (or use CAS if you don’t have ambitions) and have them shave his head. After 3 days, you can restyle his hair.
11: Someone stole your wallet! You had 50 simoleons tucked inside that you will never see again (use familyfunds to remove the money)
12: It’s half off day at the grocery store! If you go to the store today, give yourself half back (i.e. if you spend 100, use familyfunds to return 50 to your account).
13: Someone has reported you to welfare and now you must try to avoid losing your children! If you are living in an apartment or better, you must take the day off from work (no pay) and make sure that all of your children's needs are met and your home is clean the entire day! If you are squatting at the junkyard or fire station, the welfare agent has asked to meet you at your home tomorrow! You must befriend someone quickly and convince them to let you use their house as a decoy (convince them to let you stay over so your children can stay here, have dinner, etc.)
14: Your teenager gets in a fight at school and gets suspended for 2 days. This will hurt his grades.
15: Your oldest is home watching the kids while you run out for a few things. On the way back, you discover that a terrible accident has occurred closing off the way home! It's late and you have no choice but to find somewhere else to stay until this blows over tomorrow morning.
16: You enter your toddler in a cute baby contest and she wins 2nd place! You win $150!
17: Your toddler is running a high fever and has a serious case of upset tummy and diarrhea. Every time you change is diaper, use cheats to immediately drop his bladder bar back down to about 25%. This will go on for 8 hours! No using the potty!
18: All of your kids have the flu! You must keep all kids home from school or other activities and try to get them to stay in bed while you take care of them. If you’re working, you’ll have to call off.
19: Oh no! You’re pregnant! Don’t ask how the heck that happened…guess it was that one night stand you had a few weeks ago (get your adult sim pregnant if she’s female or get someone else pregnant if he’s a male). If you have a teenage daughter and the woohooer mod, you could get her pregnant instead.
20: Fortune smiles upon you! If you meet all of the prerequisites (except for time) for the next house (i.e. you have $2,000 but you haven't finished your first week in the junkyard), you may move to the next house! This ONLY applies if time is the only thing you need to progress and you may ONLY do this once. Once you've done this, future rolls of 20 will mean a re-roll.

--ALL ABOUT FAMILY—
In addition to just trying to survive, your adult sim wants to provide a traditional family environment for his/her kids. This includes celebrating all holidays to the fullest (i.e. on spooky day, you decorate with jack-o-lanterns, the kids go trick-or-treating, etc.) Also, once a week take the family out just for fun. It could be a spending a few hours at the festival or going to see a movie. Have regular family meals together, have a family game night, celebrate mother’s (or father’s) day, and anything else you can think of that would represent a well-balanced family environment to bring some sense of normalcy while you’re living in junk yards and waitressing in dive bars.

--FEEDING THE TROOPS—
Nothing is free in this challenge and nothing is automatic. You must have the ingredients from the store to make a dish. If you see a price next to an item when you click on the fridge, you can’t make it because you don’t have the ingredients to do so.
Exception: In the beginning it's difficult to cook because it's not really easy to do so on community lots. Purchase foods at the grocery store in the form of snacks (apples, etc) and items you can make at public grills (i.e. hot dogs). You should be providing at least one cooked meal per day while living at the junkyard/fire station and fill in with snacks for the rest (or cook twice if you like). Once you unlock gardening/fishing at the fire house, you can harvest other people's gardens as well as fish and use public fire pits (or ones at people's houses) to offer more substantial meals until you get your first apartment.

-TAKING UP RESIDENCE—

There are various places you will “live” or more accurately, “squat” while you are trying to save money for your own place. You must meet the conditions before you can advance to the new home.

The Junkyard:
Prerequisites: None, this is your first home!

Description: I guess you really have hit the bottom of the junk heap. While shopping, you find a ad from the local junkyard offering a place to stay for anyone who will help clean up. The junkyard office will be your residence. There you can use your sleeping bags. There should be a small kitchen to prepare meals and a small table that seats four. There should also be bathroom facilities. There should not be showers. For everyone to shower, you will have to take them to a public pool, etc. You cannot purchase anything as far as furniture so you will have to rely on the playpen to help with the baby’s energy. When she gets really tired though, unless you get lucky and a crib spawns outside (not sure if you can use that even if it does), you’re going to have to put up with the crying until she finally goes to sleep on the floor. In exchange for living here, you must keep the place clean (inside and out) as much as possible (I.e. discarding ruined items, etc.)

Making Money: The junkyard unlocks the following money-making options for you (keeping in mind you can still do these things after you leave): Dumpster Dive (max of 2 times/day), collecting and selling items (max of 3 items/day), scavenge for scrap metal.

The Fire Station:

Prerequisites: Must have been at the junkyard for at least one week; must have at least 2,000 simoleons saved up.

Description: There is an advertisement that the fire department is looking for a “cook”. In exchange for providing meals whenever fire fighters are on duty, your family is welcome to live there. Thankfully they have showers! More than likely you will have to use quick meals since you will probably run into the same problem here as the junkyard (unless you know of some way that allows you to cook on community lots).

Making Money: Moving to the fire station unlocks bee keeping (there are usually bees at consignment stores) where you can make good money selling honey. You have also now unlocked fishing and harvesting from gardens (public/private).

The Bad Side of Town:
Prerequisites: Saved at least 5,000 simoleons and lived at the fire station for at least one week, and have a cooking skill of 5 or better (you can use books to do this).

Description: The good news is you’ve managed to save up enough money for a place of your own. The bad news is the only thing you could afford is a one bedroom rundown apartment on the bad side of town. You will need to place a lot next to a seedy bar in your town (usually has the icon of a beer mug). In exchange for living there, your adult sim must take a job “waitressing” at the bar at least four hours a day (the last four hours before closing). To do this, you must get your mixology skill up high enough to tend bar there. The apartment should not be larger than 15 x 15 and should contain a small living area, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. For realism, use a larger lot and set up more apartments then invite roommates using the computer. Just make sure your apartment door is locked to everyone but your household. You can add a shared laundry facility if you like. You’ll be spending a while here.

Note: Your kids can now go to school and you can have a family pet(s)!

Making Money: You unlock the ability to moonlight and make money form mixology. You can also now play for tips.

Moving On Up!

Prerequisites: You must master the mixology skill, have at least 10,000 in savings, and have spent at least 3 weeks at the cheaper apartment. You must also have mastered the cooking, gardening, OR fishing skill (your pick). Your children need to have at least a B in school or better. You must also have a family vehicle (at least the 2nd cheapest or better).

Description: You’ve built a reputation around town as being a good worker and a great bartender. One of the local businesses (either a nicer club or, if you would prefer, go into one of the professions like architect, designer, etc.) has offered you a job. In exchange, you get a reduced rate on some nicer apartments and your kids get to live in a much nicer neighborhood. The apartments are decently decorated (not Fifth Avenue but a significant step up from where you’ve been living) and you now have 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, not to mention your own laundry room! Again, for realism, you can build a complex of more than one apartment.

Money Making: You feel inspired by your new home and unlock either painting OR sculpting (your pick).

My Own House!
Prerequisites: You’re going to need at least 25,000 simoleons to either buy or build your own house. You must have spent at least 3 weeks at the nicer apartment and mastered either painting or sculpting. In addition, your toddler must have maxed all toddler skills and read all 9 toddler skill books (as well as be able to walk, talk, and use the potty). Your child needs to have maxed at least two skills (up to the cap for children), have an A in school, and have been enrolled in an after school activity for at least 3 weeks. Your teen should have mastered at least 3 skills, have an A in school, be able to drive (and have his own car even if It’s crap), and have held a part-time job for the past 3 weeks.

Description: Finally! You’ve made it. Your own little place. Your kids will each have their own room. You are also now free to turn aging on and marry if you like. All money making options are now available to you. Congratulations!

--LOSING THE CHALLENGE—
You will have lost the challenge if at any point the social worker comes and takes any of your kids away. This could happen because you’re completely bankrupt and can’t afford to pay the daily fee to diaper your baby or if you can’t afford groceries, etc.
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Test Subject
#2 Old 14th Mar 2014 at 3:49 PM
This sounds cool! I have a bunch of mods and things and all the expansion packs and almost half of the store! LUB IT!!! :lovestruc
Instructor
#3 Old 14th Mar 2014 at 3:57 PM
Misty.
Stop making challenges.
Now I have eight challenges I'm doing! *headdesk*

This sounds really unique, though. I don't know if I've read anything like this? It's almost like the 'unlock the community lot by doing xxxx', but it's for homes. Now I get to spend the rest of the morning in CAS.
Instructor
#4 Old 14th Mar 2014 at 3:59 PM
Not to mention I finally have a use for the apartment building from Bridgeport that I modified.
Test Subject
#5 Old 14th Mar 2014 at 7:29 PM
This is my first post on Mod the Sims! Hola! I've had this account for a while, but just to get CC and mods, I haven't been part of the community! So, nice to meet you all, I'm Luce Anyways, I've been looking for a way to spice up my game- and I think this is it! This challenge is super cool and it'll give me an excuse to go in game for more than just taking pictures! (I'm into sims 3 modeling in the official forums). Anyways, really cool challenge! I'll totally add pics later!
Instructor
#6 Old 14th Mar 2014 at 8:46 PM
I decided to roll on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, because it seems more realistic.
But of course, the first time I roll, I have to roll a 20. -.-
Instructor
#7 Old 14th Mar 2014 at 9:01 PM
Here's a tip for making the toddler: Give him/her the Loner and Loves Outdoors traits. I am cruel and make her sleep outside of the junkyard office while everyone else sleeps inside, and they won't get woken up from her cries. So, when's she sleeping outside alone, that's an +35 mood.
Field Researcher
Original Poster
#8 Old 14th Mar 2014 at 10:51 PM
Quote: Originally posted by MistressTiffany
Misty.
Stop making challenges.
Now I have eight challenges I'm doing! *headdesk*

This sounds really unique, though. I don't know if I've read anything like this? It's almost like the 'unlock the community lot by doing xxxx', but it's for homes. Now I get to spend the rest of the morning in CAS.


Hey now, you don't REALLY want me to quit making challenges do you? :lovestruc
Instructor
#9 Old 14th Mar 2014 at 10:53 PM
Quote: Originally posted by MistyDW
Hey now, you don't REALLY want me to quit making challenges do you? :lovestruc

Well, no, I guess not.
Field Researcher
Original Poster
#10 Old 14th Mar 2014 at 10:58 PM Last edited by MistyDW : 14th Mar 2014 at 11:09 PM.
Quote: Originally posted by MistressTiffany
Well, no, I guess not.


See! You just need to get cranking on those challenges you already have! Pick one and play the heck out of it this weekend if you can

p.s. I can't believe you rolled a 20 first time out! I just rolled a 15 for my challenge (which I just restarted since my original was just for testing). Yay my little girl just made me some $$$.
Instructor
#11 Old 14th Mar 2014 at 11:12 PM
Quote: Originally posted by MistyDW
See! You just need to get cranking on those challenges you already have! Pick one and play the heck out of it this weekend if you can

p.s. I can't believe you rolled a 20 first time out! I just rolled a 15 for my challenge (which I just restarted since my original was just for testing). Yay my little girl just made me some $$$.

Oh, you've got to be joking! I just rolled a nineteen.
Field Researcher
Original Poster
#12 Old 14th Mar 2014 at 11:18 PM
Quote: Originally posted by MistressTiffany
Oh, you've got to be joking! I just rolled a nineteen.


OMG....wow. Um are you still pregnant with the 1st? If so, just reroll.
Instructor
#13 Old 14th Mar 2014 at 11:32 PM
Quote: Originally posted by MistyDW
OMG....wow. Um are you still pregnant with the 1st? If so, just reroll.

Unfortunately not. *sigh*
Does stealing food from unsuspecting neighbor's gardens count as the three collecting item limit?
Field Researcher
Original Poster
#14 Old 15th Mar 2014 at 12:17 AM
Quote: Originally posted by MistressTiffany
Unfortunately not. *sigh*
Does stealing food from unsuspecting neighbor's gardens count as the three collecting item limit?


No, you can harvest as much as you like but that isn't unlocked until you're living at the fire station (until then you can buy apples and such which is what I did).
Instructor
#15 Old 15th Mar 2014 at 12:30 AM
Quote: Originally posted by MistyDW
No, you can harvest as much as you like but that isn't unlocked until you're living at the fire station (until then you can buy apples and such which is what I did).

I just made it to the fire house, so that's perfect. ^^
Field Researcher
Original Poster
#16 Old 15th Mar 2014 at 12:55 AM
UPDATE: I just updated the rules bit. Honestly, in the early stages (fire house/junkyard) you should be able to make enough money to at least provide your family with a cooked meal every day (I went to the festival and cooked hotdogs on the grill) and then fill in with snacks (i.e. apples). Selling items you find in dumpsters as well as scrap metal and collecting should be more than enough to pay the food billl and save some for the next move.
Instructor
#17 Old 15th Mar 2014 at 1:39 AM
Can we play for tips on instruments?
Field Researcher
Original Poster
#18 Old 15th Mar 2014 at 1:47 AM
Quote: Originally posted by MistressTiffany
Can we play for tips on instruments?


When it's unlocked, yes. It's listed under the first apartment though.

P.s...I just rolled a 19....YOU JINXED ME!!
Instructor
#19 Old 15th Mar 2014 at 2:01 AM
Quote: Originally posted by MistyDW
When it's unlocked, yes. It's listed under the first apartment though.

P.s...I just rolled a 19....YOU JINXED ME!!

I'm so sorry, MIsty! Please forgive me!
Field Researcher
Original Poster
#20 Old 15th Mar 2014 at 2:36 AM
Quote: Originally posted by MistressTiffany
I'm so sorry, MIsty! Please forgive me!


LOL ah well...#4 is on the way...how the heck are you handling 5? Out of curiosity I rolled for tomorrow and got a 17, it looked high so I about had a stroke before I realized I just missed #5 myself.
Lab Assistant
#21 Old 15th Mar 2014 at 9:53 AM
Your having fun without me. Cut it out! I still have to finish part two of the colony, which is kicking my rear... Move on to the doomsday challenge, then save the children. Plus I have to finish the update on the advanced rules for VTM, now I have this one.... Then there are all those other challenges I want to play but can't cause I am playing catch up with Mysty. As much as I loved the murder mystery one, I am kind of glad it didn't work out as well as Mysty wanted. I would never get to finish any of these.
Mad Poster
#22 Old 15th Mar 2014 at 11:00 AM
Damn it why did I have to discover this challenge at 10am when I haven't even gone to bed yet? I want to play this now! D:
Field Researcher
Original Poster
#23 Old 15th Mar 2014 at 12:43 PM Last edited by MistyDW : 15th Mar 2014 at 12:59 PM.
Quote: Originally posted by ladykelien
Your having fun without me. Cut it out! I still have to finish part two of the colony, which is kicking my rear... Move on to the doomsday challenge, then save the children. Plus I have to finish the update on the advanced rules for VTM, now I have this one.... Then there are all those other challenges I want to play but can't cause I am playing catch up with Mysty. As much as I loved the murder mystery one, I am kind of glad it didn't work out as well as Mysty wanted. I would never get to finish any of these.


Such belly aching! Isolation came out on March 2, I didn't publish this for 11 whole days! Just kidding. Just do the ones that seem fun to you. You don't have to do them all Besides, you know in another week or two I'll just put another one out here hehe.
Mad Poster
#24 Old 15th Mar 2014 at 3:01 PM
I love this challenge! Definitely going to try it out
Field Researcher
Original Poster
#25 Old 15th Mar 2014 at 3:11 PM
ANNOUNCEMENT:

I am working on my own website for my challenges (just a place where you can go to find them all and refer back to them easily when needed). The website will be updated first and then I'll post challenges/edits on the board. Right now the only challenge I have actually copied over is this one but I do have a screen shot from this challenge on the front page. Hope you find it helpful!!!

MISTY'S SIMS 3 CHALLENGES
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