What are the "essential" mods for better game play?

[CvilleNscaler 0]

I have been playing Sim City since its inception, but haven't ever jumped into the mods boat. Due to a computer meltdown, my Sim City slate has been wiped clean and I was wondering, what are the "essential" MODs or building additions that players recommend.

I am focusing this on better or more realistic play, not crazy, wierd or silly.

Please list why/how you think each MOD improves game play.

I couldn't find a topic like this, but if there is one, please just include the topic link. Thanks!

[hawkpride147 1]

the NAM is the number one...then the Rural Highway Mod (which will soon be compatible with the current NAM)...thats all i use

[High5flyier 7]

Here is my Mod list

Abandonment Mod1_2

Plugin_180year.Abandonment_Modd.dat

Plugin_No_Dilapidation.dat

Farm Stage Mod

Even Stage Farms.dat

No Pedriana Farms.dat

Rural setting mod

Rural Setting Mod .dat

Rural Setting Mod.xls.dat

BridgeHeightLow&Suspen.dat

Extra Terrian Tools.dat

Farming Jobsx10.dat

industry-quadrupler-2.dat

MaxisRockTextures-jrj1.dat

OperaHouse.dat

ThL_DataViewMod_MoreDetail.dat

ThL_Depth_Underground_ModRadical.dat

I still use nam #1 I am slow at changing sometimes

I use different tran mods just for a different look.

I have tried many otheres but I find this group works best for me.

[Speedx07 0]

lol high.. i wish i had all those links.. now i go on the search!

[Constantina 5]

The transport map looks very plain, I'd liven it up with my own modd that shows the transport routes that don't get shown in the normal one:

https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=15776

I don't really know the purpose of those green train checkers, so I made another modd that turns it into a local train:

https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=17849

Have fun!

[JanYpe 17]

Read through the omnibus for some good advice about organizing your plugin folder. If you plan a little you can prevent unnecessary  crashes. Always read the readme files of the mods you download.

I don't think anyone has mentioned installing a slope mod yet?

It's not a gameplay improvement, but if your computer can handle it I'd advise you to look into cycledogg's terrain mods, like Columbus and Meadowshire, and their respective tree mods. Also look into getting a decent water mod. Pegasus has a number of them on the STEX.

 The NAM drastically improves the games transport system and you should definately download it.

*Pretty much every mod requires you to have Rush Hour and the official patches installed. If you don't have RH yet, pick it up. They practically  give them away

Edited. Mr. C.

[IDS2 3,369]

Edited. Mr. C.

Anyway, water mods are very important to making your city more aesthetic. Equinox also put out a great soil modification mod. I also use radical ordinance.

[Zelgadis 638]

Alrighty folks, please return to answering the original poster's question and refrain from irrelevant segways on who's banned from what.

~zel~

[JanYpe 17]

Fair enough.

About recommended buildings: It all depends on your taste. Are you looking for a European, American or Asian atmosphere in your city? A gridded metropolis, historically grown town or a rural setting?

[njdevi66 12]

 i have NAM DLed as well and i have no problems at all when playing. I find it 1 of the most useful and first mods that should be DLed when starting to add stuff to your simcity plugins.

Anyway im glad a thread like this appeared b/c i to would like to know what everyone uses and for what reasons with links if possible. Like i said before, seems dependecies were a problem for me, DL something to find out i need 1-3 other things to DL before i can use this, then im not sure what order i have to DL them all. So this thread should be helpful for the OP and people like us who need that bit of direction.

Edited. Mr. C.

[david1314 44]

People, all this "eye candy" is RUL-specific coding that must be done with a single file. Every different type of intersection must have it's own section in the RUL file.

The reason for the NAM is a synthesis of mods that all need to access the RUL.

So while the NAM is primarily functional, the pacaging of 'eye-candy' with the NAM is because the content cannot be made as a stand-alone mod due to conflicts.

Also, because the pathing is totally changed, things like roundabouts are not eye-candy but actually change the way in which the game handles traffic.

The only true 'eye candy' is the turning lanes (which also modify paths but without changing how the game handles traffic). And these still must be done with RULs.

So the packaging of the NAM is based on necessity rather than end-user quality. This is something that only Maxis could change.

[High5flyier 7]

To find all the mods I listed is right on the home page of simtropolis down the left side under "Top ten Mods." If you click on #10 it will open the next page and show you 40 more, they are all there.

About my choice of the abandonment mode. After building regions since 2004 with some in the 10's of millions I just got tired of watching things dilapidate even thu it just the course of time.

Farm Stage Mod. The same reason. Too many Pedriana farms all over the place and this mod stop that problem.

The Fram jobs & industry-qurupler mod. Don't use the maximum becuase they are just too much. Especially the farm mod if you use the maximum one it put too many cars on the farm roads and that is not tolerated by the farm game engine.

Opera house mod. I did'nt need this mod till one of my cities got to about 1 million in population.

I listed "Extra Terrian Tools." I don't know if its the same as "Additional God Mode" but do get the addition god mode

Hope this helps. And in my opinion the nam is the best thing I first downloaded.

[sebastin 1]

NAM is an excellent choice number one. Next maybe 1x1 underground parking lot's