Where do you get your inspiration?

I'm having fun making previous Sims characters that I like in CAS. The Burbs, the Pleasants..

My game is always about the kids... the parents are a side note but I usually start with a single sim or a married couple. Maybe I want to tell the story of a kid that had a bad childhood so I plan the parents to give him an hard time... like two people that hates each other but stay together for the children will get opposite traits... then the child will get the non committal trait as a result, for example.. but I always start by deciding the story of the future child.

I get most of my inspiration from other simmers which is why I think the forum is such an important part of the whole simming experience. Someone can discuss what's happening in their game and then I want to try it out also. Looking at all the awesome build creations in the creative corner also inspires me. I'll see a particular lot and get ideas of what type of sim should live there.

I go in with a plan, My characters have existed in my head long before I thought about bringing them into the game.
My Characters are inspired by Tv shows and I plot. Back stories are tough though because they're hard to play out.

One family I can't wait to play are, the Kings.

Once upon a time, In another realm, a two young Sorceresses were on the run from a Wrathful Queen, mother to one of the girls.
He latest attempt was abducting her Daughter's best friend and threatened her Life to force her to stay. So Stella the Daughter of Queen Cora, broke Juliana out of the Dungeons and they ran. Created a portal to a new realm.

Briarwood (Willow Creek) 1790. On the outskirts of town they arrive to a Mysterious Town.
http://pri-renewables.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/image1987.jpg

they Spend two centuries starting over. in 1985 Juliana Meets two men. Hunter Dior and Trent King.
At First Hunter and Trent battle it out both trying to win Juliana's Heart Ultimately Hunter lets Trent go when he learns about her secret, that She's a Sorceress, and travels to France (Windenburg).

Trent and Julia On their First Date At the Red Queen Night Club.
http://orig06.deviantart.net/bcf7/f/2015/222/f/d/screen_shot_2015_08_09_at_7_33_55_pm_by_mphattyboi-d95240c.png

Trent and Julia get together. Trent's parents, well his father won't approve of Julia (Racism). Trent Disowns his father,
http://orig00.deviantart.net/6eec/f/2015/222/6/a/screen_shot_2015_08_10_at_8_23_04_am_by_mphattyboi-d9523vi.png
And his Mother gives Trent and Julia her Blessing.
They Get married

http://orig03.deviantart.net/909e/f/2016/022/f/3/screen_shot_2016_01_22_at_4_27_53_pm_by_mphattyboi-d9ox1fk.png
the Night of their Wedding at the reception of their new House, Julia takes Trent aside and tells him, her Secret, that she's a Sorceress.
although they thought it was impossible Trent's love for her intensified. He's a Geek, a bookworm and Adventurer, the fact that there's magic in his life makes it even better.

Julia's Parents (Using Magic) buys them a house, of their own to Start a family.

http://orig10.deviantart.net/935c/f/2015/233/2/f/screen_shot_2015_08_19_at_7_55_04_am_by_mphattyboi-d96ni03.png
They're going to have two kids (would have been three but there was a miscarriage with the Second Child. Child 3 is going to be a Tough one.

As Julia goes into labor to deliver her son, Trent's Father dies, a few moments after (Cardiac Arrest).

Trent Says, Good Riddance.

Both Kids are going to be born Sorcerers, and Trent and Julia will raise them together.

fast forward 10 years later.

Trent is a Detective on the Briarwood PD, and trained Fire Fighter.
One Night was on scene of a house fire.
there was a little girl trapped in the upstairs.
Trent Goes in, The Little girl Get out but He doesn't.

waiting in the flames is a witch, She casts a spell, Making the building explode, and abducting Trent, But making it look like He died in the fire.
leaving His Badge and Wedding ring and a pile of human remains behind.

Julia was depressed.
Desiree, went goth for a short phase.
Mason, the son was broken and isolated himself.

cut to 7 years later.

Stranger Events begin to take place in Briarwood. creatures come out, Magic Hunters, Demonic attacks, the normal chaos.
Mason, takes after his father and Uses his magic to save the town from supernatural attacks, alongside, is his best and Loyal friend Tyler who is a werewolf and Stella's 1 of 6 sons.

I'm a bit of a wierdo probably. Often, I see someone in real life who has a face I find interesting so I'll try to recreate them in CAS :D I don't particularly have to know the person to want to make the sims version. Wow, that sounds so stalkery...Stalkerish, oh well... it makes me sound like a stalker but I swear I don't follow them around and my only interest in them is making pretty or unique sims!

"simgirl1010;14641116" wrote:
I get most of my inspiration from other simmers which is why I think the forum is such an important part of the whole simming experience. Someone can discuss what's happening in their game and then I want to try it out also. Looking at all the awesome build creations in the creative corner also inspires me. I'll see a particular lot and get ideas of what type of sim should live there.

I, too, get inspiration from all the creative Simmers on the forums, Gallery, and YouTube. I am amazed at what they are able to build and how creative they get in playing out their stories with all their different styles. It's captivating, and is a constant reminder to me of how wonderful The Sims series is, no matter what version one prefers. I'm so glad this game is there for us!

Doing a particular player-created challenge, or participating in one of the many Sim or Building competitions can bring a whole new perspective and purpose to game play. Other sources of inspiration for me are novels, movies, T.V. and even real-life situations. I think to myself that I'd like to try playing out a scenario in my game, perhaps with a different outcome than what I read, saw, or heard. So, sometimes I do have a plan of sorts, but I avoid doing everything the same way over and over again, with each household or save, as it becomes tiresome. Then again something I find myself doing a lot is that I will just notice and watch a particular townie for awhile, and something about them makes me want to develop a story around them--to see what their life is about. Lol. ;) I may put them in a house and play them in spurts, giving their lives a little more meaning and adventure! This makes for some spontaneous, rewarding play, as they often become an endearing, memorable character while interacting with my other favorites.

In CAS, I stretch my comfort zone in making Sims that aren't always so "perfect." I also try all the hair, clothing styles, colors, and accessories across all the categories. I vary the family structure options, too, to make every Sim and experience unique. It's interesting to see what I can combine together that I might not normally choose. It's delightful seeing the results and new discoveries, which make playing those Sims more fun. :)

In CAS I get inspired mostly by my other sims, guess I'm self-inspired :D I may add their relative or future spouse in the game. I like giving them their own families/backstories too. I also get inspired by characters in my previous games. Maybe I re-create someone from TS1 or a child they could have had. Movies etc. give me inspiration for personalities, but I prefer creating their looks/stories on my own instead of copying the whole character. Building a house can be inspiring too and help with defining a character I have in mind.

I have created some real life people, but had mixed feelings about them. I like to come up with their personalities, but getting the looks right frustruates me so much!

For sims, I usually play around in CAS until I get something I like, or I'll click on the dice for a random name and google up origin and try to make someone who'd fit the name :D If I can't find anything good, I'll play around on a name website to find something that catches my eye.
With the name I'll think of an elaborate story that'd make them interesting, still taking their name into account. For example, a couple of my convict sims I have for townies; Jin Ruan and Rico Cabello.
http://i.imgur.com/X12idfR.png
Jin had several meanings, and the one that I used was for money. His last name, "Ruan," had possible origins to an instrument, so he's this music loving materialistic guy who turned slightly insane from staying in the joint for too long. Though, because he's been in prison for that long, I gave him reward traits "Connections" and "Observant" for an idea that he's generally a guy who's almost always one step ahead of you. His backstory was that he was arrested for racketeering.

Rico, stemming from the name "Richard," for hardiness. He has "Shameless" as a trait, since I took it that he's more bold in taking action... Or things. His backstory was that he was arrested for theft (kleptomaniac) and he isn't fond of going back to prison, so he enjoys his time outside (Loves Outdoors). His last name is "Cabello," which apparently meant hair. Look at his hair. LOL :joy: (He'd be much more hairier if there was body hair in 4.) Because of his amazing locks, I imagined he'd be kind of vain, so I gave him Snob. (It also fits because he likes the finer things in life!)

Sometimes, I'd just give it to my brother when I'm bored and he'd make pseudo celebrity sims or something with questionable origins. I say questionable, because they're obviously things that are um... Touchy subjects in history, for one. :joy:

When it comes to houses, I usually make them to suit a family I have in game.


They're all on the gallery if anyone likes them, too. :)

I don't make Sims very often, but when I do, it really depends.

Sometimes I have a really clear idea in mind of what I want a Sim to like and what their story will (although, that last bit can change as I play). For example Sadie, who turned out exactly as I wanted her:



At other times I just randomise until I get something I can work with, tweak it a bit or a lot, give them some better clothes.
Sometimes I go for traits first, when I sort of have a type of Sim in mind, give them the traits and aspiration and then randomise until I get a Sim that suits them.

I'm also really fond of the genetics generator - I just made brothers and cousins for Stephanie and also a sister and a brother for Adam :)
Stephanie's brothers:


I also like coming up with backstories, but that's just to make them sound more interesting, I don't always play them according to their backstory.

I just realised none of this really answers your question, does it? Sometimes, characters have existed in my mind for ages, like Stephanie and Adam or, more recently, Finn:


Aside from that, I usually just randomise and sometimes there's a Sim I like that, the moment I see them, immediately gets a background, plans for the future, etc. Like Jing-Mei:

Comes from a traditional Chinese family, recently moved to Newcrest, now lives with a roommate called Molly. She's creative, loves to cook, but none of your typical take-away food, haute cuisine is more her style - although she still needs to learn a lot about cooking.
I can go on and write up an entire story, for me, once I get started the ideas often keep flowing.

My advice to battle your CAS block: randomise (and don't be ashamed to click that button 60 times or more - I have done that, I'm very picky I guess).

I usually make Sim versions of characters from my favorite fandoms. Right now it's Suikoden III. :) I have trouble getting attached to Sims that aren't based on an already established character from a series that I love.