This is going to be a long post. Sorry :blush: Oh boy do I rotate. I have one saved game that I continuously go back to despite repeatedly starting over with a new game. I've been playing this saved game for about...almost 3 years now and despite that, the population is still on its first generation. No one has aged except the babies to toddlers (playing on the longest life BTW). I have about 28+ families last I counted. Aging is set for current household only and my Sims have full autonomy. But they are not very smart so they get scolded/shouted at a lot.
1. When you begin your play what rules do you abide by (if any)
I did have sooo many rules when I started playing the Sims 20 years ago (the 1st game btw) but as I am getting older the rules have somewhat gone through the window but I do keep some: 1) One I am easing up on most of the time, is pausing religiously. It does gives me greater control but I have to admit that it doesn't give much spontaneity in my Sims so I have eased up and given my Sims more freedom. That has given me some interesting romances which I hadn't thought of before when my Sims decide to flirt autonomously and open up their pink relationship bar. And Hates. And deaths.
2) Storytelling. Not a rule per se but I can't play a household unless there is some story involved. I have both epics that will run through generations and even interlaces other households as well. Even spills into other 'hoods. I also have many small stories that touch only one or even 2-3 households only and most of my Sims don't even have elaborate backstories/past as for them its their future that matters. Without stories and backgrounds, my Sims are just pixelated moving parts that don't matter much to me. Just decorations to compliment well decorated/or not well decorated rooms.
3) I did end/start a household on a Monday/Tuesday at around 6:30am so everyone can go to school/work when applicable and each rotational got about 2-3 days or 1-2 weeks game play. Depending on how favored a household is. But since Seasons and University there have been changes. Now if I have university bound Sim in household or am playing in a dorm, the switch happens before 5pm on a friday (before said Sim(s) gets their grades at end of term). This way, nobody flounces out of school without my permission.
Another change is increased time in each household. Now each household gets a big part or a whole Sim year, or as long as I can stand it. That way I can be sure that each household get to experience each season at least once and because I am tired of current situation.
I WANT TO START AGING THEM! I am so ready for a change and see the teens I have now, age up and start their lives. So I am going to play each household until everyone, especially the younger generations are about to age up. 4) Population control. That means no more than 1-2 kids per household which on occasion I do break. I am a bit worried that my worlds will run out of space with all those Sims.
2. How many characters do you play and are they usually single..married...married with kids or are they direct family members (example ..mom dad and/or siblings
All kinds. From singles to a prospective generational families (no one has aged up yet, except toddlers so no grandparents yet or grown kids). I have as many as 8 Sim households to a one Sim in household. I also have apartment buildings (player made). One for instance has 4 apartments all occupied. I also have bunch of housemate households. For instance the Roomies household is still going strong with new members.
3. how long does this type of play hold your interest approximately? ( for example..a week...a month ...longer?)
If you mean game time it was as much as a 1-2 Sim weeks which was not really enough for my favorites so they sometimes got extended time of 1-2 more weeks. My least favorites got 2-3 Sim days, up to a week. Now of course they get more time.
For instance, the family I am in now, has gotten 1 week of spring, all summer and is ending the fall and coming into winter. I have to admit that even though they are one of my favorites, I am getting tired and am ready to change. In real time however, I really can't answer because I play sporadically even though I fire up the game each day (although I have been focusing on Sims 3 lately), I do pause the game a lot and do something else.
4. Do you usually use Newcrest so you can create your own town or do you have a favorite neighborhood and why?
My Newcrest is divided into three areas, shopping area with restaurants, café and a bus station. A residential area that is empty at the moment and the downtown area with the Newcrest community center, a Spa, the Municipal Pool and a café/laundromat/library. It is also the only neighbourhood in constant flux and redesign mode.
5. Would you say there is any draw backs to rotational play and if yes then what would those draw backs be?
Well...for me is the fact that my Sims have to age. I don't mind the aging but with the amount of households which granted is so not as many as some of you have. But considering that I am suffering from a bit of an anxiety and have an unhealthy dose of procrastination thing (which is doing nothing for my anxiety); means that, having to organise when and how to start the aging thing is going to be a bit of a roller-coaster ride for me. Metaphorically speaking of course (a weak metaphor as I have been on a roller-coaster ride and nothing is more terrifying). Another thing is keeping up with everyone. I have a now a huge doc file, sectioned into neighbourhood/street/household where I list everybody and what they are, their likes, traits, job, past, present and future, skills, romances (past and present) and much more.
6. other then using rotational play what type of simmer are you in game...for example ...do you prefer family related play....single sims over couples...do you prefer to begin as a teen in a family or something else.
I don't prefer one over the other but I can tell you that after playing a big household with more than one toddler/child I am SOOOOO ready to play a smaller household.
