The idea for this comes from some research I was doing for both a writing project and something I was looking at doing for a potential build in the game. Essentially, I was pondering building an "estate" in the Sims. Now I am well aware that in modern terms, an "estate" in pretty much a synonym for a manor or mansion for more folks. However, I am looking at both "the historical context of what constitutes an estate" and "what often classifies a mansion or manor as an estate in modern times". Historically, "an estate comprises the houses, outbuildings, supporting farmland, and woods that surround the gardens and grounds of a very large property, such as a country house or mansion". An example of this would be The Builtmore Estate in North Caroline here in the US. In addition to the insane size main house, the property has a vineyard, guest houses, and other farm land. In modern terms, a manor or mansion can be classified as an "estate" formally (legally) when it includes the surrounding land and that land produced rent and and other profit. (Trying to paraphrase from Wikipedia with my own notes.)Now a few things of note regarding the Sims 4: Several folks here would love multi-purpose lots. Including myself. Both for the purpose having a combination of Residential and a Commercial lot AND a combination of two (or more) commercial lots. Several folks would also love for a sim / sim household to be able to own a second lot (or even a third). I'll go a step further with this... I would like to see the feature of a sim owning their own business (from Get to Work I think it was) fixed, working properly, and expanded. There are only 4 buildable 64 x 64 lots in the game. (Five counting the one in Strangerville) None of them are blank maps. There are no 50 X 50 lots either on a blank map. The closest thing we have is the single 50x40 lot in Newcreek. Some folks here (again, myself included) would love a few additional maps for the expanding of words like Sulani, Del Sol Valley, etc. Having a few more "destination worlds" is not a bad thing. And last but not least, not only would the ability to have vineyards be fantastic for the game but expanding the mixology skill and career with something like things like "wine and mead making and the making of craft beer and spirits" would be a fantastic addition. (Though I would say focus on wine and mead.)So here's a few ideas on how this could be implementedEither a game or expansion pack: People have been talking about wanting some sort of farming pack. I saw someone else here recommend the idea that it include vineyards. Well why not have it include a whole "estate building" set up as well. Basically with two central houses / lots (maybe even 3) in a world "owning" some additional land surrounding it that could be "traditional farmland and greenhouses", vineyards, and even some other shops, thrown in to the mix. If you want to get really fancy, add in multi-purpose lots so folks could build a proper "bed and breakfast". Honestly, I would be happy with a game pack that gave us even a portion of this (as long as that portion included the ability to own a vineyard and make wine that was adjacent to the main property but not on it.) Kit I know a lot of folks here don't like kits all too much. I will be honest here: I have not bought a one of them. Can't say that I will at the moment. That said, if there was a kit involving giving us some content to create a vineyard and wine making, I'd buy it. I'd get a kit that allowed for us to better simulate an "estate" like a "Builtmore Estate". Though honestly... I would say this should be a game pack or expansion pack not a kit unless we were just getting a vineyard and wine & mead making in it. I could also see a kit pack adding a destination world like a "Builtmore Estate" or "Castle Hill" (in Ipswich, MA) or Hearst Castle which all function like "historical estates" minus the technical 'jurisdiction elements' that were had historically.Free Update Just giving us some new blank worlds that with a few larger (either 50x50 lots or 64x64 lots) 'connected' to a few smaller lots (like the small island in Windenburg appears to be) would be reasonably acceptable. (By that same accord, a few blank world maps to expand Sulani and Del Sol Valley would be nice too. Especially Sulani.) Again this is just an idea. I would love to see something akin to The Builtmore Estate as a destination world in the game. And I would love to be able to make my own estate in the game with a vineyard. And I know a few other people have referenced similar ideas. Plus... Sim Households owning addition property (which would in part simulate this) would be greatly welcomed. (Though just my opinion.)

Great idea! I am in the making of a countryside estate (säteri in my language), with a large house, some outbuildings for storage and servants, an orchard, a natural lake etc. I have chosen the large lot in Granite Falls, with the woods around it, pretending the purpose being the landowner's place during prolonged visits, living their life in the city otherwise. I am still thinking what I can add in terms of occupations for the sims to do when there, and I am glad the possibility to hire server sims is available when on vacation, for them to have their staff.Edit: This is how it looks (it's not done)Spoiler (Highlight to read)https://i.imgur.com/s3U3YrC.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/s3U3YrC.pngI think the lot assignment Rental suits my idea good, since that means many different sims can use it, that despite being part of a large house/family, lives in different households by game terms. I am thinking I might do something with the wood; to tie it to a forest owner, perhaps let one in the family produce excellent furniture on the wood bench, selling it for high prices in a retail. Would have been interesting with some industrial production feature though; and a vineayard would suit a different climate. Monte Vista in TS3 had the most beautiful light.

"Auroraskies;c-17864872" wrote:Great idea! I am in the making of a countryside estate (säteri in my language), with a large house, some outbuildings for storage and servants, an orchard, a natural lake etc. I have chosen the large lot in Granite Falls, with the woods around it, pretending the purpose being the landowner's place during prolonged visits, living their life in the city otherwise. I am still thinking what I can add in terms of occupations for the sims to do when there, and I am glad the possibility to hire server sims is available when on vacation, for them to have their staff.Edit: This is how it looks (it's not done)Spoiler (Highlight to read)https://i.imgur.com/s3U3YrC.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/s3U3YrC.pngI think the lot assignment Rental suits my idea good, since that means many different sims can use it, that despite being part of a large house/family, lives in different households by game terms. I am thinking I might do something with the wood; to tie it to a forest owner, perhaps let one in the family produce excellent furniture on the wood bench, selling it for high prices in a retail. Would have been interesting with some industrial production feature though; and a vineayard would suit a different climate. Monte Vista in TS3 had the most beautiful light.Fantastic idea. Though I don't know that I would be one to want to touch Granite Falls. I'd thought about using the The Crumbling Isle neighborhood in Windenburg and moving the existing homes to other worlds for mine though Windenburg would never be a good place for a vineyard. :smile: I am working on another specific project with Newcrest though I might could make it work with that. (I would have to redo the 50x40 lot I just finished and that might be "difficult". Having the ability to make Rental properties on any world now solves some of the issues I had initially.Side note about why I am wanting to vineyards, wineries and meaderies so badly: Spoiler (Highlight to read)My best friend and his soon-to-be new wife took up wine making a little over a year and a half or so ago. I've gone from taste testing some of their stuff to making friends with the owners a couple of local wineries and meaderies in the area. (and a couple of local craft beer brewers but shhhh. :wink: ) I made a household based on my friend and his family and stuck it up on the gallery but I am taking it down to redo it. And well, I had wanted to reflect their interest in that with their household. That what had me wanting the winery and vineyard added so badly. :smiley: My best friend and his soon-to-be new wife took up wine making a little over a year and a half or so ago. I've gone from taste testing some of their stuff to making friends with the owners a couple of local wineries and meaderies in the area. (and a couple of local craft beer brewers but shhhh. :wink: ) I made a household based on my friend and his family and stuck it up on the gallery but I am taking it down to redo it. And well, I had wanted to reflect their interest in that with their household. That what had me wanting the winery and vineyard added so badly. :smiley:

"Auroraskies;c-17864914" wrote:Oh, and I would dearly like a beer brewery.Same. And honestly, I have been focusing on the vineyards and such for making wine and mead as an idea because I figured asking for beer making was a bit much.You mention play testing it. Are you planning on posting it on the gallery? If so, is your id here the same as the gallery?

"Auroraskies;c-17866500" wrote: And that was good, I did not think about that before, but having the possibility to make mead from honey would be really nice, the sims could get a sweet tooth moodlet of poetic pronunciations from it.The "nectar making" in Sims 3 was in the same ball park but actual mead PLUS nectar making would be fantastic.I also tried building an estate on a 64x64 lot but was not really all that happy with the results of it. That build should still be up on my gallery though.

Yes, the TS3 nectar had such wonderful moodlets and looked so pretty, and was a fun adventure collecting them as well. TS4 is a bit more hipster-influenced it seems, but building is easier and more fun, and I like the possibilities of doing what I want with every lot in a closed world, not having to think about being moderate in the open. It would be interesting to see the lot, is it the same account name as here?

Forum Discussion

ghamrick75

4 years ago

Estate and Vineyard ideas

The idea for this comes from some research I was doing for both a writing project and something I was looking at doing for a potential build in the game.

Essentially, I was pondering building an "estate" in the Sims.

Now I am well aware that in modern terms, an "estate" in pretty much a synonym for a manor or mansion for more folks. However, I am looking at both "the historical context of what constitutes an estate" and "what often classifies a mansion or manor as an estate in modern times".

Historically, "an estate comprises the houses, outbuildings, supporting farmland, and woods that surround the gardens and grounds of a very large property, such as a country house or mansion". An example of this would be The Builtmore Estate in North Caroline here in the US. In addition to the insane size main house, the property has a vineyard, guest houses, and other farm land. In modern terms, a manor or mansion can be classified as an "estate" formally (legally) when it includes the surrounding land and that land produced rent and and other profit. (Trying to paraphrase from Wikipedia with my own notes.)

Now a few things of note regarding the Sims 4:

Several folks here would love multi-purpose lots. Including myself. Both for the purpose having a combination of Residential and a Commercial lot AND a combination of two (or more) commercial lots.
Several folks would also love for a sim / sim household to be able to own a second lot (or even a third). I'll go a step further with this... I would like to see the feature of a sim owning their own business (from Get to Work I think it was) fixed, working properly, and expanded.
There are only 4 buildable 64 x 64 lots in the game. (Five counting the one in Strangerville) None of them are blank maps. There are no 50 X 50 lots either on a blank map. The closest thing we have is the single 50x40 lot in Newcreek.
Some folks here (again, myself included) would love a few additional maps for the expanding of words like Sulani, Del Sol Valley, etc.
Having a few more "destination worlds" is not a bad thing.
And last but not least, not only would the ability to have vineyards be fantastic for the game but expanding the mixology skill and career with something like things like "wine and mead making and the making of craft beer and spirits" would be a fantastic addition. (Though I would say focus on wine and mead.)

So here's a few ideas on how this could be implemented

Either a game or expansion pack: People have been talking about wanting some sort of farming pack. I saw someone else here recommend the idea that it include vineyards. Well why not have it include a whole "estate building" set up as well. Basically with two central houses / lots (maybe even 3) in a world "owning" some additional land surrounding it that could be "traditional farmland and greenhouses", vineyards, and even some other shops, thrown in to the mix. If you want to get really fancy, add in multi-purpose lots so folks could build a proper "bed and breakfast". Honestly, I would be happy with a game pack that gave us even a portion of this (as long as that portion included the ability to own a vineyard and make wine that was adjacent to the main property but not on it.)

Kit I know a lot of folks here don't like kits all too much. I will be honest here: I have not bought a one of them. Can't say that I will at the moment.
That said, if there was a kit involving giving us some content to create a vineyard and wine making, I'd buy it.
I'd get a kit that allowed for us to better simulate an "estate" like a "Builtmore Estate".
Though honestly... I would say this should be a game pack or expansion pack not a kit unless we were just getting a vineyard and wine & mead making in it. I could also see a kit pack adding a destination world like a "Builtmore Estate" or "Castle Hill" (in Ipswich, MA) or Hearst Castle which all function like "historical estates" minus the technical 'jurisdiction elements' that were had historically.

Free Update Just giving us some new blank worlds that with a few larger (either 50x50 lots or 64x64 lots) 'connected' to a few smaller lots (like the small island in Windenburg appears to be) would be reasonably acceptable. (By that same accord, a few blank world maps to expand Sulani and Del Sol Valley would be nice too. Especially Sulani.)

Again this is just an idea. I would love to see something akin to The Builtmore Estate as a destination world in the game. And I would love to be able to make my own estate in the game with a vineyard. And I know a few other people have referenced similar ideas. Plus... Sim Households owning addition property (which would in part simulate this) would be greatly welcomed. (Though just my opinion.)

DonroaAkashu
New Spectator
4 years ago
Great idea! I am in the making of a countryside estate (säteri in my language), with a large house, some outbuildings for storage and servants, an orchard, a natural lake etc. I have chosen the large lot in Granite Falls, with the woods around it, pretending the purpose being the landowner's place during prolonged visits, living their life in the city otherwise. I am still thinking what I can add in terms of occupations for the sims to do when there, and I am glad the possibility to hire server sims is available when on vacation, for them to have their staff.

Edit: This is how it looks (it's not done)
Spoiler
https://i.imgur.com/s3U3YrC.png

I think the lot assignment Rental suits my idea good, since that means many different sims can use it, that despite being part of a large house/family, lives in different households by game terms.

I am thinking I might do something with the wood; to tie it to a forest owner, perhaps let one in the family produce excellent furniture on the wood bench, selling it for high prices in a retail. Would have been interesting with some industrial production feature though; and a vineayard would suit a different climate. Monte Vista in TS3 had the most beautiful light.
ghamrick75
4 years ago
"Auroraskies;c-17864872" wrote:
Great idea! I am in the making of a countryside estate (säteri in my language), with a large house, some outbuildings for storage and servants, an orchard, a natural lake etc. I have chosen the large lot in Granite Falls, with the woods around it, pretending the purpose being the landowner's place during prolonged visits, living their life in the city otherwise. I am still thinking what I can add in terms of occupations for the sims to do when there, and I am glad the possibility to hire server sims is available when on vacation, for them to have their staff.

Edit: This is how it looks (it's not done)
Spoiler
https://i.imgur.com/s3U3YrC.png

I think the lot assignment Rental suits my idea good, since that means many different sims can use it, that despite being part of a large house/family, lives in different households by game terms.

I am thinking I might do something with the wood; to tie it to a forest owner, perhaps let one in the family produce excellent furniture on the wood bench, selling it for high prices in a retail. Would have been interesting with some industrial production feature though; and a vineayard would suit a different climate. Monte Vista in TS3 had the most beautiful light.

Fantastic idea. Though I don't know that I would be one to want to touch Granite Falls.

I'd thought about using the The Crumbling Isle neighborhood in Windenburg and moving the existing homes to other worlds for mine though Windenburg would never be a good place for a vineyard. :smile:
I am working on another specific project with Newcrest though I might could make it work with that. (I would have to redo the 50x40 lot I just finished and that might be "difficult". Having the ability to make Rental properties on any world now solves some of the issues I had initially.

Side note about why I am wanting to vineyards, wineries and meaderies so badly:
Spoiler
My best friend and his soon-to-be new wife took up wine making a little over a year and a half or so ago. I've gone from taste testing some of their stuff to making friends with the owners a couple of local wineries and meaderies in the area. (and a couple of local craft beer brewers but shhhh. :wink: ) I made a household based on my friend and his family and stuck it up on the gallery but I am taking it down to redo it. And well, I had wanted to reflect their interest in that with their household. That what had me wanting the winery and vineyard added so badly. :smiley:
ghamrick75
4 years ago
"Auroraskies;c-17864914" wrote:

Oh, and I would dearly like a beer brewery.

Same. And honestly, I have been focusing on the vineyards and such for making wine and mead as an idea because I figured asking for beer making was a bit much.

You mention play testing it. Are you planning on posting it on the gallery? If so, is your id here the same as the gallery?
ghamrick75
4 years ago
"Auroraskies;c-17866500" wrote:
And that was good, I did not think about that before, but having the possibility to make mead from honey would be really nice, the sims could get a sweet tooth moodlet of poetic pronunciations from it.

The "nectar making" in Sims 3 was in the same ball park but actual mead PLUS nectar making would be fantastic.

I also tried building an estate on a 64x64 lot but was not really all that happy with the results of it. That build should still be up on my gallery though.
DonroaAkashu
New Spectator
4 years ago
Yes, the TS3 nectar had such wonderful moodlets and looked so pretty, and was a fun adventure collecting them as well. TS4 is a bit more hipster-influenced it seems, but building is easier and more fun, and I like the possibilities of doing what I want with every lot in a closed world, not having to think about being moderate in the open.

It would be interesting to see the lot, is it the same account name as here?
ghamrick75
4 years ago
It is the same as my account name here, AuroraSkies. It is my sig as is the info that I took a lot of builds down because I am redoing some stuff on them in the next couple of weeks.
tx631292
4 years ago
would be great
Mk_2790
New Spectator
4 years ago
Nectar making, pizza oven, butter churn and canning station, a game pack can be enough, maybe a goat corral to have milk
DonroaAkashu
New Spectator
4 years ago
Yes, I am a little nervous about how it is going to turn out, last time I edited the lot there I got several errors, perhaps that was a bug though. I will playtest extensibly, don't want to ruin my playsave.

The island in Windenburg would be a great choice for different kinds of production, by the looks of it, and a little inspiration from its own influence of Germany; wood, mines, farming, animals, which would all be great features to add. I see many asking for a pack focused on farming. They do grow and produce wine in Germany, so a vineyard wouldn't be wasted either!

Oh, and I would dearly like a beer brewery.
DonroaAkashu
New Spectator
4 years ago
@ghamrick75 Yes, the game tries to give a less serious impression, so I agree, beer seems so .. sturdy somehow, when compared! But the sims do get juiced by the Fizzy Juice, from EL I think; and from Kava, IL; and from the jug, UL; so technically there could be added more drinks to make our sims misbehave - or just please their palates.

I do playtest all builds I make, but on the Gallery I just upload the ones that needs a common surface, like challenges; but the one I posted about in this thread is for my own playsave, and those I do not upload. There are a lot of mansions though, I have seen on the Gallery. I have spent three holidays on the lot with my sim, hiring staff, going to the Hermit, having parties, and no save errors or other issues, so I will place it in my playsave, not scaring anyone else from editing that lot/world.