[Sims 3] Modding tools and best practices

[EmperorClydeIV]

I had a few problems with my latest attempts at modding Sims 3. I got tired of searching the problem, so I decided to start fresh. I cleaned and uninstalled everything. I aim to begin anew with better foundations.

 

Now, I have blurry memories about some modding tools and best practices. That's where I'd like some help. If anybody can clarify some of those points, that would be great.

 

- I remember people talking against the regular Launcher. I think they were saying "don't add new content through it"? If that true, what's the alternative?

 

- I remember people talking about a tool that packages mods together, to limit the number of files the game has to include. Is that true? What's the benefit? Is it recommended?

 

- I've been hearing that some custom content are simply bad and causes your game to crash. Are there any tools to test the integrity of those contents before including them?

 

- One good practice I know is that after installing new contents/mods, I should delete the cache files. Are there other good practices like that you would recommend?

 

- Are there any other tools you would recommend to help me keep control of my mods?

 

 

If you have the knowledge I seek and would like to share, that would bee cool. Links to webpages with more information on this subject are also welcome, as are keywords I can google to get to good sources. I'm willing to make my own research, but I need some starting points. I fear that the information I would find on my own could be outdated (I guess that modding techniques changed since the beginning of Sims 3).

 

I case it matters, I have a Steam version of the game.

 

 

Edit :

 

I just found maraas talking about CUSTARD ( http://modthesims.info/d/390235 ) to clean custom content. It seems good. The creator could have given a little more info about what it does though, instead of just saying "it's like the tool X from Sims 2, but for Sims 3"...  I know nothing about modding Sims 2, so it's not helpfull. Hehe. Yeah, I'm interested a bit about the mechanic of these tools. I prefer knowing what it does than accepting the result blindly.

 

 

 

[JoshQ]

- launcher has the uncanny ability to cause problems the more you use it, alternative: transform .sims3packs to .packages using Sims3Pack Multi Installer

 

- that's s3pe, you can use it to consolidate the big majority of your .packages and reduce load times (varies from computer to computer)

 

- Sims3Dashboard by Delphy

 

- http://nraas.wikispaces.com/Tips+For+Better+Game+Performance

 

- CCMagic seems to be a popular choice. Personally think s3pe + sims3dashboard is all you need for starters

 

- Nraas Master Controller and Nraas Dresser have several options to organize default and custom content in-game

 

- Check here: http://nraas.wikispaces.com/FAQs, also their forums are still active and the community is very helpful

 

- More info on custard: http://sims3.crinrict.com/en/2011/01/tutorial-delphys-custard.html

 

 

 

[MRBORN]

woa

 

[visby]

Correct me if I'm wrong but S3PE will edit out "issue's" when you merge packages which can be both good and bad. Good because you can fix issues just by merging packages, bad because if clothing is flagged for both teen and young adult use it will strip out the teen use. At least that's what I think I'm seeing anyway.

[EmperorClydeIV]

- launcher has the uncanny ability to cause problems the more you use it, alternative: transform .sims3packs to .packages using Sims3Pack Multi Installer

 

- that's s3pe, you can use it to consolidate the big majority of your .packages and reduce load times (varies from computer to computer)

 

- Sims3Dashboard by Delphy

 

- http://nraas.wikispaces.com/Tips+For+Better+Game+Performance

 

- CCMagic seems to be a popular choice. Personally think s3pe + sims3dashboard is all you need for starters

 

- Nraas Master Controller and Nraas Dresser have several options to organize default and custom content in-game

 

- Check here: http://nraas.wikispaces.com/FAQs, also their forums are still active and the community is very helpful

 

- More info on custard: http://sims3.crinrict.com/en/2011/01/tutorial-delphys-custard.html

 

 

That's a lot of good leads! Thanks JoshQ!

[JoshQ]

Correct me if I'm wrong but S3PE will edit out "issue's" when you merge packages which can be both good and bad. Good because you can fix issues just by merging packages, bad because if clothing is flagged for both teen and young adult use it will strip out the teen use. At least that's what I think I'm seeing anyway.

 

The issue you refer are resources (like textures) that have the same ID, merging them leaves just one instance and saves a little more space.

 

The second issue you mention I've never encountered it. Could occur if you merge to packages with different CASP (one for teen, the other for young adult) but same ID then one of then will be erased once merged.

 

In TSRWorkshop an ID is generated based on the name you give to your project inside the program (not the one you use when you export your .sims3package), so even clothes with the same meshes/textures/resources/etc can coexist without problems if you name them differently (at least is what I've discovered in my experience).

 

The stuff I release can be merged safely.