Let’s talk Lot Traits!

I use them religiously. I decide on which traits to use based on role-play more than anything else. For example, in Willow Creek, I decided the wealthier area of town has the best schools, so added "good schools" to all of the residential lots in that area, as well as the westernmost ones in the less pricey area. EA has a lot with Quake Zone in one of the towns, so I added that to the handful of lots closest to it, etc.

I basically go through the entire world in the neighborhood management screen when I start a new game and add traits to every single lot using this logic. I also sprinkle the less 'area of effect' ones throughout as well. Pick a few lots to be haunted, a few to have gnomes, etc, until I feel like it's all good. No lot has 0 traits, but not all of them have more than 1 either.

They have a subtle effect on gameplay, and I like doing it this way so that I have to go to the lots based on traits if I want the effect, rather than being 'cheaty' and just adding the traits I want at any moment in time to the lot I am on.

The one I always use without fail is Private Dwelling. Doesn't keep every random sim or vampire off the lot, but it does reduce those uninvited visitors a lot. Doesn't always work in apartments though, you still have to lock the door if you don't want sims barging in all the time. I often use Child's Play since I do family play mainly, but I don't have it on my current lot & the kids seem to be doing just fine with their skills & grade, but seem to be a lot slower with the character values. Not sure if that has anything to do with the lot trait or not. Other than that, it's based on the sims' traits, home studio for the creative family, bracing breezes for the athletes, etc.

I wish we could remove the fixed traits in the apartments, they're pretty pointless & a waste of space. And Needs TLC is a nuisance, besides how can one apartment be rat infested & not the rest of the building. I live in an apartment & know all too well how vermin works.

I use them all the time. I also change them a lot so I can max up all the skills fast. It is really handy.

I pick lot traits based on the personality of the Sim or Sims in the house or if they have kids.

"AshtontoAshton22;c-16849854" wrote:
I pick lot traits based on the personality of the Sim or Sims in the house or if they have kids.

That’s such a good way to do it! Same with the other ones I’ve seen with different neighbourhoods having the same traits is really cool, too!

Also if I want em to get some skills up faster, I just pick the lot trait corresponding to that skill!

I use them quite a bit, especially on community venues to make it easier for Sims to build up skills. I also use some of littlemssam's Custom Lot Traits, especially the Dress Code traits to set most of my nightclubs as party wear.

When they were new, I put up a regional map, making some lot traits be common for specific hoods. If one lot had a good school, the neighboring lots also got that trait. Also, the map made it easy to check that all opportunities were used.

But as filming got more of my play time, I disliked the whirling graphics that appear on lots with certain traits. I understand it was a good idea basically, but in the long run it takes away from my gaming experience by constantly reminding me that this is just a graphic game and not the community or family I wanna love. I never understood why the whirling icons are not affected by the headlineeffects cheat. I no longer use lot traits, and will never add them to new builds.

I love the quake zone one, but it also startles me, since I end to forget it's a lot trait on certain lots. :#

I indefinitely use them, especially for some special lots. Don't use too many on home lots. The creepy crawly lot trait is amusing and good for places where your sim is sure to have a bad time (put it on Vlad's lot mwaha).

I have a mod that unlocks the normally locked ones in San Myshuno, so I can get rid of those irritating ones. I also use them on non-residental lots a lot, other than that just mostly I use them on my main household.