Traits and Elements and Matchmakers (Oh My!)

I'm alive! Just been busy with assorted stuff, without much time to work on rebuilding Kulo Seeri. However, it is very much a WIP right now. Still cutting downloads, then I've got to create and decorate the hood, build, recreate the Sims... *sigh*

Anyway! Here's one thing I'd like to share now: my trait system for the new Kulo Seeri. I've been working on it for the past week or so, and finally got it finished! Rambling ahead, so read on under the break.


Credit where it's due: My list was inspired by traits from TS3, TS4, TSM, Ledesia's trait list (also TS3-inspired) and also a couple of RPG character trait/flaw lists. I just adapted the systems to fit my style of TS2 play. Here's how it works...

I have a list of 128 traits. All my Sims have 3-6 traits, depending on age. The first three traits are assigned randomly at birth. I choose a fourth when the Sim is old enough to go through the rites of adulthood, usually between the ages of 13-15 (though 11 or 12 isn't unheard of for some girls). The fifth trait is assigned when the Sim ages from teen to adult, and the sixth is assigned on the elder birthday. Note that by the time the teen trait comes into play, I have a clearer idea of who that Sim is, and all traits from that point onward are chosen by me, not randomised.

I assign traits at birth like this:

The first trait is chosen at random from the entire trait list. Second and third traits are (usually) inherited from the parents. I put the parents' traits in a separate list and roll a d12 twice. Of course, since both parents can't be elders, the maximum number of traits on this list is 11 (if dad is an elder) and the minimum is 8 (if the birth is the result of a teenage fling at Teal Camp, for example). Usually, though, it will be 10 - but I roll the d12 regardless of how many traits are actually on this list.

If the die roll gives me one of the parents' traits, the baby inherits that trait. If a duplicate trait is rolled, or I roll a number higher than the number of traits on the list, that means I go back to the full list and pick randomly from that. Sound needlessly complicated? Think about it - a child's personality is sometimes similar to one parent's, sometimes a mix of both parents, and sometimes something else entirely. I wanted that to be part of my Sims' characters too.

Now, here's where it gets really needlessly complicated: sooner or later these little Simmies will grow up and get into ACR territory, and eventually the elders will start nagging them about settling down. Typically every older relative and their cat will have an opinion about who's a suitable mate and who's not. And traits will play a big part in their matchmaking attempts from now on.

You see, Nuidya believe in eight elements. They're already associated with the eight half-moons (two-day rotations) of their calendar, the seasonal festivals, the points of the compass, and the major types of spirit within Nuidya mythology. Now they're associated with traits and personality types, too. I divided my trait list into eight sub-lists of sixteen traits each, and linked each one to an element.

The elements are, in calendar order: Freshwater (south, first half of spring), Earth (southwest, second half of spring), Wood (west, first half of summer), Saltwater (northwest, second half of summer), Metal (north, first half of autumn), Air (northeast, second half of autumn), Fire (east, first half of winter) and Stone (southeast, second half of winter). Each element is balanced by the one on the opposite side of the compass.

The ideal marriage, as far as the Nuidya elders are concerned, is one where the couple's elemental traits are as evenly balanced around the eight points as possible: someone with a lot of Air traits, for example, would do well to find a partner who favours Earth. This doesn't mean young Sims will always listen to the elders when choosing partners, nor does it mean that marriages will always work out when they do listen to the elders - but it does give the inevitable nagging some direction for story purposes! :)

Wait, I'm forgetting something. What is it? Oh yes - the actual traits! Here they are:

FRESHWATER TRAITS

1. Adventurous
2. Athletic

3. Childish

4. Curious

5. Excitable

6. Friendly

7. Impatient

8. Jokester

9.  Loves Cold

10. Optimistic

11. Over-Emotional

12. Reckless

13. Slacker

14. Snarky

15. Troublemaker

16. Vain

EARTH TRAITS

1. Animal Lover

2. Frugal

3. Gardener

4. Gatherer

5. Kind-Hearted

6. Loves Family

7. Loves Outdoors

8. Lucky

9. Morning Sim

10. Natural Cook

11. Nurturing

12. Practical

13. Protective

14. Ruthless

15. Squeamish

16. Worrier

WOOD TRAITS

1. Clumsy

2. Competitive

3. Dislikes Children

4. Hard Worker

5. Heavy Sleeper

6. Jealous

7. Loves Dogs

8. Loyal

9. Morning Sim

10. Obsessive

11. Patient

12. Perfectionist

13. Socially Awkward

14. Strong Constitution

15.Stubborn

16.Supernatural Sceptic

SALTWATER TRAITS

1. Ambitious

2. Angler

3. Chameleon

4. Clean

5. Dislikes Cats

6. Impractical

7. Insecure

8. Light Sleeper

9. Loves Drinking

10. Loves to Swim

11. Materialistic

12. Modest

13. Natural Performer

14. Pessimistic

15. Unforgiving

16. Whiner

METAL TRAITS

1. Coward

2. Dislikes Animals

3. Glutton

4. Greedy

5. Handy

6. Hunter

7. Mean-Spirited

8. Needy

9. Night Owl

10. Pack Animal

11. Progressive

12. Social Butterfly

13. Uncreative

14. Unlucky

15. Wasteful

16. Weak Constitution

AIR TRAITS

1. Absent-Minded

2. Artistic

3. Commitment Issues

4. Do-Gooder

5. Dreamer

6. Eccentric

7. Genius

8. Hoarder

9. Kleptomaniac

10. Moocher

11. Musical

12. Perceptive

13. Rebellious

14. Supernatural Fan

15. Superstitious

16. Virtuoso

FIRE TRAITS

1. Brave

2. Charismatic

3. Compulsive Gambler

4. Confident

5. Dislikes Dogs

6. Dislikes Swimming

7. Flirty

8. Hopeless Romantic

9. Hot-Headed

10. Loves Heat

11. Night Owl

12.  Party Animal

13. Salad Burner

14. Slob

15. Sympathetic

16. Trader

STONE TRAITS

1. Disciplined

2. Dutiful

3. Forgiving

4. Grumpy

5. Logical

6. Loner

7. Loves Cats

8. Mature

9. No Sense of Humour

10. Perfect Memory

11. Proper

12. Sculptor’s Hands

13. Spiritual

14. Studious

15. Traditional

16.  Unflirty

Stay tuned for Part 2, where I'll show how this applies to Kulo Seeri's current couples!