Week 1, Part 2: Capp (DITFT)

[lakewood_bacc]

Welcome back to Lakewood: Just a BaCC! This is our second instalment of the first week. Meet Regan Capp, the third playable sim of the challenge. Last time, Regan moved in with our foundress, Lizzie Davidson, and now that she's out of there, she gets her own household. Regan is a Fortune sim with the personality 8/3/6/3/5 (Virgo), and her LTW is to become a Criminal Mastermind.

Regan: "Yeah, umm... Hi. So, will I be doing a challenge, too?"

Well in fact, Regan, I'm glad you asked. Because yes, you will!

Regan here also acts as the foundress of a Differences in the Family Tree challenge (rules available at Boolprop). Yes, that'd be another insanely long generational challenge, and one that I haven't tried before. It's a fairly simple one, where each generation has different objectives and you get points based on how many of the objectives you manage to complete. I will interpret it so that the base objectives of a generation are obligatory, so failing to complete those will result in -1 point each.

 

The objectives for the first generation, that is, Regan, are the following:

- Get a gold gardening skill badge
- Have a garden containing each type of plant
- Get married, no premarital woohoo
- Have a boy & a girl

And the optional objectives:

- Catch every type of fish
- Max the nature hobby
- Marry a sim whose predestined hobby is nature, or marry a gardener

Regan: "I suppose that explains why you gave me a... farmhouse?"

That'd be right, Regan.

Regan: "But... I'm not really sure if this is... me, you know. I want to be a Criminal Mastermind, I think I told you?"

Oh yes, I know. Look at it this way. The Criminal career is locked, and will be until we reach the population of 100. If we work on it, I think it's doable so that you can get that job, but it's gonna take some time. Plus, who'd ever suspect that the lady running a farm like this would be a criminal? It's the perfect cover!

Regan: "Oh, ok. I suppose. The house is pretty big, and seems to be furnished too. How did you afford it?"

Well, please don't get mad at me, but... You're actually in debt. I got you a loan of 20,000 to afford the house and the garden, and to have a bit of extra.

Regan: "20,000?!?!"

.. yes. Don't worry, though. It feels big right now, but you'll be able to pay it off no problem. I'll help you.

Regan: "If you say so..."

And... and it's tax-deductible!

Regan: "It is?"

Yup! It doesn't seem fair to make you pay taxes for something that isn't in your name, so when calculating the tax, I will deduct the amount of the debt from you net worth.

Regan: "You just made that up didn't you?"

Maybe, but I'm the one making the rules here, right?

Regan: "Fair enough, I suppose."

Good. So, shall we get started?

And started we got. Regan's first order of business was to go work on fertilizing her garden, or at least some of it. She will be making money out of those plants, and they aren't going to plant themselves!

Just about when Regan was ready for a break, we noticed we had a walkby on the lot. Excellent timing, Jenny Smith!

Regan: "Hi, I don't think we've met before. Regan."

Jenny: "Hello. Word was out that there was someone new living somewhere around here, so I decided to check it out. I'm Jenny."

Regan: "Nice meeting you Jenny. Yeah, I just moved in today. Just working on my garden."

As I opened the pie menu, I noticed that there was boltage between Regan and Jenny, one bolt to be exact. That's when I realized there was one stat I didn't check about Regan in the beginning: her gender preference. Apparently she randomized gay. One bolt isn't terribly much, but it does seem the two of them got along well.

Jenny stayed for lunch, as much to get to know Regan a bit as she did for the sandwiches.

Jenny: "So you took a loan to finance the farm? That feels a bit scary."

Regan: "Well, yeah, a little bit. I'm getting used to it, though. Besides, this house beats living in a shack, like poor Lizzie had to."

Jenny: "Oh yeah, I heard about that. That must have been tough. So I suppose having the loan does beat that."

After Jenny left, Regan continued her garden work by planting and watering. By the evening she'd gained both a bronze talent badge and an invitation to the hobby club (that'd be the hobby club leader retreating on the background).

The way Regan was chopping the ingredients (or rather, her fingers more than the ingredients) I was surprised that we didn't get our first fire that evening. But no, Regan managed to cook her spaghetti without any incidents.

After a night well slept (dreaming of Science, which turns out to be Regan's OTH), Regan wanted to gain a skill point, so the morning was spent studying some mechanical. I usually go with cooking for the early skillpoint wants, but here I try to avoid it, because fires are actually a good thing in a BaCC. If they don't kill anyone, that is.

After that, Regan got to work on improving her financial situation, the same way as Lizzie did. Digging, and then some more digging.

The phone has rung quite a lot for Regan. So even though there aren't that many walkbys, it's been easy to keep her social up: just answer the phone. The reporter especially has been calling Regan a lot. Don't know why.

Speaking of walkbys, who else would happen to wander on the lot than the one sim that I've been wanting to move in: Pascal Curious? Well, we certainly don't object.

Regan: "Think about it, you could even have a telescope! Being a playable does have its perks."

Pascal: *excited* "Do you have a telescope?"

Regan: "Umm... No. But I could ask for one if I wanted to!"

Regan really has her hands full with the garden. It's only planted halfway full, but she still spends quite some significant time taking care of it.

Oh, and no, we don't have bugs in the greenhouse, that's not bug spray. It's a hacked object* that Regan is using to give the plants some plant food, which improves their health. Works like a charm.

*by Paladin, from SimWardrobe

On Thursday morning, we checked what Regan had managed to dig up from her yard. Not bad Regan, you'll only need a little bit more of a loan and you can buy that business I've been planning for you!

Regan: "Is that necessary? I could keep digging you know..."

Nonsense, Regan. It's only a little bit more, and with that, you'll be able to get that business off the ground. That way, you'll be able to pay the loan sooner, too.

A little later, we arrived at Yummy!, the first groceries establishment in Lakewood. How do you like it, Regan?

Regan: "Well it looks nice enough. Though the outside at least looks a little empty."

Well, it's only very small right now, and we have plans for the future, once your garden really starts developing. But for now, we're only selling regular groceries, and those are inside.

Erin Singles: "You know, Regan, this is a nice business and all, but... It doesn't look like anyone you know, buying anything."

Regan: "Yeah, everything should be all set, but somehow everyone is just hanging around. Really, it beats me."

*ahem* Sorry about than, Regan, I think I figured it out... It looks like I accidentally set the stuff not-on-sale again when messing around with the price tool.

Once I set the groceries back on sale, it was a lot easier for Regan to start selling stuff. Go figure.

And our first happy customer is... Bianca Monty! Apparently a grocery store is also a good place to jump rope, as demonstrated by Lola Singles.

It also seems to be a good place to socialize in general, thinks Patrizio Monty.

Patrizio: "Regan, you're doing so well with your business. A grocery store is definitely what a little town like Lakewood needs, and yours is really nice!"

Regan: "Aww thank you Patrizio."

Clearly, there's no family feud in Lakewood!

The cash register was a bit challenging at first, it always is.

But our girl Regan is smart, she was learning skills left and right, and fortunately also rolling wants for it. Here goes her Bronze Sales Badge.

And go figure, it's Circe, one of the town grumps, who gives us the star that puts the business on level one. Well, thanks Circe!

Also, notice Patrizio in the background? Yeah, he stayed for hours, never buying anything, just trying to interact with the other customers. A couple of times he got something through, and with positive results. But clearly, he's the type to come to a grocery store to socialize.

As I said, learning skills left and right. "Smarter cashiers" is another example of making things less painful, too.

Unlike Lizzie, Regan is allowed aspiration rewards, so when she can, she of course utilizes them. In a business selling objects it's more efficient than sleeping anyway.

Also the reporter showed up for Regan. I'm sure that being good terms with him definitely doesn't hurt the review.

And it didn't. A silver register badge, a silver sales badge and a business level later the reporter made his decision: a good review and a Best of the Best Award! Good going, Regan!

After that, it was time for Regan to go home for a bit. The garden needed tending, if we were ever going to start that fresh groceries line of the business.

Also, Regan's social life needed tending too. And more spesifically, she needed to look into a potential spouse. So, date time!

Regan: "Sorry about the choice of venue, Jenny. I would have wanted to take you to the Recreation Center, as it's way more fun, but someone forgot to adjust the prizing there and... Well frankly, I couldn't afford to take you there for an entire date."

Jenny: "Oh. Right. I was wondering about that."

Jenny: "It's ok, though. This way I get to know more about you!"

Apparently Jenny is nice enough to do the creepy smile. Somehow it's especially creepy on her.

The date went ok. Or well, it went pretty well, actually.

When I left them to their own devices (with the couch hidden in Regan's inventory, because no unmarried woohoo this generation remember?), Jenny especially was eager to do romantic interactions. Regan, on the other hand, seems a little unsure about things. Or her face is just stuck like that, your pick.

In any case, it seems Regan is developing a wee bit of a crush on Jenny. Even though at some point she stopped rolling wants about her, and I couldn't get them to re-roll.

Jenny, however, enjoyed the date so much that she threw Regan a business star.

Regan: "Jenny, I do appreciate the gesture, but you do realize we're closed, right?"

Jenny, too, was crushing on Regan.

At this point, I decided to try one last thing to get Regan's wants to reroll: to move them to the Recreation Center, even if for a short while.

Only that backfired on me. I've normally been able to transfer date-goers between lots no problem, if only I don't go home without asking the other sim home with me. But apparently, now it broke up the date.

Well, it still was a nice date. Jenny clearly liked it.

While thinking about our next move, me and Regan decided to head back to the store. It wasn't going to run itself, that much was sure.

 

The prize for first sim to heartfart over their canonical spouse goes to... John Burb!

John: "Well she is pretty hot you know. You mentioned a prize, what do I get?"

Umm... face time in this one picture?

Regan was struggling a bit to run the store all by herself, but seeing that she had to sell, restock and be the cashier, she did admirably well.

On occasion her job was made easier by the fact that some elderly folks just came to the grocery store to socialize.

The couch is really there for Regan's benefit, so she can sit for a bit when she's been on her feet for too long, but well, give sims a couch and they'll surely sit on it!

That gave Regan some time to work on her restocking (got a Bronze Badge), when there was a game of kicky bag, she just had to join eventually.

Mary Sue here remembered that she was here to do some groceries shopping, and with the star she gave us, we made it to level 4. At that point we decided to head back home with Regan.

Back at home, the day was still young. Unfortunately, neither of the sims Regan needed to reach were at home at the time. She wanted a body skill point, so I looked at the budget and found she could afford a bouncer. Regan seemed to enjoy it. At least she giggled like a maniac the whole time.

Regan: "I *giggle* am *giggle* not *giggle* a *giggle giggle* maniac!"

Regan did eventually reach Pascal through the phone.

Regan: "Oh hey Pascal. Just thought to call and ask you how you were."

...

Regan: "The usual, the usual. Working on my garden and trying to improve the grocery store. Oh, and I just got this pretty cool thing, a trampoline! It's good excercise and lots of fun. You should come try it some time."

That phone call took pretty long, so it was too late to call Jenny that night anymore. So instead, Regan got to prepare for expanding her garden, by spreading the fertilizer.

Bright and early on Saturday morning, Regan reached Jenny and invited her for another date.

This time we stayed on the home lot, so if Regan rolled some non-date related wants, it'd be easier to fulfill them so as to give her a chance to get focused on Jenny again.

Just like last time, the date started off well.

Of course, at home there were some extra distractions.

Regan: "Hi. Yeah, thanks again for that great review, it's been doing wonders for my customer rate. Listen, how about we talk properly a bit later? I'm kind of in the middle of something here."

And just like last time, Regan got sort of distracted in the middle of the date. Only this time it was easier to deal with.

Regan: "Thanks for the mac and cheese. I wasn't really hungry, but it was just what I needed. Oh, right, I was supposed to be on a date?"

Yes, you were, Regan. And I'm happy to see your Wants panel is a lot of Jenny again.

Regan: "You put the couch in my inventory, and now we're watching tv standing up. Seriously?"

Yes, I'm sorry. But you know the rules. The couch stays in the inventory at least as long as Jenny is on the lot uncontrollable. As does the bed. We don't want any ACR accidents you know.

It seems that despite their less than optimal chemistry, Regan and Jenny really liked each other.

Actually, more than liked each other. They loved each other.

Regan: "Jenny, I love you and want to share my life with you. Would you like to share your life with me, live with me here?"

Jenny: "Of course, I'd love that Regan."

So on that second to last day of the rotation, Jenny Smith moved in, bringing with her 19,000 simoleans. She's a Family sim with the personality 5/4/4/3/9 (Pisces), and her Lifetime Want is to Marry off Six Children.

Uh oh. We'll see about that one Regan. Tell me, what would you want most right now?

Jenny: "To get engaged to Regan! Can I?"

Yes, yes you can. I mean, not right this second but soon you can. Let's lock that one for you.

While Jenny went to take care of her needs, Regan headed for the garden, as there was work to be done. She earned a silver talent badge for her efforts.

The next order of business was to invite Pascal over.

Regan: "So good to see you Pascal. How have you been?"

Pascal: "Good, good. And you?"

Pascal: "You seem to be doing great with this challenge, Regan. I mean, it's only been a little shy of a week, and already you have a business established, you have a house, Jenny has moved in with you, and your garden is looking great. Wow!"

Regan: "Oh thank you Pascal. I'm really flattered."

While Jenny was fixing dinner, Pascal decided to try out the trampoline that Regan had so much advertised. Clearly it was a lot of fun.

The three of them enjoyed Jenny's spaghetti together, and also Jenny and Pascal got the chance to get to know each other a little bit.

But when it got late and Regan suggested Pascal join her and Lizzie in their efforts to grow the town...

Pascal: "I'm sorry, Regan, I just don't know. It's such a big step!"

*sigh* Alright, alright Pascal. We'll give you time to think.

Regan: "I'm sorry Katri, I tried."

It's ok, Regan. He'll come around sooner or later. And the rotation isn't even over yet.

Sunday morning, when Regan and Jenny got up, they went to work together in the garden. The first crop, Regan's tomatoes, was ready. So Jenny harvested them, while Regan worked on planting new seeds. Cucumbers and strawberries this time.

Jenny worked so hard that she even gained a Bronze badge.

Well done Jenny! I do think you've earned some really nice aspiration points for this.

Jenny got to propose to Regan, and of course she said yes. Another wedding would soon take place in Lakewood.

Since they both were in high aspiration now, it was time for them to head to the grocery store to make some money and improve the customer loyalty.

Regan: "I want to get married to Jenny."

Yeah, I know. She also wants to get married to you. Did you notice I locked that want? But you also want to earn your Gold Sales Badge, and I only have one lock. So lets work on that first before it rolls away, ok?

Regan: "Deal."

Turns out that Regan was once sales interaction away from that badge. Congratulations, Regan, now you can really make some sales!

So Regan got to dazzle, while Jenny restocked and worked the cash register. Not that dazzling was actually needed, the wares weren't really that expensive, but it's the fastest way to sell.

There was really only one problem: Regan may have been a superb saleswoman, but Jenny was only a beginning cashier, and there were quite a few customers by now. I think that may be the longest line I've seen in the game!

Jenny: "*sniffles* I'm sorry, I know I'm terrible, I'm trying..."

Don't panic Jenny, just do your best. You can do it! Regan, stop selling already!

Regan is officially too good at selling.

Before the line cleared and we were ready to go home, we yet got to see this.

Come on Ajay, you were already the second in line and Jenny just got her first badge, it wouldn't have been much longer!

Ajay: "I've had enough!"

Oh well. At least we still made it back to level four, and actually, this was another thing I'd never seen in the game before, despite all the years I've been playing. Another one down, right?

Anyway, Regan, Jenny?

Regan & Jenny: "Yes?"

Now back at home it's getting late, so if we were to try to have the wedding yet today, it'd probably be pretty rushed. How would you feel if we were to persuade Pascal one more time and then you get a proper wedding next rotation?

Regan: "That's okay with me. Jenny?"

Jenny: "Yes. I don't want a wedding where I'm all tired, and I want a proper one with guests."

Alright then, it's a deal. Thanks!

So we went home and invited Pascal over. Regan socialized with him while Jenny studied. She wanted a skill point.

Regan: "I have to say it's really nice. Think about this. I have this nice house, I'm about to get married, and I have a pretty successful business of my own too. I wouldn't have any of that if I hadn't said yes to Lizzie when she asked me to move in."

Pascal: "I suppose you have a point there."

Regan: "And you know what's more? Katri thinks you'd make a really fun challenge founder. She says she's got something in mind that'd probably suit you very well."

Pascal: "Aww, thank you. ... wait, it's not an apocalypse or something, is it?"

No apocalypses here, Pascal, I promise. Nothing scary, just fun.

Pascal: "Oh alright. It sounds kind of fun, and I'm guessing you won't stop pestering me until I say yes anyway."

Regan: "Well I'm pretty sure she wouldn't. I'm glad yo agreed, though."

So Pascal moved in. Like Regan, he didn't have much money on him, but again, money was not important here.

Welcome, Pascal! I'm glad you came around. I've got some fun plans for you, so go grab a bite from the fridge if you need to, and then let's find you your own place to live.

Pascal: "Thanks."

Regan: "So now that this Pascal thing is in order, I guess we should think about the wedding."

Jenny: "Well it's still a rotation away. Did you have something in mind?"

Regan: "Well I was wondering if I should buy a new dress for the occasion. I'm not sure if my formalwear is appropriate for a wedding dress."

Jenny: "Well I appreciate the thought, but Lakewood doesn't have a place to shop for clothes yet."

Regan: "Oh, right."

Jenny: "Hopefully there will be one soon though, I'd kind of also feel like getting something new to wear. I mean, for the wedding and otherwise."

Regan: "Katri? Can you help?"

Well it'll probably take me a bit of time, but I think so. Let's see what we can do about that.

Jenny: "Bye Pascal, it was nice getting to know you. I suppose we'll be seeing you soon."

Pascal: "Yeah, absolutely. Thanks for having me."

Pascal: "It had better not be an apocalypse."

It's not an apocalypse, Pascal, I swear. Don't worry. Anyway, I'll just wrap things up here and be right with you.

It was pretty late already, but after Pascal left, Regan and Jenny worked on their garden yet. In the hopes of having more interesting veggies than just tomatoes next rotation. And a hopefully lucrative business selling them. And some talent badges.

Regan: "Whoa, I'm tired."

Jenny: "Me too. Come here."

Regan: "We'll be married soon, can you believe it?"

Jenny: "Yeah, I can't wait. How about we head to bed? The big day comes faster that way."

Regan: "Good idea, sweetie. And, tired. Let's go to bed."

And that wraps up the first week of the Capp DITFT! Again, for the interested, here are the BaCC stats after this household:

Playable sims: 3 + 2 (Jenny, Pascal) = 5
SM: 7
Population: 35

Households: 2 + 1 (Curious) = 3
CAS sims: 0 placed / 6 earned

Community lots: 2 businesses + 0 free = 2

Businesses:

Lakewood Recreation Center (Lizzie Davidson, level 10)
Yummy! (Regan Capp, level 4)

Careers:

Business: 1 opening / 0 taken

Universities: 1 (privately funded, founded by Lizzie Davidson)
Business districts: 0
Downtown: no

Fires: 0
Burglaries: 0
Electrocutions: 0

Taxes collected from this household: (44,000-8,400)*0.05 (for net worth – debt) + 20,000*0.05 (for level 4 business) = 2,800 simoleans*

Taxes collected total: 8,600 + 2,800 = 11,400 simoleans at 5% rate

* I round both the net worths and the results so as to make calculations and keeping track of payments easier.

DITFT points scored this rotation:

1 point for the foundress, Regan. (I'm not sure what "completing" a generation means, so I'll just score the generation points when entering a new generation arrives, like in a legacy.)

Total so far: 1 point

So here we are. Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you again next time for Pascal's first week. Until then, happy simming!

Comments

[skyburned]

Poor Pascal. Somebody has run him through an apoc scenario and he definitely didn't enjoy it! Even with only one bolt Jenny and Regan make a really cute couple.

[ciyrose]

Awww...what a sweet round that was. What fun. I really do like the idea of trying different challenges around a hood.

[lakewood_bacc]

Regan and Jenny are pretty cute, and I think the first generation of this challenge suits them. :) The different challenges are definitely part of what's keeping me interested in this 'hood. Everyone has their part to play in the overall challenge, but still every household is a little different.

Thanks for reading and commenting!