A Typical Sims3 Modder (aka Mad Scientist) in action
Transferring from Sims2 to Sims3 opens new possibilities, but can also lead to a certain level of depression and longing for all the possibilities (items, mods, ect) we had in Sims2 with all the expansions, compared to Sims3 base game. Here are my tips to make the transition more easier and to quickly find the mods needed to enhance the game experience.
First of all: how to install mods and new custom content? Can we organize downloads in some smart way (there may be not so much stuff now, but I did accumulate over 10 GBs of custom content for sims2, so the issue is worth to think about NOW).
Delphy of MTS has an excellent helper for this:
If you want subfolders in your Package folder, make sure the resource.cfg file looks like this:
Priority 500
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*/*/*.package
Oh - and remember - in Sims3 the downloads are in the Program Files/Electronic Arts/Sims 3 folder, NOT in Documents. Well, with the exception of the stuff you install with the game launcher, but that stuff is autoinstalled anyway.
MODS - CORE MOD
While in Sims2, we had a lot of smaller mods and modded objects used for a variety of things, Sims3 is different. The game can have ONE core mod (as in, a mod that changes the core of the game engine) and only one. I recommend using MATY:s Awesome Mod.
The Awesome Mod has many features, and is easy configurable. It is still in beta and is updated daily - so check back often for new versions. Not only does it make the gameplay so much easier, for example switching between sims and houses, but it also contains a Story Mod Driver that keeps the hood evolving around your sims.
There is a wiki for it with more info -
here.And the configuration-web page is
here.
Even if there can be only one core mod, you can add tweaks with simple xml-mods. There are many such tweaks, and normally they are compatible with core mods. With these you can for example speed up skilling or train toddlers faster.
A new kind of mods are object oriented, and I highly recommend Twallans Supercomputer and other mods. They work together with Awesome Mod or other Core Mods, but are also standalone objects.
Twallan also has other object mods for download at MATY, check them out!
Next: Skin replacements and new eyes - my favorites. Where to find new HAIR.