Hi, Everyone! Welcome to Zoo U!Course 12: Victorians 101 Guest Professor: ruthless_kkDescription: This course is about the basics of getting started building Victorians. Course is intended as a single class meeting which will cover shapes, structure, turrets, porches, etc. Also discussed will be how to roof it all in a coherent manner and then all the finishing touches (including exterior wall coverings, decor items, flourishes). Because of the intensive nature of the subject at hand there will be no discussion of interior décor, landscaping, etc. We are concentrating on the exterior build here, but that is PLENTY to do in one three-hour class.Course Prerequisites: As always, it is very desirable to have a Builder's Blank Neighborhood and a quality Tester Sim, but neither of these is required. It is also desirable, but not required, that you visit the Zoo U Master Thread and find the Roofing 101 course and watch it prior to this class.Skill Level for Students: Beginning Builder Required Supplies: Sims 3 base game and patches for each EP. Certainly any EP or SP or Store set will add options for the build, but base game is all that is required.Entire Lesson is Here:http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/105/724720.page#11542928Scroll Down to View the Blackcat Builders post and Visit the Homework Threads of Zoo U Students! For Zoo U classes that are "live" a time and date will be given, but they may not be given using your time zone.You can find out what time the class starts in your town using the World Clock site and their time zone converter. Here is a link:http://www.timeanddate.com/ALSO IN THIS THREAD:POST ONE: Course Description and Lesson LinksPOST TWO: Information for Zoo U StudentsPOST THREE: Class Roster for Each Lesson of This CoursePOST FOUR: Student ShowcasePOST FIVE: A Note From Your TeacherZOO U MASTER THREAD (This thread contains all links to Zoo U courses and bookmarking this thread will allow you to always find us), just click the banner below:

Notes from Ruthy about Victorians 101:1) Many of the techniques covered in the Roofing 101 class I did last summer will come into play for this class. If you have the time, it might be a good idea to review that info here: http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/527220.page2) Do NOT worry if you cant show up for the class. The info is presented in a way that should allow you to work at your own pace. You can always post questions ( with pictures please! :) ) on the thread at any time and I will be checking back and following up. So no worries if you are busy that day....the class will wait for you :)3) I happen to like Sour Patch Kids. But not at 30 MPH....so if they are going to be lobbed in class, do it gently so I have a chance to catch a few. :DGeneral Advice and Observations from Zoo:It has come to my attention that some people lurk the Zoo U classes but are too nervous to actually join us. That is just fine, lurkers are certainly welcome, BUT I think students who actually post and interact with each other get more out of the class AND have a lot more fun. So, for anyone who is worried that they: A. Can't keep up, B. Don't know as much as other students, C. Will embarrass themselves, let's just talk about how a Zoo U class works and about what will and will NOT EVER happen.BEFORE THE CLASS:1. Students register (which is a great help to the course because it bumps our thread and makes it possible for more people to find our course) OR they don't. Many students plan to attend the class but they don't want to register. I think that is because they think there will be something expected of them BUT THERE WON'T BE. EVERYTHING is voluntary. Ask anyone who has really participated and you will hear that it added to the FUN to post and to interact with the class.2. Students do the suggested prerequisite things OR they don't.Sometimes the teacher will suggest using a Builder's Blank neighborhood or making a Tester Sim or viewing a particular video before the class. If you want to do that and have the time then that is great. If it is an optional thing and you NEVER do it, that's fine, too. If it is something that is really needed and you don't have time to do it before the class starts, then just do it during class. If you didn't watch a video that was to be watched before the lesson and have to do it DURING the lesson, no big deal. You will take longer to get through the lesson but EVERYONE DOES THE LESSON AT THEIR OWN PACE, so who cares?DURING THE "LIVE" PORTION OF THE CLASS: The teacher will post a series of things for you to see or to do. If you can do them within the two-hour time frame of the live class, then you do. If you can't get it all done within the time frame then you don't. NO BIG DEAL EITHER WAY. The real advantage of doing the steps of the lesson as the teacher gives them to you is that you can post and get an immediate answer for your question. BUT, if you post a question on a Zoo U thread three hours or three days or THREE MONTHS after the lesson was "live" you will STILL get an answer to your question (you just may have to wait a few days for it).ALL Zoo U threads are monitored forever. Or at least for as long as this site is up and active.AFTER THE CLASS:1. The teacher may post homework and may ask that you do it by a specific due date. Students will do the homework OR THEY WILL CHOOSE NOT TO. Students will be able to get it done by the due date OR THEY WON'T. NO BIG DEAL EITHER WAY.2. The teacher will encourage you to create a thread to post your homework so that your thread can get linked in the Blackcat Builders (Student Showcase) post. Students will create a thread (asking for help to do that if needed) and will post the link for that thread on the course thread so that their thread can be added to the Blackcat Builders post OR THEY WON'T MAKE A THREAD. NO BIG DEAL EITHER WAY.The idea is for you to try out the stuff you learned in the class and maybe show off a little. It is to let students share their work with each other and give their teacher a place to go and give feedback on what looks great and on how to improve on things that maybe don't work as well. Any criticism is of the HIGHLY constructive nature and so far NO ONE has ever been offended or had their feelings hurt. And can I just say, I have NEVER seen ANY homework assignment that I didn't think, "Wow, this is looking so good!" Zoo U students have continually impressed me. Even when they had problems (which you would EXPECT as this is SCHOOL and we don't think you will already know how to do what is being taught) those were addressed and fixed. And the teacher was engaged and actively trying to help until the problems WERE fixed.My Main Point:This is a safe, FUN learning environment. No one is going to call you out for not doing something or for not doing it right. No one is going to make you feel dumb or bad about ANYTHING.Students who have the best time tend to be those who really do treat it as a class and try to interact with their teacher and with their classmates as much as possible, BUT even if you sit quietly in the back and never post that is fine, too. You can be a part of our class in any way that makes you feel comfortable.I challenge you to go look at some of the other Zoo U course threads. Look at the reaction that students have gotten when they have posted questions and problems. I think that will take all the nerves right away.Sincerely hoping you will join us,Zoo

Morakai wrote:Rayshizzie wrote:Oh ok, so the part sticking out from under the roof is attached to the fence? That would make sense but I thought I saw other victorian homes with similar roof decorations that go underneath that aren't hooked up to the fence..hmm maybe I'm not remembering right lol but thank you for clearing that up for me!There are some roof treatments that you can find in buy mode/decor/roof items. They came out with Dragon Valley, and I think, but not positive, Midnight Hollow. They go along the roof line, but they don't follow the roof line if you shrink your roof angles out. Hope you understood what I said... :oops: FOllowing this line of questioning....yes...the fencing I used in the example was from moonlight hollow. I thought it was on your build so that is why I selected it. :) there are bits that come with DRagon Valley and MIdnight hollow that can go on gables, but they limit your creativity a little in the sense that the gable has to be a very specific size/height for them to work properly. Sometimes that works with what you are building, but sometimes it doesnt.

Zoo U students, after registration, please do the following (some things are marked optional, but if it is not marked that way, I will assume that you will do it before the next lesson).1. Bookmark this thread so that you can find us for the next lesson. This is where the class will be taking place. IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL, but not required, IF YOU WOULD REGISTER FOR EACH LESSON OF THIS COURSE. It keeps the thread bumped so that new students will see it.2. If you have not accepted a friend request from me, please consider doing that. (this step is optional)3. IMPORTANT: The class may involve moving back and forth between this thread and your game. You will be posting questions and comments as well as seeing the photo and description of the build step you are supposed to be doing. It is important that you can have the forum opened to this thread but minimized as you build and have your game open but minimized as you come here to post. Please try this out before the course starts by minimizing this window right now, opening up your game and starting a new game, saving your game and hitting the "windows" key on your keyboard (if you have a Mac, kindly scroll down to post four and my friend Wibble will tell you how to do this!) and posting something in this thread (like "Testing that I can post while my game is open") and then going back into your game to make sure all is running well. This all works fine on MY computer, but everyone's machine is different and you don't want any unpleasant surprises when the first lesson begins.4. I am going to be adding some links to useful threads I'm making for students in Zoo U. It is optional that you do any of those, but they will help you have a smoother time as a builder. I would at least go look at what has been posted, but even that is not required. (This step is optional)Here is a link to a thread about Tester Families:http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/486961.pageHere is the Exchange link for my favorite Tester Sim if you don't want to make your own:http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=5018210Here is the Exchange link for a vastly updated version of my favorite Tester Sim (she has a CAP pattern that I made but no CC) and her cat Helix:http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=6722698Here is the Exchange link for a group of Tester Sims that would be very helpful if you have Supernatural and are building with Alchemy potions and the like:http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=6767525Here is a link to a thread about making a Builder's Blank Neighborhood:http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/488892.page

Class Roster for Course 12 "Victorians 101!"ZooProfessor3suepeaAshleykaymaysamj6cassandrastryffeAIRIS6962juncedaDevilsAngel66613buzzbait0u812pixsidust2glenkatkoAnua92WrathofCathMorakaiRflong7jostubbsKementariBeasleyQ2Mannagurl4everfriendsfan36KrumbalinaBookworm742gngrsnpaminovasxenacullenRayshizzietayloremxxCharlotteknBambooEaterrrjenny0786AtgameemilzydivaKOCHIE1210priscapupHidehiWhat should I wear to class today?

The Blackcat Builders (Student Showcase)Here you will find the links for threads with student work related to this course.jenny0786MorakaiemilzydivaZooProfessor3friendsfan36DevilsAngel66613ezequielasuepeaRayshizzieHidehiAIRIS6962priscapupsamj6Mannagurl4everKOCHIE1210Snowflake-- Official Mascot of the Zoo U BlackcatsDirections for Posting Photos in a Forum Thread:1. Get a free account from PhotoBucket or any other photo hosting site. This should NOT require a credit card.2. Follow the directions on the photo hosting site to create an album and upload photos. It will give you an option to Browse your computer to find the photos to upload. If you want to upload screenshots from your game, you will find them in the Electronic Arts folder, in the Sims 3 sub-folder, and in the Screenshots sub-sub folder.3. Once your photos are in the photo-hosting site, you want a thing called the image code. On Photobucket you hit the little gear icon and choose "Get Links" and then click on the image code one and it copies the code to the clipboard.4. Open up a fresh forum thread and right-click inside your first post and choose "paste" (that will paste what is in the clipboard-- in this case the image code for your photograph--- into your thread).5. Photographs that come from a photo-hosting site are too big and will break the thread if you don't resize them. To resize them just type "width=600" (INCLUDING QUOTES) right before the in the long string of symbols which is the image code. Be sure you don't have any spaces added in when you do this and make sure you don't gain or lose any of the symbols from the image code.6. Choose "preview" to look at what your post will look like before you post it. If you photos all look to suit you then post away!

Zoo U Course 12: Victorians 101--Guest Professor: ruthless_kk! Link to Lesson in Post One!

375 Replies

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zooprofessor
12 years ago
ruthless_kk wrote:
Ok....Zoo.....if you would like to update the thread info to note that the whole class is on page 8 of this thread, that would be great!

I will be here ( off and on...literally..since the internet is still being spotty) for the next few hours to take questions and I will also be popping back in daily as well.

Thank you all for your patience. If I didnt have to go shopping later, I would so be pouring a glass of wine right about now...hehe.

DONE, my friend! I think you should make Mr. Ruthless do the shopping and you should be allowed to put on your jammies and drink your nice... NECTAR. Nectar and chocolates can go well together! :mrgreen:

By the way, and this isn't horrible so don't be upset, but most of your photos are a tiny bit too wide when viewed with Internet Explorer (they hang out past the end of the thread). It does NOT seem to be breaking the thread or causing performance issues at present, but it certainly CAN do that.

If you would put "width=650" (including quotes) right before the then it should fix that. Don't use any spaces, but DO use the quotes. :mrgreen:

Zoo

P.S.
I LOVE that your Sim-self has a black cat named Builder! He and Sim Ruthy are being downloaded as we speak!!
ruthless_kk
12 years ago
BambooEaterrr wrote:
I was just making the second turret and it's always a pain to make those shapes with foundations, as if you don't do it in the right way, it keeps telling you that "You can't place that through walls" - it's almost as if it's by accident every time I get the game to do that :lol: Is there a sure way to do it? I seem to always have to involve the hammer tool and try and try lol.

Also what happens if you ARE in the foundation section when you turn off placefriezes? :oops: *is a silly panda who forgot to check* :b

If you try to use place friezes while you are in that section of the catalog...it wontt work...and you will get frustrated...and ( if you are like me) you might say a bad word. :)

You need to make sure the frieze is not up against a wall ( so your turret has to be in the right spot) and then I find drawing in the straight ones first...like a plus sign...and then doing the diagonals is teh easiest way to go.
BambooEaterrr
12 years ago
ruthless_kk wrote:
If you try to use place friezes while you are in that section of the catalog...it wontt work...and you will get frustrated...and ( if you are like me) you might say a bad word. :)

You need to make sure the frieze is not up against a wall ( so your turret has to be in the right spot) and then I find drawing in the straight ones first...like a plus sign...and then doing the diagonals is teh easiest way to go.

Ah okay, thanks! :) Will try the plus sign the next time!

Hmm, I just experienced something weird. When I tried to delete some foundation it put in some more instead o.O I experienced on another laptop as well and this builder's blank is from that laptop :shock: Has anyone else experienced this before?
Edit - just mentioning because I thought it might be because of having turned off plazefriezes in the foundation category (but then again in another). Although since I've never used it before and I've had the issue before, it seems unlikely :hunf:
ruthless_kk
12 years ago
ZooProfessor3 wrote:
ruthless_kk wrote:
Ok....Zoo.....if you would like to update the thread info to note that the whole class is on page 8 of this thread, that would be great!

I will be here ( off and on...literally..since the internet is still being spotty) for the next few hours to take questions and I will also be popping back in daily as well.

Thank you all for your patience. If I didnt have to go shopping later, I would so be pouring a glass of wine right about now...hehe.

DONE, my friend! I think you should make Mr. Ruthless do the shopping and you should be allowed to put on your jammies and drink your nice... NECTAR. Nectar and chocolates can go well together! :mrgreen:

By the way, and this isn't horrible so don't be upset, but most of your photos are a tiny bit too wide when viewed with Internet Explorer (they hang out past the end of the thread). It does NOT seem to be breaking the thread or causing performance issues at present, but it certainly CAN do that.

If you would put "width=650" (including quotes) right before the then it should fix that. Don't use any spaces, but DO use the quotes. :mrgreen:

Zoo

P.S.
I LOVE that your Sim-self has a black cat named Builder! He and Sim Ruthy are being downloaded as we speak!!

I have to do the shopping cause I scared off the family....they went to the movies with a promise to bring back a new router and chocolate to tame the ranting RUTHY who took over earlier. Poor dears. :)

I will resize the pix (again!) as soon as possible.
ruthless_kk
12 years ago
BambooEaterrr wrote:
ruthless_kk wrote:
If you try to use place friezes while you are in that section of the catalog...it wontt work...and you will get frustrated...and ( if you are like me) you might say a bad word. :)

You need to make sure the frieze is not up against a wall ( so your turret has to be in the right spot) and then I find drawing in the straight ones first...like a plus sign...and then doing the diagonals is teh easiest way to go.

Ah okay, thanks! :) Will try the plus sign the next time!

Hmm, I just experienced something weird. When I tried to delete some foundation it put in some more instead o.O I experienced on another laptop as well and this builder's blank is from that laptop :shock: Has anyone else experienced this before?
Edit - just mentioning because I thought it might be because of having turned off plazefriezes in the foundation category (but then again in another). Although since I've never used it before and I've had the issue before, it seems unlikely :hunf:

I have not had that happen....adding more stuff when you try to delete stuff? Worst thing that will happen with the friezes is that you cant draw in regular foundation until you turn them off.
zooprofessor
12 years ago
ruthless_kk wrote:
ZooProfessor3 wrote:
ruthless_kk wrote:
Ok....Zoo.....if you would like to update the thread info to note that the whole class is on page 8 of this thread, that would be great!

I will be here ( off and on...literally..since the internet is still being spotty) for the next few hours to take questions and I will also be popping back in daily as well.

Thank you all for your patience. If I didnt have to go shopping later, I would so be pouring a glass of wine right about now...hehe.

DONE, my friend! I think you should make Mr. Ruthless do the shopping and you should be allowed to put on your jammies and drink your nice... NECTAR. Nectar and chocolates can go well together! :mrgreen:

By the way, and this isn't horrible so don't be upset, but most of your photos are a tiny bit too wide when viewed with Internet Explorer (they hang out past the end of the thread). It does NOT seem to be breaking the thread or causing performance issues at present, but it certainly CAN do that.

If you would put "width=650" (including quotes) right before the then it should fix that. Don't use any spaces, but DO use the quotes. :mrgreen:

Zoo

P.S.
I LOVE that your Sim-self has a black cat named Builder! He and Sim Ruthy are being downloaded as we speak!!

I have to do the shopping cause I scared off the family....they went to the movies with a promise to bring back a new router and chocolate to tame the ranting RUTHY who took over earlier. Poor dears. :)

I will resize the pix (again!) as soon as possible.

LOL! It does a family good to see that mom CAN lose it when necessary!

By the way, I told you twice about the photo resizing because I didn't realize my last post worked. Now I am having technical difficulties! Very sorry, it was not my intention to nag--- it really is a "tomorrow" kind of problem!

Zoo
BambooEaterrr
12 years ago
ruthless_kk wrote:
I have not had that happen....adding more stuff when you try to delete stuff? Worst thing that will happen with the friezes is that you cant draw in regular foundation until you turn them off.

Irk, now I'm afraid I've brought something bad into my game even though I never use CC :? Bah, all the weird stuff the game can do makes me so twitchy lol! I'm literally afraid to save now :lol:

Ok, back to this, sorry for the detour! I'm glad that nothing bad can happen with the placefriezes :)

Edit - do your make your chimneys 1x1 or 1x2 big? I've found that 1x2 looks weird, yet the top of the chimney that will allow smokey does not fit very well inside a 1x1 -.-
(Sorry for all my small-ish questions!)
ruthless_kk
12 years ago
friendsfan36 wrote:
my turrets come out square not round

make sure you are drawing each wall in one at a time instead of using the create room tool like below:

because that will make whatever you draw a square. Then draw each wall like this:

and they will be octogons...not squares :)
ruthless_kk
12 years ago
BambooEaterrr wrote:
ruthless_kk wrote:
I have not had that happen....adding more stuff when you try to delete stuff? Worst thing that will happen with the friezes is that you cant draw in regular foundation until you turn them off.

Irk, now I'm afraid I've brought something bad into my game even though I never use CC :? Bah, all the weird stuff the game can do makes me so twitchy lol! I'm literally afraid to save now :lol:

Ok, back to this, sorry for the detour! I'm glad that nothing bad can happen with the placefriezes :)

Edit - do your make your chimneys 1x1 or 1x2 big? I've found that 1x2 looks weird, yet the top of the chimney that will allow smokey does not fit very well inside a 1x1 -.-
(Sorry for all my small-ish questions!)

I do both...it just depends on how it looks. To be honest, my chimneys dont often function and are more for looks...cause I want then where they look beston the out side, not where they need to be onthe inside....so I tend to pull them apart with MOO cheat and place the interior portion where I want...and I dont worry if the two match up. I would make a horrible architect in real life...lol.
zooprofessor
12 years ago
Hello, Zoo Uers!

Ruthy gave us an awesome class AND a fun assignment to try. The "final exam" is to build Ruthy's Sim-self and her kitty (an appropriately named black cat called "Builder") a lovely Victorian.

Ruthy and Builder are on Media Fire, which means they will be exempt from the Studio culling that happens on the Sims site (don't you all agree with me that Ruthy's Studio should be exempt from size limitations?), so we can always download them.

Go here and click the button to download right into your launcher as always, it even installs automatically:
http://www.mediafire.com/download/rncdfwyum84h223/Ruthless.Sims3Pack

Now, Ruthy was nice and gave no due date for the final, but I have been there before. Anything without a due date is something we all "mean" to do, but we don't ever do!

I am going to suggest that this be

due December 14th.

That gives plenty of time and allows those of us in the U.S. to eat pumpkin pie and turkey next week and not sweat the fact that we can't build while celebrating the holiday with family.

When you get your project finished, I urge you to make a thread for it (with lots of photos) and then come back to this thread to give us the link to your homework thread. I will put all the links into the Blackcat Builders (student showcase) post so that we can all visit each other's threads.

If you are unsure of how to put photos into a thread, go to the Blackcat Builders post and scroll down to see the directions for how to do that.

Thanks to all of you for joining in our class, and thanks again to our EXCELLENT teacher who persevered through many trials and tribulations to bring us our class today. THREE CHEERS FOR RUTHLESS_KK!!!

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Zoo U Course 12: Victorians 101--Guest Professor: ruthless_kk! Link to Lesson in Post One!

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