Wants



Wants were first introduced in The Sims 2 and represent a Sim's most immediate wishes. Initially, a Sim is born with 4 want slots, however The Sims 2: University introduced, as a bonus for completing College, an increase to 6 wants.

Fulfilling Wants
When a Want (or Fear) is fulfilled, the slot it occupies, and sometimes others, will be re-rolled, and a new one will take its place. Wants are also re-rolled completely at the end of the day, usually early in the morning once the Sim wakes up.

Locking Wants
Wants and Fears can be locked by right-clicking them, and once locked they will be exempted from re-rolls until they are fulfilled. A Sim can normally lock only one Want (or Fear), but Sims who have completed their junior year in college receive an extra Want lock.

Aspiration and Influence
Fulfilling Wants will increase the aspiration bar by a set amount, and in many cases will also increase the influence bar. Fulfilling Fears will, similarly, decrease the aspiration bar and influence bar. Generally, the more difficult a Want is to achieve, the more aspiration and influence points you will receive for fulfilling it.

Lifetime Wants
The Sims 2: University also introduced the concept of Lifetime Wants, which, when fulfilled, will give a Sim permanent Platinum mood for the remainder of their lives.

Changing Wants
Sims in different circumstances will have different Wants, appropriate to their age level. A toddler, for example, will roll up Wants to be potty trained, or taught to walk, whereas an adult will roll up Wants to be friends with Sims around them.

Similarly, Wants tend to be influenced by a Sim's Aspiration: a Sim with a Knowledge aspiration will tend to want to gain skill points or maximize a skill, whereas a Romance Sim will want to WooHoo with almost everyone around them.