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.

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.

Inventions

 * Toys
 * Widgets (decorative objects with no practical function.)
 * Magical Gnome of Invention (randomly created when inventing or creating other items.)
 * Big inventions:
 * Floor Hygienator (provides the Sim who walks over it with the moodlet "Squeaky Clean", "Nauseous", "Tranquil", "Minty Breath", or "New Car Smell". It also could make the Sim "Fascinated" if they are a Genius.)
 * Harvester (Sucks up nearby garden produce, gems, metals, insects, scrap and waste.)
 * Miner (Digs up scrap, space rock, metal, and gems, and can be used for transport between digsites.)
 * Time Machine (Rabbit hole)
 * SimBot (A new life state)

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

Self-Employment
Players may choose to register any adult Sim with at least one point of inventing skill as a "Self-Employed Inventor" at City Hall. Sims in this career earn promotions based on the amount of money earned through inventions.