Since the game decided to reset all relationships that were simply friends in the past I had no one around other than animals and the spouse in my Sim's friendship list. Now that the little positive challenge is going on I'm back to trying and get a few friends, or at least one, for the challenge. However, I did realize something...friends are kind of stupid to have. I mean, ok they can go with you to places and do things with you, but other than that what's the point? You go to their house they ignore you or sometimes even leave to go to work. Same thing when they come to your house. There's NO interactions other than talking or maybe playing games if you have them. I would love to offer them a drink...stay for dinner...have a snack....but I don't see options like that. I'm not too sure I understand the concept of friends and chances are will go back to being a hermit once this challenge is over. Or....am I missing something after all this time and can actually offer them food and drinks?

Much like in real life, friends in Sims 4 usually serve no purpose other than to fill social needs. It's a refreshing departure from previous iterations of the game where they were needed for career advancement and what not. Granted, there are still aspirations and careers in TS4 where they are needed as well, but those are few and far between.Worth mentioning though that being friends with your co-workers helps career advancement in all career fields. Helps being the key word, they aren't a necessity, just make promotions faster.

@icmnfrsh, the socialize option itself doesn't increase performance (it actually slows it down), but once you are actually good friends with those co-workers, it provides a boost no matter what option you choose while working.

They visit your house and clean up.It's best to have friends with the neat trait.

I may be mistaken, but can't you prepare a meal and then call everyone to eat it? I've used it with clubs - which I have found a great way to have friends.

I like my sims to have friends. Some more than others, but I try to let everyone have at least one friend.It's much easier to get them interacting if they are gathering in a club meeting. And if you want them to eat together you can indeed cook and call to meal. This includes at outdoor bbqs at the park etc. Or, if you don't mind paying, treat them to a meal at a restaurant.At bars you can buy drinks for other sims. You can ask them to join you in activities like roller skating and bowling.If you set up a club for them, you can choose club activities as well as things that you want them to avoid doing.And when your sim is down, they will often get a friend come round to cheer them up or invite them out.

The point of friends? | EA Forums

16 Replies

JaggidEdje
7 years ago
Much like in real life, friends in Sims 4 usually serve no purpose other than to fill social needs. It's a refreshing departure from previous iterations of the game where they were needed for career advancement and what not. Granted, there are still aspirations and careers in TS4 where they are needed as well, but those are few and far between.

Worth mentioning though that being friends with your co-workers helps career advancement in all career fields. Helps being the key word, they aren't a necessity, just make promotions faster.
icemanfresh
Legend
7 years ago
"Stormkeep;c-16848852" wrote:
Much like in real life, friends in Sims 4 usually serve no purpose other than to fill social needs. It's a refreshing departure from previous iterations of the game where they were needed for career advancement and what not. Granted, there are still aspirations and careers in TS4 where they are needed as well, but those are few and far between.

Worth mentioning though that being friends with your co-workers helps career advancement in all career fields. Helps being the key word, they aren't a necessity, just make promotions faster.

Oh yeah, I hated the friendship requirement in 1 and 2. Even as a kid I questioned why you'd need to be friends with some rando to get promoted in your job.

And I didn't know befriending your coworkers helped in TS4. I don't really choose the "socialize" tone when working because it doesn't seem to have any apparent effects, although the last time I tried was in 2014 before all those patches. My kids do meet kids at school now, so maybe that's changed.
catitude5
7 years ago
"TravisBlackfox;d-951909" wrote:
Since the game decided to reset all relationships that were simply friends in the past I had no one around other than animals and the spouse in my Sim's friendship list. Now that the little positive challenge is going on I'm back to trying and get a few friends, or at least one, for the challenge. However, I did realize something...friends are kind of stupid to have. I mean, ok they can go with you to places and do things with you, but other than that what's the point? You go to their house they ignore you or sometimes even leave to go to work. Same thing when they come to your house. There's NO interactions other than talking or maybe playing games if you have them. I would love to offer them a drink...stay for dinner...have a snack....but I don't see options like that. I'm not too sure I understand the concept of friends and chances are will go back to being a hermit once this challenge is over. Or....am I missing something after all this time and can actually offer them food and drinks?

I know, it's useless the way it is. What I do is move that sim into the household when I want interaction. Otherwise you are lucky if can can even find that sim sometimes and you can't get them to do what you want them to do. After I've done the scene I want, I move them back home. If you can't control both sims, you can't do anything.
JaggidEdje
7 years ago
@icmnfrsh, the socialize option itself doesn't increase performance (it actually slows it down), but once you are actually good friends with those co-workers, it provides a boost no matter what option you choose while working.
icemanfresh
Legend
7 years ago
So it does make you closer to your co-workers. Last I remember it did nothing, which is why I didn't bother with it :D
BadCowboy1969
7 years ago
It's all fine for me because zero friends around is pretty much my reality anyway lol I rarely hang out with anyone and my only social interaction off the computer is whenever I get called in to work or go on Pokemon Go raids. I have my bff, but he's online only at this time since we're in two different states, but yeah. I am just finding it an odd concept in the game now that I'm paying attention to it. I guess the way around the food and drink thing is to simply make those items and leave them out and if the guest wants to eat them they will.
JaggidEdje
7 years ago
"icmnfrsh;c-16848882" wrote:
So it does make you closer to your co-workers. Last I remember it did nothing, which is why I didn't bother with it :D

Yah, but it's super slow. You're better off just using it to meet them if you don't even know who they are, but after that build the relationship outside of work.
ck213
Legend
7 years ago
They visit your house and clean up.
It's best to have friends with the neat trait.
BadCowboy1969
7 years ago
"calaprfy;c-16848914" wrote:
You need friends for some careers and aspirations.

Currently, the worst thing about having a lot of friends is that the sim is often sad for days because they get a phonecall regarding the death of a friend.

My boys are maxed on money so they don't work anymore (is there a way to cheat the money away?) and I have aging off so I don't think anyone can die?
GwastenMica
Seasoned Scout
7 years ago
I may be mistaken, but can't you prepare a meal and then call everyone to eat it? I've used it with clubs - which I have found a great way to have friends.