About

This blog follows the lives of the inhabitants of Pine Hollow, a Sims 2 neighborhood.

Pine Hollow is a small town located on Pine Mountain. A forty-five minute drive from the city of Arcadia, the town boasts low crime rates and a leisurely way of life. Pine Hollow is the kind of town where citizens know everyone else and they all take part in the running of their town.

Arcadia is the nearest city to Pine Hollow and is located along the coast. Arcadia is home to the prestigious Pine State University and has an active cultural and social environment.

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Town Notes

Taxes:

Taxes are 15% of each household’s net worth.

Credits:
$1500 for married couples
$1000 per child, including YAs enrolled at PSU
$500 per adult college student

Taxes are paid every four years.

35% goes toward education
20% goes toward medical care
45% used to fund new construction/remodeling in Pine Hollow & Arcadia

Medical Services:

Arcadia Hospital, located in downtown Arcadia

Services:
Walk-in clinic (illnesses): $200
Prenatal and childbirth: $500
Cosmetic surgery: $1000 – $5000
Psychiatric care: $4000
Dentistry: $800
Surgery: $4000 – $6000
Eye exams: $100

Pine Hollow Medical Clinic, located in Pine Hollow and overseen by Dr. Julie Lloyd

Services:
Walk-in clinic (illnesses): $200
Prenatal and childbirth: $500
Psychiatric care: $4000
Dentistry: $800
Eye exams: $100

Loans:

Home and business loans are available through Iris Revenue. 20% down payment is required on the full cost of the loan. A minimum of $1000 is due each play period until the loan is repaid.

Laws:

Fines:
Failure to register pet (no collar): $100
Failure to maintain lawn (in Arcadia): $100
Public indecency: $500 (police officer must be on lot to catch the act)
Public fighting: $500
DUI: $1000 and 10 years license revoked
Possession of bubble blower: $500
Possession of money tree plants: $1000
Counterfeiting machine: 15 years in jail

Must roll a risk each day for as long as the Sim owns bubble blower, money tree plants, or counterfeiting machine.

Risk: 1 in 100

Other Fees:

Marriage licenses: $200
Marriage fees: $100 for marriage at City Hall, or $2000 for wedding at Hillcreek Church. Other venues available for $500 to $5000.

Divorce rulings: $1000

Adoption: $500

Funerals: $500

Inheritance fee: 10% of total worth

Pet registry: $50

Career rules:

ATHLETICS:
Injury risk – lose 5 body points and enter physical therapy, take one year off from playing sports. Risk: 1 out of 75.
Must reach Coach by age 40 or else retire.

LAW ENFORCEMENT:
Injury risk – lose 5 body points and enter physical therapy. Risk: 1 out of 75.
Death risk – 1 out of 200

POLITICS:
Social risk – lose 5 charisma points, public apology and either resignation or enter rehab. Risk: 1 out of 100

ADVENTURE:
Injury risk – lose 5 body points and enter physical therapy. Risk: 1 out of 75.
Death risk – 1 out of 200

OCEANOGRAPHY:
Injury risk – lose 5 body points and enter physical therapy. Risk: 1 out of 75.
Death risk – 1 out of 200
Must receive masters degree before advancing to marine biologist

MILITARY:
Injury risk – lose 5 body points and enter physical therapy. Risk: 1 out of 75.
Death risk – 1 out of 200
Must reach Senior Officer by 45 or else retire.

DANCE:
Injury risk – lose 5 body points and enter physical therapy. Risk: 1 out of 75.
Must retire by age 40 and find new work.

SHOW BUSINESS
Social risk – lose 5 charimsa points, public apology and either resignation or enter rehab. Risk: 1 out of 100
Must reach Leading Man/Lady by 45 or else retire and find other work.

ENTERTAINMENT
Social risk – lose 5 charimsa points, public apology and either resignation or enter rehab. Risk: 1 out of 100

MUSIC
Social risk – lose 5 charimsa points, public apology and either resignation or enter rehab. Risk: 1 out of 100

EDUCATION:
Must complete one year as a teacher’s aide during senior year of college. Must complete master’s degree before advancing to university guest lecturer

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Gameplay Notes:

I play my hood based on rounds that cover two years. So throughout one round seasons will go through two full cycles, from fall of the first year through summer of the second year. I have aging turned off in each household and I manually age each Sim two days when I’m done playing their household. Any age transitions will be delayed until the following summer, except in the case of infants. Infants will age during the seasons that would coincide with their first birthday. For example, infants born in winter will age to toddler the following winter. After that, all other age transitions in each Sim’s life takes place at the end of summer. The two year system is thanks to Laura at Lakeside Heights. The play order of households will change each round, depending on storylines, and Sims will pop up in other households’ updates as part of the interconnected neighborhood feeling. I want my Sims to live and breathe and develop their own personalities and histories, and keep up with family and friends throughout their lives.

I use Hook’s randomizer and a Random Occurrence Scenarios file based on one by Jade and edited by me to determine each round what ROS’s will occur and who they will affect.

Expansion packs I use: University, Nightlife, Open For Business, Pets, Seasons, Bon Voyage, Free Time, Apartment Life

Stuff packs I use: Family Fun Stuff, Celebrations Stuff, H&M Stuff

This is a “sort of” Prosperity Challenge neighborhood. It follows a lot of the same basic ideas as the Prosperity Challenge, but I don’t completely follow the rules and just make up my own based on how I want to play.

Thanks to Jade and the wonderful Isle of Thyme (now no longer online) for the inspiration on playing a Sims 2 neighborhood with integrated economy system.  A big thanks to Laura at Lakeside Heights, Carla at Sullivan, and Apple Valley for detailing their playstyle on their blogs. I’ve borrowed a lot of ideas from them and incorporated them into a way that works for my hood.

This page has the following sub pages.

• Education System
• Welcome to Pine Hollow