Tips on Building Functional Dorms

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Adela Griffin
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Tips on Building Functional Dorms Maxis buildings are great when you start playing, but with time, you just need to make the game a bit more personal.

1 Tips on Building Functional Dorms Maxis buildings are great when you start playing, but with time, you just need to make the game a bit more personal. Building lots is really fun, but when you start playing, you can often witness frustrated Sims unable to do some things or reach some places. In other words, you realise the lot you have created is not as functional as you thought it would. So here are my tips for building functional lots. Today: Dorms. First, to build a dorm, you need to have the University Expansion Pack installed. Launch the game and get yourself to a university campus. (You could start building in your original neighbourhood and then move it to a campus, but better cut the chase and build it at the right place) Building Place an empty lot of the size you desire as a residential lot. * Sizetip* If you are a beginner at building or have a computer that tend to lag when there are too many Sims on a lot, give yourself a chance and chose a small lot, University is long enough, don t make it longer with lag. * Name tip * When naming your dorm, remember to add the number of rooms (as in bedrooms) in its name, to know how many Sims can live there when playing. Now is the time to start building. You can choose to build with a foundation or not, really is your choice, but if you do, remember to put more then just one set of stairs, or you ll get waiving Sims, unable to get in. Also, make the area between the stairs and the door big enough in case some Sims decide to chat right there, or have more then one door to get in and out of your dorm. Page - 1 -

When building, remember to plan a space for the cafeteria, some bathroom with a shower area, a study area and an entertainment area. Also, you need bedrooms for your simstudents.

To make your rooms official, you need to get them the Myne Door (the one with the little panel in which your Sim s picture will appear once he or she claim the door).

2 When building, remember to plan a space for the cafeteria, some bathroom with a shower area, a study area and an entertainment area. Also, you need bedrooms for your simstudents. A 3X3 room can be big enough, but I suggest that you make then at least 3X4. No need to make them much bigger, since students don t spend that much time in their room. To make your rooms official, you need to get them the Myne Door (the one with the little panel in which your Sim s picture will appear once he or she claim the door). * Door tip * Concerning those doors, you need to remember not to put them on diagonal walls, or the claim system won t work for them. Also, don t put any ceiling lights right in front of them, or they will be stuck open and your Sims won t be able to claim them. Remember to add all the other doors you may need and add some windows ;) (Good time also to get some flooring and wall covering) Now, let s furnish that dorm. Page - 2 -

Bedrooms Your students will mostly need a bed in there.

You can also add a desk (with a chair) or a dresser in there. A light would also be nice. Don t put too much in there, you don t want to have a laggy lot on your hands.

You absolutely need to put in there the ShinyTyme Cooktop stove (the one that came with the Expansion Pack and has no oven), or you won t have any cook to serve you meals.

You really don t want to lose the furniture in there nor the cook, and what will the cow mascot do if he/she can pull a prank or two while visiting.

3 Bedrooms Your students will mostly need a bed in there. No need to be too fancy on the bed, let the student able to buy a better one as they gain money from getting a semester done. You can also add a desk (with a chair) or a dresser in there. A light would also be nice. Don t put too much in there, you don t want to have a laggy lot on your hands. Cafeteria This room is quite important to have a functional dorm, since it is one of its main advantages. You absolutely need to put in there the ShinyTyme Cooktop stove (the one that came with the Expansion Pack and has no oven), or you won t have any cook to serve you meals. Next, you need a sprinkler close to the oven. You really don t want to lose the furniture in there nor the cook, and what will the cow mascot do if he/she can pull a prank or two while visiting. Next, you need island counters for your cook to put some ready meals on. If you don t put any, your cook will just stand there and do nothing. Add also some tables and chairs, both for your Sims to eat and do some assignments. * Island Counter Tip * It may be tempting to add some stools in front of the counters, put it will only create confusion among your Sims. They won t eat at the counter anyway and they will go on the cook s side to fetch their meal. * Cafeteria Planning Tip * Make sure there is enough space to circulate in there. Leave one square of space around everything just to be sure. Page - 3 -

Bathrooms It is surely nice to have bathrooms like at home, but there will be too many Sims in there to go fancy in there, and you want that dorm feeling in there too.

Use also the Strut You Stuff Communal Showers, so that more then one sims can get clean at once. You can make your bathrooms gender specific (using the EZ Evac, Inc. s Restroom doors), or not.

4 Bathrooms It is surely nice to have bathrooms like at home, but there will be too many Sims in there to go fancy in there, and you want that dorm feeling in there too. Use the public toilet (ResiStall Astro Divider 7) so that more then one Sims can pee at once in the same room. A sink or two and at least a mirror is also a good idea. Use also the Strut You Stuff Communal Showers, so that more then one sims can get clean at once. You can make your bathrooms gender specific (using the EZ Evac, Inc. s Restroom doors), or not. There are many ways to configure your bathrooms. You can make two separate ones (one for each gender) with toilets and showers in both. You can have a semi-separate, with the toilets area mix and two showers room (one for each gender) using the EZ Evac, Inc. s Restroom doors again. Or you can have a completely mix bathroom. * Bathrooms Tip * If you are building a two floors dorm, make sure to have at least toilets on both floors. If all your rooms are on the second floor, put the showers there and get some small washroom close to the cafeteria. The study area Your Sims will eventually need to study. Get them some desks and some computers. Remember to leave some desk free, for those assignments. You don t want your Sims to invade your cafeteria tables with unfinished assignment. If you want to add a bookcase in there, make sure to get a couch close to it, so that the Sims using it won t hug your desks and computers for group research or gaining some skills. Page - 4 -

The entertainment area Studying may get your student s fun level quite low, and they will need to gain some skills to succeed through college. Get them a TV, an easel and a chess board.

Cooking, mechanical, charisma, body, creativity, logic, and cleaning. Don t put too many objects in there, or you ll really get serious lag while playing.

5 The entertainment area Studying may get your student s fun level quite low, and they will need to gain some skills to succeed through college. Get them a TV, an easel and a chess board. You don t necessary have to put them in that room, but just make sure you at least have them somewhere. * Last minute check up tip * Remember to get your Sims enough to build every skills. Cooking, mechanical, charisma, body, creativity, logic, and cleaning. Don t put too many objects in there, or you ll really get serious lag while playing. Don t forget a phone and some lights here and there. When you feel your dorm is complete, it is time to change the zoning of your lot, or it will remain a rental house. While still in your lot, open the cheat window (ctrl + shift + C ) and type changelotzoning dorm and press enter. Exit your lot. When you will click on your lot again from the neighbourhood view, you will see that you now have a new dorm to your campus. Congratulation on building a functional dorm! If you need any more information, do not hesitate to contact me through me guestbook or through the PM service. Plus, the dorm featured in this article will be available to download on TSR soon after this publication. Page - 5 -

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