Compatibility & Self-Discovery Explained

Self-Discovery system

What is Self-Discovery system? It's a system which add new personality traits to young adult and older sims. Young adult and older sims can have a maximum of 6 personality traits. If self-discovery moments come to younger sims or pets, decline them.

Most of the self-discovery moments come from Growing Together. A few special cases won't require the pack.

Each trait is put in one of the categories which the game tracks. Some categories categories have maximum and minimum values while others only have a maximum value. Once a certain threshold is met, the game will either:

• Suggest your sim a random trait from the category.
• If one of sim's traits is in the category but in the opposite value, a trait replacement is suggested.
• If sim already has a trait from the category and in the same value, nothing happens.

Sims can have up to three self-discovery moments in their life. Declining a trait suggestion won't count towards the limit. Using a Re-Traiting potion will remove the extra traits (unclear if it resets the counter though).

Here is each category. Under each category I'll show what traits are associated with it and include additional posts on the message and interaction that help towards it. If it's a category with minimum and maximum values, I will use + and - symbols to indicate it (+ can replace - and vice versa).

• Active
  • Active
  • Lazy
• Ambition
  • Ambitious
  • Overachiever
  • Self-Assured
  • Chased by Death
• Animal
  • Animal Enthusiast
  • Cat Lover
  • Dog Lover
• Creative
  • Art Lover
  • Creative
  • Maker
  • Music Lover
• Critic
  • Foodie
• Economy
  • Freegan
  • Kleptomaniac
  • Materialistic
• Family
  • Family-Oriented
  • Hates Children
• Fragile
  • Squeamish
• Green
  • Green Fiend
  • Recycle Disciple
• Hygiene
  • Neat
  • Slob
• Islander
  • Child of the Islands
  • Child of the Ocean
• Jealous
  • Jealous
• Metabolism
  • Glutton
  • Lactose Intolerant
  • Vegetarian
• Mood
  • Cheerful
  • Gloomy
  • Hot-Headed
• Outdoorsy
  • Loves Outdoors
  • Adventurous
• Party
  • Dance Machine
  • Party Animal
• Relationship
  • Loyal
  • Noncommittal
• Romance
  • Romantic
  • Lovebug
  • Unflirty
  • Romantically Reserved
• Scared
  • Erratic
  • Paranoid
• Silly
  • Childish
  • Goofball
  • Cringe
• Skill
  • Clumsy
  • Perfectionist
• Smart
  • Bookworm
  • Genius
• Snob
  • High Maintenance
  • Self-Absorbed
  • Snob
  • Skeptical
• Social
  • Bro
  • Insider
  • Nosy
  • Loner
  • Outgoing
  • Socially Awkward
• Tech
  • Geek
• Virtues
  • Evil
  • Good
  • Mean
  • Proper
  • Generous
• NeighborTraits
  • Wise

Sim Characteristics & Social Compatibility

If you have Growing Together, then you have a new likes and dislikes category: Sim Characteristics.

When you put on a Sim Characteristic preference, it will take effect on other sims as soon as you meet them (if they have the right traits). Each Characteristic has traits that add points (+) and traits that remove points (-). If the Characteristic is dislike, the points will be reversed. So 3 points would become -3 points.

Here are the characteristics and what traits they include:

• Ambitionless Sims
• Argumentative Sims
• Cerebral Sims
• Egotistical Sims
• Emotional Decision-Makers
• Family-Motivated Sims
• Funny Sims
• Hard-Working Sims
• High Energy Sims
• Homebody Sims
• Idealist Sims
• Nature Enthusiasts
• Optimistic Sims
• Pessimistic Sims
• Pet Enthusiasts
• Rascals
• Romance Enthusiasts (Teens and up)
• Spirited Sims

The final compatibility score is a sum or both sim's compatibility score. And if it's not neutral, a puzzle piece icon will indicate their compatibility. Here are the compatibility tiers and their point ranges:

• Amazing: 6 and up
• Good: 2 to 6
• Neutral: -2 to 2
• Bad: -2 to -6
• Awful: -6 and lower

So, for example, if Sim A has 3 points towards Sim B and Sim B has 4 points towards Sim A, it totals up to 7 points, making the game show Amazing Compatibility for both of the sims.

Turn-ons and Turn-offs & Attraction

To be filled in the future...

Update Log

This post collects any new additions and changes after a patch or pack release. Wondering what's new or changed? Check here first!

• Life & Death
• Patch 172

Grief Trait Replacements

With Life & Death, the grief system is introduced. Depending on whether your sim copes with it well or badly, a trait swap can be suggested. These will not count towards the Self-Discovery limit, nor will they stop happening once 3 Self-Discovery moments are had. More on Self-Discovery here.

When sim copes with grief positively, a negative trait could be swapped to a positive one, and when your sim copes with grief negatively, a positive trait could be swapped to a negative one. Remember that the replacement trait suggested may not conflict with the trait being replaced and the replacement can always be declined.

In essence, when a grief ends, if a lot of positive (+50) or negative (-75) coping was done, a trait swap can be suggested. If sim stays between the hidden value of -75 to 50, no trait swap happens once the grief ends.

Here are lists of:

• Positive Swaps (A negative trait becomes positive)
• Negative Swaps (A positive trait becomes negative)

One trait can have multiple trait-swap options. For example, Loves Outdoors can either change to Lazy or Gloomy.

Update! For the Self-Discovery guide, all categories got their Potential Interactions tab updated so you can see some interactions your sim has to do to earn the self-discovery moment.

I achieved all this using the data science techniques learned and programmed a software that searches through all the tuning files (99% at least) for the modifiers, so updating the lists will be easy.

However, one question arises!

Has anyone had a self-discovery moment for the following traits?

• Green Fiend
• Recycle Disciple
• Loyal
• Snob
• Self-Absorbed
• High Maintenance
• Skeptical

I'm going to post the same question to the wider crowd on Discord too, but I'm wondering if anyone got one of these? Because no matter what I tried, my program didn't find any results. I hope that this doesn't mean I have to make a bug report.