I have never really played with kids before this playthrough and some things really don't make sense.First of all it seems developers mean something completely different than me with the word "empathy" since you lose empathy points willy nilly for completely illogical reasons.Emotional Control also suffers from basically anyting but writing in your journal (which as far as I know is the only thing that boosts it).The result, of course is that my twins are Very Polite, Very Responsible, and has a HUGE chunk of RED in Empathy....What???It is especially jarring where I get chance cards (which never specifies what you lose, anyway, which I kind of think is a dirty trick in itself) where you basically always loses either Empathy or Emptional Control by doing the actual logical and yes often emotionally correct thing??? Like "Not being a plum to another kid" = Loses Emotional Control. "Not cheat on a test" = Loss of Empathy.Or something equally nuts.But again, it almost feels like the developers mean something completely different than the standard definition of Empathy, since my sim kids are very loving, kind and still have a huge red chunk in empathy??

I struggle with empathy too. What usually can help with empathy is volunteering but as you said the chance cards can go either way.Most of the time to increase empathy I have to play unnaturally. For example send my sim to talk to another in a bad mood, the interactions cheer up, console all help with empathy. I say unnaturally because I may be playing a sim who would never perform those interactions on the sim in question but it's their only opportunity to get some empathy if I particularly want my sims to get that value. Children playing with the doctors play set also get empathy.I totally agree that the advice options don't make much sense. Once the parent gets to about level eight of the parenting skill they can see the outcome of every advice question and if you want a particularly character value you cam select that one.Emotional control can be raised by winding down with music and playing instruments. Also jogging.

The thing is that it doesn't really help knowing the outcome, if the choice is illogical.I tend to roleplay, so there's no way I tell the kid something basically wrong, just to increase a stat.

Those character values are very... unbalanced, to say the least. Unless my children skip school every day, it's pretty much impossible to not end up with the Responsible trait when they grow up, on the other hand Manners are lost much more easily than they are gained, and all the other values won't go either way if I play naturally.Personally, I struggle the most with Conflict Resolution, because there just isn't enough conflict in this love peace & harmony world to begin with. As for Emotional Control, apart from the journal, you can also improve this by playing instruments in a certain way, listening to classic music, and jogging to clear your head. The latter is only available to teens, obviously.There's also a bug in my game where character values affect adults as well. I have an adult vampire who often gets into friendly fights with other vampires to become stronger, and the game keeps telling me that she's losing... I don't know, Conflict Resolution? I'm pretty sure this shouldn't be happening.

I have pumped manners every day for hours since they were born. We'll see how it turns out.

I also have a hard time seeing the logic in the chance card outcomes, even with my knowledge of child psychology. I like that there's always a trade off, but a lot of the time the outcome doesn't make much sense.

Parenthood illogical penalties | EA Forums

18 Replies

MidnightAura86
Seasoned Ace
8 years ago
I struggle with empathy too. What usually can help with empathy is volunteering but as you said the chance cards can go either way.

Most of the time to increase empathy I have to play unnaturally. For example send my sim to talk to another in a bad mood, the interactions cheer up, console all help with empathy. I say unnaturally because I may be playing a sim who would never perform those interactions on the sim in question but it's their only opportunity to get some empathy if I particularly want my sims to get that value. Children playing with the doctors play set also get empathy.

I totally agree that the advice options don't make much sense. Once the parent gets to about level eight of the parenting skill they can see the outcome of every advice question and if you want a particularly character value you cam select that one.

Emotional control can be raised by winding down with music and playing instruments. Also jogging.
Beardedgeek72
Seasoned Ace
8 years ago
The thing is that it doesn't really help knowing the outcome, if the choice is illogical.
I tend to roleplay, so there's no way I tell the kid something basically wrong, just to increase a stat.
GrumpyGlowfish
Seasoned Ace
8 years ago
Those character values are very... unbalanced, to say the least. Unless my children skip school every day, it's pretty much impossible to not end up with the Responsible trait when they grow up, on the other hand Manners are lost much more easily than they are gained, and all the other values won't go either way if I play naturally.

Personally, I struggle the most with Conflict Resolution, because there just isn't enough conflict in this love peace & harmony world to begin with. As for Emotional Control, apart from the journal, you can also improve this by playing instruments in a certain way, listening to classic music, and jogging to clear your head. The latter is only available to teens, obviously.

There's also a bug in my game where character values affect adults as well. I have an adult vampire who often gets into friendly fights with other vampires to become stronger, and the game keeps telling me that she's losing... I don't know, Conflict Resolution? I'm pretty sure this shouldn't be happening.
Beardedgeek72
Seasoned Ace
8 years ago
I have pumped manners every day for hours since they were born. We'll see how it turns out.
OneGrilledCheese
New Hotshot
8 years ago
I also have a hard time seeing the logic in the chance card outcomes, even with my knowledge of child psychology. I like that there's always a trade off, but a lot of the time the outcome doesn't make much sense.
Beardedgeek72
Seasoned Ace
8 years ago
"dopaminedroid;c-16530536" wrote:
I also have a hard time seeing the logic in the chance card outcomes, even with my knowledge of child psychology. I like that there's always a trade off, but a lot of the time the outcome doesn't make much sense.

Exactly, @dopaminedroid not only is @GrumpyGlowfish right, the skills are VERY unbalanced, but as you said they are also very illogical.

Quick question btw, is your avatar Sim on the gallery? She's gorgeous and would make a perfect wife for Ulrik when he becomes adult :)
invisiblgirl
8 years ago
I had a teen with high responsibility who lost it when she became an adult because she left school when she aged up. Since then, I've turned aging off when a teen just about to age up goes to school.

For manners, have the kid/teen set the table after every meal.
Beardedgeek72
Seasoned Ace
8 years ago
Figured that out (manners) basically let the kids do all the chores they can do (primarely dishes and laundry). Fire butlers / maids and force your kids to do it.
When teens, make them clean, too.
OneGrilledCheese
New Hotshot
8 years ago
"Beardedgeek;c-16530546" wrote:

Quick question btw, is your avatar Sim on the gallery? She's gorgeous and would make a perfect wife for Ulrik when he becomes adult :)

It wasn't, but now it is! Link.
Beardedgeek72
Seasoned Ace
8 years ago
"dopaminedroid;c-16531627" wrote:
"Beardedgeek;c-16530546" wrote:

Quick question btw, is your avatar Sim on the gallery? She's gorgeous and would make a perfect wife for Ulrik when he becomes adult :)

It wasn't, but now it is! Link.

Thank you!!