A bird's eye view of the valley I spent a lot of time trying to make the snow filled valley for Andy and Cory in my story of Andromeda Rose. I thought some of you might be curious about it. I placed lots with the aim of blocking views of the roads, and went into and out of them over and over again to adjust the ground levels. I also learned that once I started to edit a lot, the color changed from snow white to grey. In some pictures that was OK, but not for others, so in addition to raising the ground to make snow drifts and hide the roads, I also had to color the ground a bright white. Anyway, I thought I'd share a picture of the valley from above. Then, you can see it in the story. Andy and Cory are camping in the lot where you see the plumbBob. The abandoned city is in the background. Their lander is actually there, too. But they won't see it. Not yet, anyway. I have a couple of other pretty pictures I'll add in a minute, too.
I had not originally planned to use the same valley where they first landed for this part of the story, and spent a huge amount of time testing other landscapes. One of them looked especially pretty--as long as I wasn't trying to take pictures from within one of the lots. Pictures one and two are pictures taken within the neighborhood, but not within any of the lots. The mountains are absolutely gorgeous. However, *sigh* when I enter a lot and look up at the mountains...they flip their lids, as the next two pictures show. Maybe there is a way to fix this, but I don't know how.
Want to see how Hugo and his acolytes live when not fighting monsters in the canyon? Here they are, still in costume and makeup because they're on call 24/7. But back at the temple where they live, they watch the football game on TV, stretch out for a rest on their bunks, or get a big plate of whatever goody their heart desires. Actually, they do not stay in the temple itself. It's too big and drafty. Their quarters are in the two long single story outbuildings on the property.
Your neighborhood looks awesome! That's pretty strange that you can't see the mountains the same way when you're in a lot. I'll have to look around my neighborhoods to see what happens. There are a few mountains I can experiment with. As far as the Acolytes, the pics of the one checking the mail and the one carrying the jello mold made me chuckle. I love the behind the scenes!
I also thought I'd mention the behind the scenes people I call 'place holders.' Sometimes I just need someone to take care of the property I've got all set up until the actors get there. All lots need working bathrooms, kitchens, a bookcase and chairs, etc., since I may have several sims on the lot at the same time even though only a couple are being photographed. So I have the 'place holders.' (They can summon or invite sims I need for some interaction or other.) Mr. Sleeper and his house are the first couple of pictures. Andy and Cory were invited over and had a couple of pictures taken for the story. Mr. Sleeper and the house were not in the pictures. Mrs. Hutt is in the third picture. (from Itta's Hut where the Medruzz attacked Egan.) So, I thought y'all might be amused by all of this. As a couple of you know, I spend an enormous amount of time putting these stories together. But it's great fun, too.
I have a lot of fun watching my sims in costume going about their daily routines. The monsters, of course, like the Medruzz, are the best. He almost appeared in that picture of the acolyte getting the mail, because he came walking down the sidewalk into the scene. However, since he's not dressed appropriately for this forum, I waited until he left before taking the picture.
Hmm ... Just how is he dressed, Lynet? I love these. I've enjoyed the story so much and I'm enjoying these as well. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for sharing a little of the "Behind the Scenes" with us! It's really fun to take a peek "backstage!" As always, you AWE and INSPIRE! raise:
When I get home from work tonight I'm going to do Interview With A Demon . We'll go meet the Medruzz in his lair. Simmywood scuttlebutt is: he's got three sparks for Andy Rose. Is it possible? Have they been dating?
I sent Luke to interview Simon Medruzz. Simon lives in the Temple of Makhist, an enormous structure located in the remote mountains of the Other World neighborhood. He lives there with various relatives, and although I expected Luke to find out more about them, I am afraid that he is too new at this. He lost his notes and remembers very little of the interview. Fortunately, the photographer got some pictures. I am going to give Luke another chance in a week or so, but not because I think he has much potential, because he doesn’t. He’s cute, that’s all. I’m attaching a couple of pictures of the temple, which the photographer got from the helicopter. He used a special type of X-ray camera to get a picture of the living quarters in the top floor of the building. Then he took a couple of pictures of the people. All we know about them is that they are relatives. At least, that’s what Simon told Luke. Except for the woman reading the newspaper. She’s not a relative. We don’t know who she is. Luke thinks she is one of the producers of a reality TV show. As for the rumors about Simon Medruzz and Andy Rose, we should note that Andy has filed a lawsuit against the Simstar Tattler because of the story that claimed she was dating Simon. Both Simon and Andy deny that they have been seeing each other. We told our photographer to go check it out, but he refused and then left town after telling me not to mess around with the Medruzz family. (Um, the first picture is Luke, the interviewer who failed at his job...nerves, I think.)
Usually the sparkage goes both ways, at least it does in my game ... and yes, sim love is blind, trust me! What great photos. Thanks for the glimpse into your world. Itta Hutt. Snort. Does she have friends named Thatta Tree and Ima Street? Heh.
A couple more pictures. One of the relatives is in the first shot, if you can see him. He was rather shadowy. Luke talks to Simon Medruzz who agreed to dress for the camera. Simon is something of a back to nature type but recognizes that there is a time and place for nature, and in front of the camera is neither.
We simulposted! So, I'm confused ... the guy with the schnozz can change into the Medruzz? Once again, you sure we're playing the same game? Love, love, love your architecture as always, and thanks for the silliness!
Thanks about the architecture, and no, the pale guy with the big nose is just a relative, or so they all claim. Maybe it's like the Mafia. They're Family. The Medruzz, himself, (Simon) is wearing a red shirt and talking to Luke.
For story telling and, I suppose, filmmaking, the OFB (and Nightlife, too) EPs gave us the chance to put several different neighborhoods together that allow sims to travel between valleys and mountains, lush and arid, or desert and concrete landscapes. BTW, a hack allowed me to put dirt roads in a dirt terrain, but I haven't yet found a hack that allows me to put dirt roads in any terrain. I also found a hack that gives me snow terrain. (There are curious issues with that one.) Maybe the weather/vacation EP will give more variety with the roads. I'm attaching a couple of pictures of the different countries that are all part of the main neighborhood: Hugo's Temple in "The Old Country" where I first discovered that no matter how I changed the neighborhood terrain type (with the cheat), from within the temple lot you will still see the whole neighborhood as covered with snow. *sigh* Hadrea's Temple of Makhist in "The Other World" And "The Dirt Highway" neighborhood with the Brydia Market and Cory's farm. A lot of people live there. I moved all the townies into houses (requiring the no townie regeneration hack) and dressed them appropriately as extras in the story. I've already posted a picture of the snow-covered valley where the abandoned city is located. That's the main neighborhood, "Briscoe's Landing." (don't ask--I have no imagination when it comes to naming these places) All the others are attached to it, and the sims move easily between them.
