So, I am officially a member here now, and can post threads. I figured I would start with something that I have been seriously questioning since Sims 3.It used to be that all artistic activities were lumped together into one Creativity skill. Now, each activity has been assigned its own skill set: Painting, Writing, Piano, Guitar, Dancing, Photography... . The Cooking skill has even been broken down into Baking, Gormet Cooking, and regular cooking. My question is why haven't they done this with Handiness? Plumbing, electrical work, and carpentry are still lumped together into one skill. My father was a professional contractor, and he would be the first to tell you that these areas are all unique skill sets and expertise in one does not equal expertise in the others. When you think about it, this is also true in The Sims; take for example, the sim I electrocuted a few weeks ago while fixing a refrigerator after they just fixed a sink. It seems to me that they should break down Handiness into separate skill sets: Electrical Work, Plumbing, Carpentry, and perhaps even Auto Repair (assuming they ever bring back vehicles and the Garage thing ever gets off the ground).

Here's the thing... when the game was released in 2014 there was cooking and handiness. The cooking skill had a short list of food items, but handiness covered all those real life skills you mentioned.Later... the gourmet cooking skill and baking skill were added in patches or expansions (and dancing and photography). I could be wrong, but I think it's a lot easier to add NEW skills than it is to change the original base game skills.So the real question is: why in 2014 did they only have handiness but they made separate skills for guitar, piano and violin?

If/when we get cars I sure hope auto repair is not lumped into the handiness skill.

Theoretically, every skill could be broken down like that. Gotta draw the line somewhere though, right?I can barely even think of what sorts of things to fill up a Plumber skill even if it only went up to 5.

"CorkysPetals;c-16925854" wrote:Here's the thing... when the game was released in 2014 there was cooking and handiness. The cooking skill had a short list of food items, but handiness covered all those real life skills you mentioned.Later... the gourmet cooking skill and baking skill were added in patches or expansions (and dancing and photography). I could be wrong, but I think it's a lot easier to add NEW skills than it is to change the original base game skills.So the real question is: why in 2014 did they only have handiness but they made separate skills for guitar, piano and violin?I am aware that it is probably too late to make any major changes to Sims 4. But I do think it is something that they need to look at in future games.

Eh, I'm ok with handiness being it's own lumped together thing. It keeps repair work simple when one skill determines how well you can fix all the problems in the house. Plus, there are stickier problems like dishwashers and fridges, which have electric AND plumbing. Carpentry could have been divided off into it's own hobby though, probably into something like Sculpting was in TS3 and older games - I quite liked Sculpting, and I also liked that it included more than just wood; it had materials like ice, marble, and topiary. I think that was probably a missed opportunity there, especially it was a lot of fun to create all kinds of strange, large statues at random (or from reference) like with painting.

My Thoughts on Handiness | EA Forums

12 Replies

FarleyGranger
7 years ago
Here's the thing... when the game was released in 2014 there was cooking and handiness. The cooking skill had a short list of food items, but handiness covered all those real life skills you mentioned.

Later... the gourmet cooking skill and baking skill were added in patches or expansions (and dancing and photography). I could be wrong, but I think it's a lot easier to add NEW skills than it is to change the original base game skills.

So the real question is: why in 2014 did they only have handiness but they made separate skills for guitar, piano and violin?
ChadSims2
Seasoned Rookie
7 years ago
If/when we get cars I sure hope auto repair is not lumped into the handiness skill.
kaeyresky
7 years ago
Theoretically, every skill could be broken down like that. Gotta draw the line somewhere though, right?
I can barely even think of what sorts of things to fill up a Plumber skill even if it only went up to 5.
ForeverRogue61
7 years ago
"CorkysPetals;c-16925854" wrote:
Here's the thing... when the game was released in 2014 there was cooking and handiness. The cooking skill had a short list of food items, but handiness covered all those real life skills you mentioned.

Later... the gourmet cooking skill and baking skill were added in patches or expansions (and dancing and photography). I could be wrong, but I think it's a lot easier to add NEW skills than it is to change the original base game skills.

So the real question is: why in 2014 did they only have handiness but they made separate skills for guitar, piano and violin?

I am aware that it is probably too late to make any major changes to Sims 4. But I do think it is something that they need to look at in future games.
TheGreatGorlon
New Ace
7 years ago
Eh, I'm ok with handiness being it's own lumped together thing. It keeps repair work simple when one skill determines how well you can fix all the problems in the house. Plus, there are stickier problems like dishwashers and fridges, which have electric AND plumbing. Carpentry could have been divided off into it's own hobby though, probably into something like Sculpting was in TS3 and older games - I quite liked Sculpting, and I also liked that it included more than just wood; it had materials like ice, marble, and topiary. I think that was probably a missed opportunity there, especially it was a lot of fun to create all kinds of strange, large statues at random (or from reference) like with painting.
justme22
7 years ago
"CorkysPetals;c-16925854" wrote:
Here's the thing... when the game was released in 2014 there was cooking and handiness. The cooking skill had a short list of food items, but handiness covered all those real life skills you mentioned.

Later... the gourmet cooking skill and baking skill were added in patches or expansions (and dancing and photography). I could be wrong, but I think it's a lot easier to add NEW skills than it is to change the original base game skills.

So the real question is: why in 2014 did they only have handiness but they made separate skills for guitar, piano and violin?

Gourmet cooking was in from the beginning (you can start learning it at level 5 regular Cooking skill); Baking was added with GTW. Photography was also added in GTW though patched in for base game with C&D, and dancing is part of GT along with the DJ booths.

The reason for separate skills for the instruments is because they all are different abilities. I play piano (not well, but I can plunk out a few pieces) but I've never learned violin -- I wouldn't expect to be able to pick up a violin and play Vivaldi just because I knew how to play piano.

I find handiness skill already hard to gain -- you have to either fix items, spend time (and money for parts) upgrading objects, work on a workbench, or read books. And unlike skills like cooking, painting or writing, it doesn't really tie in to any of the careers. Splitting it into separate categories would make it near-on impossible.
justme22
7 years ago
"TheGreatGorlon;c-16927485" wrote:
Eh, I'm ok with handiness being it's own lumped together thing. It keeps repair work simple when one skill determines how well you can fix all the problems in the house. Plus, there are stickier problems like dishwashers and fridges, which have electric AND plumbing. Carpentry could have been divided off into it's own hobby though, probably into something like Sculpting was in TS3 and older games - I quite liked Sculpting, and I also liked that it included more than just wood; it had materials like ice, marble, and topiary. I think that was probably a missed opportunity there, especially it was a lot of fun to create all kinds of strange, large statues at random (or from reference) like with painting.

They could still add sculpting in the future with all the materials except maybe the topiary since we've got that adding to Gardening skill. You could have sculptures with emotional auras like with the paintings and woodcarvings.
ForeverRogue61
7 years ago
"TheGreatGorlon;c-16927485" wrote:
Eh, I'm ok with handiness being it's own lumped together thing. It keeps repair work simple when one skill determines how well you can fix all the problems in the house. Plus, there are stickier problems like dishwashers and fridges, which have electric AND plumbing. Carpentry could have been divided off into it's own hobby though, probably into something like Sculpting was in TS3 and older games - I quite liked Sculpting, and I also liked that it included more than just wood; it had materials like ice, marble, and topiary. I think that was probably a missed opportunity there, especially it was a lot of fun to create all kinds of strange, large statues at random (or from reference) like with painting.

You make a good point about the dishwashers and refridgerators. I suppose they would have to add some type of multi-tasking ability in this case which probably would require a major overhaul of the program.
Redrogue60
Seasoned Ace
6 years ago
I don't have a problem with Handiness being split up into component skills if there are related professions in the game otherwise it would be a pain trying to elevate levels with only the occasional repair to work on. I also don't feel that there is any shame attached to any related professions (Plumber, Electrician, Carpenter) so I would welcome in the game if they were in there.
karon_shiruba
6 years ago
"Cupid;c-16925927" wrote:
Theoretically, every skill could be broken down like that. Gotta draw the line somewhere though, right?
I can barely even think of what sorts of things to fill up a Plumber skill even if it only went up to 5.

Yes, but handiness is a "drawn line" too shallow. It could have used on layer more than that and would be amazing! Maybe in SIms 5...