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puzzlezaddict's avatar
puzzlezaddict
Hero+
7 years ago

Is it possible to predict the taste of nectar?

Okay, I know how the price of a bottle of nectar is calculated—I found the list of the values of each fruit, and I know that taste acts as a multiplier on the base value of the fruit used in the batch. I've also found several lists of high-value, amazing-tasting recipes, but that kind of seems like cheating, and anyway, I'm more interested in why a particular batch tastes good or bad.

What I'm really wondering is, is there any logic or pattern to the taste outcome of a given blend? I've been making my sim evaluate each flavor combination before be brews it, but the best answer (these fruits go well together) can still lead to a bottle that tastes terrible. On the other hand, I haven't had a blend that he judges as poor or mediocre turn out any better than "not very good," although that's a much smaller sample. By random chance, I've found three amazing recipes and about a dozen great ones on my own, but trial and error isn't really feasible with so many possible combinations, even if I limit it to the high value fruits.

So, is there a pattern? Or is it random? I've been thinking about this way too much lately, and I'd love it if someone had an answer.

(P.S. If it involves math, that's fine. I'm good with math. And so is my graphing calculator, if it comes to that.)
  • igazor's avatar
    igazor
    7 years ago
    Well, theoretically we could go through the math but I've never met anyone even in my university's math department who I think would have the patience to work all of this out. Except one very strange person, Dr. Buzzler, PhD of Nectar Modology. You can see his course notes on the description page of his mod that so many of us use. If proper explanations of "combinatorical explosion", "fantastillions", and "squished brain" are still required, we may have to set up a sequence of lectures and recitation sessions to get through all of that. :p

    http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=415474
  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    7 years ago
    @igazor Thank you so much. I guess that means there's no pattern to be found? At least not given the constraints of present-day computing. (Yeah, I knew there were too many combinations to calculate outright. I was hoping for something along the lines of, "If 8xA and 2xB combine for amazing taste, then 7xA and 3XB will be no worse than pretty good," and, more importantly, if not q then not p. That would have made it much easier to search for the simpler recipes. But it looks like the delicate palates of sims aren't nearly so logical.)

    Anyway, this mod will do nicely. As always, your insight and familiarity with the wide world of mods is much appreciated.
  • igazor's avatar
    igazor
    7 years ago
    As Professor Buzzler says, "TS3 uses a hash algorithm to determine the quality of a nectar recipe. Such a thing cannot be optimized in the least. There's no way to make conclusions from one combination to a slightly different combination."

    Applying human palate logic to the above kind of algorithm would be like saying if xqxqxq76 is a system's password and unlocks all kinds of wondrous things, then using or guessing xqxqxq75 or xrxrxr76 must provide some results that are nearly as nice. Afraid it doesn't really work that way, though. Trust me, I've stayed up all night in the past typing the wrong password into a server (one I was actually meant to be able to get into) and yelling, "Oh come on, I must be close enough, at least let me in part way!" and that doesn't really work very well either. ;)

    But you're welcome, this is indeed one of the more odd although somewhat obscure aspects of the game.
  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    7 years ago
    You know you've stayed up far too late not when you're yelling at the server to grant you access, but when the server starts talking back to you. With its best HAL impression.

    But I suppose it's only fair that the nectar experts in TS3 are so finicky about their favorite recipes. After all, if the household chef were cooking lobster thermidor (okay fine, or the vegetarian version), and said, Hey, I don't have any bell peppers on hand, how about I throw in a ghost chili instead, it's close enough, right? Who'll know the difference? the rest of the family would get quite a surprise.
  • Mikezumi's avatar
    Mikezumi
    7 years ago
    I like my sims doing nectar making and have seen that mod but not tried it. I am a lazy player and just google amazing nectar recipes and use them. I have a couple of documents filled with more amazing nectar recipes than my sims will ever have the time to make!
  • Mikezumi's avatar
    Mikezumi
    7 years ago
    One of my favourite recipes for nectar is perfect for beginner gardeners and who doesn't like the sound of a chocolate/strawberry combination? ;) It uses 5 cocoa and 5 strawberries. The value is not great but it's an amazing recipe. It requires the Bohemian Garden set.
  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    7 years ago
    @Mikezumi I don't know about chocolate "nectar," but on the other hand, strawberries soaked in champagne and then dipped in dark chocolate are wonderful. I'll keep that recipe in mind if I ever get the Bohemian Garden set (it's on my long list of "maybe"s.) Thanks. And I also have several bookmarked links full of amazing recipes, but for now I still kind of want to see what my nectar maker can come up with naturally. I found a couple more, including a relatively valuable one, just by using up old ingredients.

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