User:K6ka/The Sims 2 recommended CC

This is a personal list of recommended DLC for The Sims 2. A few important notes:

• While I do use a large majority of items listed here, I don't use all of them. Don't ask why, just personal preference. This is mainly to list annoyance fixing mods that other people might benefit from.
  • Okay, the biggest reason is probably that I've found an in-game workaround for the mod, usually with the use of cheats or another third-party mod.
• If a download link here is broken, contact me.
• This list may contain links to the Paysites Must Be Destroyed website. No, they're not illegal. In fact, EA's Terms of Use says that it is illegal to charge money to distribute custom content for any of their products. Any custom content you make for the game must be made available for free. Paysites like what used to be The Sims Resource and Simslice are illegal, pretty much. The EULA is cited on the website's home page, and it makes it pretty clear that paysites are illegal. By now I hope you will put away any complaints about how these links to freely obtained content that originally had to be paid for are illegal, because it's the other way around.
• SimWardrobe doesn't allow direct links to individual pages. All links simply redirect to the main page. I will usually post directions on how to get to the mod, usually in the form of "The Sims 2>Fixes>Seasons fixes", as an example.
• This is my own personal list, not someone else's.

Enjoy!

"Must have" mods

Listed here because they really can save your life, or at least the life of your game. Really.

• Alfixes by J.M. Pescado
  • This mod requires (and is pretty much mandatory for) Apartment Life.
  • This mod fixes countless bugs and glitches, many very serious indeed. It should be used alongside the AL patch, but does not replace it.
  • The original version disabled Date Gift Flowers that are delivered after a good date, largely because Pescado found it broken but didn't bother fixing it, since he never liked it himself anyway. I made a modified version of alfixes here. It's the same thing, just enables Date Gift Flowers. My mod should be used at your own risk.
• Anti-Redundancy by J.M. Pescado.
  • Only allows the game to generate one of each type of NPC, so hoods will only get one maid, one gardener, one repair-person, etc. The mod will allow the game to generate a new one if the first one is unavailable. This mod can prevent character file overload caused by the game generating tons and tons of NPCs.
  • This mod is critical for unpatched Bon Voyage.
• Community Wedding Fix for Celebration Wedding Arch by Lord Darcy.
  • The wedding arch from Celebration! Stuff lacked marriage on community lot function, even though the feature was enabled by EA in Bon Voyage. This mod allows Sims to use the Celebration! Stuff wedding arch to get married on a community lot.
• Cyjon's Lot Debugger by Cyjon.
  • Meant to complement the FFS Lot Debugger listed further down this list. Contains a number of fixes for bugs and glitches in lots.
• Cyjon's Lot Inspector by Cyjon.
  • Can be used to inspect a lot to determine whether it is safe to bin or delete.
  • NOTE: Users who do not have Apartment Life or Mansion & Garden may find that the object doesn't work correctly for them. To make it work, press "Ctrl+Shift+C" to open the cheat box, type in boolProp testingcheatsenabled true, and click on the Lot Inspector. An object error dialog with "Bad gosub tree number" should pop up - click on "Cancel" to ignore the error. The inspector should then file a report.
• Creature Fixes by J.M. Pescado.
  • Fixes some serious issues introduced in Nightlife.
  • Most notable fix is preventing vampires from biting Mrs. Crumpelbottom, which will cause game corruption if that occurs.
• FFS Lot Debugger by J.M. Pescado.
  • This debugging object contains various tools that can be used to fix various bugs and glitches. It's also required to delete a Sim the correct way.
• Fix for OFB Toddler Brown Badger Hat - Correctly shows up under PJs by Lord Darcy
  • A misplaced catalog item. The brown badger hat for toddlers, introduced in Open for Business, was incorrectly categorized as Everyday/Formal/Outerwear, whereas other colors show up under Everyday/PJs/Outerwear. This mod fixes that, moving the lost sheep from Formal to PJs. The shepherd has found you, and will bring you back to the rest of the herd!
• No Corrupted Death Memory by J.M. Pescado.
  • Prevents the formation of corrupted memories with "squiggly lines" in them. Won't fix existing ones.
• No Unlinkage on Urnstone Delete by J.M. Pescado.
  • Prevents the game from shredding character file data when a tombstone/urn is deleted. Can prevent corruption that occurs this way.
• Pet Interaction Enabler for Forgotten Objects by Lord Darcy
  • Several objects from several expansion and stuff packs just never had pet interactions enabled for them, because EA simply forgot about them. With the controlPets cheat, it's possible to see which objects have pet interactions enabled, and which don't. This mod enables those interactions on those forgotten objects, so pets can sleep, nap, chew, and scratch them.
• Pie Menu Text Strings Fix by Lord Darcy
  • A mod that fixes almost all pie menu issues, largely those with redundant functions, grammar mistakes, and terrible translations, especially in non-English versions of the game. Issues fixed include spelling errors, non-identical or silly translations (such as English appearing in the German version), or duplicate pie menu options because EA used the ellipsis character instead of the three periods they originally used.
  • Also fixes the Novellas Nouveau Bookcase issue where the bookcase was missing its "Read to Youngster" function.
  • Also fixes the pie menu for the cheap telescope in all non-English languages (e.g. seeing Watch for UFOs, written in English, in all non-English languages :facepalm:)
  • Also fixes the horribly broken pie menus for refrigerators in the German translation, which was a horrible mess, full of redundant functions and general crappiness.
  • Some issues in which you probably didn't even notice might be fixed in this mod, so just download it!
• Stuff Pack Object Fixes for Apartment Life by Lord Darcy
  • Fixes the whole issue with stuff pack objects not having interactions for later (or even earlier) expansion packs because EA never bothered to update them, or decided to build them on an older game engine for no reason at all. Mindbogglingly unintelligent.
  • If you do not have Apartment Life or Mansion & Garden Stuff, do not download this compilation mod, and instead install each individual part of this mod. The links are in the mod description page, underneath the "Below is the list of fixes which were rolled into this collection. Remove them all to avoid conflict."
  • Various other issues were fixed in this mod.

Buying objects for lots (to furnish that empty shell)

• Buyable Aspiration & Career Rewards for Lot Builders by Sophie-David.
  • This allows career rewards and aspiration reward objects to be purchased in Build or Buy mode. Very useful for lot builders that want to include a punching bag or podium in a community lot, or if you're a filthy cheater.

Bug and annoyance fixes

• 3 Base Game Bars Fix (NL/OFB functions enabled) by Lord Darcy
  • If you have Nightlife or Open for Business, you may notice that the 3 bars from the base game are seemingly... obsolete. If placed on a community lot, they don't spawn a bartender, and if placed on an owned business, you can't assign a Sim to tend it. The only option that comes up is the useless "Juggle Tumblers" interaction. That's because EA completely ignored the bars, all the way to the last expansion pack, for several years. Unbelievable. This mod will re-enable those missing interactions, so you can now get drinks from them at a community lot, assign others to tend those bars, and can use those bars as eating surfaces.
  • Works with Apartments and Shopping on the same lot mod.
• Career Outfits are Added to Wardrobe Again in FreeTime by Lord Darcy
  • Ever since the FreeTime patch, career outfits are no longer added to the family wardrobe, for whatever reason. This mod re-enables that, so you can now wear your police uniform as casual wear again.
  • This is not the same as Career Outfits being hidden from the CAS and Buy catalogs. Use the linked mod instead, or use it alongside this one.
• DJ Booth Fixes by Cyjon
  • Fixes various bugs and glitches with DJ booths. Unfortunately, it won't fix the "Can't hold dance competition with the Nightlife booth" issue.
• Jukebox Animation Fix by Lord Darcy
  • The jukebox introduced in Nightlife has a sick animation of replacing and retrieving the record when Sims turn it on or off. However, if you exit and re-enter the lot, the jukebox will lose these animations. This mod re-enables them.
  • Note: You must sell and repurchase the affected jukeboxes for the fix to take effect.
• Kids and Pets Unattended by BoilingOil.
  • This mod allows children, toddlers, and pets to be left at home alone without a teenager or older Sim present. In a sense, this mod can be used to have a child live alone without any adults or elder guardians present. How fun!
  • Despite popular belief, this mod will not disable social worker visits completely. The social worker will still come to deliver adopted children, or remove children with bad grades, etc.
• Maxis Centerpiece... as Centerpiece! (Centerpiece Enabler for Maxis Small Objects) by Lord Darcy
  • What this mod does is allow Sims to eat at tables that have a centerpiece on them, such as a small decorative object (sculpture or plant), dishes (plates, bowls, platters, and cake, so Sims with small dining rooms and a small table don't have to eat in the living room while the serving bowl is the sole occupant of the dining table), some small electronics, and lamps.
  • Quite useful for restaurants or for the lovely patio where there are small lamps on the tables - which are always vacant because nobody can eat at them! Well, with this mod, now they can.
• Missing Default Wedding Dress Restored for Kitchen & Bath Stuff Pack by Lord Darcy
  • The default wedding dress from the base game was shamefully hidden due to a silly coding error in Kitchen & Bath Interior Design Stuff. Originally, you needed to enter debug mode in CAS just to get the wedding dress. This mod re-enables it, so you no longer need to look like a computer-programming geek just to get this wedding dress.
  • Important: You may find this wedding dress even with K&B Stuff installed. Only install this mod if you can't find the wedding dress outside of CAS Debug Mode.
• No Random bursting into Flames by SimWardrobe.
  • Access this file via "The Sims 2>Fixes>Seasons Fixes".
  • This effectively prevents spontaneous combustion from being too hot, because seriously, who catches on fire when they're hot? You'd have to be well over 100°C (212°F) before you bursting into flames even becomes a concern. And I guarantee you, your blood will boil and you'd die from that, not from a fire.
  • NOTE: Conflicts with Pescado's Warmth Fixes. Add a "Z" in front of SimWardrobe's mod so it loads after Warmth Fixes, if you want spontaneous combustion to be eliminated from the game.
• No Reacting to Rain or Snow by SimWardrobe.
  • Access this file via "The Sims 2>Fixes>Seasons Fixes".
• No Social Worker for Hot or Cold by SimWardrobe.
  • Access this file via "The Sims 2>Fixes>Seasons Fixes".
  • This prevents the social hater worker from kidnapping confiscating children just for being too hot or too cold. Why can't those uneducated folks come when a child is actually being abused, not just because they had too much fun building snowmen!
• Object Sound (Soundinfo) Fix for Maxis Objects by Lord Darcy
  • Objects make distinctive noises when Sims are interacting with them, such as a soft, cushion sofa making a squishy noise. However, sound attribution in later EPs were largely disregarded, such as the Seasons roofed bench making the soft cushion noise. Some objects won't make any sounds at all, because EA broke the coding for them. This mod fixes the sound for most pre-made objects.
• Ramen Fix - Restores Uni texture taken over by BV ramen, Fixes the broken thumbnail by Lord Darcy
  • Bon Voyage overrode the Cup O' Ramen texture from University, so it's no longer used, being replaced with the newer Ramen texture from the Far East food stand. Yet for some reason, Sims still use a fork to eat Cup O' Ramen, even though Sims use chopsticks to eat Far East Ramen. This mod restores the University Cup O' Ramen texture, fixes the broken thumbnail for the Ramen bowl, and either allows you to get Sims to eat Cup O' Ramen with chopsticks, or with a fork like the original did.
  • Note: Sims will still use a spoon to eat Cup O' Ramen if they're not eating at a table.
• Table Slot Height Fix by Lord Darcy
  • All Maxis tables, desks, and end tables have a fixed slot height of 0.8. If the table mesh height is lower than that, you'll end up with the mysterious ghostly floating plate. Higher than 0.8, and the table will partially "eat" the object it holds. While this glitch mostly happens for badly made custom content, some pre-made tables suffer from it too. This mod readjusts the slot height for affected tables, so objects are no longer eaten by their tables.
  • Note: You must sell and re-purchase the affected tables for the changes to take effect.
• Unlocked FreeTime Career Outfits (for FreeTime Patch) by Lord Darcy
  • After the FreeTime Patch, career outfits could not be purchased from CAS or the Buy catalog at a clothing rack. This mod re-enables that, along with some minor changes, such as townies being unable to spawn in career outfits (seriously, who wanders down the street in a ballet tutu??).
  • This is not the same as career outfits no longer being added to the family wardrobe. Use the linked mod instead, or use them together with this one.
• Warmth Fixes by J.M. Pescado.
  • Several fixes regarding temperature that was introduced with Seasons.
  • NOTE: Conflicts with SimWardrobe's No Random Bursting into Flames. Add a "Z" in front of SimWardrobe's mod so it loads after Warmth Fixes, if you want spontaneous combustion to be eliminated from the game.

Feature adding mods

• Apartments and Shopping, on the same Lot! by MogHughson
  • Allows certain community lot objects to function on apartment lots, so Sims can live in a "Mixed-use building", with stores at the foot of the building and living space on top.
  • Read the mod description carefully! The 3 base game bars will still be the bland, empty ones that don't spawn bartenders unless you have 3 Base Game Bars Fix (NL/OFB functions enabled) by Lord Darcy.
  • You cannot run an owned business on an apartment lot, even with this mod. This is currently not possible, and a mod for it would be beyond complexity.
• Maxis Modular Stairs Passage Fix by Lord Darcy
  • This mod allows you to place object under modular stairs, you know, those that you can place on both foundations and on stories - even a 6 story drop for extra-long stairs. Even without this mod, it was possible to force objects underneath the stairs with the moveobjects cheat. However, they had to be decorational, as Sims often couldn't use those objects. This mod allows them to be placed normally, so a computer underneath the stairs is possible, instead of that seemingly wasted space.
  • You can either allow all modular stairs to have objects crammed underneath them (even the ones with supports under them), or only those without visible supports.
  • Note: Existing stairs must be reconstructed for this mod to take effect.

Other

• The InSIMenator by Eric
  • View the wiki article for the object here
  • The InSIMenator can do a lot of things, such as adjusting a Sim's personality points, motives, relationships, age, etc. See the documentation for more information.
• The Sim Blender by TwoJeffs.
  • Functions similarly to the InSIM, but it is supported by the creator.
• The Sim Manipulator by Aaroneous.
  • Functions similarly to the InSim and Sim Blender, but is supported by the creator. It also seems to have a lot more features, IMO.

All three of the above have their own advantages and disadvantages. I use all three of them in my game. The choice is yours.

Untested

• Memory Commander
  • Seems to have something to do with managing memories or something. I don't know, haven't used it, but it looks useful.
  • This post contains the original author and a short description.