Played vs Unplayed

I don't really play rotational anymore. I just make a new sim and mark the other unplayed.

I noticed in my game that when I played rotational, I never saw my other sims when my sim was out (I figured it was the different traits I used for each of them). I thought they were hibernating, LOL. Now I mark them unplayed so they go on with their lives and see what they are like when they age up.

You can leave them marked, and still choose to not age them up if they are marked as played. If unplayed, they will age unless you turn aging off for everyone.

Of course, some mods you might use can change it either way you play.

My understanding is that unplayed characters may be autoculled.

"FairyGodMother;c-17504319" wrote:

I noticed in my game that when I played rotational, I never saw my other sims when my sim was out (I figured it was the different traits I used for each of them). I thought they were hibernating, LOL. Now I mark them unplayed so they go on with their lives and see what they are like when they age up.

This isn't true for me though. I see my played households out and about all the time, so OP, do note that this might not be the case for you!

Here are the differences I've noticed in my gameplay:

Played

1. Will not be culled
2. Will age up unless you've chosen 'No' for auto aging played Sims
3. Will have an urn on their home lot if they're housed when they die, or on another lot if they were not home at the time of death

Unplayed

1. Can be culled - unless put in the 'My Favorites' tab in Household Inventory and/or are housed
2. Will not age unless you've checked the auto aging box for them
3. Will not have an urn on their home lot if housed or anywhere else when they die unless your Sim is present to witness the death

"Rouenpucelle;c-17504321" wrote:
My understanding is that unplayed characters may be autoculled.

I think "played" households also keep their relationships and career. Otherwise they'll keep bouncing through careers as the game needs NPC's to perform certain tasks.

@Karababy52 I've gone to unplayed houses that have had urns everywhere and my sim was not present. My sims seldom travel, but I find the urns all the time.

As for the original post, I prefer my households I don't play to be unplayed. I do play rotationally and see my played seems out all the time... more than I'd really like.

Thank you guys for all your replies. (Hey I'm a poet!) :D They've been very helpful.

Here are the differences between played and unplayed households

• Their aging settings can be set differently.
  
• Unplayed sims change their jobs to either be co-workers or fill in a service sim spot (maid, vendor etc). Played sims will never change their jobs on their own.
  
• In university, unplayed sims will re-enroll on their own while played sims will wait for the player to re-enroll them.
  
• Building in houses owned by unplayed sims will not spend their money. Instead you'll be in free build mode (infinite money, no household inventory) like when you are building in an unowned lot.
  
• To make sure there are sims in the Realm of Magic, unplayed sims may be turned into spellcasters.
  
• Only unplayed sims' houses and community lots can be crime scenes.
  
• Unplayed sims' phone skin may get set to default.
  
• Unplayed toddlers', children's, and teens' character values may go back to neutral (spot where they started off).
  
• While unplayed sims won't lose skills, they may suddenly become a master in one when they become a service sim.
  
• Unplayed sims will get more relationships culled.
  
• If the game is forced to generate a new club (happens when you have less than 10 clubs in game), it will be filled with unplayed sims.
  
• Many have mentioned culling. All sims who are in My Households section won't get culled. While all the played sims are in that section (putting them to other households will also make them unplayed), unplayed sims that you want to protect must be put there.

The main benefit of unplayed households is that you can edit their house for free. The main drawback is that they change a lot without players help.

"Mindofy;c-17505473" wrote:
Unplayed sims not in world will be culled. Unplayed in house will not be culled. Aging effects unplayed when not playing them.

Since the patch for Cats and Dogs, no, it doesn't. From then on, only that whether the household is in My household section (hearted) or not matters.

"leo3487;c-17505461" wrote:
Something nobody said:

If you visit magic realm (Realm of Magic GP), unplayed sims are available to turn spellcasters

Sorry for bursting your bubble, but...

"EgonVM;c-17505328" wrote:

• To make sure there are sims in the Realm of Magic, unplayed sims may be turned into spellcasters.

But it is true.

@Mindofy Here's a thread that teaches about culling.
https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/905991/culling-relationship-culling-decay-current-status/p1