Off The Grid Living

The gurus have added another hour to the live gameplay stream next Friday, so maybe they will have the time to explain this lot trait to us a bit more. I'm actually looking forward to this stream because I think they have more to tell us beyond what we have seen in the Game Changer vods. The vods I have watched don't go into much detail as far as actual gameplay. They are focused on the CAS and B/B items with snippets of gameplay scattered throughout the entire video. Naturally, much of that gameplay has been focused on the mermaids. So what we have seen might not be all we get. And they have kept much of the content in the pre-ep update a secret. There seems to be a lot of updates being made to the base game, such as the swatches and the different jobs where we can choose what shifts our Sims work. But we don't know what else is in the update. All of that will become clear on Tuesday when we get it, I suppose.

There should be ways for our writer Sims to write their books without having to leave the lot and travel to a library. I realize the laptop will work for short periods of time, but a notebook and pen would make the process of writing a novel a bit more realistic. And I hope this is in the game because I really don't want to add another mod to my game.

This is the only worry I have with this lot trait, though. I think it will add a lot of gameplay that we have never seen, or experienced, before. I know there are many Simmers who have been waiting for an off the grid lot trait for a very long time. I can't wait to see all the stories people will hopefully share with the rest of us in a few weeks.

I'm not sure its good to even speculate what "off the grid" means to EA. But I will speculate anyways. Peaple are assuming that "off the grid" means "without electric or water". However, this pack is heavily influenced by Hawai'i and Polynesia. I live on the east side of Hawai'i Island (big Island,) and I know quite a few people that live "off the grid" and have water and electricity. Solar panels, tied into a series of car batteries, generators, ect for electricity. Its rather common here, especially in the Pahoa area where I used to live. Water catchment systems to capture rainwater from the roof. East Hawai'i Island is a tropical rainforest. I recorded 253 inches of rain at my house last year! because of all of the rain, the county water lines only follow the main highways, or in town. So many people depend on rainwater here that are not even "off the grid". That being said, I wonder if Ea games went to that level of realism for "off the grid", or did they go the way a lot of people are assuming, "supper primative" Gilligan's Island Style. It will be interesting to see next Friday. Actually, next Thursday at 6pm for me because of the time zones!

It depends on where you live I guess; but where I live it means not depending on communities and services which often includes plumbing, etc...it isn't impossible to use generators; but usually it is hospitals and stores that have them then most households and not sure if Sims 4 will bring that option into the game as I think they are going more for a challenge to see how creative simmers can be when surviving and generators would kind of take away from that.

"XxAirixX;c-17112247" wrote:
It depends on where you live I guess; but where I live it means not depending on communities and services which often includes plumbing, etc...it isn't impossible to use generators; but usually it is hospitals and stores that have them then most households and not sure if Sims 4 will bring that option into the game as I think they are going more for a challenge to see how creative simmers can be when surviving and generators would kind of take away from that.

I think you are prolly right. EA likely went with a mainland view of "off the grid" even though, on an tropical island, you cant avoid community easily. The island I live on is rather big, thus the name "Big Island", but much of it is uninhabitable. Bare rock, arid desert with no plant life, the upper elevations are surprisingly cold despite being in the tropics (It can snow here even in the summer), areas that have frequent lava flows, extreamly rugged terrain, ect.... so everyone is forced to live close to each other, including "off the grid" people. On smaller islands, the affect is even more noticable. So on this island "off the grid" means that thier house does not meet building codes, and thus does not qualify for public utilites. They then find other ways of providing the needs of the modern world. I know that in other places the definition of "off the grid" is differant than here. But...the pack is "Island Life" after all, not "Mountain Life" or "Continent Life." like I said, you are prolly right and they prolly did it the way you describe, more mainland "off the grid".

what I think they did is that
no bills water or electricity lot trait

but they might slowly start introducing more things to use for that stuff like solar power though personally I don't really care for the "bringing back electricity by other means" thing because i never regarded electricity a need in real world you could easily live without that

what I would like to see is wells or ways to have water like gathering rainwater or bringing water from somewhere or portable tubs because they not connected to plumbing.... and ah yes old good smelly compost toilets

I don't think some people understand what living off the grid actually means if Maxis has really taken it to basic subsistence level but it might be a taster for an upcoming Farming pack of a more modern variety.

"randy2355;c-17112133" wrote:
I'm not sure its good to even speculate what "off the grid" means to EA. But I will speculate anyways. Peaple are assuming that "off the grid" means "without electric or water". However, this pack is heavily influenced by Hawai'i and Polynesia. I live on the east side of Hawai'i Island (big Island,) and I know quite a few people that live "off the grid" and have water and electricity. Solar panels, tied into a series of car batteries, generators, ect for electricity. Its rather common here, especially in the Pahoa area where I used to live. Water catchment systems to capture rainwater from the roof. East Hawai'i Island is a tropical rainforest. I recorded 253 inches of rain at my house last year! because of all of the rain, the county water lines only follow the main highways, or in town. So many people depend on rainwater here that are not even "off the grid". That being said, I wonder if Ea games went to that level of realism for "off the grid", or did they go the way a lot of people are assuming, "supper primative" Gilligan's Island Style. It will be interesting to see next Friday. Actually, next Thursday at 6pm for me because of the time zones!

Someone has already shown how the off-the-grid lot trait works. It indeed means the lot has no electricity or plumbing. There are very limited options on the phone for basics like moving a household and planning a social event on all lots with this trait.

"alan650111;c-17112627" wrote:

"randy2355;c-17112133" wrote:
I'm not sure its good to even speculate what "off the grid" means to EA. But I will speculate anyways. Peaple are assuming that "off the grid" means "without electric or water". However, this pack is heavily influenced by Hawai'i and Polynesia. I live on the east side of Hawai'i Island (big Island,) and I know quite a few people that live "off the grid" and have water and electricity. Solar panels, tied into a series of car batteries, generators, ect for electricity. Its rather common here, especially in the Pahoa area where I used to live. Water catchment systems to capture rainwater from the roof. East Hawai'i Island is a tropical rainforest. I recorded 253 inches of rain at my house last year! because of all of the rain, the county water lines only follow the main highways, or in town. So many people depend on rainwater here that are not even "off the grid". That being said, I wonder if Ea games went to that level of realism for "off the grid", or did they go the way a lot of people are assuming, "supper primative" Gilligan's Island Style. It will be interesting to see next Friday. Actually, next Thursday at 6pm for me because of the time zones!

Someone has already shown how the off-the-grid lot trait works. It indeed means the lot has no electricity or plumbing. There are very limited options on the phone for basics like moving a household and planning a social event on all lots with this trait.

Apparently they have put in a battery level on laptops (I guess from the drones) so you can use a laptop until the battery goes out then go to a lot without the trait with the laptop in your inventory to charge it. I assume drones will work the same.

I wonder if they might find useful objects washed up on the beach if they clean up there? That might be useful. :)

This lot sounds so awesome. (I loved Castaway and Virtual Villagers. I love that survival stuff.)

So, for sickness, orange juice and rest?

I’ve never done herbal remedies, but would like to try it out (since I do have the camping pack.) Where do you find the herbs? Are they scattered around somewhere? Can we buy seeds and plant some?