What is Gameplay to you?

I hope when EA revives the whim system, they will also add to it so that Sims will get a negative moodlet (sad, unconfortable, furious or bored) from not earning a certain amount of whim bucks in a certain time span and a positive moodlet (inspired, happy, energized, focused) from doing so. That would be super cool!

The tuning could be done as a commodity that gets affected with every whim fulfilled.

If there were any accessible tuning files for the effect of whims, I would have modded it myself, but sadly the whim system is hardly accessible.

I completely agree. I really think Sims 4 is great if you are a builder but really lacks in gameplay. I always loved playing the Sims because of the stories you could create and how the Sims had substance and depth. I miss having the ability to make stories, create or customize a neighborhood, the Wants and Fears, I miss the memory system, I even miss the burglars, and I really miss how things have consequences in the game, like if a Sim get cheated on they would steal your newspaper or knock down your trash. I will say I think Sentiments are a step in the right direction but I don’t feel like the resources and energy in the Sims team are being allocated correctly. I don’t like the emphasis on emotions because it’s like saying people are completely and utterly driven by emotions alone which I personally don’t agree with. I thought the Sims 3 did a better job with moods and Sims 2 just completely excelled at it all.
For me personally I am just disappointed in the content the Sims 4 team puts out. I feel like each new expansion or pack or kit is only playable for a few hours and is a cash grab. I found myself so disappointed in the games that I was spending so much money on these expansion with the mindset of “oh, this will make the game better,” but after a few hours it returned to being unplayable for me.
I honestly uninstalled the Sims 4 and just decided to pick it back up once the gameplay has been fixed or just completely drop it and wait and see what Sims 5 can offer. This is really disappointing to me because I really want to support the Sims franchise. I started playing the original Sims (some people call it Sims 1) when I was seven years old, and my sisters and I use to save up our allowance to purchase each expansion and new Sims games as they came out. But for me I’m just not getting anything out of the Sims 4 and I just can’t spend anymore time and money on it.

@83bienchen and @CK213 You guys are definitely on to something too with the whims system. I have to be honest, I turned whims off because they felt so useless. I have turbo's attraction system in the game. I may look at some of the other mods @CK213 mentioned if it will make the whim system more interesting.

I just wanna say that I really agree on what your saying @keekee53 @Yautagirl @Triplis and @83bienchen !

LACKING DEPTH SIMS 4
I think that one big thing with the lack of depth comes from the sims shallow personalities. The traits needs to be fixed and I also think that we need a foundation to the personality like a temperament system (point system like in sims 1 & 2) in addition to the traits. A sim should be able to have a temperament of being more or less (e.g.) Introvert / Extrovert but also have traits like: easily-impressed, snob, hot-headed.

The existing trait system could work as a “spice” to a temperament and deepen it, but does not work by itself. I mean you just have 3 slots and your sim can end up like: Music lover, Dance machine & Vegetarian. Wow, but that’s 2 hobbies and a diet, not a personality!

PERSONALITY IMPROVEMENTS
1. Add a section for diet (+1 slot: Omnivore / Vegetarian / Vegan)

2. Attraction system + Favorites/Dislikes + Talents/Inabilities (hobby system) would be great add ons to the game.

3. Add a Temperaments system (point system) as an addition to the existing trait system. It could be a scale of 1-10 (sims 1 & 2) or just a scale of 1-6 (E.g: 1. Very Sensitive 2. Sensitive 3. A little sensitive => 4. A little Rational 5. Rational 6. Very rational).

1 points of SENSITIVE (very Sensitive) = most affected by the SENSITIVE trait => most SENSITIVE moodlets & personality benefits/disadvantages.
https://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111003074631/sims/images/7/7e/Personality_%26_Aspiration.png
1. SENSITIVE - RATIONAL
SENSITIVE (1-5)
*Faster increasing skills: Creativity skills, Pet skills, Life skill
*Increased performance in following careers: Therapist, Doctor, creative careers
*Decreased performance in following careers: Detective, Law, Military, Secret agent
*Easier to gain sentiments
*Easier to get the "shared sadness" moodlet (from seeing a loved one suffer, sentiments system)
*Collects higher negative life points from negative experiences #FixThePersonalities

4.
Collect Negative & Positive points from life experiences and develop Childhood traits & Life traits (e.g. Narcissistic, Naive, Spolied, Unlucky). Develop and remember Struggles and life experiences. Negative / Positive / Neutral childhood. Therapy +active Healer / Therapist career (return of the therapist from sims 2!). Self-Esteem system and Meaningfulness system (similiar to the aspiration system in sims 2).
https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/986200/life-struggles-pack-updates-sims-4-memory-system-consequences-wants-fears-personality-overhaul

5. MEMORY SYSTEM + MEMORY MOODLETS
Sims are now going to remember their memories and will at random get a moodlet with the memory (eg. ”Simsis was born”) that have the same moodlet as back then (e.g. “+1 happy”). This moodlet will give them the interaction to "share memory" with other sims that are included in the memory (e.g. parents can share a memory of a child birth). This will make the other sim remember = trigger their memory moodlet.
https://thumbs.modthesims2.com/img/8/0/7/1/7/6/9/MTS_DiLight-1487502-6YVMaeidbFI.jpg
*Green X = Positive memory from: positive sentiments/events (positive life/childhood points).
*Red X = Negative memory from: negative sentiments/events (negative life/childhood points
*Yellow X = Redefined memory (earlier positive memory that has changed temporarily after gaining a negative sentiment, will give a negative moodlet)
*Orange with a “!”-symbol!X = a Struggle LIFE STRUGGLES PACK
*Golden with a “!”-symbol!X = a treated Struggle LIFE STRUGGLES PACK

*No met mystery sim or visited the park/library/shop -kind of memories
*Focus on bigger events instead: had a baby (name of the baby), got married / divorced, become best friend with (sim_name), got scholarship (and which), got a job / retired (which career), had a negative / positive / neutral childhood LIFE STRUGGLES PACK, had a million simoleans, become boyfriend/girlfriend, etc...

LACKING GAMEPLAY SIMS 4 @keekee53
I think sims 4 is often lacking gameplay because there are too little game features in it. It´s too much of playing with dolls. Yeah I understand that you can make up your own story in your head… but that’s the problem, it’s just in your head and doesn’t affect the game. I really want more game features, challenges and consequences when I play (and an option to toggle this on/off for those who want that kind of game).


GAMEPLAY IMPROVEMENTS
I really agree @83bienchen on what you say about the sims 2 system. Whims should be affecting your sims overall wellbeing not just give you points. Why not implement a Meaningfullness system and a Self-esteem system in sims 4? Maybe something similar to the sims 2 aspiration system, but updated? Fulfill positive / negative whims (want & fears) and gain / lose Meaningfullness points + Self-esteem points. A low / high Meaningfullness bar & Self-esteem bar will give your different moodlets and consequences.


1. MEANINGFULNESS SYSTEM
https://ic.pics.livejournal.com/forestpixie/703450/95949/95949_original.jpg
Similar to the aspiration bar in sims 2. Fulfill positive / negative whims (want & fears) and gain / lose Meaningfullness points + Self-esteem points. Each Meaningfulness level will give your sim specific moodlets.

1. Prosperous (positive moodlet +2, Constant and slow increase in Self-esteem points, different positive moodlets)
2. Satisfied (positive moodlet +1)
3. Ok
4. Down (negative moodlet -1)
5. Distressed (negative moodlet -2, Risk of getting mental break-downs, Risk of getting the negative Fundamental moodlet (will last a few days, can´t be removed and affects all your other moodlets): Depressed = lower the effect of all positive moodlets, constant and slow decrease in Self esteem, reduces energy bar faster, getting exhausted from work out faster, lower learning abilities and shorter times with focus).


2. SELF ESTEEM SYSTEM
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-edCAOfnOAYE/W_zUJJn5oxI/AAAAAAAABJk/0KVVxxyaorEyjmBLnOCyaFRQQkWSB3qVQCLcBGAs/s1600/10.png
Similar to the reputation system (Get Famous, uses the same design).
Self-esteem, high level (1-3): believe in their ability, easier to get promoted, easier to socialize, more positive emotions/moodlets, faster increase of Meaningfulness points).
Self-Esteem, low level (5-7): often doubt their ability, harder to get promotions, harder to socialize, more negative moodlets/emotions (shame/embarrassed about their self, anxiety, insecure), faster decrease in Meaningfulness points), risk of getting negative Fundamental moodlets (will last a few days, can´t be removed and affects all your other moodlets): Anxious or Self-Doubt.
1. Hubris
2. Proud
3. Good Self-esteem
4. Ok
5. Low Self-Esteem
6. Dissatisfied
7. Self-contempt


3. UPDATED WHIMS (WANTS & FEARS) + QUEST WANTS
1. More whims at the same time (not just 3)

2. Both negative & positive whims (want & fears)

3. Whims affecting Satisfaction points + Self Esteem system + Meaningfulness system

4. Whims from Sentiments / Relationships / Lifestyles / Hobbies system / Attraction system / Favorites & Dislikes

5. Whims from a chosen Life direction (lifelong aspiration that can be changed at any time) +Quest want:
https://i.redd.it/8rwn35j5bv0z.png
You can have up to 3 different directions (aspirations) ongoing at the same time. The directions will give your sim negative & positive whims (want & fears), complete and gain / lose Satisfaction points + Meaningfullness points + Self-esteem points. You will also get an button for a Quest want. Click on this button to get assigned to a quest (the quest is based upon your chosen directions, is time limited and include several tasks). At the end of your sims lifetime, their tombstone will show what direction your sims found as most important (what directions their mostly picked) and what direction your sim was mostly successful in. You can change your sims directions at any time.

Pick 3 directions from following categories:
(They can all be from the same category or from different categories):
1. Family 2. Romantic 3. Pleasure 4. Career 5. Money 6. Popularity 7. Knowledge
8. Power 9. Hedonism 10. Goodness 11. Spiritual & Personal development
12. Health & Wellbeing 13. Vanity 14. Evilness 15. Criminality 16. Nature 17. Animals & Wildlife
18. Travel & Experiences 19. Interest & Hobbies 20. Random (you will have the possibility to choose which directions to randomize from if you don´t want all of them)

A sim that goes for a longer period of time without completing any...
*Whims will get the moodlet Life feels meh (+1 Bored and Decreasing Meaningfulness points).
*Quest wants will get the moodlet No direction in life (+1 Tensed and Decreasing Meaningfulness points).


FROM THE LIFE STRUGGLES PACK (Self Esteem system & Meaningfulness system)
https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/986200/life-struggles-pack-updates-sims-4-memory-system-consequences-wants-fears-personality-overhaul


4. PERK POINTS & REWARDS
One thing that I like with the Perk points is that it’s a game feature. The problem with the perk system is that you after a while will end up with an a lot of useless perk points when all rewards / perks are bought. (I still haven’t found out what you do with your influence points after you activated 4 NAPs???). I think that when they add something like the perks system they also need to make it into a circular system where you always can make use of your points (like with the satisfaction points = you can always buy an emotion / increase needs potion for your sim or give away as a gift).

5. SCOUT BADGES SYSTEM
I do really like the scout badges system (SEASONS EP) for some occasions. This could be used in something like an Education pack (grades system for Regular school / Home schooling).

Gameplay to me is the stuff I have control over and get the out come I want. Or at least as close as possible. When I make my sim cheat, they should have some reaction knowing full well they didn't try for baby with their partner. When I make a daughter go to university and she visits her parents, they shouldn't get mad when she sleeps in her old room or makes something to eat. The AI doesn't understand basic relationships. No, you won't have a pleasant conversation with someone you declared enemy.