Richardson County - A Home For Noobs

[mudspreader 0]

Hello simmers,

I am possibly treading into space better reserved for more experienced players, as I am quite the $%&^!. I have been amazed by the CJs, especially EDMONTON by JerseyDevil, and felt motivated to start a CJ of my own. I want to put a little different spin on it though. I am sure this has probably been done, but I would like this CJ to also serve as somewhat of a tutorial in city planning and growth, for myself and my fellow noobs.

 

I am starting with a region that I loaded from my semi-functional STEX CD. (Thanks Dirk for the PM reply and the offer of disc replacement). I have already added the basic intercity highway infrastructure.

 

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/5201/richardson11ku.jpg align=baseline>

 

The idea with this region will be to have a twin cities urban area in Ricksburgh and Bennettville with suburbs and small supporting cities in the outlying areas. Let me know what you think gang.

 

CREDITS:

 

Region Map - Gotham County by teesqr

Money Cheat - Money Plant V2 by dstirling

 

PS - The money cheat was used minimally just to create the highways and bridges. My intention is to use it as little as possible in the game. Possibly for urban renewal or major road/transit construction. (Think of it as municipal bond or a federal funding grant.)

 

I'll start construction after I get a little feedback from y'all.

 

Mudspreader 

 

 

[mudspreader 0]

Hmm....34 views and not one post. Oh well, if it dies, it dies. LOL

One item I would like to clear up is that I am not doing this to BE the tutor in a tutorial. I want to be the student. I am hoping for feedback on game play as the region progresses, so that noobs like myself and others can learn how all you folks make such cool looking cities/regions.

 

At any rate, construction has begun. Raw materials are needed for any building to occur, so the first city to incorporate was Shaddix Quarry. It is a small mining community of about 1,400 located in the foothills of western Richardson County.

 

http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/6276/shaddix0202057gf.jpg align=baseline>

 

More updates to come, possibly as early as later this evening. Later gang...

[dev 47]

Wow...I really like the way you've done the quarry...can't wait to see more! Keep it up!

[barnatom 0]

The region looks like a promising place to build cities. And the locations for the major cities seem to be well chosen.

The mine in the last picture is a cool idea. It looks a bit blocky though. And you could try to break the grid of the developed area with a diagonal road or a change of the grid.


Pressing 'g' before making a screenshot will make your pictures cleaner, without the grid-lines.


And another thing:
You will need patience if you are waiting for replies. There are many people here that look at CJ's but don't post anything. So don't feel bad about having much more views than comments, that's normal, believe me. I had to make the same experience...

[LordoftheWise 0]

I like your transportation layout. Nicely done! One question; What about public transport? Is there going to be any or do your sims travel by car only?

Look forward to more updates!

 

Greetz

Alexander

[nycsc4 5,250]

great job, keep up the great work and can't wait to see more!

[mudspreader 0]

 

I like your transportation layout. Nicely done! One question; What about public transport? Is there going to be any or do your sims travel by car only?

Look forward to more updates!

 

Greetz

Alexander

A great point! I had actually planned to connect all the cities/suburbs in the region by rail. I was going to wait for some growth first. But then I got to thinkin' (dangerous when that happens) that towns spring up along major thoroughfares (spell check please). That would be rail as well as road. So...voila!

 

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/8489/shaddix0607055ud.jpg align=baseline>

 

Shaddix Quarry has joined the 20th century with freight and passenger rail service.

 

Meanwhile, just to the east of Shaddix Quarry, the citizens of Ashley have been reaping what they have sown. They are connected to Shaddix Quarry by the R.&B.R.R. (Ricksburgh & Bennettville Rail Road). A small agricultural center of 1,200 souls, Ashley should meet the needs of a young Richardson County...for now.

 

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/1796/ashley0204077ew.jpg align=baseline>

[Cjah 15]

I myself have long wanted to try such a CJ.Like a tutorail....

Anyway great start and that is quite a realistic quarry...

[Magnet50 0]

Nice start.I really like the quarry and the farms look fantastic.

 

Lookingforward to seeeing more

[metasmurf 705]

Nice going there. Here's a few tips from me.

You could add some more variety to the forest very easy, by getting:
PEG Random Woods

PEGs Seasonal Woods + Update


A slope mod is a good way to get rid of the bumpy streets and road and to get an overall better looking city.

CSX Mod Sloping

Another link of interest:

Creating suburbs in Sc4

Hopufully this could help you out some

Good luck with your cj

[mudspreader 0]

Time for an update. The town of Shaddix Quarry celebrated 10 years of incorportion today. I'll spare you the fireworks screenie since we all know what that looks like. The town now boasts a population of just under 3,000 souls, most of whom get their paychecks signed by the local business magnate, Mr. R.D. Shaddix himself. He is the owner of Shaddix Mining Corp., and the towns namesake. The hottest water cooler gossip topic was a year or so ago, when everyone was abuzz about R.D. showing up the mayor by building bigger mansion right across the street from the mayor's! Mayor Deaper took it in strides by saying, It's okay. Without R.D., we wouldn't have a big hole in the ground. Rumor has it that the mayor never opens his front drapes anymore.

http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/9996/shaddix010110mansion1yx.jpg align=baseline>

 

The only topic that created more controversy was the Great Power Plant Debate last year. Mr. Shaddix complained about not having enough power to run his mine and subordinate industries. The residents were furious about the impending pollution. The debate raged and raged. Shaddix finally won by threatening to hold his breath until he turned blue. This scared the townfolk into capitulation, as they feared that Shaddix could not hold his breath and sign a paycheck at the same time.

 

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/6425/shaddix010110plant1ss.jpg align=baseline>

 

Now because those paychecks are none to large anyway, Section 8 housing went up on the east side of town. Residents of the east side screamed about the housing projects not being on the wrong side of the tracks, and thus they were on the wrong side of the tracks. R.D. Shaddix, owner of Shaddix Construction, Inc., and majority stock holder in the R.&B.R.R. was quoted as saying, My buildings, my tracks, my ink pen. I'll decide what is the wrong side and build them there.

 

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/558/shaddix010110housing6le.jpg align=baseline>

 

The upside of all these goings on is that Shaddix Quarry is indeed growing. The aforementioned railroad has been a boon to industry, as the quarry now has a way to export it's ore.

 

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/4899/shaddix010110rail3kw.jpg align=baseline>

 

Not all the folks are struggling. The new subdivision in the ravine to the east of town is proof of that. We'll check back in another five or ten years. Who knows? Maybe old man Shaddix will finally hold true to his threat and hold his breath 'til he's dead.

 

CREDIT DUE:

 

Thanks for the posts and suggestions. I did indeed load up the mods you suggested. They are as follows...

 

PEGs Random Woods Mod

CSXs Sloping Mod

 

...and are now in play in this game.

 

Gotta run for a bit. I'll fill you in on Ashley when I get back.

[mudspreader 0]

Back with the Ashley update as promised. In Ashley, life is much more laid back. They don't have the problems that go on in that crazy town to the west. Not much has changed in the last three years, and the citizens of Ashley like it that way...

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/551/ashley0101108zd.jpg align=baseline>

 

That's not to say that life here is completely uneventful. First of all, a very strange thing happened one night not long ago. Ashley is a very rural, no nonsense community. Everyone, yes everyone, is in bed and asleep by 10:00 PM. On this particular night, all was normal when everyone dozed off as usual. When they awoke the next day, they discovered that someone, or something, had stolen all the asphalt off of the streets. YIKES! And to make it weirder, it was only taken from the streets that were adjacent to farms.

 

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/4756/ashley0618109qe.jpg align=baseline>

 

The clergy was consulted and it was determined by Father Dirk that the great god MODD had removed the asphalt because MODD felt that the asphalt would contaminate the crops. Father Dirk met with his fellow deacons and thus the 158th Commandment, Thou shalt not pave streets next to farms, came to pass. So let it be written, so let it be done! Commandment 158a shortly followed and it reads, Roads, avenues, and highways are cool.

 

On a less spiritual level, the mayor, Yuri Tingvejees, saw his approval rating take a plunge. So sudden and severe it was that his cabinet, (the one above the silverware drawer), sent him a message marked URGENT! An emergency board meeting was called and funding for a new elementary school and softball field was sped through appropriations.

 

http://img497.imageshack.us/img497/9716/ashley01011030ff.jpg align=baseline>

 

It was felt that this would apease the masses more than having a turkey shoot on Ben Larson's back forty.

 

The Ashley Chamber of Commerce has new member. Lou Kusin opened Kusin Motors this year. This has Carrie Lotsacash, owner of the chain of five Honest Carrie's car dealerships here in town, shaking in her shoes. Lou told her not to worry until he has five also, and sold her one of those Simpanese imports.

 

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/9635/ashley01011022zx.jpg align=baseline>

 

And there's the update folks.

 

CREDIT:

 

A big credit goes to Guinessmonkey for his Dirt roads mod. On that topic, I have to say that the mod is almost perfect. Those of you that have not used it, here is how it works. You just lay streets, and any place it touches a farm, it automatically becomes dirt. When I-Ag is rezoned, it becomes paved again. Beautiful!! Because rezoning would want pavement. It is almost perfect because it is paved in unzoned areas where dirt would be perferable to me. A farm has to touch it (each tile) to make it dirt. If any modders read this, can we get this accomplished?

 

Later,

Mudspreader

 

 

[mudspreader 0]

Alrighty then...time for some planning. Here is the first draft of city planning for Ricksburgh. It is the northern half of the twin-cities urban area. I would love some input from the simchamps out there.

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/2334/planningmap2uo.jpg align=baseline>

 

The airport will be the smaller of the two serving the twin-cities metro area. Obviously the residential areas will be sprinkled with some low and medium density commercial. We all need our Wal-Marts! As I said, this is a rough draft for the purpose of picking your brains.

 

Later,

Mud

[Cjah 15]

I like the plan.

It looks like your city has a very good leader eh,,,,

 

Well none the less good update and good luck!

[Talengryphon 0]

I'm really enjoying your CJ thus far. In particular your writing style has a great sense of humor to it. The part about the great god MODD was quite amusing.
Looking forward to what happens back at the quarry.
And hey, your map of the future city looks good to me. I like th way you're keeping Trash, power, and whatmot isolated from commercial and urban areas.

Cheers, Talen

[sloppet 3]

nice work! i'll keep an eye on this CJ for sure!

[mudspreader 0]

Well gang, it's time for another update. When we last checked in on the doings in Shaddix Quarry,  old R.D. Shaddix had threatened self-asphyxiation to get his way and his new power plant. Well it is New Years Day in Shaddix Quarry and R.D. has more than just the holiday to celebrate. Upon hearing of the super-natural goings on in Ashley, R.D.'s greedy mind started working. He began praying fervently to the great god MODD, purely for personal gain. You see, he was not satisfied with his existing mine. He wanted more. So he prayed and he prayed for more ore to mine. He finally used an old ploy and told MODD that he would hold his breath until he turned blue. As usual, this worked because MODD did not see how R.D. could worship and hold his breath at the same time. So Mr. Shaddix gazed in wonder through the glare of the fireworks at his new mountain of ore.

http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/9771/shaddixquarrymount201xs.jpg align=baseline>

 

The greedy old man wasted no time in exploiting it. He spent 100,000 Simoleons on a new mine and rushed it into operation. The townsfolk  were amazed, and yet pleased, as the new mine pumps 1,600 Simoleons into the city economy every month.

 

http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/7721/shaddixquarrymine203fa.jpg align=baseline>

 

The rails of the R.&B.R.R. started hauling the ore away as fast as the miners could dig it out. Mr. Shaddix, being the cheapskate that he is, bought an old used steam engine from Acme Sheice Of Pit Rail Equipment.

 

http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/7783/shaddixquarrytrain202ob.jpg align=baseline>

 

With the money rolling in faster than he can count it, Shaddix built a new subdivision and a commercial park for his new world headquarters. He sits there on the east side of town counting Simoleons and practicing new breath holding techniques.

 

http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/6431/shaddixquarrybusiness208sf.jpg align=baseline>

 

Meanwhile, just a little east of Shaddix Quarry in Ashley, life goes on as usual. After the asphalt theft miracle, Father Dirk and his deacons held a fund raising event to build a temple to the great god MODD. It was a road kill cook-off and raffle, and it was a huge success. Ilene Overoften won the cook-off, with the help of her husband's steamroller, and her recipe for Route 90 Skunk Crepes.

The funds raised were sufficient to build the temple.

 

http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/9011/ashleytemple206pc.jpg align=baseline>

 

Another new building in town is the Ashley Agricultural Cooperative. The farmers of Ashley have never been cooperative with anything or anybody, and are hoping to learn how here.

 

http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/3991/ashleycoop204iz.jpg align=baseline>

 

Other building news has a darker ending to it. You may remember that Carrie Lotsacash was freaking out about new business competition in the person of Lou Kusin and his new car dealership. Well, her fears were well founded. Kusin opened a second dealership and promptly put Honest Carrie out of business. Her car lots were buldozed and new retail stores now stand in their place.

 

http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/5038/ashleymotors204nm.jpg align=baseline>

 

This was a bit too much for Carrie to handle. She fell into a severe depression and became a recluse, staying indoors and chugging dingleberry wine. Rumor has it that she stole the dingleberries from Ben Larson's berry farm and made the wine herself by sitting on the berries.

 

Then one afternoon, after swigging down a fresh batch, she took her high speed Sunbeam hand-held electric beater and walked two doors down to Lou Kusin's house and beat him to death in his back yard. Then she calmly walked back to her own back yard and turned the beater on herself. Mayor Tingvejees, who lives across the street, could only say, That beats anything I've ever seen. Can you beat that? Beats me.

 

http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/4008/ashleymurder154ld.jpg align=baseline>

 

And that's the latest from Shaddix Quarry and Ashley as of Jan. 1, 20. I need a break for a minute before I start filling you in on the incorporation of Ricksburgh.

 

CREDIT:

 

CSX Big John Mine mod in Shaddix Cove.

 

Later,

Mud

 

[Cjah 15]

Great job on the transportation network...I like that second to last picture.It is really cool and full of cars.Also maybe in some parts of your rail network could you consider leveling it so the trains don't go all up and down...it is always smart to level for realism.

 

Oh and that mine is really great!

[RCLacey 0]

Wish my cities looked that good.  I'm still struggling with flat land and near bankruptcy on most of mine.

 

 

[oroen 0]

I'm glad this has been bumped. I saw this earlier and really like the layout of the region and the style of the writing but didn't comment for some reason. Keep at it, and don't let an early lack of comments get you down.

[jacqulina 162]

very nice start i like the farms and a very nice quarry,transport is good

[Nik-nik 3]

Nice start of the CJ.

Impressive highway system. I would normally allow highways later in the game as they are indeed very expensive. One of the nicest Money cheats is to try and get the teapot company by georg2004 to grow. https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/details.cfm?id=4537 This company has a high land value and is therefore always a big contributor to your city income. Very nice as it is a producing company and not so hard to have it grow. Is it a cheat? Well yes and No. The game still controlls if it grows or not, then again I have in one city about 7 of these, and suddenly I have about 50K simoleons of extra income. Beside this strange behaviour it is a very nice bat.

 

I would also suggest to stop using the wind turbines especially in that dirty industry area. They are very expensive for the energy they bring (wow, just as in real live). The Coalplant has the best efficiency. Check out the Omnibus here at Simtropolis for more ideas.

 

Nik-Nik

 

EDIT: I noticed that you use the pause key to make the pictures. You could also use the CTRL+SHIFT+S key combination to make pictures. Try it.

[mkwetters 2]

looking good their my friend! A CJ from which i can learn a lot! CJ-s like Jeronij are great to watch and read but often way to advanced, from yours and the replies i can learn!

[mudspreader 0]

I am here with bad news. I was doing some file reorganization, deleting obsolete files in my regions folder and must have somehow deleted Richardson County by mistake. I want to thank those that posted the nice comments and advice. I still want to do a CJ that is designed to be a learning experience for myself and my fellow newbies. I'll get started on it soon.

P.S. - A lesson to be learned from this is to verify all files in one's recycle bin before emptying the trash.

[Micah 16]

Ahh.. I'm so sorry to hear that! Can you possibly create a new one? It was working so well.

[GreekMan 246]

sorry to hear that