Inventing

Inventing is a skill that appears in the Ambitions expansion pack for The Sims 3.

This skill benefits from the Eccentric trait. As an inventor, Sims can create either brilliant or destructive gadgets. There is a new junkyard lot where inventors can collect scrap using detonation packs. Inventive Sims can provide scrap as a medium for Sims developing their sculpting skill. There is a new inventions log that lists all the inventions a Sim has created and the travels they had in the time machine. Inventing will also increase Sim's handiness skill. Players can register as a self-employed inventor if they have at least a skill level in inventing.

Inventor Sims use the Scraptastic™ Workbench to build inventions. While inventing on the workbench, there is a chance that a Sim might accidentally electrocute themselves or cause an explosion that sets them on fire. In addition to working at the Scraptastic™ Workbench, Sims can also raise inventing skill by reading books and detonating objects. Before being able to create an invention at will, a Sim must use the Invent interaction and accidentally stumble upon making the object first. After that, they can reproduce the object at will so long as they have the required amount of scrap metal.

Children can become inventors as well, although the option to use Detonation Packs will not be available to them until they become young adults.

Statistics
Amount of Scrap Collected, Number of Widgets Made, Number of Toys Made, Number of Big Inventions Made, Number of Objects Detonated, Number of Underground Adventures, Number of Travels through Time, Percentage of Inventions Discovered.

Challenge
Widget Wonder

A Widget Wonder has created 250 Widgets. As a result, all Widgets the Sim makes will be Improved Widgets and will have a bonus value. Widget creation time is shortened as well.

Diabolical Detonator


 * A Diabolical Detonator has detonated 150 objects. As a reward, it cost them less to Detonate stuff, they get more Scrap out of it, and they're less likely to get fined!

The Scrap Collector


 * The Scrap Collector has personally collected over 1,000 Scrap and, as a result, can dig through junk piles faster and find more Scrap!

Master Inventor


 * A Master Inventor has created 100 Big Inventions. As a reward, all Invention creation times and Scrap costs are reduced. All Inventions are now "Master" inventions with a higher value and Master Big Inventions will never fail!

Discover how to make The Ultimate Invention!


 * Reach level 10 of the Inventing Skill and then wait for a special phone call. Follow the opportunity chain and you'll soon discover how to make the Ultimate Invention!

Inventions

 * Magical Gnome of Invention (randomly created when inventing or creating other items.)

Big Invention
These inventions (and other things) can be used to complete opportunities or be sold via the consignment store for a handy profit.

Opportunities
Scrap Cleanup


 * Goal: Visit  to complete the opportunity.


 * Reward: Scrap


 * Description:  just did a big renovation to the "Do It Yourself" section and there is quite the heap of trash and construction material lying around. Because everyone knows that  loves to dabble the Scrap, they were hoping  would be willing to do the cleanup in exchange for some scrap.

Trivia

 * Inventing is also featured on The Sims 3: Pets (Console).