Nemo Smith — he couldn’t think of anything besides ‘Smith’ on short notice — is a mermaid obsessed with wellness. Under the sea, everything is good vibes and chill swimming, so now he wants to share those feelings with unfortunate, fin-free land dwellers.
Donna Gibbs became a vampire in the 1970s, and her love of the era’s music has made her a contemporary music producer of some renown. She mixes the past and the present with seamless skill, all while slaking her thirst on both plasma and random passers-by. She hasn’t fed off anyone in Tiny Town. Yet.
Sonia Park weaves her spells with a crafter’s skill. All her magic is bound up in creation, whether it’s an enchanted sweater, a magically amped-up pair of socks, or a beanie that makes a Sim feel gloriously alive.
Next week we introduce our last three characters, plus a bonus family member to suit Casper’s ghost status and his animal-loving ways!
I may spend about 80% of my Sims time building, but I really enjoy that 20% of gameplay — okay, about 18% gameplay and 2% CAS. I’m always looking for new challenges to give my gameplay structure, and I’ve fallen in love with the “Tiny Town Challenge” as created by Deligracy. I’m also a big fan of James Turner‘s interpretation, as explained in his video series and web page.
Basically, it’s eight little Rags to Riches challenges on one massive lot, plus a community space. Eight Sims have an assigned skill, decorating style, and preferred color, and over time, they fill the lot with homes and decorations as their profits allow. Me being me, I had to change it up a bit, so welcome to the OCCULT Tiny Town version of Deligracy’s great idea!
Sims 4 only has five canonical occult races that you can access in Create A Sim: vampire, alien, werewolf, spellcaster, and mermaid. To get to eight, I expanded it a bit, adding a PlantSim, a ghost (a regular Sim killed, brought back to life, and added to the family), and a medium (a regular Sim who talks to the dead).
We’ll be playing Occult Tiny Town on Mondays for the foreseeable future and adding new Sims as we go. So far, our two Town citizens are:
London Burns, werewolf extraordinaire, woodworker, glutton, introvert. I gave him a glorious beard, and he shaved it off in his first shower. He’s the softest (in a good way!) werewolf I know.
Casper White, ghost, animal lover (except that one wild rabbit that killed him), romantic, but a brat. Ghosts can go anywhere, regardless of wall or gate settings, so he’s up in everyone’s business.
Next Monday we’ll premiere our next two Town members, chosen randomly from the six remaining. Join us for occult mayhem in our tiny town!
Big thanks to the EA Content Creator Network for providing a key for this kit.
A few years ago, I created 11 episodes of a vampire saga called “Lucy and the Vampires”. To sum up: young Lucy Cabrillo joined a small clan of vampires whose time together was all too short. A forbidden act by her vampire sire broke their tiny family, leaving Lucy adrift and without companionship in a harsh world. Until now.
Years later, Lucy has become the third member of another trio, alongside aged vampire Agneta the Grey and the medieval-era Joshua of Dale. And the three are the perfect choice for shouting out the fun, versatile Goth Galore Kit.
Cheery, creative jock Lucy has been betrayed and abandoned, leaving her wary and hard. Agneta, a thousand-year-old vampire warrior, knows no other way but sword and fang. Joshua is kinder than them both, but his poet’s heart embraces the darkness as if it was a deity to worship.
Lucy is no longer a baby vampire, innocent and naive.Agneta and Joshua prepare for one of the hundreds of sparring sessions they’ve held over the long years.Agneta strikes first, as usual.Joshua doesn’t hold back in response — otherwise, Agneta would easily destroy him.Agneta prepares a winning blow – or so she thinks.But today, Joshua prepared a new trick: his ability to mesmerize his opponents.The surprise is enough to break Agneta’s focus. Down she goes.Afterwards comes the discussion — how to do better, how to fight and win.Strength is all that matters when the darkness calls.
The Goth Galore Kit works wonderfully with items from Realm of Magic, Vampires, and even basegame — it’s detailed, well textured, and fantastic for all your darkness-worshipping creatures. Thanks again, EA!
Pick up the Goth Galore Kit here or through the EA app!
Thank you EA for the game code! This giveaway is being conducted entirely on my Instagram. The direct link to the giveaway post is here. Good luck to anyone who enters!
It’s time for an overhaul of my Seven Deadly Sins Challenge for the Sims 4! The game has come a long way since I last updated the challenge in 2020 — our sinners need some love (and therapy)!
Let me offer a few caveats right off the bat:
You cannot fail at this challenge. It’s about sinning. If you skip, cheat, or change any of the stages, that’s fine! The one thing this challenge isn’t about is following the rules. No pack requirements, no lifestage length requirements, no requirements period.
If anything squicks you out or makes you uncomfortable (or even just bored), don’t do it. Sims 4 is for fun, period. Your tolerance for Sims’ bad behavior may vary.
I don’t mention either pets or livestock because I don’t involve them in the challenge. For animals, it’s best behavior or no behavior at all.
The Challenge:
This is a seven-generation legacy challenge in which one (or more) Sim per generation embodies each of the classic deadly sins: Sloth, Pride, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, and Greed. Each generation includes suggestions for traits, aspirations, careers, and bad, bad behavior, but don’t feel limited by my ideas! Enjoy the cathartic drama!
If you’d like to show off your gameplay on social media or the Gallery, I’ll find it easily at #7deadlysinssims4
Generation 1: Sloth No real career. No degree. Your Sim has to make and raise an heir, but beyond that, they just slide through life. Enjoy napping, drinking juice on the beach, sleeping, neglecting your heir, and going with the flow.
SuggestedAspiration: Any. They just won’t care. If you have Island Living, “Beach Life” is a great option. Fabulously Filthy is another great choice. Suggested Traits: Lazy, Slob Suggested Career: Odd Jobs and Part-Time Jobs only Additional Slothful Suggestions: Never use “Work Hard.” When people come to your Sim’s house, never ask them to leave. Sleep on the beach. Skip work and/or school whenever your Sim is in the mood. Leave bowls of food on the ground for your toddler heir. Back float in the ocean. Give your Sloth some roommates! Leech off their constant baking, never clean anything, fart during every conversation. Another potential storyline? Lazily find the romantic Sim who will take care of you. Maybe there’s a Sugar Sim out there with neat/family-oriented/ambitious traits whose life you can ruin with your apathy!
Generation 2: Pride Maybe it’s because their parent was such a lump of nothing, but this generation wants to sparkle. This generation’s Sim will be famous, beloved, and in every way more interesting than their Sloth parent…and they’ll step on anyone to get there.
SuggestedAspiration: World-Famous Celebrity SuggestedTraits: Self-Absorbed and Self-Assured, High Maintenance, Ambitious Suggested Careers: Acting, Entertainer, Style Influencer, Social Media Additional Prideful Suggestions: Give them “plastic surgery” with cas.fulleditmode when they become a teenager. If you have Get Famous, rule Drama Club from childhood onward with an iron fist. Only make an heir with another celebrity. Send them to multiple Starlight Accolade ceremonies and make them curse and throw drinks when they lose. Live at the spa — you deserve the pampering. Steal the Stars of other celebrities (you can do that, right out of the ground!). Spread rumors. Dazzle. Win.
Generation 3: Lust With all the resources passed down by their famous parent, this generation wants to have fun. They never settle down, they enjoy the thrill of cheating and they break hearts with glee. It’s about pleasure and conquest. Feelings? What?
Suggested Aspiration: Serial Romantic, Villainous Valentine Suggested Traits: Romantic and Noncommittal Suggested Careers: Any freelance career, Entertainer, Artist, Social Media, or Athlete Additional Lustful Suggestions: See how many kids your Sim can bring into the world. Dance with everyone at Prom except the date that brought you. If you hire a nanny or a butler, find out if they’re up for seduction. See if your Sim can achieve every WooHoo option in the game. Find out how long it takes for any of your partners to realize they’re only one of a crowd. When someone breaks up with your Sim, win them back — and then cheat again, because that’s just the sinner you are. Break up other couples whenever you can — great romance is for you, not anyone else. Update Notes: OK, I will talk about a NAP from Eco Lifestyle here. “Free Love” is great, but it makes this Sim not terrible as opposed to terrible. It’s your sinning challenge — you do you! But Free Love takes the bad out of bad behavior.
Generation 4: Envy Whatever someone else has, this generation wants. They’ll lie, cheat, steal, dig, and plunder tombs to acquire important objects they shouldn’t have, just so no one else can have them. They’re special, and they show it through their possessions.
SuggestedAspirations: Curator, Fabulously Wealthy SuggestedTraits: Kleptomaniac and Jealous Suggested Careers: Any! Work through as much of the Jungle Adventure gameplay as possible. If you don’t have Jungle Adventure, lean in to the Kleptomaniac trait and steal, steal, steal. Additional Envious Suggestions: Why would you steal TVs and chairs when you could steal things that are important to other people? Look for art, cultural artifacts, trophies, and personal items. Steal from every museum, beat up Father Winter for gifts, and never give anything back. Set up a museum of infamy in your Sim’s basement. Become a vampire so no locked door can stop you. This generation is all about taking.
Generation 5: Gluttony If the previous generation liked to take, this generation likes to consume. This isn’t necessarily about food — it’s also about overdoing it with nectar, woohoo, travel, partying, and whatever else tickles your Sim’s fancy. This Sim is here for a good time, not a long time.
Suggested Aspiration: Master Chef, Master Mixologist, Expert Nectar Maker Suggested Traits: Glutton, Party Animal Suggested Career: Culinary (either branch) Additional Gluttonous Suggestions: Here’s where that “Free Love” NAP from Eco Lifestyle shines. Make out with ALL the people. Try to learn all the recipes in game. Throw Gold-rated dinner parties. Create a club dedicated entirely to food, drink, woohoo, and revelry, and see how long your Sim can keep a gathering going. If you have Island Living, earn the elusive Gold at a kava party. Skill all the way up in Dance. Throw every possible Social Event. Make ALL the nectar money. Run a food stall full of wildly overpriced items. Experiment with pufferfish. Celebrate, regardless of the consequences!
Generation 6: Wrath This generation isn’t content with consumption — it wants to conquer. This generation takes what it wants through violence, scheming, and other nefarious activities, and if everyone hates them, that’s just fine. Wrath doesn’t want any friends.
Suggested Aspiration: Public Enemy Suggested Traits: Mean and Hot-Headed Suggested Career: Criminal (either branch), Secret Agent (Villain branch) Additional Wrathful Suggestions: See how many enemies your Sim can acquire. If you have Strangerville, buy a ton of listening devices and bug everyone. Blackmail all the way! Make prank calls, send chain letters and spam money requests, cheat on your partners. See how many deaths your Sim can inspire! Always fight Father Winter for presents. Level Mischief to 10 and be a general nuisance whenever you can. Whatever is rude, vile, violent, uncouth, or smelly, do it. Fight everyone, all the time. Given the extra scare factor of Werewolves, consider adding that to your gameplay. Channel your Sim’s inner Greg!
Generation 7: Greed This generation takes materialism to the extreme. While nearly every sin contains some aspect of greed, it’s time to spend your last generation securing your Sim’s financial and material legacy. Build a fortune so amazing that it covers your family’s no doubt expensive legal fees.
Suggested Aspiration: Fabulously Wealthy or Mansion Baron Suggested Traits: Snob and Materialistic. Suggested Careers: Business (either branch), Politician (Politician branch), Tech Guru (either branch) Additional Greedy Suggestions: Never waste a simoleon. Keep those lights off when you’re not in the room. Never use the thermostat from Seasons. Go to the Flea Market and Haggle. Try to eat at other people’s houses and events, not on your own dime. Take advantage of bar specials. Sell whatever you scrounge or make, unless it fits your Sim’s vision of their legacy. If you choose Politician for your Sim, use that influence to the fullest — your real cause is YOU. If you have Get Famous, buy a Vault and enjoy all the money-loving activities it allows. If you have Eco Lifestyle, just yawn and roll your eyes at all those eco-freaks running around with air vacuums. You’re in your air-conditioned mansion, and when someone has to go cough in the smog, it’s your butler, not you. Totally have a butler.
For all generations: If you have the right packs, consider which Occult Sims might be fun. Vampires wrathfully turning the whole town into bloodsuckers? Slothful Mermaids who never want to set foot on land? Gluttonous Werewolves who eat eat eat?
For children and teens: Lean into those defining traits early. Coast through high school. Have constant detention. Hack and do mischief from the school computers. As a child, rule the playground. Start a club so your little friends can do your chores. Be sassy! Keep it age-appropriate, but you can always sin early, sin often.
And that’s sinning & simming! Check out my content at https://twitch.tv/sim_michele, https://simmichele.com, or https://instagram.com/sim_michele. Thanks for reading!
(This immediately follows my most recent WCPS video, “The Weatherby Witches.” tl;dr: while interviewing Sadie Weatherby at Weatherby Hall, Lacey Turner and Sadie were surprised by the Sage of Mischief and his summons for Sadie to visit the Realm.)
Samantha Weatherby’s rose-tinted spirit slipped through Weatherby Hall’s outer wall and half the kitchen before hovering at her great-great-great niece’s side. “She’s gone, finally. Your friend is loyal, Sadie dear. That isn’t a bad thing. And there’s no sign of the spellcaster.”
Other spirits, embodied and not, surrounded Sadie at the worn kitchen table. “Drink, drink,” Aunt Esmerelda said. A cup of steaming tea immediately materialized beside Sadie’s clasped hands.
Sadie wrapped both hands around the warm earthenware mug, but made no move to drink. “Auntie, I don’t need to sleep right now.”
A tiny gust of chilled air slipped along Sadie’s face, the Esmerelda-equivalent of a cheek pinch. “It’s not the go-to-sleep blend. It’s the blend that’ll help you cope with that spellcaster trespasser. And your spirit-seeking friends, now that Lacey’s seen the trespasser as well.”
Dishes rattled on the kitchen shelves along with the spirits’ anger. “Trespassing. A sage hasn’t tried that nonsense in an age,” said Great-Aunt Laureline. “We’ll hex him so hard he can’t use a doorknob.” Her purple-tinged spirit quivered in indignation.
“And have all of the Realm casting their foolishness at us? No thank you.” Great-Grandmother Isabella chose to manifest in her physical form, still swathed in her heavy widow’s weeds of a century before. “Sadie, you will find out what the fool wants, and we’ll get the other sages to calm him. That’s their function, is it not?” An irritated snort followed the words.
“It is,” Samantha said, as Samantha always said when Isabella made a proclamation. “You’ll do exactly that, and it’ll all be fine.” Another rush of cool air, Samantha’s reassuring hand, passed through Sadie’s left shoulder.
“I have to work first.” Sadie said. She sipped her tea in silence as the rest of the room’s occupants exploded into loud opinions. She let the hubbub fade before adding, “It’s all planned. We’re investigating that old summer camp. I’ll leave tomorrow. When it’s done, I’ll go to the Realm and do as you say.”
“You’re always disappointed,” Esmerelda snapped. “Sadie, promise you’ll finish the work as soon as you can? The spellcaster might return.”
“And you can’t fight him off?” Sadie raised one eyebrow as she regarded her formidable kinswoman.
“I can.” Esmerelda’s toothy smile grew as her spirit gained a reddish hue. “But I’d prefer to not start a war. And I would.”
“Sadie, drink your tea,” Isabella said after casting Esmerelda a quelling glare. “And — ladies, let’s set up a perimeter, yes? Let’s not have any other strange appearances tonight. Or wars.”
Esmerelda let out a dramatic sigh. “If you insist.” The spirits of the Weatherby witches slowly disappeared, most with a final reassuring cold pat to Sadie’s arm or head. Sadie remained at the table and sipped her tea. The cup trembled in her shaky grasp.
We haven’t had a two-people-one-Sin situation yet, not until now. We’ve had competitions in other Let’s Plays to see who might be the heir, but we’ve never had TWINS so well suited to a particular task. Bun (Bunuelos) and Pan (Empanada) are perfectly suited for Gluttony, and so they both get to rule the party roost.
A note on names: Bun and Pan’s mom Jazmin (Envy) hooked up with the twins’ father in Selvadorada when barely a young adult, and in her then-ignorance, decided to go with “Selvadoradan names that sound pretty” rather than doing some research. Sooooo, she accidentally named her kids after food. She’s sort of like someone who gets a tattoo of a Chinese character, thinks it means “courage,” and never finds out that it really means some sort of chicken. Whoops!
Bun is more social, more edgy and reckless. Her favorite “gluttonies” are drinking, drugs, and attention, as opposed to her brother’s desire for escapism, ecstatic dancing and music, and companionship (he likes drinking too). They’re already planning life after high school — they’ll use their inheritance to buy a restaurant and make sure it’s the most fun, ridiculous, alcohol-soaked, inhibition-free foodie playground EVER.
All they have to do now is graduate and not get arrested quite yet.
We came so close to doom. So close, and if we hadn’t turned it around through compromise, work, and loss, I wouldn’t be sitting here scolding my grandchildren about playing in the garden. They look to me with bright, curious eyes, barely abashed. I can’t make myself scold them too strongly — they were raised with confidence, not fear. I’d rather rip out my own heart than break that sunny surety.
My grandparents lived in a time of such great fear. Even I don’t know how to feel that afraid, that certain that the future would be so much worse than the present. They feared disease, the rising tides, poverty, and each other. They closed their ears and eyes until they could only hear their own panicked heartbeats. I feel so sorry for them. Then, after sorrow, immense gratitude.
Why? Because it changed. They changed. I don’t know what turned it around. I don’t know what made them open their senses to each other, to see how interconnected we all are. The bravery, the sheer vulnerability — there’s a reason we treat Founders’ Day with such awe. It’s deserved. Every rite and song, deserved and far too little.
Now we don’t fear, we plan. We learn and implement. My son fixes solar panels on our neighbor’s farm, and for that, we receive vegetables and milk. My daughter trades her woven rugs for seeds. Her wife maintains our water stores and hatchery. We sell medicinal flowers at the Gathering Place, and my grandchildren don’t know where work ends and play begins.
Today’s a sunny day. I rock in my chair after waving the children back to their games. Later, I’ll can tomato sauce and spicy peppers, and preserve some lemons so we can taste that salty brightness all the year through. For now I think I’ll take a little nap, though. We can do that now. I know I am cared for as I sleep.
