I think the trait system in The Sims 4 could use some work. Sims 3 had a really good trait system, and when comparing this to Sims 4, Sims 4 seems quite lacking. This suggestion has two parts: I believe there should be more more traits to pick from and adults should be able to pick 5 traits, teens pick 4, etc.There should be more traits to pick from. There does not seem to be many traits to pick from and it can be pretty frustrating to make a sim when we have to pick the same traits over and over again. Sims 3 had traits such as absent-minded, neurotic, excitable, handy, brave, good/no sense of humor, grumpy, inappropriate, technophobe and workaholic (list is not exhaustive). There doesn't seem to be any replacement for those traits in sims 4.Finally, we should be able to pick 5 traits for a sim. It worked well in sims 3. Sims were much more diverse for this reason. With just three traits, sims tend to be blah.Tell me what you think. Thank you for reading.

Totally agree on this! There’re just too little traits that flesh out one sim from another. Every sim acts pretty much the same, especially when emotions are the predominant animations for them.

I think the trait system needs an overhaul, but I really disagree with having 5 per sim unless the entire system is reworked to depend less on emotions. Even with just three, I can already begin to see trait moodlets overlapping or overpowering each other, and emotions hopping all over the place, which ultimately detracts from personality instead of adding to it.

"Anthonydyer;d-941338" wrote:I think the trait system in The Sims 4 could use some work. Sims 3 had a really good trait system, and when comparing this to Sims 4, Sims 4 seems quite lacking. This suggestion has two parts: I believe there should be more more traits to pick from and adults should be able to pick 5 traits, teens pick 4, etc.There should be more traits to pick from. There does not seem to be many traits to pick from and it can be pretty frustrating to make a sim when we have to pick the same traits over and over again. Sims 3 had traits such as absent-minded, neurotic, excitable, handy, brave, good/no sense of humor, grumpy, inappropriate, technophobe and workaholic (list is not exhaustive). There doesn't seem to be any replacement for those traits in sims 4.Finally, we should be able to pick 5 traits for a sim. It worked well in sims 3. Sims were much more diverse for this reason. With just three traits, sims tend to be blah.Tell me what you think. Thank you for reading.This won't work well because there will probably be lots of trait moodlets that will conflict with each other."Amandèle;c-16525947" wrote:I completely agree with you. I think I saw a tweet from SimGuruGrant a few weeks ago in which he said he thought the traits probably needed to add specific interactions rather than make our Sims gain a certain skill faster. I think if they did that to all traits, it would be so much better!I also wish we should have the ability to give more traits in CAS as you suggested. However, I read somewhere that the coding for CAS is quite hard to modify for the developers so I don't believe we'll ever get that. But we can keep asking for it, maybe they'll be able to do it for us one day! :smile: This is what they should have done since the start. You don't need to be a rock scientist to know that skill building and relying on emotions every sim can get will not make sims unique whatsoever. In fact traits just for skill building defeat the purpose of traits.

I do believe the current system focuses too much on emotions. Traits should allow special interactions, gain relevant skills faster, build friendships faster, perform better in work, etc.Another thing from sims 3 is that traits influenced behavior. I was on the fence with including behavior because I wanted sims to behave differently depending on their traits, but I didn't want traits to autonomously hijack my sims and make them do things that drive me nuts. For example, in Sims 3 I played as Jared Frio and he kept terrorizing all the sims in my house and things just spiraled out of control. But certain things are more subtle, such as neat sims clean up after themselves, brave sims put out fires fast, hates the outdoors tends to stay inside. Like I said, something like this would have to be implemented modestly as I wouldn't want my sims to become hijacked. A safe way to implement this is to create a new tab in CAS which contain behavioral traits. This way it is clear which traits influence behavior. I know there is currently an emotional traits tab, so this idea makes sense.I like how this game categorizes traits into emotional, hobby, lifestyle, and social. If we can introduce a new tab called "behavioral", this game would be golden. I do stand by my idea for 5 traits. It worked well in sims 3. We can create balanced sims by picking a variety of traits across the tabs. The behavioral tab can be a good way for me to limit the amount of sim hijacking that goes on too.

"Anthonydyer;c-16526523" wrote:A safe way to implement this is to create a new tab in CAS which contain behavioral traits. This way it is clear which traits influence behavior.I really like this idea. Having emotional traits and behavioral traits would keep from causing conflicts and also add more to flesh out a Sim without giving too much to chew. I think this idea should be explored more.

Add more traits and change behavior of traits

30 Replies

anthonydyer
Seasoned Ace
8 years ago
I would like the ability to send a sim to a specific lot without having to follow him. Kind of like when they go to work... they just go away and you can bring them back with a command.
anthonydyer
Seasoned Ace
8 years ago
"Cynna;c-16532022" wrote:
@Anthonydyer, good idea. :)

If EA were to do such a thing, I hope that they would bring back flavor traits such as Shy and Afraid of the Dark. Also, mooch, neurotic, excitable, dramatic, Diva, and easily impressed. Those traits don't have a thing to do with skill progression. However, the interactions that came along with them were interesting and fun. It always kept the game feeling fresh.

I loved it when my neurotic Sim came home from work all stressed and grumpy. I also liked the Sims that always had an obsessive need to check the stove.

Interactions are where it's at. I could care less about skill progression. Seriously. I have no interest in watching my Sims grind. I use the Sims to take me away from all of that. :D

Exactly! Thank you for your response. I think a lot of people are afraid of traits changing the whole dynamic of the game. It doesn't have to be. Traits can be as simple as unlocking special interactions, and maybe influencing mood if a special interaction is completed. Kind of like a neurotic sim will be tranquil after freaking out. An easily impressed sim can be inspired after contemplating an object.
sabrinacurrie
8 years ago
It would definitely be nice to have more traits and to have more traits added--I agree wholeheartedly!
OctavieKnite
8 years ago
I definitely would love more behavioral traits and more depth to the traits we do have that are more than just giving us a higher chance to randomly roll a certain emotion that'll help us raise a skill faster. I miss my slob and neat sims not getting along, I miss having vain or diva sims that would throw tantrums and I'd love to make shy sims and not be limited to making loner sims. There's a difference between being antisocial and being shy. It's ridiculous that I can have a sim have the lazy trait, and the instant they get energized they start doing push-ups like any other Sim. Then they get tense because they decided to do push-ups.
anthonydyer
Seasoned Ace
8 years ago
I also liked the coward trait. Whenever something bad happens in the house, coward sims will run with hands in the air to the porch, and then faint. I always got a good laugh every time someone set the stove on fire.

This trait is rather realistic to real life. Remember when George Costanza ran out of the apartment pushing everyone out of the way due to a fire?
Brexoxoxo
8 years ago
I agree! I also hate how when you age from a teen to a young adult, you keep all your traits when you should be able to add more because l know l'm not the same person l was when l was a teen. l like what you said about 5 traits for adults. It worked just fine in the Sims 3. The Sims 4 should have 5 traits for adults, 4 for teens, 3 for children, and maybe even 2 for toddlers instead of 1.
anthonydyer
Seasoned Ace
8 years ago
How about an uptight trait? We can have sims behave like Angela Martin from The Office!
DreamaDove
8 years ago
yes yes yes yes!! The problem is the emotion system-- it takes over everything and makes all the sims act the same!!

All stressed out sims do yoga/sauna, all cry in closets/beds, etc. It's annoying.

I want to be able to choose their hobbies/quirks/favorites/fears/dislikes etc
MasonGamerBoi
8 years ago
"Cupid;c-16525494" wrote:
I think the trait system needs an overhaul, but I really disagree with having 5 per sim unless the entire system is reworked to depend less on emotions. Even with just three, I can already begin to see trait moodlets overlapping or overpowering each other, and emotions hopping all over the place, which ultimately detracts from personality instead of adding to it.

Unless Favorites is introduced.

I agree More Trait Slots ought to be added.
As of right now two is not enough for teens, and 3 is not enough for (Young) Adults
Because when it comes to making my simself, My Sim is a Geek, Bro, and a Foodie, but what Happens when Traits like, Adventurous, Sarcastic, Warm-Hearted are added? Why should I have to contemplate what my top 3 traits are, when I have 6.

If they factored in favorites Emotions would be much better.
funPuppy_sim345
8 years ago
I disagree i think sims4 is perfect the way it is ^~^

Forum Discussion

Add more traits and change behavior of traits

30 Replies

About The Sims 4 General Discussion

Community Highlights

[INFO] Make sure you meet the minimum requirements (PC/Mac)

Recent Discussions

THE LAST SCREENSHOT YOU TOOK IN THE SIMS 4 (2.0)

What happened in your game today?

The screenshot spammers thread, v2.0

What happened in your game today, by ONE picture?

Businesses & Hobbies Positive Thoughts Discussion