One of the last challenges remaining for me to try, one that has eluded me, is Pinstar’s Apocalypse. This is a very difficult challenge by design, but one that eventually I will complete. Maybe, if I take it slow, this will be that time.
Naming the Apocalypse:
- A TV trope
- “Cosy Catastrophe” is a term coined by Brian Aldiss. The End of the World as We Know It has arrived and … our heroes feel fine. Sure, it’s a pity for all those billions who just perished at the hands of super-plague/aliens/nuclear war. But for our safe, middle-class, (usually) white heroes, it means a chance to quit their day job, steal expensive cars without feeling guilty, sleep in a five-star hotel for free, and relax while the world falls apart around them. Maybe things weren’t as good as they were in The Beforetimes, but all in all, life is still enjoyable.
- Maybe later they’ll band together to recreate a humble yet sustainable pretechnological society. Maybe, if they’re of mixed genders, they’ll see it as their duty to repopulate the species. Maybe they’ll just learn to accept the extinction of the human race with quiet dignity. Either way, the end of the world shouldn’t be the … end of the world, so to speak.
It’s The End of the World as We Know It, and I feel fine.
~R.E.M., “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)”
“You start with a single founder Sim. Unlike the Legacy Challenge, this may be ANY sim, young adult or older. This may be a previously played sim with skill points, perks and other advantages. In fact, if you’re looking for some very well bred sims, I would suggest downloading a #WonderChild.”
In fact, I will be using my very own Merry Grace, wonder child, as the founder to begin this Apocalypse. Merry has undergone a tiny makeover and a little bit of extra preparation.
Preparing…
Merry must have known, or suspected what was in store because during her prep she would regularly double fist her drinks. She already has skills and traits, but the last bit of prep that she needs is a career advantage.
Getting Started…
Merry finds herself standing on an empty lot wondering what the hell just happened… Last thing she remembers was drinking something fruity.
“Once moved into the lot, your Sim must quit any job they were previously part of. If they were at the top of a career, it does not lift the restrictions associated with that career, nor does it bar them from re-taking that same job. Once a sim has no career and is the only sim on the empty lot, the challenge begins and all of the career-specific restrictions go into effect.”
Doing this in order – Merry quits her job…
The challenge begins…
She finds herself jobless and homeless and almost all of her money gone.
“The cell phone may only be used to take or quit a job.”
She calls up and takes a job in her previous career, Secret Agent. Because she had to leave the career she had maxed to start the challenge, she has to step back a level and accept the level 9 position of Diamond Agent. She doesn’t return to work until Tuesday so she will have to deal until then.
Merry’s aspiration is Angling Ace – she will be living off of fish, so she might as well have the aspiration to support that.
She is a wonder child graduate so her traits are plenty. To start off, her personality traits are Mean, Hot-Headed, and Perfectionist. She has Collector due to choosing a Nature aspiration. She earned the Top-Notch Toddler trait, along with all of the childhood traits: Mentally Gifted, Socially Gifted, Physically Gifted, and Creatively Gifted. For character traits, she picked up Good Manners, Mediator, Responsible, Emotional Control, and Insensitive. She also has Scouting Aptitude. From there, she has purchased almost all of the reward traits through the wonder child program.
She has fame turned off and is staying out of the spotlight – her reputation is neutral as she starts the challenge.
She is not in any clubs and does not have any relationships.
She has maxed out 25 skills, and has points in 7 others.
She has only completed 3 aspirations prior to starting this challenge – Leader of the Pack, Renaissance Sim, and Nerd Brain; but she is starting this challenge with Angling Ace and will not change her aspiration as per the restrictions under Entertainer/Musician.
Merry moves into Hallow Slough in Willow Creek because of what is around in the neighborhood: fishing spots, chess tables, public bathrooms, a playground, and there even is a roller rink next door if they are allowed to used it. Her house is a three story + basement square bunker. It is very literally, a box, without a roof. I will realize later that the mailbox and trashcan actually are supposed to be within the 8×8 square and will move them accordingly.
Merry’s first target is standing down the street. – Baako Jang.
Merry runs down the street to introduce herself. She isn’t letting him get away. Baako moves in at the level 9 Comedian but lacking on the skills. He needs to raise comedy and charisma in order to get the last promotion, so he will be working on that. He has three days until his next work shift.
Dammit Merry! He lives with you – WTF are you doing starting fights with your new roommate?
Baako heads inside to begin a marathon skill leveling session, while Merry feels pretty proud of herself.
Mean Merry is going to make this an interesting apocalypse.
Baako spams funny interactions on Merry to build his Comedy skill up to where he can compose routines.
Merry comes home and washes her hands a lot to clean up for the night. There is only one bed in the house and she and Baako are hot-bunking because they won’t sleep in it at the same time.
Seeing Jacques wander by, she runs out to introduce herself to him. He is also on the list – if he is still alive when she gets to him.
He leaves while he still can.
Baako eats half of the spoiled fish meal – since he doesn’t finish it, it doesn’t make him sick.
Merry finishes it off and it makes her sick but not for long.
Baako spends his days in the basement working on comedy.
Merry spends her days fishing and not in the house because that is the only way I can keep her from using the computer.
Baako is still trying desperately to raise his charisma. They both go back to work on Friday and while Merry has all of her skills, Baako doesn’t. Charisma is torture without a mirror. Merry is plotting some method of revenge that I am sure to regret. I have to keep an eye on her because the entire time Baako is working on charisma, Merry is queueing up actions to be mean or to fight with him.
Merry heads out to work in a great mood… and yet she still doesn’t come home with the promotion.
Merry unlocks the first career on day 8 – Secret Agent: Diamond Agent.
“Sims may not visit community lots or enter neighborhood houses. They may still wander their local neighborhood, as long as it doesn’t cause a loading screen. This does not prevent Sims from leaving for work. May not move sims out of the household.”
Simmers!
If you’re interested in writing and/or reading sims stories, participating in fun competitions and events, joining a friendly and welcoming community, completing legacies and challenge and earning medals, or just having a great place to discuss Sims 2, Sims 3, or Sims 4, then there is a place for you at the
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