Recommendations For New Players

"AriaMad2;c-17073659" wrote:
- Don’t get the cheapest stove, it’s a death trap waiting to happen.
- There’s lots of different settings you can play with. Why not experiment a little and figure out how you like to play?
- Start with more than one sim. This way if something happens to one of them (set on fire, at work, etc), you have another sim to help out.
- There’s a magic tree somewhere in Willow Creek. Try and find it!

When just starting out with cooking, start with foods that don't require a stove. Yeah, that means a lot of garden salads but it's a good way to build a few skill points so you can make better meals while avoiding fires. Watch the Cooking Channel if you need to watch TV to build Fun, that way you're building cooking skill at the same time.

When your Sim gets some extra money, start updating your appliances, plumbing and furniture. If you're in a starter house get a better stove and refrigerator so you can make better meals and reduce fire risk. Next tackle the plumbing to get a showeror tub that'll help with hygiene and don't leave a Cold Shower moodlet. Then make sure you have a bed that doesn't leave you feeling uncomforable in the morning when you need to head to work. Also remember you'll want to have some of their career/skill building items at home so you don't have to leave the house all the time -- a computer if you're a writer or tech guru, an easel if you're a painter, etc. Some careers will actually give usable skill building items as rewards -- using those saves a lot of money layout. For example writing supplies a low-level but useful computer, and as you progress in the Painter career you'll get easels that increase in quality.

You don't need every type of venue in each world. You can have your gym in Oasis Springs, your museum in Willow Creek etc. You'll have Newcrest as an empty world, you can add some of the base game venues there. Remember to leave some vacant lots for future expansion like if you want to get Dine Out for restaurants or Bowling Night Stuff to make bowling alleys (you can zone them either as bars, lounges or nightclubs so they can do multiple duty).

If you download a residential lot from the Gallery, for an extra challenge place it in Unfurnished mode, then furnish it yourself, challenging yourself to stay within a certain price range. It's especially fun to do when you have a few packs under your belt, more than just Base Game.

If you get really stuck, you could look up some Let's Plays and other videos from around September/October of 2014 (when the game first released) on YouTube to see what other players did with just the Base Game.

There are some great online resources out there if you need some help with an aspect of the game. I really recommend Carl's Guide especially as you get more in depth and add content.

Finally, now that you have the base, keep an eye on Origin for good sales to pick up additional content. There are some great packs out there that can add more depth to your game or even just expand your Sims wardrobe and furniture choices.