Is outdoor retreat worth it?
I like to have a least one of my sims collect, fish and cook new things. Without telling me specifics please, does outdoor living provide "new" things in these areas. New harestables? Trying to decid...
Forum Discussion
@RonneeSimmer, we are glad you replied back! 🙂
Like @SheriGR , if you shelter your plants they don't go dormant! So don't let that stop you from getting Seasons if you feel you will like other aspects to the game. In addition to what Sheri stated, you can also have water balloon fights, play in the mud or rain, lounge in the kiddie pool, play in the sprinklers, and more. Lightning will sometimes leave a crystal, metal or element that you Sim can collect to be sure to see if a lightning strike leaves anything behind. You can also give yourself abilities with Aspiration points so your Sim is cold or heat proof, water proof, and even give them the Storm Chaser trait so they enjoy storms instead of being stressed by them . There is also a Weather Machine that allows you to change the weather!
And with the beehive, make sure you stock up on honey... Even poor quality honey will help fill hunger, and more importantly if you are about to die from being too cold or too hot, honey will save you! 🙌 Bees have other good interactions as well. And of course they will sting you if you aren't wearing the beekeeper suit.
You can also make your own Holidays, and erase existing ones. Some holidays are minor like Skill Day, but others are major like Harvest Day.
And you get a ton of new flowers in Seasons!
Well you do have a lot of information to think about! Please update us when you make a decison, and hopefully there will be a good sale for you as well! 🤞🥳
@PugLove888 and @SheriGR, I set my seasons for the full 28 days. I'll either plant my winter crops on the last day of fall or I'll start them in a greenhouse and transfer them out to my garden in Build Mode. This way I can harvest outside plants even in winter. I keep several types of catnip right next to the house because somehow that is still considered to be sheltered? Sure, my Sim freezes her bum off tending the plants but kitties need their catnip fix ;-D
I love making custom holidays and giving them goofy Sims names, like Simsdependance Day, Tricksy Treat Day, and Bunnynip Day (sort of like catnip but for bunnies). For some reason I keep seeing Santa hanging around the vet's office in Brindleton Bay... I guess he must have pets at the Sims north pole xD
Anyhow, thanks so much for the info on the other packs! I have a much better idea now on what to get next.
I love making custom holidays and giving them goofy Sims names, like Simsdependance Day, Tricksy Treat Day, and Bunnynip Day (sort of like catnip but for bunnies). For some reason I keep seeing Santa hanging around the vet's office in Brindleton Bay... I guess he must have pets at the Sims north pole xD
Anyhow, thanks so much for the info on the other packs! I have a much better idea now on what to get next.
@RandomBuzziness, yes, I've noticed that some plants right up against the house are considered sheltered! I've had some die that were up against the house because I thought the rain had watered them since they were outside and not under a porch. 🤭 After that I make sure to check plants planted in this way so I don't miss watering them! 😃
I love your named Holidays! ❤️ I love especially the name Simsdependance Day! 🥳 I've named my equivalent "Kaboom Day" and always make sure to hit the festivals that come with the City Living EP so I have a supply of fireworks! 🙌Santa must love animals since he hangs out with reindeer! 😇
Have fun choosing your next packs! 🥳Edit to add: I love the weather effects like you mentioned in your other post! My favorite is how the snow will sparkle in the light! ❤️
@PugLove888Oh I forgot to tell you, I do already have the City Living EP and you are absolutely right, it is a very good fit for my style of play :D Seasons even makes city life more fun and interesting. My Sim once got hit by lightning at the Humor and Hijinx Festival... not much humor in that but pretty much the ultimate when it comes to hijinx pranks! xDDD Poor thing had to hide out in the art gallery until it was safe to come out again.
One of my favorite weather effects is how glass windows frosts over when it's freezing outside. It's so cool to tinker around in a greenhouse/ workshop while there is a blizzard blowing outside.
I currently have Cats and Dogs, City Living, Get Together, and Seasons. With the help of you and others (especially my NZ Sims bestie @finelinetracksix if you read this, love you heaps!) I have decided that Island Living will definitely be my next EP and Laundry Day Stuff will be my next Stuff Pack.@RandomBuzzinessThe campsite lot you made is gorgeous! ❤️ I'm so glad you are having fun with the Outdoor Retreat GP! 🥳 I also love that this pack has a lot of items that work with the Off the Grid lot trait and are great for Off the Grid Challenges! 😎
Yes! The frosted glass is very cozy, in my opinion! Love that effect! ❤️
It seems like you got a good range of packs! Thanks for updating us, and thanks for the pictures! 🙌
@RonneeSimmer @RandomBuzziness @PugLove888 I love your information and suggestions! I think gardening lovers who don't have seasons miss out on so many aspects that are really fun (and some great challenges). It allows you to nuance and customize your gardening in so many great ways! I agree... I hate that the lightening can make my rocket ships or Patchy go poof if I forget to put them in inventory in a storm or add a shelter for patchy... but the sound and visual effects of them are awesome!! (Also note... even if you have lightening and blizzards disabled on 'mystery weather' days on the calendar... you may get them anyway. all bets are off on mystery weather days!
RonneeSimmer... I also didn't mention this part (since you didn't voice interest in pets - which I also consider a very nice pack - the pets are awesome), but if you get pets and go into Brindleton Bay at night with a nice snowfall occurring...
It's breathtaking. Seriously.
EA outdid themselves with this pack, imho. 🙂@RonneeSimmer Getting back to the Outdoor Retreat game pack, I've found some cool things to do with the Build Mode camping equipment that comes with this pack. I created an unofficial campground on an empty residential lot in Windenburg (from the Get Together EP). All I did with this lot was add some landscaping and changed the designation from residential to generic. The game let me "place in world" all of my camping gear, tent, outdoor shower, cooler, chairs, etc., and rearrange them as I wished. Everything worked fine, even that pesky campfire that usually catches EVERYTHING nearby on fire! Yep, I used that campfire 3 days in a row with no accidents! A miracle, right? I think this might have something to do with me changing the lot designation to Generic but I need to do more experimentation on this. Anyhow that is getting off topic and I'll keep any further discussion on campfires over on the Bug Forum.
I will try to upload some screen shots of my unofficial campground. There were lots of fishing locations, collectibles spawning spots, and harvestable plants nearby and also a beach with a bonfire. My Sim had an awesome camping trip, roasting marshmallows, singing campfire songs, and stargazing. I don't intend for this to replace camping in Granite Falls, that is still A LOT of fun and has all those unique collectibles, but just as a change of pace or for more variety in my game. There are several other lots in other worlds that I think would also work well for this. An unofficial camping lot like this would probably also be a great place for a family camping weekend.
Anyhow, I just wanted to share some of this as to why I think Outdoor Retreat is definitely worth getting if you love outdoor activities for your Sims.
Thanks so much @PugLove888 and @SheriGR and others for the info and discussions, I enjoyed them very much!
EDIT: All CAS and Build Mode items in the screenshots are Base Game or are included with the Outdoor Retreat Game Pack. No CC or items from any other packs were used (other than the location, oops!).
