October Mod Status and Updates

Hello All!

Hope you're well.

Sorry for the slight delay in meeting my self-imposed timeline. I get so excited when I'm making mods to share them and I set deadlines for myself and communicate when I plan to share them with you but I have to remember that life gets in the way every. single. time. I had every intention of releasing the mod earlier and reaching the goal I set but that just couldn't happen. I know I said late October but I really wasn't trying to cut it this close. Making this mod gave me so much trouble - it's the worst things about modding is troubleshooting - and I spent an unhealthy amount of hours working on it. I had no idea at the end of September when I announced it how crazy my October would get but sometimes it just is what it is.

I am so very happy with how this mod turned out and at different points throughout the process when I wasn't tearing my hair out I really enjoyed making certain features (looking at you financial events and investment portfolios) but the pace and way I worked on it are something I'll never attempt again.

So to avoid this kind of quagmire in the future - I did it to myself, I know - I'll be doing general timeframes instead of specific dates just to give myself more grace and to protect my peace. Modding was meant to be fun and creative hobby and not a stressful and unhealthy second job and sometimes it's easy to forget that when I try to fit my life and my time into parameters of expectations outside of my own which, for everyone, is always changing because there's just always something going on. I truly appreciate your grace and patience!

Early Access Feedback

Thank you so for supporting this work! I work very hard on my mods, spend countless hours making them and improving them, and I want to do them as well as I can so I want to give them the time and attention they require before releasing them. That said, I can't catch everything and my mods are pretty extensive so that's why early access is a great time for you to let me know if you're experiencing anything weird with new mods or features so... let me know!

Work in Progress

In November, I will be exploring, as I mentioned before, the mechanics of the ways your sims can actively participate in therapy and doctor's visits. The game has given us some ways for this to be easier to setup and I am excited to flesh out the systems I have already started with new features made more organic and possible with more recent packs. My wonderful friend, Lot51, has made some customizations to the Core Library for me that will allow me to set it up in a way that will make it simpler for you to do it yourself so I can't wait to dive into that. I hope to be able to get that to you around the end of November.

Bug Reports

I have also been getting your feedback and bug reports so I have made an effort to cover as many of them as I could this month as well. If there's something you're experiencing that wasn't fixed below and you're sure isn't an intended effect or user error, please let me know!

Housekeeping

I will be away from my computer until mid-week next week but patrons can feel free to DM me and I'll get back to you when I can.

Thank You and Happy Simming!

Mod Updates

BG Health System v2.9 - Updated to make adjustments to illness rates which were somehow affected by Enchanted by Nature ailments. Also updated to integrate with SimFinance medical insurance. Let me know if your sims don't get sick at all after 3-4 sim weeks.

Beauty Bar Club and Small Business v1.4 - Updated to fix an issue where sometimes your sim offering services does not succeed

Custom Nuptials v2.9.7 - Updated to fix an issue with booking honeymoons

Delinquent Teens v2.9.7- Updated to fix an issue with attending hearings

Dental Care v7.6 - Updated to make adjustments to the rate of dental issues and to put a test on a notification that occurs after your sims die to get a dental checkup. Can you imagine?

Education Overhaul v6.3 - This version of Education Overhaul adds active field trips in addition to the rabbithole field trips already available in the mod for a total of 12 different field trips your sim can experience. This has been updated to fix an issue with the Art Center field trip causing an exception. Please redownload if you had the early access version.

Family Therapy v3.9.9 - Updated to fix broken menu. Remember this requires Lot51's Core Library but does still need its script file.

Golden Years v2.4 - Updated to fix an issue with submitting a claim for multiple sims. If your sim has already died, the person whose household files the claim will get the full amount. If your sim dies after updating the mod, each beneficiary will receive an equal portion of the benefit and will need to file separately. You can submit claims via the relationship panel by clicking on the deceased sim. Also updated to exclude SimFinance Life Insurance from both being available at the same time.

GTW Health Overhaul v4.9 - Updated to make adjustments to illness rates which were somehow affected by Enchanted by Nature ailments. Also updated to integrate with SimFinance medical insurance. Let me know if your sims don't get sick at all after 3-4 sim weeks.

Healthcare Redux (Public v9.9.2/ Patron v10.9.2) - Updated to make adjustments to disease, condition, and medical emergency chances. Fixed text length for assistive device options. Also updated to integrate with SimFinance medical insurance. Let me know if your sims don't get sick at all after 3-4 sim weeks.

SimNation Travel v6.9.2 - Updated to address a tests that did not allow you to use domestic travel separately. Also updated to integrate with SimFinance Auto insurance.

Writer Career and Writing Overhaul v4.9.5- Updated to fix issue with royalties for horror genre

Early Access

SimFinancial

Violet/Sapphire Release - Today

Azure/Midnight Release - November 5th

Mod Background

This mod started out as a patron asking me to create financial reversals of fortunes for sims a la calamitous sims but with financial consequences because we agree it's too easy to accumulate wealth in the game. But then I wanted to have ways for them to mitigate those disasters. Maybe they needed roof repairs due to some unexpected storm damage. Could maybe home insurance cover a portion of that after their deductible? The answer to all of that was the creation of this mod and of SimFinancial Credit Union.

This mod is somewhat modular so if you only want one part of the mod you can pick and choose what you'd like in terms of including Financial Events, Insurance, or Loans. The base mod is required for all Credit Union services (including loans, investments, credit cards, and insurance) therefore Credit Scores, Credit Union accounts, and Income Taxes are part of the base mod. You do not have to need to keep a large amount of funds in the account, but being a member of the SimFinancial Credit Union is required to utilize its services.

The credit union aspect was created and is intended to be a simple banking experience to facilitate other aspects of the mod. It can be used independently of those features, however, and that's why Loans, Financial Events, and Insurance are separated but it is not the major focus of this mod since there are other more comprehensive mods for that. But I needed somewhere that would house those typical banking services and thus the credit union was created and there's no point in having one without bank accounts.

The below is just a quick overview of the features. More detail is on the mod description page.

What this Mod Offers

Credit Scores

Sims are assigned credit scores that are based on a variety of factors including traits, cash, career, credit history, property, business ownership, marital status, household makeup, and more. Credit history is run each time a sim requires a service that needs a credit score and thus varies based on changes in career, credit history and utilization, payment history and bills, and more.

Income Tax

Your sims will owe weekly income tax based on their weekly salary. When they switch jobs or lose their job, the income tax is recalculated. Income tax rate is based on the career and career levels. For freelance and custom careers, an average salary is used to determine their tax rate and income level. Spouses are taxed jointly on their combined income.

Simple Credit Union Accounts

Joint and Personal Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts, Child/Minor Accounts, and Retirement Accounts, Business Accounts. Automated transfers can be setup between owned accounts, other accounts, and/or your household funds. You an also choose to have your salary, if a regular non-freelance game career, automatically transferred to a checking account to facilitate tax payments, etc.

Basic Credit Cards

To facilitate smaller cash advances with daily limits on cash advances and varying credit limits based on your Sim's credit score from $2,000 to $25,000. Once your sim runs a balance, credit card payments are billed biweekly. Do not let your sim miss a payment else they can be charged a late fees. You can also setup autopay. A card will be mailed to your sim.

Investments

Investments including the ability to open a brokerage account, buy and sell shares of stocks, with fluctuating share prices based on variable market conditions. Watch out for market conditions to see when the best time would buy shares and then turn around and sell them when your sim is likely to get the most profit.

Financial Events (Optional Module)

Sims have the chance to experience normal financial events including some positive and some negative. This can range from receiving an unexpected tax rebate, to having to pay for moving expenses when your sims move out of their home, to having a water leak or mold outbreak. When financial events that have practical effects in the game - phone breakage or pest infestation - sims will not be able to either utilize the item or get rid of the problem until they fulfill their financial obligations. There are a plethora of different events which can befall your sims and cost them. The amounts can vary from a small $250 fine from the HOA to $25,000 contractor fees to replace storm damage. If a Sim has insurance, if they meet their deductible, the rest of that cost incurred may be covered by insurance. Assuming their coverage hasn't lapsed...

Insurance (Optional Module)

To help with the costs of these varying unexpected expenses, Sims can get insurance quotes. Insurances offered include Auto Insurance, Homeowner's Insurance, Medical Insurance, Life Insurance, and Renter's Insurance. Sims can also purchase a Pet Rider to help cover the cost of vet bills. Insurance agents will run your sim's credit and determine their risk factors. For example, if you have a preexisting condition, your Medical Insurance premiums might be more or your policy limit lower. Their credit score and risk factors determine their policy limit, deductible, and premium payment amount. Sims can accept or reject the policy terms but they may or may not be different the next time sims apply. Premiums are billed weekly and consequences exist for repeated late payments. How it works and what happens when your sim incurs a covered expense are detailed in the mod description.

Loans (Optional Module)

If Credit Cards not offer the amount of ready cash your Sims need to cover their expenses or they want a large some of money upfront without daily limits, sims can apply for loans. Loan officers will evaluate your sim's credit score which will determine, along with the loan amount request, the terms of their loan. Your Sim can accept or reject the terms but they may or may not be different the next time they apply. Sims can apply for three different types of loans - Business Loans, if they have a business, Personal Loans, which have lower loan amounts available, or Mortgage Loans which they can apply for own their own or with their spouse. Loan payments vary in their interest rate, minimum payments, and number of installments. Loan payments are billed weekly and there are consequences for repeated late payments.