Q&A: Enchanted by Nature

Thanks for doing a Q and A, very much appreciated. 

Is there an option to turn off ailments? Does turning off the luck system prevent ailments that are not cast by a fairy? 

Do fairies have a custom crib and gravestone? 

ANNOTATED NEIGHBOURHOOD MAPS

For some reason I couldn't upload the maps here to add image descriptions, so I've given you the neighbourhood descriptions and a key. More info and spoilers on the Imgur Post version, if you are interested.

KEY

White: Lot Margins & Front of Lot
Green: Shop Shells & Stalls
Orange: Lore & Fables Interactions
Yellow: Facilities
Pink: Parks & Rec
Purple: Moondrop Spring (magical spring of emotions)
Blue: Swimmable Area
❌: Fishing Sign
❤️: PooHoo Bush
❓: Starseed Teleporter
⭐: Everdew Plants
🙂: Public Fairy House


COAST OF ADHMOR
A bustling seaside village filled with lore and history, the Coast of Adhmor serves as a tourist hotspot due to its colorful architecture, iconic landmarks, and coastal views.

SPRUCEDERRY GROVE
Sprucederry Grove is a haven for bohemian and nature-loving Sims who love gardening, living off the land, and mastering the Apothecary Skill. Nature enthusiasts flock here to forage among the picturesque trees and bathe in the tranquil stream. The neighborhood takes its name from the local legend, Spruce Almighty, the community's loving Garden Pal.

EVERDEW
Home of the Fairy Council, Everdew is the epicenter of Fairy life where Fairies can let it all hang out. Innisgreen's most enchanted neighborhood shimmers with a patina of magic over all its natural beauty.

FAIRY BASSINET, TOMBSTONE & URN

Fairies have both a bassinet to match the whimsical décor (13 swatches, similar to the Spellcaster one, but viney), a custom gravestone with vines growing on it (1 swatch), plus an urn that looks a lot like a fancy perfume bottle, also with vines (also comes in floating variant with life ring):

A Fairy Tombstone (left) and the default swatch of the Fairy Bassinet (right).

A Fairy Urn - also comes in a floating variant with life ring.

Thank you for the Q & A!

I'm confused about how many forms fairies have. Do they have two forms in cas (a mundane form and a fairy form) plus a miniature form, or do they have just one form in cas plus a miniature form? 

NEW GLOBAL GAMEPLAY SYSTEMS

There are new global systems coming with this EP. The bigger systems are Balance & Luck with Ailments being a possible failure state/consequence of those two systems and other factors.


BALANCE
Think of Balance like your Sim's overall mental health. Most of the time it's fine, moods are positive, Sims are productive. However, occasionally things can wrong one after the other and Sims lives cascade into chaos. You can restore Balance in a variety of ways like communing with nature, drinking Elixirs, curing Ailments, or if all else fails, paying a Naturopath to sort it out for you.

Balanced: Keeping needs up and moods positive will keep a Sim Balanced. Benevolent Sim Gods (most players) do this anyway, so this should be your Sim's normal state. 

Imbalanced: A series of bad moods are starting to take a toll on your Sim. Needs may become more challenging, and skills may be harder to learn. Luck may worsen, which could aid a cascade of bad things happening. Effects vary and can change daily.

An example of Imbalance, where Fun is draining faster than it normally would. This Moodlet also shows in the Moodlet bar/stack with other Moodlets, but this icon in the Motives/Needs UI more clearly shows how it's effecting a Sim.

Try to sort out the imbalance now before it gets worse and you end up...

Very Imbalanced: In this state Ailments can manifest on their own, no contagion or malicious actions needed. You can still work your way back to balanced, but it might be harder. Ailments can change daily and can stick around for a while even if Balance is restored.


LUCK
Some days just go better than others. One day you'll get a promotion, find a Rare gem and create your latest Masterpiece. The next you are spoiling breakfast with a fire, failing at romance and finding nothing but Common rocks. Luck is randomised each day, but can also be influenced via...

Balance: As above, keep Balanced to keep your Luck from degrading.

Charms: Lucky Freezer Bunny Foot & Unlucky Cowplant Horns. Can be found whilst Foraging, via Fables, bought from the Apothecary Stall etc. Can be found Charged or Uncharged. Charging requires Fairy Dust and lasts for 2 days. (Note: No Freezer Bunnies or Cowplants were harmed in the making of these Charms).

Elixirs: A single vial of Lucky Liquid improves even the worst day. Single use. Can be made or bought from Apothecary Stall.

Fairy Abilities: Manipulate Luck can be used to improve or worsen luck. The ability has two tiers. Tier 1 can be used on yourself. Tier 2 can be used on other Sims.

Great Gnome & Spruce Almighty: Asking outside forces or a deity for help is an age-old method of trying to improve one's Luck.


AILMENTS
Ailments can be tied to Balance and Luck, but also socialising (they are contagious), locations (Fairy autonomy) and possibly activities or needs. Turning off Balance should reduce the amount of Ailments a Sim gets, as one way to acquire them is through being Very Imbalanced. However a Sim's Luck would just be average with the Luck system off, so you'll have a Normal Luck chance of getting them through other means (Fairy manipulation and via interacting with contagious Sims). Avoiding Everdew will likely help too, as Fairies use their Abilities autonomously there. I've also gotten Ailments twice after sleeping on the ground with low Natural Living skill, so I also think they could be linked to activities and needs.

LIST OF AILMENTS & EFFECTS
This list is from the Fairy Ability to Cure & Inflict Ailments, so may be incomplete:

TREATING AILMENTS
There are multiple ways to treat an Ailment if you get one.

Cures: Can be made with Apothecary skill and correct ingredients or bought from an Apothecary Stall.

Fairy Ability: Fairies can both Inflict and Cure Ailments with a combined Rank 1 Manipulation Ability. Great ability to get to mess with and/or help other Sims, and especially useful in the Naturopath Career as you don't need to have every Cure available.

Time: You can simply wait for an Ailment to run it's course. They are all temporary and non-lethal. Maybe avoid other Sims if you don't want to infect them.

Visit Naturopath: Like with Lifestyle Coaching or Grief and Romance Counselling, you can do this via the phone UI. Sim will go into a rabbithole and return cured. This service costs 1,500. There's also a self-interaction, probably only when an Ailment or Imbalance is in progress, though (needs testing).

Visit Naturopath via phone. Costs 1,500 Simoleons.

Alternatively...

Revel in It: Depending on the Sim or current plans, they can also be beneficial. E.G. If you catch Greenie Meanie it would be a good time to avoid Friends & Family and work on the garden instead - fantastic for Loners or Outdoorsy Sims, but horrifying for an Outgoing Sim. Maybe try to spread the love (and the Ailment) to another Sim who will appreciate it by interacting with them.


UPDATED SYSTEMS

WANTS & FEARS
There's many new Wants and an addition to the BG Fears system that's meant to be cross-pack compatible:

Fear of Magic: Sims that have been targeted by malicious occult Abilities can develop a Fear of Magic. Whilst this is in effect they will become Tense or Paranoid around magic use and occult Sims. I haven't triggered this one yet, so will add more info if/when I do.

OCCULT GAMEPLAY


FAIRY GAMEPLAY


FAIRY LOCOMOTION

Fairies without wings will walk, using whatever Walkstyle you choose for them in CAS. Fairies with wings will fly by default, unless it's a very short distance, in which case they may just walk the few steps it takes. Fairies can all immediately "Fly Here Instantly" - their version of a Teleport. Pregnant Fairies have a unique flying animation where they hold their belly with one hand, and wobble a bit like their balance is off.


FAIRY LIFESPAN

Same as "human" or normie Sims up until their YA birthdays. Then they get ~25% more days in Young Adult/Adult life stages. The likely have longer as Elders too, but I couldn't test that as remaining days aren't shown. At minimum, it's an extra 23 days on Normal, but probably more.

They don't have any Abilities to extend their lives indefinitely like Werewolves/Spellcasters, and they continue aging throughout their lives, not stopping at Young Adult like Vampires do. Nothing is stopping you from using Spellcaster or Werewolf magic to extend their lives, however.


FAIRY INTERACTIONS

Brush Off Fairy Dust - Fairies can gain some Fairy Dust by brushing it off of themselves.
Hide Wings - Fairies have the option to temporarily Hide Wings. Certain interactions may make them reappear though.
I Can Fly! - Fairy does a loop-de-loop animation, like TS3.
Shrink & X - There's a temporary third form for Fairies in Live Mode. Fairies can shrink and disappear into or play on various BB items including furniture, plumbing, appliances, storage and sleep in dollhouses/on pianos. They return to normal size after the interactions. Depending on what/who they interact with they can fill needs a little, or learn a bit of skill. They also shrink to use their miniature Fairy Homes - these can be used to fulfil all their needs and generate behind Fairy Dust sometimes after a Fairy has used them.
WooHoo in the Sky - Shrink your fairy and their partner and fly into the air for some steamy Fairy fun. As well as the Woohoo this also spawns about 5 Fairy dust on the ground for anyone to pick up and use, so is a fun way to get Fairy Dust.


FAIRY RANKS

[R1] - Faint
[R2] - Glowing
[R3] - Glimmering
[R4] - Brilliant
[R5] - Radiant


FAIRY ABILITIES

Fairy Skill Tree Abilities fall into 4 types: Manipulation, Emotions, Nature & Passive (aka Customisation). The only Abilities that have precursor requirements are the Passive (Customisation) ones where you can pick one of two options at each level. Social Abilities with 2 Tiers allows your Sim to use an Ability on themself at Tier 1, and on others with the upgraded Tier 2 version. Object Abilities with two Tiers improve with the upgrade.


Manipulation Abilities

[R1] Cure or Apply Ailment
<Sim> gains power to Cure or inflict Ailments on other Sims.
Make someone's day, or ruin it!
Ability Location : Other Sim
Ability Cost: Low
(note: If playing as both a Fairy and a Naturopath, this is a great one to pick as it can be used instead of making a physical Cure. It's also great for personal use and to cause chaos.)

[R2] Fairy Insight
<Sim> can read personal information in the minds of other Sims, like Traits, Careers, or more. 
Who needs small talk when you have magic?
Ability Location: Other Sim
Ability Cost: Low
(note: You pick the category when using the ability. Other categories includes Sexual Orientation and Preferences)

[R3] Shift Luck (Tier 1 of 2)
<Sim> gains power over their own Luck.
Nothing wrong with changing the odds every now and then, is there?
Ability Location: Self
Ability Cost: Medium

[R3] Shift Another's Luck (Tier 2 of 2)
<Sim> gains power over the Luck of other Sims.
Give another Sim a better chance to succeed. Or fail!
Ability Location : Other Sim
Ability Cost: Medium

[R4] Manipulate Object
<Sim> can magically manipulate objects, directly changing them between states: Clean, Dirty, Burnt, Broken, Repaired, or Fresh. A Fairy doesn't have time for menial tasks! That's what magic is for! Be a force of good to magically repair and clean, or do some mischief by burning, breaking, and dirtying things up!
Ability Location: Appliance
Ability Cost: Medium
(note: This ability can Unburn Burned items, including those found in [EL] Dumpsters.)

[R5] Bring Gnome to Life
Bring a Gnome to life and assign it to a specific task: Gardening, Cleaning, Repairs (note: and Upgrades), or Protection from Evil Gnomes and Death.
They're not just helpful; they're great conversationalists.
Ability Location: Gnome
Ability Cost: High
(note: If you overuse this Ability, and depending on your Luck, you could end up spawning Evil Gnomes instead of Good ones. When upgrading items, a single Gnome will upgrade all upgradeable things in the same room by one upgrade every "pulse" -  with about 3 pulses per activation. You can move the Gnome into the room you want upgraded before activation, and between "pulses". Beware of Fire Toilets if you have EL, as the Composting Container upgrade IS included at time of writing).

[R5] Age Up Another
Ages up another Sim on the spot.
Tapping into the deepest forces of Fairy magic, even the sands of time can be sped up!
Ability Location : Other Sim
Ability Cost: Very High
(note: Great for spoiling the youthful good looks of romantic rivals/exes, or pushing Enemies closer to death's door. Cannot be used to kill Elders via Old Age. Can be used to age a Sim to Elder before gifting them a Death Flower scented Flower Arrangement if you also have Seasons.)

Emotion Abilities

[R1] Sway Another's Emotion
<Sim> can choose to directly apply Moodlets to other Sims.
Whether preparing a Sim to Absorb their Emotion or just setting the room's vibe, influencing the Emotions of others can be a powerful tool!
Ability Location: Other Sim
Ability Cost: Medium
This Ability can affect Children.
(note: Ability to use this on Children can make parenting easier, by making them Focused to do homework or Inspired to draw etc. Also great for base game Dates where you need to get individual Sims into specific moods for Goals. Whether using it for benevolent or malevolent means, you can also use it to create situations by effecting mood-based autonomy of nearby Sims, like making a spouse Flirty to see if they'll cheat, or Angry to see if they'll argue etc.)

[R2] Bottle Emotion (Tier 1 of 2)
Absorb an Emotion from yourself to create an Emotion Potion in your inventory.
Keep some Emotions on hand for emergencies or a quick recharge.
Ability Location: Self
Ability Cost: Medium
(note: Removes own dominant emotion, so handy to change mood, though won't work for major moodlets like grief etc. Emotion potions are also drinkable by Teen+ Fairies and can be bottle fed to baby Fairies to give them a Happy Moodlet. They are also used in the Apothecary Skill, so this is a possible way to source them)

[R2] Bottle Another's Emotion (Tier 2 of 2)
Absorb an Emotion from another Sim to create an Emotion Potion in your inventory.
Save a bit of Emotion for later!
Ability Location: Other Sim
Ability Cost: Medium
This Ability can affect Children.
(note: As above, but can be used on other Sims, including children. Even better source of Emotion Potions as you have more targets to pick from. You can choose to take good emotions or bad ones, usually helping or hindering others, or neutral if it resolves in them being Fine).

[R3] Project Emotion
<Sim> can project their current Mood out to nearby Sims.
Whether positive or negative, nearby Sims will feel what <Sim> feels!
Ability Location: Self
Ability Cost: Medium
This Ability can affect Children.
(note: Great for setting the vibes around your Sim, such as making everyone Flirty when out hunting for love, or making everyone Angry when you really want to fight someone. Could also be useful in Small Businesses when teaching Classes, to make everyone Inspired, Energized etc. Also great for Events where you need to get multiple Sims into specific Moods like Flirty or Playful for Goals.)

[R4] Influence Relationship (Tier 1 of 2)
<Sim> can manipulate their relationships with other Sims.
Get a little boost in relationship building, positively or negatively.
Ability Location : Self
Ability Cost: High

[R4] Influence Another's Relationship (Tier 2 of 2)
<Sim> can manipulate relationships between other Sims.
Magically make or break other Sim's relationships!
Ability Location : Other Sim
Ability Cost: High
(note: Great for the matchmakers and homewreckers out there. Could also be fun to play with whilst also being a Romance Consultant, to either aid or sabotage your clients. Could also be used in Family Gameplay, perhaps by Teens trying to keep parents together, by trying to get rid of a new/potential Step-Parent or by souring a relationship between relatives to change the outcome of a Will)

[R5] Influence Sentiment (Tier 1 of 2)
<Sim> can manipulate other Sims' Sentiments toward them.
Sometimes magic is all it takes to change the flavor of a connection between Sims.
Ability Location: Self
Ability Cost: Medium
(note: Finally, an easy fix for those Hurt Sentiments, and others that prevent you fixing your Sim's relationship with another Sim)

[R5] Influence Another's Sentiment (Tier 2 of 2)
<Sim> can manipulate other Sims' Sentiments toward each other.
Help other Sims see each other in the light of conviviality, or perhaps chaos!
Ability Location: Other Sim
Ability Cost: Medium
(note: As above, but better because you can help Family & Friends too, or even hinder Rivals/Enemies)

Nature Abilities

[R1] Nurture Nature (Tier 1 of 2)
Through <Sim>'s magic, plants become watered with no weeds or bugs, while Animals are cured of any illness and become Very Happy!
Magic channeled through Fairies' affinity with nature has powerful results!
Ability Location: Plant or Animal
Ability Cost: Low
(note: This one definitely gives me Druid vibes. Imagine being a Fairy who is also a Veterinarian, Farmer or Rancher, or one who runs a Small Business involving Animals? Druidic Doggy Daycare, for example! You could also help out local wildlife and stray pets)

[R1] Enchant Plant (Tier 2 of 2)
<Sim> can directly Enchant any plant.
Until the enchantment wears off, the plant grows faster and stays fully watered, weeded, and has no bugs.
Find something more fun to do while magic does the gardening work!
Ability Location: Plant
Ability Cost: Very High
(note: Enchanted plants care for themselves, but also attract Pixies. Pixies block you from Harvesting/interacting with Gardening Plants/Live Houseplants, so you have to spend extra time to shoo them away first. Enchantment lasts for a couple of days when applied via this Ability)

[R2] Forager Fae and Duplicate Harvestable
<Sim> has a higher chance of finding more ingredients while Foraging, and gains access to the Duplicate Harvestable ability.
Fairies are naturally in tune with nature, and with a bit of magic, Foraging is second nature!
Ability Location: Harvestables
Ability Cost: Low
(note: Great for Foraging supplies, or if trying to complete Collections)

[R2] Manifest Seed
Creates an Uncommon or Rare Seed in <Sim>'s inventory.
Gather Fairy magic and coalesce it into one of nature's many offerings.
Ability Location: Self
Ability Cost: Low
(note: Great way to get better seeds before unlocking Rare Seed packets, and it doesn't cost 1,000 like those seed packs do.)

[R3] Sense Harvestables
Highlights all Harvestables in the neighborhood.
Tap <Sim>'s innate connection to nature to find the gifts it provides more easily.
Ability Location: Self
Ability Cost: Low

[R3] Growth Eruption
Grows all nearby plants to maturity.
Use Fairy Magic to focus nature's power back into itself.
Ability Location: Self
Ability Cost: Very High
(note: Great for growing up a newly planted garden/farm. Also handy for growing things late in a Season when you wouldn't normally have time for several growth stages, or for growing competition harvestables/Giant Crops quicker in time for the Finchwick Fair. May also be function on wild plants to speed up neighbourhood spawns. Probably super useful as a Reaper to repeatedly Collect Plant Souls)

[R4] Bloom Plant
Make a mature plant bloom and ready to harvest.
Spare some Fairy magic and help a plant reach its full potential.
Ability Location: Plant
Ability Cost: Medium
(note: I can see this being very useful as a Scientist, to get the Lab plants to a harvestable state, or for growing anything you need for cooking/crafting.)

[R5] Transform into Fairy
Permanently transforms another Sim into a Fairy.
Become the conduit of Mother Nature's power and draw other Sims into the Fairy world!
Ability Location: Other Sim
Ability Cost: Very High


Passive Abilities

These abilities customise alignment for each Fairy, by making you choose how their socials, active Abilities and Emotional Force regeneration methods effect them and their targets. You can choose one of each per level, and must start at R1 to work your way up.


[R1] SOCIALISING - Choose whether Warm or Wicked socials give your Fairy extra Emotional Force.

Warm Force Gain
<Sim> gains a small amount of Emotional Force from Friendly, Romantic, or Funny socials.
Adopt the inner social butterfly to emotionally recharge when interacting positively with other Sims.

OR

Wicked Force Gain
<Sim> gains a small amount of Emotional Force from Mischief and Mean socials.
A little negativity can be refreshing now and then. Recharge by interacting negatively with others.


[R2] ABSORBING EMOTIONS - Choose whether your Fairy fills more Emotional Force when Absorbing Negative or Positive Emotions.

Malicious Absorber
<Sim> gains extra Emotional Force when Absorbing positive Emotions.
<Sim> connects with their darker side to recharge by taking the positive Emotions of other Sims.

OR

Benevolent Absorber
<Sim> gains extra Emotional Force when Absorbing negative Emotions.
<Sim> empowers herself even more when unburdening other Sims of their negative Emotions.


[R3] RELATIONSHIPS - Choose how your Fairy's relationship is affected when targeting other Sims with Fairy abilities.

Embrace Relationship Changes
Magnify all relationship changes that occur when using Fairy Abilities on another Sim. For example, a friendly relationship increases when using a positive Ability on another Sim.
Using Abilities on other Sims can affect your relationship with them, but that isn't always bad!

OR

Negate Relationship Changes
Negate all relationship changes that occur when using Fairy Abilities on another Sim. For example, using a negative Ability on another Sim no longer reduces Friendly relationship with them.
Tired of your Fairy Abilities affecting your relationship with other Sims? This ability will help!

[R4] EMOTIONAL SPILLOVER - Increase or decrease how often Absorbed Emotions will impact your Fairy's own mood.

Spillover Resistance
Reduces the chance of <Sim> receiving a Spillover Emotion when Absorbing Emotions.
The Emotions of others will no longer come through so easily.

OR

Spillover Sensitivity
Increases the chance of <Sim> receiving a Spillover Emotion when Absorbing Emotions.
Allow others' Emotions to envelop you, and embrace them as your own!


[R5] RESTING - Choose whichever method you prefer to use for regaining Emotional Force.

Expert Regeneration
<Sim> gains more Emotional Force when using Regenerate Emotional Force.
Get centered and attune with deeper forces.

OR

Energetic Dreamer
<Sim> regains Emotional Force while sleeping.
Reach across the boundaries between dreams and reality and take in the Emotional Force of the collective subconscious.. Whoa.

PLANTSIM GAMEPLAY


NEW PLANTSIM ADDITIONS

PlantSims are still a temporary life state, but there are various new PlantSim additions that come with the pack, including passive abilities, interactions and lore. Most of them use pack content, but some could potentially have been base game. All PlantSim specific interactions have a little PlantSim icon, as with other Occult interactions.


PASSIVE CHANGES

Being in water boosts their Water motive.
PlantSim Walkbys. (note: I've only seen them in Everdew so far)


NEW INTERACTIONS

Absorb Solar Energy - Available on Live Houseplants & Gardening Plants. Fills some Hunger. Reverts targeted plant by one life stage.
Ask for Forbidden Fruit - From a PlantSim. Asker gets a Forbidden Fruit in their inventory.
Give Forbidden Fruit - As a PlantSim. Recipient gets a Forbidden Fruit in their inventory.
Nature's Breath - Blooms a plant, growing it to it's Mature state instantly.
Poison Kiss - Gives the target Sim the Greenie Meanie Ailment... Unless you targeted Spruce Almighty. They have a unique response to that.
Praise for Life - On Spruce Almighty (lore says they are the Creator of PlantSims).
Refresh Life Force - 20 Fairy Dust. Extends PlantSim time by ?

Tkank you, that's awsome!

I was wondering earlier if ailments could be turned off and then found out that the luck system can and assumed it will turn off the ailments as well. Thank you for going more in depth about how it may work. I'm someone who normally welcomes all gameplay additions, but for some reason the ailments make me wary.

I'm really curious about nature press. How it works? What can you press? Does it create some items? Guess I'll have to wait for you to get there 😇

CRAFTING

NATURE PRESS

The Nature Press is like a real life flower press, it's portable and crafting is fast, with a short animation. You can pay for some (not all) materials, or use harvestables you have gathered yourself. Children+ can use this item and there is no skill associated with it. It can be used at a desk/dining table with a chair, or on the ground/floor whilst kneeling down.

Mara adds flowers to her Nature Press.

After closing the Nature Press, she applies pressure.

You can make framed floral art for your walls and candles with pressed plants around the side. The wall art and candles are all the same size and shape, but come in various floral and creature designs, with varied colours of frames on the wall art. A few have googly eyes for a fun touch, but the majority don't.

Artwork can be crafted as either Normal or Enchanted versions - no visible difference between them, but the Enchanted versions have an extra ingredient, Fairy Dust, and emit emotional auras. Normal & Enchanted variants are available in debug, like other craftables.

All 10 Nature Press Wall Art Designs. There's a mix of cute, muted and busy designs.

All 5 Nature Press Candle Designs. These are all pretty muted compared to the Wall Art.

Nature press is adorable! Love when there's new use for collectables 😀 Thank you!