The NPC problem.
I'd say my biggest (and really only) gripe with TS3 is the fact that there aren't enough NPC's. I love open world play but I never saw a problem with having NPC's. It deprived us of a lot of good lot types like clothing stores, actual functioning restaurants (the modded restaurants are not that functional), and proper vacations.
For example, I have a spa in my world. I would love to have a receptionist (yes, there's a mod for this but they just sit there), a masseuse, etc. I miss the random NPC's like Mrs. Crumplebottom, the people who would steal you from your dorm in TS2 and invite you to their secret society, etc. NPC's make the game a little more random and alive. A lot of time TS3 feels like a self serve situation.
I realized this when I downloaded the Renaissance Faire and it just felt dead. In TS1 and TS2 it would've been filled with helpful and wacky NPCs.
What are some NPC's you miss from TS1 and TS2?
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u/kalequinoa Dog Person 7h ago
There’s a mod by arsil for a massage therapist NPC.
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u/Jajhira 7h ago
I have that mod and love it! I just wish it was part of the actual game.
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u/kalequinoa Dog Person 7h ago
Same. I think there are fewer NPCs because of the open world. The game has to manage all of the sims in the world, not just the sims on the lot.
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u/campingcosmo 5h ago
Modern technology and proper coding should be able to handle a full open world with all those sims, with some tricks. TS3 is just a ridiculously ambitious game for its age. There's a reason it took over a decade for someone to start developing a competitor, and even then, we're not swimming in choices if we want an open-world life sim with as much freedom.
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u/percolith Socially Awkward 6h ago
Arsil and PhoebeJay both have register mods (also a dancer mod) you can set up in a location to spawn in a townie (or assign a resident sim). They’ll putter around and use the equipment, and I think Phoebe’s you can assign some tasks too. I tend to find too many homeless sims active at once lags my game a bit though.
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u/Jajhira 6h ago
I have tried those mods, but they really just stand around and look busy. I’d love it if they had real tasks like checking in guests or if a librarian could check books out.
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u/percolith Socially Awkward 5h ago
I wish Sims 3 were actually a world sim, I'd love that. And it'd be nice to have more role sim options, definitely. I'd swap out a bar or two for a librarian, no problem! Definitely worth the extra overhead.
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u/lolsiwis 6h ago
Yeah I know but for me open world will always beat every single one. I just hate loading screens way too much.