jonnyparable

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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?

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Return to the Simalayas

Hi all! I've been working on transforming Granite Falls into a small monastic village at the Simalayan foothills for this save file, called Simadhu. Some followers might recall that in my game cannon, the Simalayas represent what is Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan in our world.

In my previous Sims 2 game, I created the mountaintop temple town of An-Payoda, and never really went into much detail the small villages at the foothills mentioned in the story, where travelers procure mountain guides to help them with their ascent.

Well seeing as how Granite Falls is generally much lower, being at the foot of a waterfall, it's the perfect place for that.

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Meeting the Dragon Islanders Part IV

Lou and Lolo

Rumored to once have been a pirate, Lou Lemak came to town one day with nothing but recipes and a chest of suspicious gold coins and is today the proud owner of Lou's Kitchen, an institution here in the Dragon Isles, where one can always go to get the best food the Isles have to offer, straight from Lou's skillet.

The jetty where she lives was one day visited by a strange boat, and within was Lolo the Sea Fairy. Lolo travels the world, and unlike most fairies, prefers to spend her days away from gardens and wooded glens and out on the rough and tumble ocean.

Lou and Lolo became fast friends and as Lou was setting up her restaurant, Lolo's magic and whimsical methods were instrumental in the business' early days. Today she still helps out, waiting tables, and charming patrons with her dazzling smile.

Lou meanwhile, works hard in the kitchen, where she's more than happy. Lou loves to cook and to see the smiling faces of her happy and full diners. While Lolo is out there working the floor, Lou works her magic over the stove.

Business has been booming, so the intrepid duo started looking for some part timers to pick up some of the slack, and by sheer luck, two sisters, Dawan and Naia (yes I changed Naia's hair) showed up one day asking about some work and today they help Lolo with the serving.

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Meeting the Dragon Islanders Part III

The Naga

Legends tell of a race of benevolent serpentine beings who live in the sea, called the Naga, who can bring about rainstorms if placated. They are also said to save sailors and fishermen from drowning. Some people though, believe them to be malevolent beings who if angered, will bring about destructive storms, as well as put curses on people, or lure them out to sea to drown them.

While most believe these to be nothing more than stories, the people of the Dragon Isles take these tales seriously, and some people claim to have seen them, there's even a photograph, of who people believe to be the legendary Naga king, although it could well be a forgery. I mean look at it

Sightings of the Naga are how the Isles got their name, and since ancient times, temples and shrines to the Naga popped up everywhere in the region during the Pranajaya period, where people go to make offerings to the deified beings, hoping for good weather, safety at sea, or for blessings and riches. To this day, there are even Naga festivals here where the community comes together to beseech the Naga to bring about the rainy season.

Kwai, Naia and Dawan

Could any of this be true? Well, three mysterious siblings, Dawan, Kwai and Naia love all these tales, legends and festivities. No one knows much about them or where they're from. They just appeared one day on the beach, and spend most of their time there, hanging about the ruins, or wandering about the town, where they seem to be searching for something or...someone. Dawan and Naia both took jobs at the local restaurant, and Kwai just helps out around town.

Dawan is the gentlest of the siblings, like the calming rays of the morning sun after a stormy night, and people can't help but be put at ease around her. When she's not working, Dawan spends a lot of her time at the Dragon Temple, curiously observing the devotees as they come and go. Dawan is kind hearted and good tempered, and loves to help out whoever she can or to brighten someone's day with a thoughtful gift or kind word.

Naia on the other hand, is like the night. Cool, mysterious and a little threatening. Naia doesn't seem to think much of the people around her, and often scoffs at their outlandish stories and customs. Whenever she's asked about the Naga, Naia makes it abundantly clear there's no such thing and quickly changes the subject or just walks off. For now, only time will tell if the Naga are real, and only time will tell who these three mysterious siblings truly are and why they're here.

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Meeting the Dragon Islanders Part II

The Intanis

Up on the hill is where the Intanis stay. The family's ancestral home was built on a natural hot spring, and today the family runs a spa from their property, offering soaks in the springs for free, as well as massage therapy services. The patriarch of the family is Fid Intani and his wife, Jani. Along with their daughter, Astria, and their two adopted sons, Dion and Keon.

Fid and Jani are respected members of the community, and both are descendants from a line of ancient nobility in the region. Of course these days, they're happy to leave all that behind and live out their lives in humble peace and quiet, running their business, and raising their children.

Their daughter, Astria is often seen as the most beautiful girl in the Dragon Isles, with her dark, wavy and silky hair and her big doe eyes. As a single child, Astria is used to getting her way, and naturally competitive, she wants to be the best always. Now that she's grown up, she wants to be the best masseuse in the Dragon Isles.

She and her adopted brother Dion, have a friendly sibling rivalry going on, although it's mostly one sided, with Astria vying to offer the best massages in town, and Dion just seeming to excel by sheer talent. While she loves her brothers, Astria sometimes feels a little overshadowed by their natural flair for the craft, and by all the attention they are getting.

Dion and Keon were both found by Fid and Jani a few years ago when Astria was still a child. They were found abandoned on a beach, starving and alone, so the kindly Intanis took them in. The brothers have committed themselves to repaying them for this kindness ever since, and to do all they can help the family business thrive. Sure enough, things really...changed for the family after they appeared.

Dion, with his outstanding and long blue hair, is of course, the local heartthrob, with many coming to the spa just to ask for him. He's naturally shy however, and tends to avoid bringing attention to himself, but there's just something about Dion that draws people in, like some sort of spell.

The same is true for his brother Keon, who's a little more carefree and playful than he is. Keon relishes how uncomfortable Dion is with all the attention, and loves a good prank now and then. Keon sometimes wonders about their childhood, having little memory of their life before being found by Fid and Jani.

Both brothers are fascinated by the culture of the Isles, especially local tales of the Sea Dragons, or Naga, said to have been sighted in this area long ago, from which the islands got their name. They spend much of their free time at the museum, learning more about the people who lived here, and to hear Chief Daga's lectures about the region's history, hoping to learn something about their own mysterious past, perhaps.

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Meeting The Dragon Islanders Part I

Chief Daga, Reza and Azura Pura

Chief Daga is the town's elder, and serves as the local chief. His keen interest in the region's history and culture is clear to all who know him, and he's a proud islander. The Pura family has lived on the island for generations and today consists of Chief Daga and his grandchildren, Reza and Azura.

The Pura family home is a well known landmark in town and is just across the large temple square where the town's many festivals are held. Visitors are welcome all the time, and chief Daga loves to spend time chatting with the neighbours.

Having been one of the first few explorers of the ancient Pranajaya ruins of Bandayang, an ancient civilization that spanned most of the region, Chief Daga built a small museum in town, where he now spends most of his time, maintaining the exhibits and giving lectures to any interested visitors, hoping to educate the people on their past. The museum also serves as a local gathering spot for the townsfolk, and a market has popped up on it's grounds.

His grandson Reza, is equally enamoured with digging up the past. Reza spends much of his time away from town, and excavating at the Bandayang ruins, in the jungles, looking for artifacts to fill his grandfather's museum. When he is around, he tries to engage the townsfolk, but usually ends up boring them with his history lessons.

Reza isn't much of a people person, and while he loves his island home here with Chief Daga and his cousin, he does have a hard time connecting with people, and he's happiest when he's alone in the jungle, digging up new discoveries.

Azura Pura

Azura meanwhile, knows that Chief Daga will one day want one of his grandchildren to take over the role of chief but she has her hands full running the local bar. Besides, in her opinion, the studious and serious Reza is much better suited to the role.

Her bar, where she also lives, sits along the beach in the heart of town and is as ever, a popular watering hole for the locals to gather.

Azura is a much loved figure in town, and what Reza lacks in warmth, Azura makes up for with her genuine interest in the lives of her many neighbours. Chief Daga knows this and believes that perhaps a combination of both their talents will make for a pair of chiefs that will be perfect for the islands.

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New Year New Stories

It's art! Well I tried. This past year has been one of alot of changes and not all of them great but also some really wonderful ones. Creating silly old school cover art for my silly Sims games really reminds me of a few years ago when I did that in the Sims 2. I'm really hoping this story is one I can invest in because I miss and enjoy the hobby, and that anyone reading might enjoy but either way, Happy New Year, I hope that 2025 brings you all the things you have needed!

This is the energy I'm bringing into this year. Hanging on a vine, inscrutable smile, am I happy? Am I holding in a fart, who knows? But am I feeling cute? Yes I am.

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Tales from the Dragon Isles

Welcome to the Dragon Isles, where new stories loom on the horizon! Meet Meka Kawanto , who is now saddled with her family's old property. The former plantation has certainly seen better days and it's up to her to turn the abandoned property into a thriving farm!

The property once belonged to a philandering family member who, rumour has it, killed his wife in a fire and ran off with a mistress. Certainly not a good start for Meka's new life, especially since locals claim the angry spirit of the late wife still hangs about.

The farm is pretty overgrown with grass and the many years of tropical storms have taken their toll on the property. Meka knew that the farm would be a fixer upper but she definitely didn't think it'd be in such a state.

At any rate, any good rags to riches farming sim begins with meeting the village chief, who helpfully gives Meka some plants to get started, although she'll have to clear the overgrown fields first.

With that, Meka's story is on the way. And she's taken her first steps into her new life. Over time, as she works to transform the property and to help the island around her thrive, she'll meet a bunch of colourful locals who live in the isles, and who all have their own stories, and of course, some of them are romanceable. ❤️

This save file took so much setting up I was honestly thinking I'd not even play in it, but here we are! Thanks to a slew of mods, the world is ready and the game now works how I need it to and I'm excited to start a new storyline.

Hopefully this storyline will be an ongoing thing. I'm certainly loving all the Sims I created to populate the islands, and will share more about them and their homes soon! Happy New Year everyone!

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I've not played much in Selvadorada at all or used the Jungle Adventure pack features, mainly because I was worried it would be an underwhelming and buggy immersion breaking mess, but decided to try it out, in my Dragon Isles save file.

Welcome to Bandayang, ancient capital of the Pranajaya civilization. What's left of it anyway. Like I said, I just really like the stupa ruins from For Rent and they make so much sense here, they look so haunting and majestic in the jungle. The little outpost village is just so peaceful and chill, even unmodded, it is one of the nicer worlds on my opinion.

I created a bunch of locals for the area and didn't expect so many of them to show up in the market square, peddling wares and interacting happily with each other, which is a nice surprise. It does give the place a sense of community, and as a visitor, you do feel like you're an outsider in a small tight knit community. Just for fun I also added in some more Euro-esque archaeologists and academics and it's cute to see them wandering around and even selling supplies/artifacts.

The ambience of the jungle once I started getting into the ruins in general is just really well done too, and this is honestly the most fun and immersion I've had in the Sims 4. The way the stupas sit nicely over the portals really makes travelling through the portals look like entering a ruin and of course, I love that. The jungle is really pretty and even without any extra decor from me, the ruins look great, I actually feel kinda bad for customizing it since I do feel that alot of attention and care did go into their design, but alas .

I do like that the Omiscan ruins is based on Mesoamerica, but for the sake of this save file, I gave the ruins a slight Southeast Asian flavour, with the Pranajaya based loosely on the Srivijaya. My favorite lot is the royal baths, which I didn't expect to be a lot at all, let alone an editable one. It reminds me of some world building concept art I did years ago of a flooded ruin for a novel I never ended up writing. But anyway thanks for reading all that, happy holidays everyone!

[jonnyparable]

The Dragon Temple

I generally like my lots to have a function, and this lot, while labelled as a National Park, serves as the historical site, and a spiritual center for the islanders.

The temple has a For Rent spirit house for making offerings, as well as market stalls, and also serves as a lot to facilitate some festivals. I really love these big stupa ruins that came with For Rent and was happy to discover that they have a very small footprint, making them perfect for placing in lots and to not have them completely block everything. Hidden within the temple as well is a public toilet, so this lot deftly takes care of most sim needs.

By using some walls to make a room within the temple itself, you can make the building "enterable" by blocking off the areas you don't want sims to clip through, funneling them to the entrance. This room isn't closed off with any door or arch, as that would cover the entire stupa in interior lighting. Although that can easily be worked around, I just left the room open. The black void is just a kind of screen that sims can pass through, meaning the interiors can be dressed up any which way.

You can put anything inside really, I dressed it up in stone and hid a scaled down wishing well in front of a dragon statue, fitting for the Dragon Isles. The well is usable, and perfect for giving my sims a reason to visit lots outside of their homes. Its great cos the wishing well that came with Romantic Gardens is so European, but comes with some very fun Sims 2-esque gameplay which I never used.

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The Lotus Festival

Testing out an idea I had to use TOOL mod to place some Kinara candles in the off-lot shallows of The Dragon Isles (Sulani), which are part of a holiday custom for the Lotus Festival, as well as other holidays like the Ghost Festival. These areas are a beach in the main island, and the tidepool area on the smaller island.

I'm happy to report that the candles are usable, and this also has the added advantage of giving the lotus pond I created some use. The candles are hidden within a scaled up lotus lamp from City Living, and placed on tables, which are moved out onto the traversable shallow water areas using TOOL mod.

I must say, it's very pretty and certainly does encourage me to think more creatively about how to use the holiday traditions in different cultural settings. Not sure if anyone's done this already but here's hoping this was useful.