When a Sim hunts bugs, they dash around outside, getting their collecting jar out, swiping it through the greenery and occasionally saying that they've found a new bug and added it to their collection, but more often than not just shrugging and moving on.
There's got to be more to it than that!
The original Maxis code includes lines to report that a duplicate bug had been found, but, as the Sim already had it in their collection, they released it. I assume this was considered as notification overload, as the code is disabled.
This global mod takes the idea of notifiying about a duplicate bug and extends it in several ways.
When a duplicate bug is now found (even on a hike), a dialog pops up asking if the bug should be released or kept. If the bug is kept, it is added to a "swapsies" jar in the Sim's inventory. Additionally, if there is another Sim actively hunting bugs on the lot who is missing that bug from their own collection, it is possible to give it to them - this will slightly increase the STR/LTR between the two Sims and fulfill any wants/fears for giving gifts.
When a new bug is now found, if there is another Sim actively hunting bugs who is missing that bug from their own collection and the finding Sim really likes them, a dialog pops up asking if the bug should be kept or given away - giving it away will increase the STR/LTR between the two Sims and fulfill any wants/fears for giving gifts.
The "swapsies" jar can be taken out of inventory and left somewhere. In addition to being able to "View" the jar (like a fireflies/butterflies jar) a Sim can add any bugs it contains to their own collection.
The mod also adds two new social interactions - "Give Bug" and "Trade Bug".
"Give Bug" allows a Sim to give a bug to another Sim that they need for their collection. The gifted bug comes from their "swapsies" jar or their own collection (player choice). This action gives a small increase in STR/LTR and fulfills any wants/fears for giving gifts.
"Trade Bug" allows two Sims to swap bugs provided that both have a bug in their "swapsies" jar that the other needs for their collection. The initiating Sim selects which bug to give and the received bug will depend on the type (beetle, butterfly or spider) of bug given. This action gives a small increase in STR/LTR and fulfills any wants/fears for giving gifts.
Sims are able to autonomously view a "swapsies" jar and add any bugs to their own collection and also initiate the "Give" and "Trade" interactions (but only gifting from their "swapsies" jar, not their own collection).
Finally, the mod includes the fixes to enable all bugs to be collected.
On finding a duplicate bug while hunting ...
Unmodded, when a Sim found a duplicate bug they just shruged and moved on, now they have options! If there is another Sim nearby actively hunting bugs who the finding Sim likes, they can give the bug to them or they can add the bug to their own "swapsies" jar or they can release it. For a controllable Sim, a dialog pops-up asking the player what to do, otherwise the Sim will always add the bug to their "swapsies" jar.
If the Sim gives the bug away, there will be a small increase in the STR/LTR scores between them and any wants/fears to give gifts are fulfilled. If the relationship between the receiving Sim and the gifting Sim is too low, the gift will be rejected.
The BCON 0x1004 entries that control these behaviours are: 0x00 to 0x01 (relationship to give/receive duplicate); 0x02 to 0x05 (STR/LTR increase on gift acceptance); 0x06 to 0x0B (distance factors).
In order to keep the number of pop-ups under control, there is a maximum number of each bug that can be added to the "swapsies" jar and this is controlled by the BCON 0x1004 0x0C entry. By default this is 3, so if a 4th duplicate of a specific bug is found, the "Keep/Release" pop-up will not be displayed, the bug will just be released.
On finding a new bug while hunting ...
Unmodded, when a Sim found a new bug they just added it to their collection and moved on, now they have an option to give it away. If there is another Sim nearby actively hunting bugs who the finding Sim really likes and has a higher nature enthusiasm, they can give the bug to them or they can add the bug to their own collection. For a controllable Sim, a dialog pops-up asking the player what to do, otherwise the Sim will always add the bug to their collection.
If the Sim gives the bug away, there will be an increase in the STR/LTR scores between them and any wants/fears to give gifts are fulfilled. If the relationship between the receiving Sim and the gifting Sim is too low, the gift will be rejected.
The BCON 0x1004 entries that control these behaviours are: 0x0E and 0x01 (relationship to give/receive new); 0x0F (difference in nature enthusiasm); 0x10 to 0x13 (STR/LTR increase on gift acceptance); 0x06 to 0x0B (distance factors).
On finding a duplicate bug while hiking ...
Unmodded, when a Sim found a duplicate bug while hiking it was just ignored, now they have the option of adding it to their "swapsies" jar. For a controllable Sim, a dialog pops-up asking the player what to do, otherwise the Sim will always add the bug to their "swapsies" jar.
The BCON 0x1004 entries that control this behaviour are: 0x0C (max duplicates).
Gender neutral dialogs ...
The BCON 0x1004 entry 0x0D controls the usage of "her/his" vs "their" in dialogs and notifications.
The mod includes the fixes that were added to the Free Time patch but broken when Apartment Life was released to allow all bugs to be collected.
The changes are in the BCON 0x1002 "Bug Tuning" and the OBJD 0x41A7 "Controller - Bug Collection" components of "Controller - Bug Collection" object (GUID 0x93FED306, Group 0x7F93FBA3) so will conflict with any other mod that fixes this issue, for example, Cyjon's Bug Collection Fix and No Bug Hunting Bees.
The mod includes the ability to disable bee attacks while bug hunting.
BCON 0x1004 entry 0x14 "No Buzzy Bees" controls this - set to a non-zero value to disable bee attacks.
The "swapsies" jar looks very like the normal bug hunting jar but as it is used to store duplicate bugs will only ever show dead butterflies. When a Sim finds a duplicate bug, a "swapsies" jar will be added to their inventory (unless one is already present) and the bug placed in it.
If the jar is taken out of inventory and placed on a surface (or the floor) the following menu options are available
- View - the Sim will look at the jar and either gain or lose fun depending on their liking for dead bugs. BCON 0x1001 can be used to tune this behaviour.
- List Contents - the Sim will inspect the jar and report what types of bug it contains
- Add To Collection - the Sim will pick up the jar and remove any bugs needed for their collection adding them to their own bug box. If this empties the jar, it will fade away.
- Dispose - the Sim will take the jar to the nearest trash can and dispose of it
- Put Away - the Sim will pick up the jar and place it into their inventory
- Prompt To Keep / Always Keep - changes the jar's setting that controls if the "Keep/Release" pop-up dialog is shown
If debug mode (testingCheats) is enabled, shift-clicking on the jar brings up the following options
- Show Contents - like "List Contents" above but executes immediately without the animations
- Delete - like "Dispose" above but executes immediately without the animations
- Collection.../Add.../All (Beetles,Butterflies,Spiders) - adds all bugs (or just all the beetles, butterflies or spiders) to the Sims personal collection (bug box)
- Collection.../Remove.../All (Beetles,Butterflies,Spiders) - removes all bugs (or just all the beetles, butterflies or spiders) from the Sims personal collection (bug box)
- Jar.../Add.../All (Beetles,Butterflies,Spiders) - adds one of each bug (or just one of each beetle, butterfly or spider) to this ""swapsies" jar
This social interaction allows a Sim to gift another Sim a bug from their "swapsies" jar(s) and (optionally) their personal collection (bug box). This interaction is only available if the initiating Sim has a bug that the target Sim needs.
After the gifting Sim has approached the target Sim and got their attention, a dialog to select which bug to gift is shown. Assuming the gift is accepted, the gifting Sim will present the receiving Sim with a bug jar which the target Sim will take. The gifted bug is removed from the initiating Sim's "swapsies" jar (or personal collection) and added to the receiving Sim's personal collection (bug box).
Depending on outcome (gift accepted/rejected and neutral/good reception) the STR/LTR scores will be changed and any wants/fears for gift giving will be fulfilled.
This social interaction allows a Sim to trade with another Sim for a bug from their "swapsies" jar(s). This interaction is only available if both Sims have a bug that the other Sim needs.
After the initiating Sim has approached the target Sim and got their attention, a dialog to select which bug to trade is shown. Assuming the trade is accepted, the initiating Sim will present the receiving Sim with a bug jar which the target Sim will take. The selected bug is removed from the initiating Sim's "swapsies" jar and added to the receiving Sim's personal collection (bug box). The bug received in trade is determined by the type of bug offered (beetle, butterfly or spider) and how the trade was perceived (good or neutral). The received bug is added to the initiating Sim personal collection and a notification of the exact bug received is displayed.
Depending on outcome (trade accepted/rejected and neutral/good reception) the STR/LTR scores will be changed and any wants/fears for gift giving will be fulfilled.
Copy the WH_SocialBugHuntingChanges.package and WH_SocialBugHuntingSocials.package files into your downloads directory.
Uninstallation
Delete the two package files from your downloads directory.
Will conflict with any mod that alters the "Hunt Bugs - Do Dialog" BHAV (0x1004), "Interaction - Hunt Bugs" BHAV (0x1005), "Hunt Bugs - Do Dialog From Other Activity" BHAV (0x100D), "Controller - Bug Collection" OBJD (0x41A7), "Dialog prim string set" STR# (0x012D) or "Bug Tuning" BCON (0x1002) in the "Controller - Bug Collection" (0x7F93FBA3) object, or adds a BHAV to this object with an instance number of 0x100E, 0x100F or 0x1010, or adds a BCON to this object with an instance number of 0x1004
Known to conflict with Cyjon's Bug Collection Fix and No Bug Hunting Bees.
Conflicts - New Objects
The "swapsies" jar, all the bug cards and the social objects have their own GUIDs so will NOT conflict with any other objects. And are Super-Duper Hug Bug safe.
- Requires Free Time or any later EP
- The developers of SimPE.
- All the modders who took time to write tutorials, wiki pages or explanatory forum posts - some of the answers I used dated back to 2007!
- Way too many others to mention.
"It is only by standing on the shoulders of giants that the rest of us can even see the top of the learning curve and contemplate attaining it."
- Full Download SocialBugHunting.zip