What is the point of the motive trials?

I can't figure it out. My Sim went into a rabbit hole and came back with all of her needs in the red at almost zero. All she got was a +3 confidence moodlet from winning that is drowned out by all her many, many debuffs. By the time I have her pee, eat, sleep, shower, etc. the confidence moodlet will be gone. Is there something to it that I'm missing? Or is this just a pointless event that ruins your sims needs?

gameplay issue

JonaO703
4 years ago
@queenofsprinkles Hi! I'm fairly certain the only "benefit" is the confident buff. I've tried it a few times and won maybe twice. Regardless of the outcome, my sims' needs were depleted. Fortunately, I don't mind cheating needs, so the impact was minimal. My guess is that the motive trials rabbit hole was added mainly to add a bit of a challenge to the game. Sort of like a, "Oh you think you've been keeping your sims happy huh? Well let's see how you handle this!" There are other "challenges" sprinkled into the game, like those messages when your sims are at work. They give you the option of potentially helping your sim but also potentially damaging their work performance. The motive trials thing is A LOT more damaging than helpful though. I've learned to just decline it and move on with my life simulation. :-)

6 Replies

SailorMoonJenni
4 years ago
Honestly I don't think there is a point to it. I think it was something added just so your sims can do something else with their friends the when they get texted to go to the opera, and see the circus. It always seems to deplete my sims needs when they go if they don't win. I think if I remember correctly and your sim wins it boosts their confidence. Otherwise its just like the circus and opera where you sim can decide if they like it or not. Other than that I don't think there is really a point.
Cyan148
New Ace
4 years ago
I think it's just a passive social interaction. Like how to get your sims to spend time with a friend without actively controlling them. I don't often accept them but I don't think this has ever happened to me before. Maybe it's dependant on the type of interaction it is?
queenofsprinkle
4 years ago
To be clear, I won. My needs were still depleted. And as I predicted, the moodlet completely wore off by the time I finished resolving her emergencies, so there was literally zero benefit gained from winning as far as I could see.
The other rabbit holes like the opera and stuff at least do not ruin all of my sim's needs. If there are any other benefits to it, like a stronger relationship with the person who invited me, or increased fitness skill, or literally any visible benefit whatsoever, I would understand. But I legitimately can't tell why they would add in an event that seems to give zero positive benefits regardless of whether or not you're successful.
I would really appreciate a response if anyone has seen any benefit. The confidence moodlet, again, is NOT a benefit because it doesn't last long enough to actually make my sim confident.
JonaO703
Hero
4 years ago
@queenofsprinkles Hi! I'm fairly certain the only "benefit" is the confident buff. I've tried it a few times and won maybe twice. Regardless of the outcome, my sims' needs were depleted. Fortunately, I don't mind cheating needs, so the impact was minimal. My guess is that the motive trials rabbit hole was added mainly to add a bit of a challenge to the game. Sort of like a, "Oh you think you've been keeping your sims happy huh? Well let's see how you handle this!" There are other "challenges" sprinkled into the game, like those messages when your sims are at work. They give you the option of potentially helping your sim but also potentially damaging their work performance. The motive trials thing is A LOT more damaging than helpful though. I've learned to just decline it and move on with my life simulation. :-)
xochiquetzl_xkvn
Seasoned Ace
4 years ago
Yeah, I've never clicked that because the wording sounded like The Hunger Games and "motive" is what they call needs. I wasn't surprised when I googled what it did.
I think it's there to... see if you click things they put in front of you? :D IOW what @JonaO703 said.
mrstragicclown
Rising Vanguard
2 months ago
Where is the secret location? I completed this a long time ago but can't remember where to meet up with the sim who called me.