@Writin_Reg:
I didn't use any mods when attempting to depopulate the world. It was only after I noticed the clock stopping problem that I began to wonder why a world simply allowed to "do it's own thing" without interference was glitchy.
So I used awesome mod, after making a copy of the save and tucking it away, to see if I could understand what was happening. Prior to that, I had not interfered, even to the point of giving sims directives. It was a vanilla game with no mods, no CC, no store CC other than Lunar Lakes. And it still did weird stuff.
Awesome mod was only a vehicle to do further testing, after the fact. I reported the findings, since I had used it and found out some interesting facts.
But the choice of using awesome mod to depopulate a world must be made after careful thought. It is a permanent choice. Once the awesome mod is used, that particular save cannot be played without the awesome mod, which must be kept up to date. When I am using it, I update weekly between expansions or patch updates, and I update every day immediately after an expansion or patch update, until he has the mod stable. That is the only way to be a responsible user of the awesome mod.
Core mods are rewrites of the game. Major code is changed. One reason that it works to depopulate a world with the awesome mod is that he has re-written the code to allow for depopulation, in compliance with the rest of the changes he made in the core code. His game is not the game EA wrote, in that sense. Awesome mod is NOT an add-on mod. It is a changed game, at the most basic levels.
I am comfortable using mods that I marginally understand, or that are written by people who I know are knowledgeable, and who have earned my trust. However, I stay in the loop, and keep updating. Core mods are not for the faint at heart, or those who are unwilling to put out the effort.
I tried depopulating the normal way, as a first try, because I would prefer to have a non-modded game as the first save of a world I have substantially changed by building many of my own lots. Unfortunately, that did not play out to my satisfaction.
So, as I see it, I have one of three choices:
1. I play the EA world population and ghosts, as is, and just add my playable sim family. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
2. I customize the world, with as little or no interruption to the game as possible, by doing the following:
a. I do not attempt to kill off the EA population. Instead I give them individual sim-surgery and a wardrobe/hair/makeup redo, so they become "my sims," in essence. I also use EA cheats to change traits, etc. I may need to use the machine that changes muscle and weight structure, if the sim is too fat or thin/scrawny. This is all doable, but time-consuming. And it must be done in each and every world. I will need redundant backups, once all is accomplished. To say the least.
b. I turn the graveyard lot into an Asian style "Home of the Ancient Elders." I learn to live with ghosts being in the game.
c. I severely limit my future legacy family and their infusion into the world, to keep my world population at what I consider optimum levels.
d. I check my own pre-built lots for problems outlined in this thread, and place them in my world. I redo every other lot, around the sims that currently live there, being sure to heed warnings from this thread. I use motherlode, as needed, so I can build what I want.
e. I keep a permanent mod-free Save folder, so I can start over, any time I choose to begin fresh. The advantage is that I know positively that this Save folder will always be compatible with any changes EA makes in their game. If I only use EA Store CC, the only thing I need for a backup to safeguard my customized world is the Save folder. I still always have the option of using awesome mod to play the game, using a copy of the Save folder. The disadvantage is that the world is not customized to my complete satisfaction.
3. I use mods to achieve my goal, by doing the following:
a. I use awesome mod to wipe all sims off the face of the world. I add the sims I personally want in the world, keeping the population to the bare minimum for my playable sim's enjoyment. This allows more room for future legacy growth/expansion into the world.
b. I still need to make that Asian "Home of the Ancient Elders," and learn to live with ghosts in the world.
c. I let my legacy family spread to where ever they choose, either blending into the existing population or married to new sims that I introduce from CAS. I still do sim-surgery (via the EA EditSim cheat to take them into CAS) to all service sims I find objectionable.
d. I check my own pre-built lots for problems outlined in this thread, and place them in my world. I rebuild or build whatever lots I choose to customize, placing sims in them, later, via the EA cheat freerealestate.
e. I make a copy of the entire The Sims 3 game folder from Documents, including the awesome mod that was used to create the Save folder. I also download and keep the latest cumulative patch that was installed, at the point the Save folder was made, so I could do a fresh install of the game on a new computer, exactly as it was on the day the Save folder was made. I test a copy of my Save folder with each new patch update or expansion, before playing my current version of the most recently played Save folder. The disadvantage is the complexity/size of what must be saved, as well as the potential of conflict with future EA expansions/updates. There is a small risk my world has a future early "dead end." The advantage is that while I have it, the world is my ideal complete customization.
I have not decided which route I want to take. Both are sizable investments of my time. I may end up doing both, so I have the "best of both worlds." Pun intended.
I have one other choice to make, but I would only take the risk in an awesome world, since the self-correcting nature of the mod gives me a definite advantage. I may still choose to delete the graveyard lot, after using the kill cheat and before the world is played (so no ghosts have yet spawned), knowing full well I am dooming my world to an earlier than necessary demise. However, it is possible that the awesome mod would work overtime to correct some of the problems, thereby delaying doomsday, perhaps indefinitely. It may be a risk I am willing to take, since during the time I am able to play the world, it would be free of ghosts. I need to carefully weigh how important that is to me. But it is a decision I could make at any time down the road, so I will first build the "Home of the Ancient Elders," and see how it goes.
EDIT: I would NOT recommend anyone deletes the graveyard, if they ever want to use the mausoleum (it is used for some challenges, and also to make genies playable). Also, I would NOT recommend anyone deletes the graveyard if they play with aging on or if they use story progression. The only reason I am even contemplating deleting it, now that I know better, is because I play with aging and story progression off, and I never use the mausoleum, for anything. I don't play professions even remotely related to ghosts. So, basically, the game has very little if any reason to call upon ghost/graveyard code. This is probably why I have been able to successfully play my real game, for so long, without it blowing up in my face.
I don't delete graveyards in test games, so it has never been a factor.
