"What should we call this?"...the making of a Sims story
Sul sul, Simmers.
It's the holiday season, and it seems like as good a time as any to share my humble attempt at Sims storytelling with all of you.
My twelve-year-old daughter, Z, is my Sims buddy. This summer, we discovered how much we enjoy creating Simworlds and bringing them to life together. We have fun browsing the Gallery for houses and households we like. We especially enjoy creating characters in CAS and saving them to the Library, where they live until we summon them to the stage.
I tried my hand at Simlit twice before. One attempt lasted a single post; the premise behind the story didn't work as well as I'd hoped. The other began with much more promise, with main characters who seemed to have enough chemistry to sustain a good, old-fashioned love story. Then, just like that, the chemistry fizzled quicker than a cheap Spice Festival firework. So did my story.
This time, I'm taking a different approach. I've tried to type the sentence in which I describe this approach at least seven times, and I've backspaced over every single one. Let's just call it "The Making of a Sims Story." I suppose it's as much of a journal as anything else. I envision myself sharing with you some of the experiences my daughter and I have playing The Sims together as well as the events that unfold in our game. You'll meet some of the characters we've created, several of which have been with us since our first TS4 save. Some of them are based on real people; some have been inspired by characters we've found in other stories; some are our very own.
We have no idea whether our game will generate a story worth telling or not. I hope it will, because we'll have much more fun if that's the case. We might all decide it's not much fun to see exactly how the sausage is made. My use of that figure of speech elicited an "ewwwww" from Z, who is seated beside me on the sofa, wrapped up in a holiday plaid blanket.
I'm taking this step because Z and I have experienced an uncommon amount of kindness on this forum. So many virtual spaces are toxic. This one could not be more different. Simply put, it's a fun place to hang out and spend time, and a place where I'd like to settle in and do some writing.
In my next post, I'll set the stage for you. I'll introduce you to our main character, and tell you a bit about the world in which the story will take place. I hope we'll all enjoy it.
The last thing I added to this post was the title. Neither Z nor I could come up with anything to put in the Discussion Title box, and I couldn't proceed without filling it in. It turned out that when Z asked me what we should call it, she answered her own question better than I could.
"SweetieWright_84;c-18076116" wrote: That was such a wholesome and heart-warming chapter.
Oh, thank you! I feel like I can write wholesome and heart-warming fairly well, because "wholesome" is a good description of who I've been all my life...from childhood to adulthood. I have fun capturing scenes like the Ross holiday celebration.
I'm not nearly as comfortable writing malevolent, mean characters; it's not as natural for me to think about what a character like that would think, feel, and say.
There's more background rambling behind the spoiler tag, if you're interested. Otherwise, we'll see you right back here with a new chapter this weekend. :)
I need "baddies" in my story, or it turns into an endless series of tales about good people doing good things. And, when I bring the antagonists on stage, I need to make sure I don't always write about them from the perspective of the "heroes." I think I might have to turn Seth Turner into a playable character, so his appearances won't be simply a matter of chance. I need him to do more than run around with a smirk on his face, because no matter how creative Z and I feel, we can't always turn that into a storyline.
But we'd still have to carefully choose the times when we send Seth out to be mean, so he won't come across as simply a creator of random malevolence. Seth's the closest thing we have to a villain right now. Z and I are almost looking out for another one. We might have to create one ourselves.
Jamie Eldridge had seen how tired his mom had been lately. He knew she was sneaking naps at odd times of the day. And he’d seen her emerge from the bathroom, looking pale and shaken. He knew something was wrong, and although Marcia assured her son she was fine, Jamie didn’t believe her. Not for a moment.
Jamie understood why his mom might want to protect him from bad things. He’d watched his older sister fall and never wake up. He’d endured bullying and shaming when the thoughts of what he had seen scared him, when he couldn’t stop the tears those thoughts brought to his gentle, brown eyes.
She’s trying to take care of me. But who’s taking care of her?
While his classmate, Halle Ross, and her family were celebrating the First Day of Summer, Jamie was at home in his family’s apartment in San Myshuno, trying to go to sleep. He was exhausted, but the thoughts that swirled around his head wouldn’t leave him alone. Finally, he drifted off.
That’s when the voice spoke to him.
There is something you can do.
Jamie awoke with a start. He knew there was nobody in his room with him, and that the voice had to be inside his head. He sat up in bed, his heart pounding. The voice spoke again a few moments later.
You know where to go, Jamie. It’s time. Be courageous.
The next day was one of the last days of the year at Buckingham High School. Jamie got up, showered, and dressed. Both his parents left the apartment for their jobs before he did, so Jamie didn’t even need to pretend to go to school. He was determined to follow the voice’s instructions…but where was he supposed to go? The voice told him he knew this, but he didn't.
As if it had read his thoughts, the voice replied a moment later.
Glimmerbrook.
Jamie had never been to Glimmerbrook. In fact, he’d barely heard of it and, to be honest, he wasn’t sure if it really existed. A few of the kids at his school talked about it being a magical place, and when they did, others laughed at them behind their backs sometimes. So he was a bit surprised to discover he could travel there, and when he arrived, he was even more surprised to see how normal it looked. The area was beautiful, rugged and forested, with a stream winding through it. There were houses there, and what looked like a café.
Jamie took in the scenery around him for a few moments. It was a warm morning, but the sky was cloudy, and the hills in the distance were shrouded in mist. Jamie decided he liked Glimmerbrook.
But, now that he was here, what was he supposed to do? Should he wait for the voice to speak to him again? Would something manifest itself in front of him? He wasn’t sure. Within a few moments, though, he found himself walking slowly, but with purpose, in the direction of a house. The house was two stories, with gables and porches. As Jamie stood in front of it, a sense of peace came over him. He didn’t need the voice to tell him he was in the right place. https://i.imgur.com/DwLUMWL.png But, as he stood there, the voice spoke to him again.
Take the right path.
Jamie was puzzled. How do I know what the right path is?, he asked himself. He puzzled over this question for a few moments before it came to him.
He spotted a path, leading down to the bank of the stream. To follow it, Jamie would need to proceed around the right side of the house, as he stood facing it. The right path. He laughed and started on his way.
The path was wide, with light posts along the way. It followed a bend in the stream, and when Jamie rounded that bend, he saw a sight that made him stop in his tracks. Ahead of him was a carved stone arch, built upon a low platform. The opening in the arch was filled with glowing, swirling light: blue, green, and purple. https://i.imgur.com/bpr0job.png Jamie continued on his way, drawn to the arch as if an invisible hand was leading him. He forded the stream at a shallow spot, and walked up to the arch. https://i.imgur.com/ZOLzBTs.png It’s a portal, he thought. He had no idea how he knew this, but he did.
Jamie hesitated for a moment, and then he stepped through the portal.
Suddenly, the platform was bathed in a cool, blue-purple glow. This is dope, Jamie thought. Then he did what many Teens would do in such a situation. He pulled out his phone and took a selfie. https://i.imgur.com/gqfUcmt.png
Jamie didn’t know it, but he had entered the Magic Realm.
He stood in front of a sprawling, magnificent brick mansion. The stained-glass windows, which featured celestial objects like suns, moons, and planets, caught the teenager’s eye immediately. For another moment, Jamie was transfixed. Although it was just past noon, it seemed like dusk, and everything was bathed in an otherworldly bluish glow. Jamie didn’t find it creepy, though; it seemed soothing and inviting.
This is unbelievably cool, he said to himself. Then he walked up to the mansion, opened the heavy, glass-inlaid front door, and walked inside.
Almost immediately, Jamie was greeted by a person unlike anyone he had ever met. They seemed like a young person, but there was a wisdom in their eyes that Jamie noticed immediately. They greeted him with a warm smile. “Hello there, and welcome. My name is Morgyn.” https://i.imgur.com/WtCfJg8.png “I’m Jamie. Thanks very much. Ummm…where am I?” Morgyn smiled. “You’re in the Realm of Magic.” Jamie’s shocked reaction made Morgyn smile. “Don’t worry, Jamie,” Morgyn assured him. “Nothing will happen to you unless you’re sure you want it to happen. Nobody will cast a spell on you…unless you let them. If you’re kinda creeped out, you can leave, and it’ll be like it never happened.” “I’m interested in finding out more,” Jamie said. https://i.imgur.com/UFVtBZE.png He and Morgyn talked a bit about what a Spellcaster was, and how it would be possible for Jamie to become one if he chose to. As Morgyn explained things to him, Jamie felt the pieces come together in his mind.
This is where that voice was leading me. I’m supposed to be here, because this could be the way I can help Mom.
Immediately, Jamie began to relax even more. “This all sounds really great, Morgyn.” https://i.imgur.com/XZwO4Ph.png Morgyn smiled, too. “All right, Jamie. Are you ready to take the first step in your journey to becoming a Spellcaster?” Jamie paused for a moment. What would he decide?
"SweetieWright_84;c-18076829" wrote: That's probably the best introduction to spellcasters I could have imagined.
Wow, thank you so much! I wondered how it would turn out, since I don't think I write fantasy very well. There are more "gameplay notes" behind the spoiler tag.
Z and I had Jamie in mind as a Spellcaster from the day we added Realm of Magic to our game. We weren't sure how he would get there, so Z took the lead in creating a backstory for Jamie that included some rough times, like the loss of his sister and the pain the bullies caused him. Then, when we were playing the Eldridges to get a feel for what the family was like, we saw Marcia napping when an Adult with a career should be at work. "Maybe she's sick," Z surmised, and that became part of the Eldridges' story.
I took a gazillion screenshots as Z and I played through the scene with Jamie in Glimmerbrook, and I used the best ones to shape the story. I wondered if the mysterious voice was going to be too trite. I couldn't come up with any other way to lead Jamie to the Realm of Magic.
Jamie is a great kid, but as you've seen, he's easily distracted. "I just walked through a magical portal into a mysterious world...I know what I should do! It's time to flex and take a selfie!"
Will Jamie choose a life of magic, or will something else distract him first? And, if he does decide to let Morgyn turn him into a Spellcaster, will he focus enough on the task at hand to accomplish anything?
I'm no literary expert, not even someone who reads on a regular basis, and I think you did fine introducing spellcasters.
It makes sense to me why Jamie would choose that path. He's already lost his sister. He feels powerless. The way I see it, he feels like this is one chance to take control of a situation that might otherwise be out of his control. Becoming a doctor would take too long.
As for the selfie part, it made me lol. It does seem like a "typical teen" thing to do. It also helps to remind the reader that he is in fact a teen. When you remember that fact, you realize even more the struggles he's been through in his short life.
Not all the way caught up yet (note to self: chapter 23) but I’m slowly getting there! I’m having a great time with this as always ?
Oooh Patrick, you lucky little liar. Cameron could have exposed him right then and there. Lying to someone you’re trying to impress is never a good idea- sooner or later, the truth will come out, Patrick! Cameron gets brother points for covering for him. Although letting it slide like that is probably not a good influence ?
Hahaha, Matty disco is… a unique one, that’s for sure ? Some of his gibberish I didn’t understand at all but boy, it made me laugh, lol.
Darn it, Seth! Way to freak a girl out, sending a text like that without even saying his name. And how the heck did he get her phone number? Did it show when she texted Wren and did he somehow memorise it, or did he get it some other way? Either possibility is creepy, because he’s either scarily good at memorising details, or because he’d go through such lengths just to creep on a girl he likes. Ick. Cameron is such a good brother. I wonder if him interfering will actually have the intended effect, though. It might just motivate Seth even more…
Awww, Angie confessed! There was definitely a spark between them whenever they met. And Cameron said yes! Lol, news travels incredibly fast in small towns. It’s nice but it also has the potential to cause damage if the rumour mill goes faster than the actual people involved. I’m glad that Cameron didn’t mind them teasing him about Angie. ?
Cameron has grown so much. He’s started out as quiet, shy and deeply unhappy and he’s built such a wonderful life for himself now, filled with friends and hobbies and even a romantic interest. It’s great to see him slowly change and grow into an entirely new person.
I've been super busy lately, and haven't had an opportunity to hang out on the forum for a day or three. My co-storyteller celebrated her birthday on Monday. Yes, Z is now a Teen! I wonder what new Trait she acquired? I haven't discovered it yet. :smile:
@SweetieWright_84 I'm glad you liked the way I added a bit of occult into the story. I pondered it for a while before I decided to do it; I don't want to derail the story from its "slice of life" roots too much. Z and I thought quite a bit about who our Spellcaster(s) might be, and how they might fit into our tale. Z came up with the basics of Jamie's story, and she hoped it didn't come across as too cliché or overly sentimental. I thought it was just right (I'm biased, naturally), and that it makes him a character you can't help rooting for.
Jamie's selfie was completely autonomous, and I'm glad I hit "pause" quickly enough to snag the screenshot. I'm learning that I can't take my eye off the Sims for a moment, or I might miss something that could become part of the story!
@_sims_Yimi You're almost caught up now! And, since I probably won't add another chapter until tomorrow or Saturday, here's your chance to read those last two chapters. :)
Patrick's scene came about by accident. Cam was in the cafe, when I noticed Patrick had also arrived there. A moment later, I saw Patrick chatting up Macy, and it was obvious from his body language that he was bragging. Patrick got lucky, too; when we rolled to determine if Cameron would cover for him or call him out, he barely "survived." Cam is basically a good influence, but he's not perfect, either.
I had fun finding lots of 1970s slang for Matty Disco to use. I'm sure I went over the top, but that's Matty.
And as for Seth, you can already see how clever he is. As for how he got Halle's number...stay tuned. That's all I will say for now.
Angie's confession was completely autonomous, too. We were still trying to decide whether we would have Cameron make the first move, and then Angie took matters into her own hands. Once we saw her call come through while we were playing Cameron, we filled in some backstory with Angie's besties. Cam's friends approached him at the gym autonomously, too. Tim, in particular, would be very direct with his friend; that's just the way he is.
Thank you for the compliment about Cam's development. Honestly, it owes more to the game itself than to my writing. I'm simply following the game's lead and filling in the story around it. :)
There will be more this weekend, starting with the rest of the story of Jamie's visit to Glimmerbrook.
After I update the story with the aforementioned chapter--Jamie's visit to the Realm of Magic--I might have to put the story on pause for a bit. Z and I are happy to learn about the recent updates to the Neighborhood Stories feature, but we're going to try them out in a few throwaway saves before we return to our story save.
We have MCCC taking care of births, marriages, adoptions, etc., and it might take a bit of time to customize the Neighborhood Stories feature (and MCCC, for that matter) to make our game work the way we'd like. There are things we don't want happening anywhere in our story, to any Sims, and other things we're hoping WILL happen. For example, we don't want Cameron's friends in Willow Creek, like the Hortons or the Dornans, moving to new houses, but if some of them became parents or adopted a pet, that would be lovely. Similarly, a death could provide an unforgettable plot twist...or ruin a storyline Z and I have already begun preparing, just in case the game opens the door for it.
Thankfully, you can customize each household. I love this new update. I turned off the accidental deaths for my current save. I also turned off the move out one for everyone because it was just leaving them homeless.
As for MCCC, I think I turned everything off but I'm not 100% sure.
Anyway, take your time. We'll be here patiently waiting...or at least I will, I can't speak for anyone else following this story. I'm sure the new features will give you and Z a lot of new ideas. :)
