Q&A: Lovestruck

TURN-ONS & TURN-OFFS

Physical Attraction (Effects Attraction on introduction):
Hair Color: Auburn, Black, Blonde, Brown, Dark Blue, Gray, Green, Hot Pink, Orange, Platinum, Purple Pastel, Red, Turquoise, White.
Outfit Color: Same choices as Color Prefs.
Fashion: Same choices as Fashion Style Prefs with the addition of Costumes.

Personality Attraction (Effects Attraction when getting to know):
Way of Life.
Characteristics.

Interactions (Effects Romance Satisfaction):
Romance Styles.
(note: Romantic Satisfaction starts to matter at about 25% pink bar, from what I can tell, so shouldn't kick in from an accidental Flirt)

Way of Life
A Sim's way of life can affect their attractiveness to this Sim. Skills, career, or even their wealth can all play a factor. 

Academic
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to Sims with these Skills: Logic.

Additional Skills:
> Research and Debate (Discover University)
> Vampire Lore (Vampires)
> Archaeology (Jungle Adventure)
> Selvadoradian Culture (Jungle Adventure)
> Gemology (Crystal Creations)

Arts & Crafts
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to Sims with these Skills: Painting, Photography, or Writing.

Additional Skills:
> Flower Arranging (Seasons)
> Cross-Stitch (Cottage Living)
> Knitting (Nifty Knitting)

Broke
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to Sims with a net worth of under §10,000.

Career Minded
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to Sims that are Level 7 or higher in a career.

Culinary
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to Sims with these Skills: Cooking or Gourmet Cooking.

Additional Skills:
> Baking (Get to Work)

Drink Making
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to Sims with these skills: Mixology.

Additional Skills:
> Juice Fizzing (Eco Lifestyle)
> Nectar Making (Horse Ranch)

Engineering
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to Sims with these Skills: Handiness or Rocket Science.

Additional Skills:
> Robotics (Discover University)
> Fabrication (Eco Lifestyle)

Health & Sports
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to Sims with these Skills: Fitness.

Additional Skills:
> Snowboarding (Snowy Escape)
> Skiing (Snowy Escape)
> Rock Climbing (Snowy Escape)
> Wellness (Spa Day)
> Bowling (Bowling Night)

Highly Skilled
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to Sims with 3 skills that are level 8 or higher.

Interpersonal
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to Sims with these Skills: Charisma.

Additional Skills:
> Romance (Lovestruck)
> Parenting (Parenthood)
> Medium (Paranormal)

Media & Technology
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to Sims with these Skills: Video Gaming or Programming.

Additional Skills:
> Media Production (Get Famous)
> Entrepreneur (High School Years)

Nature
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to Sims with these Skills: Gardening or Fishing.

Additional Skills:
> Veterinarian (Cats & Dogs)
> Riding (Horse Ranch)
> Herbalism (Outdoor Retreat)

Performer
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to Sims with these Skills: Guitar, Piano, or Violin.

Additional Skills:
> Dancing (Get Together)
> DJ Mixing (Get Together)
> Singing (City Living)
> Acting (Get Famous)
> Pipe Organ (Vampires)

Self-Employed
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to Sims in a freelance or work-from-home career.

Sense of Humor
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to Sims with these Skills: Comedy or Mischief.

Slacker
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to Lazy Sims or Sims without a career.

Taken
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to Sims that are already in a relationship with someone else.

Wealthy
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to Sims with a net worth of over §500,000.


Characteristics
Sim Characteristic preferences will determine what types of personalities this Sim will be attracted to.

Ambitionless
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to these Characteristics: Lazy or Slob.

Ambitious
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to these Characteristics: Ambitious.

Additional Characteristics:
> Overachiever (High School Years)
> Generous (For Rent)

Argumentative
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to these Characteristics: Evil, Hot Headed, or Mean.

Cerebral
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to these Characteristics: Bookworm, Geek, or Genius.

Additional Characteristics:
> Techie (Snowy Escape)
> Wise (For Rent)

Clean
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to these Characteristics: Neat.

Additional Characteristics:
> Squeamish (Outdoor Retreat)

Egotistical
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to these Characteristics: Materialistic or Snob.

Additional Characteristics:
> Self-Absorbed (Get Famous)
> Nosy (For Rent)
> High Maintenance (Spa Day)

Emotional Decision Makers
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to these Characteristics: Erratic, Hot-Headed, Jealous, or Noncommittal.

Additional Characteristics:
> Paranoid (StrangerVille)

Family Motivated
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to these Characteristics: Childish, Family-Oriented, or Loyal.

Additional Characteristics:
> Child of the Village (For Rent)

Funny
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to these Characteristics like Goofball.

Additional Characteristics:
> Cringe (For Rent)

Hardworking
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to these Characteristics: Ambitious, Neat, or Perfectionist.

Additional Characteristics:
> Workaholic (Snowy Escape)
> Overachiever (High School Years)

High Energy
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to these Characteristics: Active.

Additional Characteristics:
> Dance Machine (Get Together)
> Adventurous (Snowy Escape)
> Adrenaline Seeker (Snowy Escape)
> Coffee Fanatic (Snowy Escape)
> Energetic (Snowy Escape)

Homebody
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to these Characteristics: Bookworm, Clumsy, Geek, Lazy, or Loner.

Additional Characteristics:
> Sedentary (Snowy Escape)
> Socially Awkward (High School Years)

Idealist
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to these Characteristics: Art Lover, Creative, or Music Lover.

Additional Characteristics:
> Generous (For Rent)

Messy
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to these Characteristics: Glutton or Slob.

Nature Enthusiast
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to these Characteristics: Loves Outdoors.

Additional Characteristics:
> Vegetarian (City Living)
> Child of the Islands (Island Living)
> Child of the Ocean (Island Living)
> Freegan (Eco Lifestyle)
> Green Fiend (Eco Lifestyle)
> Recycle Disciple (Eco Lifestyle)
> Outdoorsy (Snowy Escape)
> Child of the Village (For Rent)

Optimistic
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to these Characteristics: Ambitious, Cheerful, or Good.

Additional Characteristics:
> Generous (For Rent)

Pessimistic
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to these Characteristics: Evil, Gloomy, Hates Children, Jealous, or Noncommittal.

Additional Characteristics:
> Unflirty (City Living)
> Paranoid (StrangerVille)

Pet Enthusiast
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to these Characteristics:

> Cat Lover (Cats & Dogs)
> Dog Lover (Cats & Dogs)
> Animal Enthusiast (Cottage Living)
> Horse Lover (Horse Ranch)
> Rancher (Horse Ranch)

Spirited
Sims with this Turn-On are attracted to these Characteristics: Bro, Cheerful, Outgoing, Romantic, or Self-Assured.

Additional Characteristics:
> Insider (Get Together)
> Party Animal (High School Years)
> People Person (Snowy Escape)
> Child of the Village (For Rent)
> Cringe (For Rent)


Romance Styles
Romance Styles Turn-Ons and Turn-Offs determine how a Sim feels about various expressions of romance in their relationships with other Sims. Sims with a Turn-On for a given Romance Style will gain extra Romantic Satisfaction from performing these types of interactions. Likewise, Sims with a Turn-Off for a given style will lose Romantic Satisfaction from these types of interactions.
(note: These will be under the relevant social pie menu sub-categories with the exception of WooHoo/Try for Baby/Mess Around options being in with Physical Intimacy on the pie menu, and Gift Giving still being within the Affection sub-menu).

Affection
Affection interactions tend to express passion and vulnerability, such as Whisper Sweet Nothings, Express Fondness, and Talk About Relationship Fears.

Flirting
Flirty interactions range from chaste to steamy, including Make a Flirtatious Joke, Ask Risque Question, or even Seduce with Costume.

Gift Giving
Gift Giving includes classics like flowers and chocolates, but there are many more possibilities. It's the thought that counts!

Physical Intimacy (note: exc. Woohoo/Mess Around)
Physical Intimacy covers a spectrum of romance but always involves physical contact between Sims such as Snuggle, Give Massage, or Make Out.

WooHoo/Mess Around
All WooHoo, Mess Around and Try for Baby interactions.

I now have regular Early Access, again thanks to the EA Creator Network.

I have to work shortly, but I'll be back this evening and then have 2 days off to test cross-pack gameplay. If you still have any questions around the pack itself, or questions about cross-pack functions (I have all packs/kits), I'll try and answer them for you. I'll have to test as I go though, so can only answer immediately obvious/short-term things, most likely. I'll also go down the list of existing replies and add anything relevant regarding pack content.

CROSS-PACK GAMEPLAY 

I'll add things as I find them, so check back later. This is post version 3.

Cottage Living

Picnic Baskets x Romantic Blanket

> Picnic Baskets snap to Romantic Blankets (can be dragged from inventory to blanket slot, but only works on lots not in the open world).
> Slotted Picnic Baskets show as a food option when Set Up Picnic... is selected (buggy on home lot as sometimes the food isn't recognised, but worked fine for me at community lots where I'd more likely be picnicking anyway).
> Shareable Treats can be packed into Picnic Baskets (this is bugged - they disappear into the aether and can't be retrieved, avoid doing this for now).
> Reclining on the Romantic Blanket (Cuddle/WooHoo) will knock the Picnic Basket (or other slotted items) into the Household Inventory, so don't canoodle between placing the Picnic Basket and setting up the picnic, or you'll be stuck with the 5 buyable options.


Crystal Creations

Basic jewellery set pieces (bracelet, earrings, necklace, ring) buyable from Flowers & Gifts kiosk (all §90 each). Also buyable via Phone > Shopping > Purchase Romantic Items...


Get Together

Club Filters:
> Career: Romance Consultant
> Trait: Lovebug
> Trait: Romantically Reserved
> Skill: Romance

Club Activities:
> Fun and Games: Play Who's Up Party Games
> Fun and Games: Wear Costumes from Costume Trunk
> Outdoor: Look For, Breed, or Release Axolotls


Growing Together

Walk/Jog/Power Walk/Reflective Walk options now available on signs at both the Park and swimmable Pond. I clicked the signs during CFE and there were no interactions, so this is likely tied to Growing Together (the options are the same).


Horse Ranch

Bottles of Nectar Buyable from the Flowers & Gifts kiosk. (Apple §42, Fruit §90, Grape §123 and Strawberry §132). Also buyable via Phone > Shopping > Purchase Romantic Items...


My Wedding Stories

Wedding Bouquets (buyable and craftable) buyable from the Flowers & Gifts kiosk (§85 for basic/crafted bouquets, §130 for delicate bouquets). This is a the only way to purchase the craftable bouquets outside of Retail/debug.

Wedding Bouquets can be gifted via Give Flowers.


Seasons

Seasons single flowers buyable from the Flowers & Gifts kiosk (prices range from §15 to §144, so looks like standard Normal Quality cost). This is a new way to buy these and the only way to buy them individually outside of of Retail/debug.

Lovestruck bouquets CAN NOT be crafted via the Flower Arranging Bench.

Flower Arrangements CAN NOT be be gifted via Give Flowers, or Present Romantic Gift from Lovestruck, but can be gifted via Give Romantic Gift from Seasons, as normal.

New chocolates and bouquets can be Friendly Gifts or Romantic Gifts (Seasons Gifting), will let you know later about Holiday Gifting.


Summer:
> Water Balloon Bucket near swimmable Pond.
> Water Balloon Bucket in the Central Plaza near the Motel.
> Water Balloon Bucket in the food stall area near the Fountain of Love.
> Water Balloon Bucket next to the Brutalist-Style Fountain.

Winter:
> Small Modern Ice Skating Rink in the Central Plaza near the Motel.
> Small Modern Ice Skating Rink in the Lemon Grove west of the Park.

For the "romance styles", does the sim gain /lose romantic satisfaction only when on the receiving end of the action, or do they also gain/lose romantic satisfaction when they are on the giving end of the action?  For example, if a sim has "gift giving" as a turn on will that sim gain satisfaction only when their partner gives them a gift, or will they also gain satisfaction when they give their partner a gift?

I'm curious to learn how Romance Satisfaction works for rotational play. If you're not playing a couple, will their satisfaction tank? Will unplayed couples have autonomous actions that affect how they get along? Is there a chance the heartbreak moodlet could get spammed autonomously and kill Sims when you're not playing them? 

I noticed that currently, I have a couple who seem to autonomously have negative interactions that take a huge chunk off their romance bar. Just concerned how much worse that could be with the pack installed. 

I would like to know if there is a turn on/turn off for occult states. For example can I make a sim who is attracted to spellcasters? 

Build buy : does the round pool tool work well? Can this only be used in the ground or also in a building, and thus creating a room on the other side of the circle? 

CUPID'S CORNER APP

Who Shows on It?

> Single sims from your save file (premades/townies/played & unplayed singles).
> Single unspawned sims with dating archetypes (E.G. sometimes Blind Date sims will show up in a costume).
> Single sims from the Gallery (filtered according to your settings in Pack Options).
> Single parent sims from the Gallery (1 sim YA-E with a single child aged I-C, filtered according to your settings in Pack Options).

(note: Gallery sims show with the creators username underneath and are obvious. They also don't get added to your game until you interact with them via Add to Contacts or Ask to Create a Date. Saving them for later will not add them to your save.)


Pack Options for Imported Sims

> Enable/Disable Gallery sim imports.
> Only allow Favourited sims, sims from Followed creators and Maxis Curated sims to be imported.

(note: this allows you to limit imports to specific sims and creators you trust, plus sims that have been checked by someone at Maxis.)


Can I/My Sims Lie/Catfish Sims?

Only by omission. Examples:

> You take your profile pic while you are younger/slimmer/blonde/alive but don't update it when you age up/gain weight/dye your hair green/die.
> You take your profile pic in your human/disguised form so as not to reveal your occult/alien status.
> You are Mean, Evil, Genius & Alluring (bonus trait), so you display Genius & Alluring as your self-description, showing your best side only. (note: if you only have bad traits, you will likely have to show at least one of them, as you have to display 2 traits, earning some Reward Traits or Discovery Traits can skirt this issue)


Can Sims Lie/Catfish Me/My Sims?

> Townies/unplayed save sims show their orientation and seem to show Mean and Evil as traits, so app profiles are likely randomised for them.
> Played sims show their orientation and possibly chosen traits, but would need to play more to confirm the chosen traits.
> Gallery sims show orientation, but not sure visible traits are preset, or if their profiles show random traits, you'd likely have to see the same Gallery sim several times to judge that.


Benefits of Cupid's Corner vs. Meeting Sims Out in the World

> You immediately know 2 traits of the sim, so have a head start in getting to know them and higher Personality Attraction score to start with. This relies more on personality and a single picture for looks. You might want this if you are in a rush to find a life partner, or three.
> Blind Dates (available via phone/computer) are an option if you don't know what you want in a partner, and want to date a bit before you decide what your TOTOs are, or if you want the choice taken out of your hands and want Fate/RNGeezus to decide. It's also a great option when your are out of Matches with Turn-Ons and  Refreshes on Cupid's Corner, but you want someone to date.
> Meeting sims out in the world gives you an immediate Physical Attraction score, but no immediate Personality Attraction score. This relies more on looks and limits your choices to whoever you approach. You might also want this for more organic meet cute moments, or if you want to get to know sims slowly over several dates.
> You could also help friends find love by introducing sims to each other. This is possible via arranging a double date/Hangout, the matchmaking career options or GT's interactions found in the Relationships > Other Sims > Talk Up/Hook Up With... options.
> You might also buy the Observant Reward Trait to learn all of a sim's traits on introduction, which would speed up learning about sims met in the world organically.
> You can play party games with nearby sims to learn Skills, Traits and TOTOs which is good ice-breaker gameplay and may give your Personality Attraction boosts with various participants.

(note: all options are available for YA+ sims, whereas Teens have to rely on meeting sims out in the world and through friends, perhaps with the aid of the Observant trait).


Matches

> Matches won't always match your TOTO settings, but should match your settings for age and orientation. This is so you can choose to go on dates based on looks, pick deliberately bad dates if you wish or, choose sims with toxic traits for a storyline later, E.G.  "I can fix him!" etc.
> Sims that have a trait that is a Turn-On will be highlighted in red/pink, or a Turn-Off will be highlighted in blue (think of it as hot/cold feelings towards someone).
> Matches shown might have both a Turn-On and a Turn-Off, so you have to decide if it's worth it.
> Remember that you only see 2 of their traits, and sims can have up to 6 CAS traits with GRO, plus bonus traits. Played sims could also have aspiration reward traits and satisfaction reward traits.


Location Info

You may have noticed that Matches have location info on their profiles:

> This will be a the town name if they live in a town, or Not Shared if they don't live in your save (so townies, Gallery sims and premades/previously housed sims that have moved out via NS or MH)
> You can find their house if their world is listed, and use that to decide if you want to date them - great for Materialistic sims, Snobs, or those who are have the Wealthy Turn-On.
> You can turn on Move In for townies if you would like to see more sims actually living in the world, either for the gameplay of dating locally/further afield, or for larger potential profit for your Gold Digger and Black Widow sims. Mods that move in townies will also help for this.

Do the new fences have gates and stair rails that match them?

So what are the gameplay objects?

The board game

The picnic blanket

How do they work?

Did you find it more difficult to form romantic relationships due to the attraction system? What does the attraction system do while in game? Does it affect autonomy or chance of romantic interaction being succesfull?