I am someone who is very squicked out by what I have come across of the Strangerville storyline. I know my limits and frankly, the gameplay will take me into places I’m not going to enjoy. No disrespect to anyone who enjoys it--it is just definitely not my jam.However, I really, really like what I’ve seen of the CAS and the build items so I’d like to get the pack. But I have questions: Is it possible to turn off the storyline without ever playing any of it? Like any of it? If so, how? I am open to cheats/mods. Will I have to do this per save?If I can turn off the storyline, Spoiler (Highlight to read)do those plants specific to the pack do those plants specific to the pack stick around?Assuming I never put my sims in Strangerville, Does the storyline leak into other worlds? Will those Spoiler (Highlight to read) plants specific to the pack show up in other worlds? (For instance, I often have sims who go about harvesting plants and such and would hate to have to stop that because those Strangerville plants show up in another world). plants specific to the pack show up in other worlds? (For instance, I often have sims who go about harvesting plants and such and would hate to have to stop that because those Strangerville plants show up in another world). Do I have to deal with the impacted sims in other worlds? Oh, and if I put a sim in the military career, does it require me to deal with the Strangerville storyline?Thanks so much!

Hi @CommaSplice! I played at least 5 hours in strangerville yesterday but I haven't touched the mystery story yet. I have to play my family for a while to set up the story that I want to tell. So far, the weirdness hasn't really affected much. The welcome wagon is weirder than normal, but once you get past that all that happens is that there are stranger plant in the neighborhood and a few possessed sims wandering around. It seems like you don't have to interact with any of it if you don't want to. I haven't had any strange weather, and I made a club with a native strangerville sim, and they were totally normal during the club gathering. I also haven't played in any of the other worlds since downloading the new pack though, I'm trying to take my time and enjoy the new story while also not messing with the rest worlds until I know what the storyline requires to function. I hope this helps!

Yes you can play the military career without any involvement. Don't chose the aspiration or follow it to the next level. I think you can progress without doing the aspiration but you have to do some digging to do so.Spoiler (Highlight to read)The strangerville plants will not just appear in any other worlds.. I haven't tried it but guess you can bring them there and make use of what they do but you don't want to do that anyway :). The plants in strangerville stay at starter level until you progress the story.The strangerville plants will not just appear in any other worlds.. I haven't tried it but guess you can bring them there and make use of what they do but you don't want to do that anyway :). The plants in strangerville stay at starter level until you progress the story.No mods yet but I'm sure there will be one very soon.

Okay, these are both very helpful answers. Thanks so much!

Wanted to get more detailed answers on this as well as I wanted the pack stuff but not the story. Can someone confirm outright that all the unusual stuff with the plants and Sims are contained exclusively in Strangerville unless you start the story? Do you see any of it (and I do literally mean ANY of it, right down to Sims acting weird if they didn't prior to the pack) in other towns if you don't participate in the story? It'll determine whether I go with this pack since I want the items (laptops in particular) but don't want anything super unrealistic starting up in my world (I turned off abductions via mods, never go into space or downloaded Vampires, avoid the Jungle in Jungle Adventures for examples of what I mean). I want as close to realistic Sims as possible, anyone who can answer this would be awesome.

@infinidragon I played through the story and completed it, Strangerville is now a nice normal town. Prior to completing it though I didn't notice any of the plants or weird sims in other towns. They were walking around Strangerville, but didn't interact with my sim other than the initial welcome wagon.

Avoiding the storyline in Strangerville - Looking for advice and answers (No spoilers)

simgirl1010
Hero
6 years ago
From Sims Online:

How to finish the storyline with cheats
If you’re stuck on the storyline we’ve wrote a guide that will be very helpful if you want to finish the story yourself. If you just want to play in the new world without infected/possessed Sims, you can use these cheats. First install a simple mod. This will unlock new cheats you can use in The Sims 4.

Install the mod
Step 1 – Download the Tmex-AllCheats.ts4script (found on the bottom op the page)
Step 2 – Place it in Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 > Mods
Step 3 – Enable mods in you game options (Gameplay options > Other, and check both the “Enable Mods” and ” Enable Script Mods” options)
Step 4 – Restart your game (If the mod is loaded properly a popup will confirm it was loaded.)
Step 5 – You can now use every cheat from this page!

Change, skip or finish the complete storyline of The Sims 4 StrangerVille
In order for it to work you’ll need to install the mod mentioned above. Place your Sim at the location of the Secret Lab. The environment will change after you entered the cheats. You can also activate the cheats on another lot but you’ll need to travel first in order for it to work.

Cheat Code Result
narrative.start_narrative narrative_Strangetown_Act1 This is Part 1 of the story (when you first enter the world)
narrative.start_narrative narrative_Strangetown_Act2 Unlock Part 2 of the story (this will change the environment)
narrative.start_narrative narrative_Strangetown_Act3 Unlock Part 3 of the story (this will change the environment)
narrative.start_narrative narrative_Strangetown_Act4 This will finish the storyline and removes all infected/possessed buffs from townies.

More info here:
https://sims-online.com/sims-4-strangerville-cheats-complete-storyline/
belpita
6 years ago
"simgirl1010;c-16978758" wrote:
I would think you'd not have a problem with removing the mod but not 100% certain. You might want to ask in the comment section of the article.

There were two comments from 2-3 weeks ago that mentioned the game becoming unplayable with endless loading screens after adding this mod, so now I really don't know what to do. The OP hasn't replied to those comments.

"garapoes;c-16978785" wrote:
"Lady_Ballora;c-16978064" wrote:
So basically,EA IS forcing the story/weirdness on us. I guess this is one pack I won't be getting...I'll just wait for better packs to come along.

It doesn't. Just ignore the welcome wagon and you're good to go.

With the risk of sounding repetitive, I literally do not want any weirdness. At all.
belpita
6 years ago
You know, I'm really ambivalent about buying this pack not only because of things mentioned above. But it also worries me that the devs don't seem to be bothered with all the bugs anymore. The latest I heard was that there would be no patch in March, which means that the Seasons/City Living festival issue and the Get Famous make-up fail will not be addressed for another month. And these are issues that have been reported for a long time, making gameplay essential for completing a career really difficult to complete.

Why would you focus on bringing out a pack that nobody has asked for, instead of making sure the previous packs are compatible with each other? The quoted tweet above is like a bad joke. "You have to play the storyline to get rid of a storyline that you don't want to play."

ETA: Just wanted to point out that I am generally very enthusiastic about all new content for Sims4. I really enjoy playing the game and Strangerville as a new world seems like it would suit my style of play. But the sloppiness and inconsistencies of the latest additions make me concerned.
caprice812
New Spectator
6 years ago
Its a good game. If I can beat the Mother, anybody can, LOL. I took it slow and only worked on bits and pieces like every other day. Between the days it was skilling up my sim. It took me about 11 or 12 hours going slow, but worth it to me.
This was totally different from my gameplay, as I am not an rpg (whatever you call it) gal. I ended up liking it and now replaying a new game to try it differently.
Not everyone will like it, I just took a leap of faith and actually enjoyed it :D
oxfordsplice
New Spectator
6 years ago
"FairyGodMother;c-16981011" wrote:
Its a good game....
Not everyone will like it, I just took a leap of faith and actually enjoyed it :D

It's just I know my limits and I'm extremely creeped out by the whole storyline. I'm happy for everyone who enjoys it. Just not for me.
daisy3rose
6 years ago
I did have an affected sim show up at one of the festivals in San Myshuno, even though I had never played in Strangerville in that save. I would really like to have a way to disable that whole adventure and just have Strangerville be able to played as a normal neighborhood.
wayjinc2
6 years ago
Does anyone know if deleting all the premades from Strangerville will stop them from showing up randomly through out my world?
Stina1701A
Seasoned Novice
6 years ago
I also have a question regarding this and I don't want to create a new thread when this one exists...

I have over 20 household and I can't decide which household to start on the storyline just yet so I am glad to find out from this thread that I don't have to start the storyline just yet. But I am curious of two things?

The minor effects from the storyline; does it crop up in other neighbourhoods/worlds like Willow Creek or the city or is the strangeness limited to Strangerville itself?

Is it possible to accidentally start the storyline? As I am an accidental prone in both RL and in gaming environment :frowning: :blush: ...anything I have to avoid?
elliebreton
Seasoned Ace
6 years ago
I have seen sims in other towns that are marked as conspiracy theorists, military and scientists but nobody is acting strange. The first strangeness for me didnt come until I was part way through the storyline.
oxfordsplice
New Spectator
6 years ago
"dctf344;c-16975813" wrote:
@infinidragon I played through the story and completed it, Strangerville is now a nice normal town. Prior to completing it though I didn't notice any of the plants or weird sims in other towns. They were walking around Strangerville, but didn't interact with my sim other than the initial welcome wagon.

I don't want to play through it at all and I don't want any of those
Spoiler
weird alien plants
anywhere that I can see. So if that's going to happen, then I think I have my answer and will have to forego purchasing the pack.