[ARCHIVED] [GTW] Unfinished Serums & Ashes Spawning

Weird.

OK

So I noticed that when an NPC drinks a serum the ashes seem to spawn.

@canelacaliente, since I have a scientist in my current game I tried to see if I could replicate your issue with serum bottles and/or ashes.  Like @crinrict, I've never had this happen in any of my saves while playing the career.

This morning I had my scientist give two tainted and an untested serum to coworkers to drink and nope, no ashes anywhere.  The only time I see a pile of anything on the floor is the one to search for parts and then its residue to be thrown away.

I don't see where you've indicated whether or not this issue is happening when you start a brand new game.  Have you tried that?  I think it's worth knowing if the machines function correctly in a new game.  If you haven't started a new game because you really don't want to leave your current save, the only other think I can think of to try is to delete and replace the serum machines in your lab.  Well, if that's possible.  I haven't tried to enter build mode on any of the special lots myself so I'm not really sure if the option to do so is even available.

I have started a brand new game and repaired my game.  Other people on the official forums are having this issue. http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/comment/14525150#Comment_14525150

In this picture, ashes appeared right after the Sim drank the serum and fell asleep.

In this picture, ashes appeared after my Sim gave this Sim a serum.  This is the second serum my Sim is giving this Sim.

@canelacaliente, all I can do now is second @crinrict's comment of "Weird".  It never ceases to amaze me how some people can have a problem in certain situations and others not.

I'll continue to keep an eye out for the problem as I play my scientist in the current save and post if I encounter the issue.  The only difference in style of play I could see from your pics is that I don't give the same coworker two serums in a row to drink.  I always pick a different guinea pig for a second serum.  Not sure that's relevant, though, as it looks like you got a pile of ashes from the first serum.

I said I would report back if I encountered ashes and I have.  A pic attached.

In this case, I can tell you that it is associated with giving a coworker an untested snake oil serum to drink.  I was able to replicate it with that serum.  When the affected coworker wakes up, the ashes are present.  I was left with the impression that it is a by design happening.  A humorous way to say "that serum flopped, clean up and start again" sort of thing.  The ashes do have throw away option when hovered over.

I did also have one serum container left on the floor but I know why.  My scientist was giving it to a coworker to drink when he had to leave work.  Apparently, the action was interrupted by the leaving process and caused the container to be left on the floor.  I went into build mold and sold it.  So far, other than that one container, I haven't seen serum containers on the ground anywhere else on the lot.

I was testing my game and I was just about to post this.  I don't think it is by design because the tainted snake oil serum is the only one gives ashes.  The other tainted serums don't.