NTM's Lot Workshop

[thingfishs 417]

It's a lot better, the bunkers are a nice touch and a few less props has helped it to be a lot less cluttered, it is now recognisable as the home of a bad guy. One thing I would suggest is using prop plants rather than flora plants in the LE, or at least putting your game onto fast mode until the trees have grown before taking your shot. Even though you've got them there they aren't visually filling out the block as they should (and eventually will). (in case you don't know prop plants are placed fully grown whereas flora plants have to grow).

Also you should probably get some of the better known prop packs to add more diversity to your creations. (for good plants try any of the tree packs by CP)

[mrsneaky 0]

hi do u do request m8 ?

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

mrsneaky:IF you want to make a SIMPLE lot request, please PM me.

[Evillions 552]

Why upload so much and yet have bad quailty uploads? (Sorry for bashing at you, but it's the fact.) You could just do something like fountain park with custom props. (You'll need SC4Tool to get your dependiences and to Transit Enable.) Just try harder and more effort next time and you should make some improvement.

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Okay, after the failure of my vumansion(I have a photo), what should I improve??

[thingfishs 417]

OK I'll have another shot. Some of my suggestions have been said already but that's OK. Fist of all you need to get some prop packs installed to give you some better trees and other props, I would recommend this one by cycledogg as a good place to start: https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/details.cfm?id=14842

Also you're unlikely to do wrong with Simgoober's prop pack: https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/details.cfm?id=15287

This will give you a lot more choice within the LE and will stop the endless cries of "NO MAXIS"

I personally would lose one row from the back and side of your LOT making it a 6 by 4. I would move the house one square closer to the road (which will mean reducing the length of the driveway) which will open up your backyard a bit. Then move the bunkers (I'd probably just have two rather than three) into the backyard.

Flash places like this usually have lawns but you just have a bunch of stuff on a green base texture. That's where prop trees come in handy, you can plant them around, making them thick in places and leaving other areas blank (the lawns).

Also the gazebo & helipad need some sort of formal access, a path or something. You could also have some gravel or concrete instead of just grass everywhere. There's some thoughts, to condense it down to just two - get some prop packs and have patience.

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Okay, I changed the driveway texture, added prop trees, replaced the tanks, moved the bunkers, and added cement.

[thingfishs 417]

BIG improvement, the repositioning, new texture, towers instead of tanks and fuller trees have helped it look a lot more natural.

I will say again, get the cycledogg prop pack that I linked to, put it in your documents/plugin folder and it's trees will be available in the LE. I think now improving the quality of your trees will make the biggest difference, but overall it's beginning to look acceptable. Also I would move the tennis court and helipad away from the house a bit.

[Sam 163]

Google Image search is a good resource for lot making. I would suggest using it to get some ideas of realistic layout when you are planning your projects. Lots always look better if based on something realistic. For this kind of lot you might want to look up some layouts of California mansions like the ones the bad guys always have in the movies. You just want some ideas of where things realistically go. For example I probably wouldn't have put the gazebo exposed at the side like that. The Evil Dr Vu probably doesn't want his enemies taking pot shots at him from the other side of that wall while he's enjoying his gazebo. He would probably have it in a more protected place. The gazebo does look a lot better now that it is not on a plain green grass texture. That kind of texture seems to suit it.

Secondly, unless you are working with water lots, overlay textures are your friends. They add realism. Where people walk or spend time or drive their cars or tanks over, there are always worn areas. Grass shows different colours and wear patterns closer to buildings. There are bare areas, drip lines and discoloured, light starved grass under trees. There is usually edging to lawns, paths going to important places on the lot, and separate areas are differentiated.

Thirdly, not all Maxis props are scaled or coloured to work well with each other. Try to choose props with coordinated colours and which are in scale to each other. It is a good idea to make a prop lot before you start your real lot, to see how well the different props work with each other. You may need to find alternative props for some of the ones you had in mind if they don't go well with the others.

Be mindful of the small things. Your fences are lined up better now, the palm trees look a bit better (but not quite there yet), but those helicopter rotor blades look awfully close to that tennis player. Helicopter would normally go at the back, again out of the way of the neighbours anti-aircraft missiles. So would the tennis court, lake and gazebo, but not near the helicopter (the lake could go near the helicopter I guess). Bunkers would be camouflaged in the landscaping.

You don't need to rush, there is no competition. Just take your time and try different things to see what works, and easily conveys the impression you are aiming for.

[DazzaDazza 29]

well that is much better, why don't you make the lot a bit bigger, so it's not so cramped al together

[hittwice99 619]

Some advice:

You should expand the lot to the left by one row of tiles. This would balance it out and give you more space to move the helicopter away from the tennis court.

Also by putting trees or bushes along the front it would make the mansion less exposed.

Another good idea would be to replace the white picket fence with a more suitable gate. A metal gate would fit well.

You have made good improvements to this lot and I can see that you are working hard. Keep listening to advice and you will achieve a lot to be proud of.

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

hittwise99:can u get me a link to where i can get a fence?

[hittwice99 619]

Sure, I hope this helps:

PEG Security Fencing Kit

https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/details.cfm?id=19338

Place the files in your plugins folder and they witt appear in the Lot Editor. Type security an the 'find' box and they should be there.

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Never mind about the fence..........i found one from the LEX

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Okay my next upload is....a set of lots that allow you to put graffiti anywhere you want.

[His Divine Hand 244]

Honest advice, can this project now, as this idea isn't going to work.

[Evillions 552]

I'd much rather place graffiti on the Lot Editor than in-game. I agree with "His Divine Hand", upload this and prepare yourself for a ton of bad comments.

-Do a ghetto using TagOne's Mega Props, it's very detailed and able to make a Detroit ghetto any day.

--(Get it from the LEX.)

---USE CUSTOM PROPS IN YOUR LOTS! IT CAN ADD SO MUCH MORE THAN OVERUSED MAXIS PROPS!!!

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

@Evillions;Why can't I just use the plane old Maxis props, because I like most of them. I also don't know where the link to get the prop pack you mentioned and I don't want to spend all day downloading it(I have a problem downloading things).

[Evillions 552]

Maxis props can be used, it just that its bland and doesn't have the type of style you want to do. For instance, I tried making an Asian ghetto, didn't work out the way I want it to, so I trashed all together. With custom content, you download them at the LEX or STEX which you can download prop packs for future lots and cities.

btw. You place downloads in the plugin folder in My Documents. Does that clear up everything?

[His Divine Hand 244]

More important about why this won't work, you are trying to hang the graffiti prop off a lot onto a neighboring building. This will not work, if the building has any space between it and the edge of the lot, the graffiti will just hand in mid air. This is a clunky idea that doesn't really fit into the game.

[hittwice99 619]

Sorry, but I'm afraid this idea will not work. I think you could have continued on your Vu Mansion as it did have potential.

[madhatter106 3,931]

Originally posted by: His Divine Hand

More important about why this won't work, you are trying to hang the graffiti prop off a lot onto a neighboring building. This will not work, if the building has any space between it and the edge of the lot, the graffiti will just hand in mid air. This is a clunky idea that doesn't really fit into the game.quote>

This is entirely correct.  The only way this can work is if the building you are "tagging" is jammed right up against the far side of the lot - otherwise it will be floating off the wall.  Plus, if it's done this way, you have an entire lot next door which is nothing but grass and the grafitti itself, which would look a bit strange.

If you wanted to do graffiti, it can be done as a prop, just like the Maxis grafitti; but to do it as a lot is counterproductive, as others have said before me...

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Okay...i'm giving up on the graffiti lots, however, I will post a update to the Vumansion asap.

[Evillions 552]

If you want you could make an allyway using graffiti. It would perfectly with urban aeras.

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

I decided to give up on my vumansion because i accendently deleted it of my computer, however, I will be starting a new lot project today.

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Well, here is my current project........a rail station for the underground rail that comes with the NAM, and yes, I am using custom content(The lights and the vending machines were made by simgobbler).

[mrbisonm 1,622]

 

Well it looks ok, but somehow too overcrowded. Maybe taking away 1 or 2 of those yellosuited Ladies and 2 or 3 of those Tiewearers and replace them with all different characters (Never use too many of the same props too often, monotony), and delete 2 of those lights and 1 of the garbagepails, that would make it look more real life style.

Maybe create another one to upload with this one (small package) and make it a 1x2, so folks have choices.

Remember, variety, real life looking, not overcrowded nor  too empty lots make the most interesting ones.

BTW, it is *Simgoober* and NOT *Simgobbler*.....lol. Make sure to join a link for the dependency and do not include the modelfile itself.

 

mrb

[hittwice99 619]

I would suggest that you make some variety in the people used. Also I know those lights. They are part of BSC MEGA Props SG vol1. They are good lights, but they don't light up at night.

[T Wrecks 10,210]

That's some good advice here, I agree with both posters.

You could try the default Maxis lampposts here, the medium-wealth ($$) version. These do light up at night. 

One prop you could add alongside the railing around the entrance is called "newspaperboxes" - these newspaper boxes are not too big and don't take up much space, but I suppose a place like the entrance to an underground station would be a realistic loaction for them.

[Mr Nobody 32]

Make it a 4 x 4 lot and then you have more room to add more detail.