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The Pleasure District

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A little feed cleanser. Just chilling on the island today.

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The Inner City

Hello! Pretty much done with the inner city area.

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The Outer City

Hello! The first region in the capital is done! Well not the lot interiors but that's another matter. The outer city corresponds to what is the low rent hood in Newcrest, which is where this city technically is. This region is separated from the others by another wall, which was a common feature in many Chinese cities, both for defense during invasions, as well as a way to separate the more genteel parts of the city from others.

Here it's pretty much all commercial lots all right along the wall, and is close to the city's main gates and countryside outside. Indeed some of the area inside is still used for farming or industry. Therefore some of the buildings here are still thatched, which historically made them fire hazards. Another reason why these thatched roof buildings were usually further out from the city center or outside the walls altogether.

All of this context is useful in deciding how to fill the large swathes of land outside the interactable that will just be set dressing. Some of the set decor here includes a little pear orchard, an orange grove, and a few carpentry, ceramic and metalsmithing workshops.

Lots wise, there's a market, built around a drumtower, a kind of watchtower. Also here are a few shops and home businesses. The gaps between lots are filled in with some cc buildings to flesh out the area and make the lots feel more seamlessly integrated into the world around them.

I'm currently working on the upper region of the map, the one with the canal running through it. It's nice to have a project to be working on just for fun although it sure is laborious.

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The drum tower at night.

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The Serene Capital

Omg it looks so good

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A City Appears

From the ground up, an ancient Chinese city takes shape, slowly but surely

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Some good progress!

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Chinese Paifang

Made a Paifang for the market square! Basically a Paifang is a kind of archway in Chinese civic architecture that demarcates or marks an area, usually found at the start of major commercial and administrative districts and can be simple wooden ones like this or more elaborate stone ones. Today, apart from being everywhere in China, they're also commonly found marking Chinatowns in many cities around the world. Didn't think I had the necessary parts to put this together but by combining three tori gates from Snowy Escape and some CC, I'd say its a apretty convincing likeness.

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The Bustling World

Hello! I've recently been working on a new project. I've been expanding the world of Misty Valley, aka Forgotten Hollow, and inspired by upcoming game The Bustling World, have decided to add a large as yet unnamed capital kind of city where Newcrest once was.

I'm not really sure what I'm doing with these lots yet, I'm just going by vibes but I'm guessing this will be a mostly commercial or mixed use area, with a pagoda or temple nearby. I'm really not looking forward to using TOOL mod to fill in the environs but filling the lots has been fun so far.

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Return to the Nerine

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Play-testing Simadhu, taking some fun screenshots along the way.

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Lol 100% I miss the Sims 2. Pink soup is so fking rude and obnoxious I have no choice but to stannn

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Namaste Simadhu

Simadhu is pretty much done! Considering if I should make this world residential, although I kind of prefer just visiting here than living here. Anyway the town has several vacation rental lots, including a monastery, an inn, and some yurts.

The last step was to fill the world with locals which is honestly my favourite part. They all have their own small stories, which helps me decide how they dress. Here the locals include monks, sherpas, vendors, aviators, doctors and healers, bear hunters, and of course, the random Yeti.

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Meeting the Dragon Islanders Part VII

Yak the Hermit

Further out from town is the small volcanic island where a small handful of villagers used to stay although many of the homes here have been vacated as the volcano's volatility does make life here precarious.

Of those who remained is Yak, a name given to him by the locals as it means "poor". This might really be a misnomer cos while Yak does seem poor, he's rich in happiness. Yak lives off all the island has to supply, and he gets by, growing a few native plants on his beach, and living in a hut crafted with local materials.

There's fish on this island and fresh water from the falls nearby so he has more than enough to sustain himself. No one quite knows then Yak first appeared here, not even Yak himself. Some say he was marooned here after a volcanic projectile sunk a vessel he was on and he's been here ever since with no memories. Others say he was abandoned here as a child and has always been here.

Either way, Yak is not too worried about learning more of his past as he's perfectly content now. But perhaps his past might just catch up with him one day.

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Meeting the Dragon Islanders Part VI

Chaya and the Island Depot

Also in the smaller island community is Chaya Matchapuri who lives in his late father's seafront house at the island depot and runs a cafe from his home. The depot is the main dock on the small island where boats arrive and depart from and is also where the locals come to do their shopping.

There are several stores here, including a few food stands and a general store where one can get most supplies. It's run by a host of rotating local vendors including my favorite NPC Raza the Shop Goblin and his band of traveling Goblin merchants, who travel far and wide to bring all manner of goods into town.

Chaya first came across coffee thanks to these merchants and loved it. He's started to serve coffee to the islanders and is hoping it catches on with the locals. So far coffee has been a hit with the Islanders, who use it to fuel their busy and active lifestyles, or just as a treat to enjoy with some neighbourly conversation, and Chaya loves fostering this sense of community.

Chaya's father had been the local witch doctor in these parts and was a much respected figure. The house where Chaya stays in now also once served as his father's office of sorts, and people came daily to see him, so the islanders watched Chaya grow up. As a father he was difficult, and had hoped that his son would take over but Chaya never seemed to have a knack for it, often feeling like a letdown to his father.

Before he died, Chaya's father bestowed him with his gifts, against his will, and told him to go up north into the mysterious mountains of the Simalayas to find a hermit who will complete his training. Chaya has yet to do so, and is pouring most of his efforts into his cafe, perhaps as a distraction.

But the town needs a witch doctor, and many had expected that Chaya would ultimately put aside his own ambitions for the greater good. Chaya does feel immense pressure to step up and take on the mantle, but is he truly up to it?

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Meeting the Dragon Islanders Part V

Kai, Oris and the Ikanos

North of the main town is a smaller island where a fishing village is, along with the very old Dragon Temple. Also here are several locals, including Kai Suntayono and Oris Jawa.

Oris lives in his old family home along the beach and Kai lives in a boat, docked at Oris' jetty. The two are long time friends, and complement reach other perfectly.

Kai dreams of saving up enough to travel the world in his boat, but for now he's employed at Lou's Kitchen as an apprentice cook, learning the ropes from her, and hoping to one day open his own restaurant abroad. Kai is happy go lucky and pretty laid back, often lacking the drive to achieve his dreams, preferring to just coast by on his talents and looks. His mother was the lead archaeologist who discovered the Pranajaya ruins but disappeared years ago.

He had always thought one day she'd come back or that he might meet her on his travels, and perhaps he's procrastinating on leaving because she might return, or maybe he knows wherever he goes, he won't be able to escape the truth that she's really gone. In the meantime, he masks this pain with a cavalier attitude, busying himself with cooking for others and putting their needs first.

Oris meanwhile, is stoic and serious to a fault. And serves as the town's main handyman and blacksmith and carpenter all in one. Crafts that he learned from his father, and his father before him. Oris is blunt, straightforward but generally kind, and has a strong sense of justice

Oris' perfectionist nature often means that while everything he makes is of astounding quality, he's also often burnt out and his works take a long time and a lot of his energy. Being friends with Kai does help him to have some perspective, although Oris doesn't approve of Kai's inability to be true to himself, and often chides him for his waffling around in life.

Pak Ayu and Adin Ikano

Pak Ayu Ikano and his son, Adin Ikano live on a tiny boat on the small atoll further out from the village. Pak Ayu has been a fisherman here all his life, and is today the undisputed master fisherman in these parts. Every Sunday he heads to town to sell his catch, and to catch up on gossip.

He worked hard to put his son, Adin in school, where he excelled, especially in literature. Adin went on to Port Empress to pursue a career in journalism but has since returned under mysterious circumstances, to live with his father on his boat.

While the two love each other, each has a hard time understanding the other and their relationship is strained. Pak Ayu is illiterate himself, and was always proud of Adin, and is concerned why his son would return suddenly without a word, and seems distressed. He pries in his own coarse and clumsy way but the defensive Adin and him often start arguing.

Adin himself is normally quiet, reserved and shy, and has always loved reading and writing. He is grateful his father did so much to further his studies, and feels like an absolute failure for returning empty handed, finding it hard to face his father and now to be jobless and still living in their little boat.

Why exactly he returned he refuses to open up about so no one knows what happened. Can the aging Pak Ayu find a way to reach out to his son, or will their relationship fray to the point they can no longer reconcile?