When I create a new Sim I prefer to start with the basics, before the make up – the Sims 4 face and body type. First the facial features: eyes, ears, mouth and nose, just like the song. These types of CC CAS (custom content in Create A Sim) are called presets. Until writing this, I didn’t know they had a name of their own.
Molly the Dolly (loosely based on Molly the Dolly from The Big Comfy Couch), holding the Cheshire kitten, talking with her friend, Truly Scrumptious, known for her songs and the candy empire she inherited from her Father. They have a cozy life with odd cats dropping by. Truly has a brother, who will later be the star (for a very short time) of a murder mystery which Truly and Molly will solve. The cats might even help.
CC Files – Things You Should Know
Maxis Match Versus Alpha CC
I was going to write about the difference between alpha and Maxis Match CC. It’s something I noticed but didn’t understand for years. Sophie explains it all in her post: Alpha vs Maxis Match: Get To Know The Different Types of Sims 4 Custom Content. I prefer Maxis Match style CC, especially for any hair.
Non-Default Versus Default Game Files
Some of the presets (or any CC) will replace your base game (or packs, kits, oh my!) files. If you don’t want that (I prefer not to do that) read the descriptions before you download the files. Some CC may offer an alternative – non-default files. This will leave the base game (default) files untouched. The new files will install alongside them instead of replacing them.
The new version of default files usually add more colors, and other features. The default files include the mesh for the CC. The mesh is like the skeleton the CC is built on. CC files need a mesh. Without a mesh they load as invisible in your game.
Disable CC for Random Sims
If you use CC you do NOT want to appear on random NPC Sims you need to disable those files for random Sims.
If this REALLY bugs you… (it REALLY bugs me) find a block of time you can go through all your CAS CC and use my list below. Any CAS CC files can be unchecked for random Sims, not just the odd ones you don’t want to be surprised with. CC for building, furniture, anything not for creating a Sim, can be left aside.
- set aside the oddball CC like zombie skins, florescent shirts, the CC you don’t want just any Sim showing up with
- save them to their own folder (lets call it oddball CC)
- open oddball CC folder in Sims 4 Studio and uncheck “allow for random” at the very bottom of the options list. (See my screenshot below).
I left this CC checked for random because it was a pair of suit pants. Fairly generic.
Note: Ravasheen has tutorials for beginning Sims CC makers. Even if you just download CC there are good things to understand about the files and how they are made. To start you can save yourself errors by understanding why your CC files need a mesh.
Find Premade Sims (with Presets)
You may have seen fully created characters from other Simmers. These should list the custom content they used to create the Sims, with links to the sources.
You Might Prefer Sliders
Quite a few of the presets were just wonky looking once I tried them. Great if you want to create a weird looking Sim. But, I’d strongly suggest loading them all into their own file in your Mods folder. Save yourself hunting them down if you don’t want to keep them.
The Sims 4 comes with its own set of sliders in CAS. Try them, explore what you already have, before you download slider mods. I’d rather work with sliders. But, sliders aren’t perfect either. Installing a lot of sliders could make designing your Sims feel like soup with their features and body parts just too fluid.
- Miiko Sliders and Presets
- Marso with Eye Sliders
- Madman Sliders and Presets
- Luumia with Sliders
- Obscurus-Sims Sliders and Presets
- Northern Siberia Winds Sliders and Presets
- Teamoon Nose and Mouth Sliders
If you download so much CC that it becomes an unending scroll to find it (or if you have too many eye or hair colors and don’t want to delete them, yet) the easiest solution is the Mod – More Columns in CAS from weerbesu. You can have up to 6 columns. But, 5 seems to work best at this time.
CAS Character Inspiration
All dressed up and no where to go? Make use of your non-default bodies, skins, and faces. With more features in CAS can you make yourself as a Sim? Maybe your cat?
- Create people from your own life, friend or foe.
- Make a family with similar features, but not clones.
- Create Sims from other races, genres, and religions.
- Make an alien, or monster, or fantasy, half animal creature.
- Make a time traveling Sim, must blend in all over history.
- Create the complete opposite Sim from what you usually make.
- What does an evil Sim look like? A childish Sim? A gloomy Sim?
- Build a Sim especially bred for a career as if by natural selection.
- Take beauty ideals to the extreme. Then ugly, fat, skinny…
- Make your own version of holiday creatures like Santa Claus, Tooth Fairy…
- Create a model to feature in your lookbook (a CC fashion show).
Fiction for Inspiration
Use your favorite games to design Sims. See how close you can get to re-creating them or find existing creations to customize. I like Stardew Valley. Try The Stardew/ Simdew Valley Challenge. I also have a character in AQ3D (Adventure Quest 3D). I’ve played her with dark blue hair for about 10 years. I’m going to create her as a Sims for my upcoming post about the Dungeons and Dragons mod for Sims 4.
My Sims: Truly Scrumptious and Molly the Dolly Lookbook
Truly Scrumptious and Molly the Dolly chatting at home in the kitchen. Truly wearing her doll on a music box outfit and hairstyle. Molly in her usual work around the house outfit. Molly does most of the work around the house, she’s very tidy and likes repairing everything.
At some point you must have seen Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and maybe you remember the scene with Truly Scrumptious acting as a wind-up “doll on a music box that’s wound by a key”.
I’ve been digging for anything useful for creating a doll Sim. Some of the CC is for creepy, scary dolls. Not what I was looking for. But I’ve listed them here for you to explore.
Please let me know what you have found too. I can always find time for more CC shopping!
- Wind up Keys – Waekey
- Dollify Choker – Alexaarr
- Dirndl Dress (short skirt) – Simverses
- Button Eyes – SleepyMaya
- Monster Pointed Teeth – Pyxis
- Dolly Hair – RavenSim
- Aysel Hair – IsJao
- Ball Jointed Doll Skin – AnatomicalAndrogyny
- Doll skin – EvilQuinzel
- Dolly Blush – JenniAnneJane
- Ragdoll Sally Face Paint – Sims4Krampus
- Doll face paint – PureSim
- Porcelain Face – kokoroworks
- Halloween Make-Up Scary Doll – tigerlillyyyy
- Facepaint N5 – Elizabeth V1 (Set) – PinkyCustomWorld
- Cracked Doll Set – hutzu
- Blythe dolls – Insimniac
