New To SC4 Modding

[Flindoo 0]

Hello everyone! First post on these forums. I re-discovered SC4 on the app store the other day and have fallen in love with it all over again. And then to my surprise, I find that there is a very active modding community! Hooray! I'm looking for any recommendations for some good mods. I do have the NAM mod, since that's what everyone seems to recommend, and I have successfully figured out how to install that mod to the plugins folder. Now I find all these new things: BSC, dependancies, CAMeLOT, STEX, PEG and I am a little overwhelmed. Any help/advice/direction would be very much appreciated.

[rsc204 21,815]

Take it slowly, it's all too easy to feel like a kid in a candy store and go on a downloading spree at first, but due to the nature of how SC4 modding works, you'll soon come unstuck if you just pack your plugins folder full of stuff in a hurry.

The NAM is a must have though :).

Right now, you want to make sure you've installed the I-HT fix and a few other fixes for problems Maxis never got round to solving.  A search for Maxis Fixes should bring these up easily.

Next, I'd recommend simply starting out with a Terrain Mod, Water Mod, Rock Mod and a Tree Controller to begin with. These will dramatically change how your game looks and add a large amount of personalisation to a region.

IRM (Industrial Revolution Mod) for me is a must, it takes the Maxis Industry and makes it what it should always have been.

SPAM (SimPeg Agricultural Mod) does pretty much the same for farming, perfect for anyone who's interested in more than just large cities with skyscrapers.

[Flindoo 0]

Thanks! These seem an excellent way to start. One thing I was interested in: I've seen pictures and videos of people who have 1x1 and 2x2 ploppable tree lots to fill in spots like along a diagonal road. Any suggestions for something like that?

[MushyMushy 3,618]

Typically, what CJers do in those situations is just use fence lots (or nothing at all), and then use MMP trees/shrubs/flowers/rocks to get variation along roads of any angle in rural/empty areas.

This is a popular fence set: https://www.sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=1888

There is a very massive variety of MMPs, but some that I frequently use are: https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/21640-simfox-treepack-2/ https://www.sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=2711 https://www.sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=2869 https://www.sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=3001

[nos.17 5,133]

Thanks! These seem an excellent way to start. One thing I was interested in: I've seen pictures and videos of people who have 1x1 and 2x2 ploppable tree lots to fill in spots like along a diagonal road. Any suggestions for something like that?

Gn_leugim's Forest Parks are the ones I prefer and have seen may others use too. While you will achieve a higher level of realism with MMP trees and details, it often takes a long time to get right, and as a new user, you may not be up to all of that (I knew that I sure wasn't at first  ).

Furthermore, really take heed to what rsc204 said about taking your time. Mass downloads are ok, but you should never add more than 5-6 new things to your plugins each time. This is not really a game restriction - its more of a sanity saver. If (by chance), one of your new files doesn't work properly or something in the game goes wrong, you now have only a few files to check verses like 40-50. 

[Flindoo 0]

Wow! Thanks guys. Really helpful information. I will take your advice and start nice and slow.

[6StringShaman 112]

Hey,

I personally recommend BATS by folks like Cerulean, Cobb, Paeng, Mattb325, Pegasus, Tag one, Bixel, HKBT, NYBT, NDEX, NOB, Fanta, Debusseyman, Vandergoold, LBT, TSC Team, BSC, Simgoober, Madhatter, Cockatoo, Dusktrooper, Heblem, Xannepan, Simcoug, working man productions,  Roe99, etc, ( I know im forgetting a bunch).

Check out all the different sites BAT/Mod exchanges around the net, SC4 Devotion, SimKurier, Sim Polska, SimCity Force, SimCity China,SC4 Labs, Capital SimCity, and many, many more. (this will takes lots and lots of time).

 There some many greatly talented builders and mod/BAT authors out there, most of whom are really, really helpful.

I can really relate to how overwhelming it is, having just gotten back to SC4 6 mos. ago, and I gotta say finding neat custom content is half the fun.

Like the others have said, take it slow.

Watch haljackey's building a city from scratch series on youtube.

Best,

H.