Handiness
Handiness
A Sim improving their Handiness skill by tinkering with an object
- For the similar skill in The Sims and The Sims 2, see Mechanical.
Handiness is a skill in The Sims 3 which replaces Mechanical from The Sims 2 and The Sims Stories. The skill is augmented by the Handy trait. It allows Sims to fix and upgrade objects.
Statistics
Objects Repaired, Electrical Objects Repaired, Plumbing Objects Repaired, Objects Upgraded, Unique Upgrades Completed, Percent of Unique Upgrades Completed, Times Electrocuted
Challenges
- Electrician
- Electricians have repaired at least 10 electrical objects. The experience gained means they will never be electrocuted by an electrical object again.
- Plumber
- Plumbers have repaired at least 10 plumbing objects. They are so good at repairs that plumbing objects repaired by them never break again.
- Tinkerer
- Tinkerers have finished at least 10 unique upgrades on household items. Installing the "Unbreakable" upgrade on multiple objects only counts as one unique upgrade, so it helps to experiment with different upgrade options! Tinkerers never fail when upgrading objects.
Abilities
| Level | Ability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tinker | Allows the Sim to tinker with an object to add a random upgrade |
| 3 | Upgrade (Self Cleaning) | Cleanable objects can be made self cleaning |
| 4 | Upgrade Features |
Fireproofing (Stove), Improved Speakers (Stereo), Silent Running (Dishwasher) Improved Jets (Hot Tub) |
| 6 | Upgrade (Unbreakable) | Objects can be made unbreakable |
| 7 | Upgrade TV & Other | Seems to unlock most of the remaining upgrades |
| 10 | Discount | Objects in the Buy and Build Mode are cheaper |
Upgrades
| Upgrade | Level | Applicable Object | Difficulty Rating | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Always Good Fortune[TS3:WA] | 6 | Fortune Factory Fortune Cookie Maker |
|
Always gives you the positive moodlet from fortune cookies. |
| Auto Light | 4 | Fireplace (Only the cheap ones) |
|
The fire turns itself on whenever the Sim walks into the room. |
| Auto Water | 4 | Sprinkler |
|
Automatically waters the plants every morning. |
| Boost Channels | 6-10 | TV (Only the cheap ones) |
|
Unlocks advance channels which are not available in cheap televisions. With higher skills, more channels can be unlocked |
| Change Fire Color | 3 | Fireplace (Only the cheap ones) |
|
The player can choose between blue, purple, green and regular by right-clicking on fireplace. |
| Clean Polymer Injection System[TS3:A] | 6 | Washing Machine |
|
Makes the Fresh Clothing moodlet last longer |
| Custom Doorbell Sound | 3 | Door |
|
Changes the sound of your doorbell. |
| Dimesional Gate[TS3:ST] | 10 | PlasmaPunch Gyroscopic Conductor |
|
Create a dimesional gate. |
| Faster Cooking | 4 | Microwave |
|
Cooks food in a hurry. |
| Fireproof | 4 | Fireplace, Stove |
|
Will never set things on fire - ever. (The Fireproof Homestead lifetime reward makes this upgrade unnecessary in the active household.) |
| Flavor Enhancement[TS3:WA] | 9 | Nectar Maker |
|
Increases nectar flavor by 15%. |
| Improve Fire Alarm[TS3:A] | 4 | Firestation Alarm |
|
Respond faster to firefighting emergencies! (Sim must be in the Firefighter profession.) |
| Improve Meal Quality | 7 | Stove |
|
Increases the quality of cooked meals. |
| Improve Speakers | 3 | Stereo |
|
Increases effect of "Enjoying Music" moodlet by 10. |
| Improved Crushing | 6 | Trash Compactor |
|
Allows you to store more trash. |
| Improved Graphics | 8 | Computer |
|
Everyone knows - Better graphics makes games more fun. |
| Improved Jets[TS3:LN] | 6 | Hot Tub |
|
Changes the hot tubs' bubbles effect. |
| Improved Memory | 9 | Food Replicator |
|
Every subsequently stored meal will have 20 copies available instead of the regular 10. |
| Improved Pressing[TS3:WA] | 5 | Nectar Maker |
|
Adds an extra one bottle of nectar on each production. |
| Inertial Stabilizer[TS3:ST] | 10 | PlasmaPunch Gyroscopic Conductor |
|
Sims will never get nauseous again. |
| Inkinization 2.0[TS3:A] | 6 | The Digital Tattoo Applicator |
|
Never give or receive a bad tattoo on this device again. |
| Look-Good Mirrors[TS3:A][1] | 6 | Styling Station |
|
Your customers will be more likely to be satisfied with their Makeovers! |
| More Efficient[TS3:A] | 6 | Windmill, Solar panel |
|
Bills are reduced by 3% (Solar Panel) and 6% (Windmill) instead of 2% and 4%. |
| Never Lose[TS3:LN] | 6 | Dartboard |
|
You'll never lose again! |
| Perfect Teleportation | 9 | Teleporter |
|
Disables the possibility that Teleporter fails. |
| Self-Cleaning | 3 | Toilets, Bathtubs, Sinks, Stove |
|
This object will clean itself every time it gets dirty. |
| Silent Running | 4 | Dishwasher (Only inexpensive §300 dishwasher) |
|
Makes your dishwasher run silently. |
| Unbreakable | 6 | Plumbing Objects Stereo Teleporter TV Computer Dishwasher Trash Compactor Washing Machine[TS3:A] |
|
Like it says - It never breaks. (Completing the Plumber skill challenge makes this upgrade unnecessary on plumbing objects. They should instead be made Self-Cleaning.) |
| Upgraded Extinguisher[TS3:A][2] | 3 | Fire Extinguisher |
|
Extinguish fires Faster! (Sim must be in the Firefighter profession.) |
| Wire House With Speakers | 8 | Stereo |
|
"Enjoying Music" moodlet follows all around the house. The stereo interrupts sleep throughout the house instead of just nearby rooms. |
Opportunities
- Settle an Argument
- Reward: Cash
- Location: Specified Sim
- Description: [Sim] is a bit peeved with modern technology, and has taken the opinion that it's unreliable and breaks too often. Have a chat with [Sim] and provide a convincing argument about the greatness of modern technology. You'll earn a little money and improve your relationship with [Sim] for settling the disagreement.
- Bring Back the Jams
- Goal: Upgrade the Stereo and return it to [Random Sim]
- Reward: Cash
- Location: Specified Sim
- Description: A Stereo belonging to [Sim] is barely pumping out tunes like it used to, and it's making [Sim] look really uncool. [Sim] will leave the stereo with you (in the family inventory) to Upgrade. Once you're finished, bring it back and [Sim] will pay you for the work.
- Broken Laptop
- Goal: Repair the Laptop and return it to [Random Sim]
- Reward: Cash
- Location: Specified Sim
- Bad Reception
- Goal: Repair the TV and return it to [Random Sim]
- Reward: Cash
- Description: [Sim] has a TV that's busted and there's nobody around to fix it. Take the TV set (It will be placed in your family inventory.) and whack it a few times to see if you can't get it working again. [Sim] will pay you for the repair work.
- Not Music, Not Fun
- Goal: Repair the Stereo and return it to [Random Sim]
- Reward: Cash
- Location: Specified Sim
Glitches
- Unbreakable and Perfect Teleportation
The player can give both Unbreakable and Perfect upgrades to the same Teleporter by taking advantage of a glitch by completing the Perfect Teleportation upgrade first, then starting a new upgrade for Unbreakable, and canceling it after only some work is done.
References
- ↑ Unlocked through the Stylist profession.
- ↑ Unlocked through the Firefighter profession.