Replacing Pool Walls. by Tiko, 25 November Introduction

Transcription

1 Introduction I m often asked how we can replace the game s default swimming pool walls with new ones of our own, in versions of the game prior to the Seasons expansion (which allows us to replace just with a click). The method is quite easy, and can provide a lot of creative enjoyment too. Normally I discover and develop my own ideas and methods, and my tutorials are written to share them with everyone else. For this particular topic, however, my tutorial is based on what so far as I m aware is the only method there is, discovered by a wonderful builder and teacher, MikeInside. So really I m developing Mike s discovery to make it easily available to everyone at TSR (with extra information, of course!) Note: The one difficulty is that the Pets expansion pack won t allow the method. Maxis seems to have decided that, rather than remedy this with a patch, they ll use Seasons to provide a simple way to replace pool walls and floors, as if the pool were just another room. Step 1. First, let s lay out a simple pool. If you re replacing the walls of an old pool of yours, you don t need to remove the pool lights, ladders or diving board, but since they can make it harder to see what you re doing, it s probably better to remove them. This one has the diagonal pool walls which have been available since the Nightlife expansion, since I wanted to show how to replace these walls too. Our aim is to raise the pool walls, providing enough exposed wall for us to replace the default wallpaper in the pool with any wallpaper we like. Interestingly it was at first thought we had to raise the walls by 4 clicks, but I ve found that the method works just as well with any number of clicks, though it s easiest to see what you re doing with 3 or 4 clicks. The aim is to get at the wall once the imaginary tile of water surface is tilted. Page - 1 -

2 Step 2. Once we ve got the pool shape we like (or maybe you re replacing the walls of an existing pool), we need to turn on the building command which allows us to modify the heights of floors and walls. Hold down Ctrl+Shift and tap C. In the white Commands window that opens at the top of your screen, type: boolprop constrainfloorelevation false and press Enter. If you've got the words right (the command is almost always called 'CFE' because of the middle phrase), the window will close. (The capital letters don't matter - it's just easier to read.). Step 3. Now use the RaiseTerrain tool on any gridsquare corner at the edge of the pool. For ease, I m starting at a corner of the pool. Here I ve raised the corner by 3 clicks. If we don t have Nightlife or a more recent Expansion, we need to raise all the pool edges. We could just go round the pool clicking every gridsquare corner, and surprisingly the method works even if the edges aren t level! But it takes a while to click round, so here s a quicker, easier method. Step 4. (Steps #4-6 are needed for all versions of the game.) Place the LevelTerrain tool at the top of the little peak we ve created... Page - 2 -

3 Step and slide the tool carefully across to the opposite corner of the gridsquare, as shown here. If you re learning this method, keep your mouse button pressed down, and if the cursor slips onto a different corner, you ll find you can slide it back. Let go of the mouse button once you re sure you re in place. If you miss, don t worry! Just click Undo (or press Ctrl+z) and try again. Step 6. This should be your result: a level gridsquare, 3 clicks high. Now if you have Nightlife or a more recent Expansion (but not Pets ), and you want to replace all the default pool walls with the same wall panel, you can do this extremely easily.. so go straight to Step #20. But if you have the original game only, or University, follow these steps (#7-18) which are also helpful even if you have a recent EP, if you want to apply a variety of wall panels at different points round the pool. Step 7. From this raised square of ground we can quickly raise all the pool edges. (If you did leave any ladders or diving boards in the pool at Step #1, they ll just rise up with the ground.) Slide the LevelTerrain tool as shown, from a corner of this raised square across to the opposite corner of the ground alongside the pool... Page - 3 -

4 Step with this result. Then repeat this step, levelling all the ground alongside the pool by sliding the LevelTerrain tool along each row of gridsquares. Important! Take care NOT to get the LevelTerrain tool onto the gridsquares actually in the pool. We can only access the walls if the pool gridsquares in front of them are tilted, each with its inner edge at the normal height. Step 9. So that means when you come to any diagonal pool walls, be careful not to raise the whole gridsquare they run across. (Obviously this only applies if you have a recent EP and want to replace individual wall panels. If you want them all the same, go to Step #20. If you don t have a recent EP, go to Step #13.) Instead.. Step just raise the ground gridsquares that touch the diagonal pool walls, as shown here. Page - 4 -

5 Step 11. As you can see, each diagonal wall panel kinks at the middle vertical line. This is fine. (Well no, on other building projects it s not fine in fact it s darned annoying when we re trying to make domed roofs and the like. What did Maxis think they were up to? ***!!!) But here it s fine, since when we ve lowered the walls again at the end they flatten out perfectly! Step 12. Remember to level up the other diagonal walls too. Step 13. OK. Now here we need to get a little delicate! Select a wallpaper you want to try out in the pool. Then bring the Wallpaper tool s cursor to an open pool wall panel that s not in a corner, as here. Do you see the original tiling has 4 rows of tiny mosaic tiles at the top? (See Step #15 if your game s default tiling has a different appearance.) Place the Wallpaper tool s cursor anywhere across the width, but precisely inside the top tow of the tiny tiles, nearest the top edge, and click when the replacement wallpaper appears. Page - 5 -

6 Step 14. This should be the result (using the sensible Pixelation Hallucination Tile)! (Well, OK, you probably chose a red and yellow flaming pattern, or maybe a pink floral print... ) Step 15. In some early versions of the game, the default pool walls may be different, as shown here. Place your cursor anywhere across the width, but precisely at the height shown... that is, inside the V or half-diamond at the very top and near the top edge. Click when your replacement appears. If you hold down Ctrl and place the cursor, you should discover the more common tiling as in Step #13, sort of hiding underneath!!! (Btw, the yellow arrows are my graphics they re not an unusual in-game cursor!!!) Step 16. Repeat this procedure for any other open pool wall panels the ones that aren t in corners. Page - 6 -

7 Step 17. Now when we come to panels in the corners of the pool (even a corner with a diagonal wall), we need to be even more delicate!!! Place your Wallpaper tool s cursor right in the top corner of the panel the corner that isn t at the corner of the pool, if you follow me! The cursor needs to be almost on the top edge. Get close in. Move your cursor around gently until the wallpaper changes. Step 18. When you come to the diagonal panels (in Nightlife or more recently), try using the same method as for corner panels. But for some diagonals (I don t know why) and occasionally for corner panels too, if you want to you can place the cursor anywhere across the width. Play about with it and experiment, but try it in the corner first! Step 19. So here we are, with all the panels replaced. Now, go on to Step #22 if you re using the original game or University. Page - 7 -

8 Step 20. But if you have Nightlife or a more recent Expansion, you can basically miss out Steps #7-18. (Whoopee!) Just have a look at Steps #13-14, and apply the technique to the one raised pool panel you created at Step #6. Move your cursor until the new wall appears... Step then instead of clicking immediately, hold down the Shift key and then click. In the same way as when papering a room in a house, by magic Shift + Click ensures all the pool walls are replaced at once. (With Nightlife, Maxis really overhauled the programming for Sims2 pools, making a grid square of pool behave more like a grid square of Foundation.) Step 22. Then, if you re in the original game or University, use the LevelTerrain tool to sweep across from the normal flat ground by one corner of the raised area, all the way to flat ground at the opposite corner, as shown here. If you re in Nightlife or a more recent EP, use the levelterrain tool to lower the single gridsquare of ground you raised at Step #6. Page - 8 -

9 Step 23. Either way, this should be the result. Now we just need to switch off the CFE command. Open the white Commands window again and type in boolprop constrainfloorelevation true and press Enter. The built levels are locked or constrained. Step 24. Of course, you don t have to use tiled wallpapers. For example, for older buildings, especially medieval or rustic ones, try a stone finish... Step or a weathered timber! And of course if you re using Nightlife or a more recent EP, you can change looks very quickly by raising just one square and using Shift+Click. Page - 9 -

10 Step 26. Now we can add our pool lights, ladders and diving boards. In case you re not sure, the way to add pool lights to a diagonal wall is to open the Commands window again, and type in two commands: boolprop snapobjectstogrid false and then moveobjects on Use the gridsquares to place them as neatly as you wish... or not! When you ve finished, repeat these Command steps but with true and off. And there we have it a brand new look for every pool you make! Bye! Wishing you lots of enjoyment and pleasure as you explore the magical world of Sims2 architecture! Page