Hobby lot: Difference between revisions

A '''hobby lot''' is a [[secret lot]] in ''[[The Sims 2: FreeTime]]'' expansion that specializes in one of the [[hobbies]]. Increasing a Sim's [[enthusiasm]] in the hobby to level 5 will reward them with access to a special secret lot. An '''instructor''', also known as '''iconic hobbyist''', is present on each of the secret lots. He or she is an [[Non-playable character|NPC]] with maximum enthusiasm in the lot's designated hobby and can be asked to instruct Sims in it.

Membership pass to the hobby lot is awarded by the instructor who owns it. The pass will show up in the Sim's [[memories]]. [[Townie#The Sims 2|Townies]] may be created with level 5 enthusiasm in a hobby. If they are made playable, they will have access to that hobby's secret lot, but may not get a memory about receiving it. Also, [[child]]ren who reach level 5 enthusiasm in a hobby may gain access to that hobby's secret lot when they become [[teen]]s, but do not always receive it. In the first version of ''FreeTime'', the instructor would arrive and award membership even to toddlers, the instructor would walk into the house, and immediately leave, unable to greet the toddler.

While Sims cannot gain [[skill]] points and [[talent badge]]s on normal [[community lot]]s, they can gain them on hobby lots. Therefore, they make more effective gyms, libraries, studios, etc. than normal community lots. In addition to hobby-related items and activities, hobby lots will have bathrooms with toilet stalls, showers, and either dressers or changing booths (which can be used as dressers). They will also have dining areas with [[Barbecue#The Sims 2|a grill]]. This enables Sims to replenish all of their motives on a hobby lot, except for Energy. Some hobby lots also contain items only normally available as [[career rewards]].

Sims can also bring other people with them to secret hobby lots, even if they are not members there. A phone is available on every hobby lot to call a taxi or invite another Sim over. Hobby lots are also places where Dormies, Downtownies, and random selectable NPCs can visit outside their native areas. In the first ''FreeTime'' release, many kinds of people, which are normally not allowed to autonomously visit, could be encountered on hobby lots, such as Stylists, Nannies, and members of the current family. This resulted in erratic behavior.

The hobby instructor is randomly chosen from a predefined pool and will remain the same for a given neighborhood. Instructors are not encountered on other lot types, except if they are invited by the player or deliver a membership card for their lot. They have maximum enthusiasm in their chosen hobby and a plaque signifying excellence in the field. Becoming friends with an instructor will help to gain promotions in its associated careers.

There is a small ridge near the barbecue grills and outdoor dining tables. If the instructor or a visitor is initialized in just the wrong spot on that ridge, he or she can become both stuck and unreachable.