Thistlewood

[Sim_Idiot 10]

Thats a nice map to build on.  I know I missed the voting, but I want to vote anyway : Suburbs.

And yay for them going to Oregon.  Its a great place to live, they will like it! (Maybe they can hire me to come help with the development. )

[dhoppeii 12]

I like this map also.  I have been building on it for about a week now.  I changed the size though and made it a bit smaller.

 

Welcome to page 4

[RadioheadFan 1]

Alright, let's tally up the votes! Sorry SC4 Meister, you can't vote twice, but it didn't really matter. It looks like we have 4 votes for suburbs, and 1 vote for a mixture. So, this means I'll go mainly with suburbs, but I will incoporate some grid where I feel it's appropriate. Now, I'll reply to you comments.

Piel: Thanks for the comment! I know it I asked for it on chat, and I was hoping for the best, so nice to see that you actually didn't post a towering inferno of hatred.

SC4 Meister: Thanks for your comments. You're always one of the first ones to comment, I'm glad that you follow this CJ so religiously. Thanks again, always nice to know you have a devoted fan.

AfroThunda: Thank you so much. Mercado Cruz is already 10 times better than Thistlewood, I can hardly keep up. And yes, Radiohead is the best band in the world and you have extremely good taste if you like them. If you don't...I can't really say that here.

rewright: Thanks a lot. Casa Grande is magnificent and I can't wait to see more updates. But if you've looked at the hint words, you'll know that seaports are not going to be a big part of this CJ. I might use Peg's CDK ports a tiny bit, but nothing spectacular. Like I said before, those are thinking metropolis, listen to this: Moo.

jacqulina: Thanks for the nice words, always appreciated.

SI: I'm glad you like the setting. Maybe if I could terraform as well as you, I wouldn't have to download maps...but ah well. Eternia looks awesome by the way, you're an excellent terraformer.

dhoppeii: Thanks for the nice comment. I was afraid you had abandoned Thistlewood, like somebody else who was supposedly enthralled by the first update...yeah. I guess whatever fits your foot, right? If the shoe doesn't fit, cut some off the shoe, re-sew it, and wear it. (Yeah, I know that was bizarre.)

All: No update today, maybe a text update later tonight though? I'm still deciding. The development probably won't start until Saturday/Sunday, but on Monday I leave for a doctor's appointment that lasts 2 days, so don't expect anything then.

Have a nice day,

RHF

[MallowTheCloud 41]

Oregon eh? That's where I live ... and it is a great place.

Anywho... about that city building comment.... I dunno if that's true. If it is, it's just because I have been playing SC4 since it first came out...

And besides, your writing skills far surpass mine. Have you seen Duthford? In the beginning I tried to make a storyline... but I suck at that. Yours is what keeps people coming back to Thistlewood. Interesting storylines can create a great CJ.

So, keep it up!

[Beloved 2]

lol Yea This Storyline is Great. Mallow you can always keep trying.  Practice makes Perfect.

[crazyarchitect 7]

yay, going to oregon, nice map

[SC4 meister 7]

I can't vote twice? darn! Oh well, does not matter. Waiting in anticapation for the next update.

[ILL Tonkso 1,236]

great as usual

[RadioheadFan 1]

Alright guys, I've got an update! Mostly text, but a TON
of pictures! At least it's a ton for this CJ...anyways, text first.

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The ride down to Oregon with Barry was a blast. We took turns driving, so the other could chug shots of tequila and whistle at pretty girls along the roads. We did make a quick stop in Chicago, though, and we did get a little...disoriented. All in all, the trip took 5 days, and we drank about 50 shotglasses of tequila each. Such fun...

We arrived in Oregon at the brink of dawn on the 6th day. To get things started, we brought 2 farmers with us who were willing to set up shop with us, Mr. Bentley and Mr. Johnson. Mr. Bentley had a little less money, so his farm was smaller. His crops were made up of corn, carrots, and potatoes.

Mr. Johnson had more money, so he bought twice as much land to use. Johnson Acres grew the same crops as Bentley Acres, but all the crops were grown organically, therefore they were priced higher.

This way, Bentley got the mainstream market, and Johnson had the niche markets. It was fair and square. They even had the exact same houses built, side by side.

The two men would become great friends. So that future residents and businesses would be able to work after 5:00 every day, Barry and I erected the windmill that supplied the power for the town.

We even built a water tower, because without water, the farmers couldn't grow their crops, and we would have no starting point from which to grow.

Soon after Mr. Bentley and Mr. Johnson opened their farms, a company from the Indian Ocean moved in and produced tropical fruit and normal fruit together. Riviera Crops grew apples, oranges, bananas, mangos, grapefruit, and many other tropical items.

After these 3 farms were set up, people were clamouring to move to the new settlement. I had decided to name the region Thistlewood, but this town would be called Huntington. That was my mother maiden name, and I thought that it would be a proper way to honour her. We laid out the plans for the first houses, and construction began. The first workers would mainly be immigrants, opportunists who couldn't afford fancy cars and houses, so decided to work their way up. This is what the area looked like once construction started.

All of the homes in the town at this point were mobile homes, and a few 1-story shacks. With the exceptions of Mr. Bentley and Mr. Johnson, of course. If Mr. Nedal, the owner of Riviera Crops, had chose to live in Huntington, he surely would have had a nice house as well. But Mr. Nedal had a mansion in the Indian Ocean, and he was going to keep it that way. Here's what the area looked like after development.

Now Barry wanted an early grasp of the commercial markets in Thistlewood, so he was the first person to develop a store in Huntington. Koblyanski's General Store sold groceries, contained the post office, sold clothes, furniture, and sports equipment. Everybody loved him, but it would be a while before we got our own house. We would be roommates until we died, but for now, we lived in our van, still drinking tequila, and whistling at the pretty farm workers. Here's Barry's store.

More people still wanted to live in Huntington. Therefore, I designed a new area for housing, basically more mobile homes. Here's what the area looked like at the beginning of construction.

I added some more room for housing during construction, so the finished result was a little different than expected. Here's how it looked when finished.

Huntington was a farmer's dream. By the end of the year, 3 more farms had moved in, and plans for more were being made. Here's what the little town of Huntington, population 102, looked like 1 year after Barry and I came barreling down the inter-state in our beat-up old van.

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I hope you guys liked the update. Now, I'll address your comments and give you information about what's going on.

Mallow: Making a storyline is only 1 way of making a CJ. Nehalem is excellent, and you don't spend all your time writing the story or anything. Thanks for your continued support, I hope you'll stay here just like I will with Nehalem.

TGA: Thanks for your comment concerning the storyline, I work a lot on it and it's nice to see that people notice.

crazyarchitect: Yes, I chose Oregon because it sounds so peaceful, especially along the coast. This is just me, but I've always envisioned Oregon like a little piece of Ireland in America. I've never been there, but if you have, tell me if this makes sense.

SC4 Meister: Thanks for your continued support and devotion, I really appreciate it.

Tonks: Thanks for your nice words. On a side note, your BATs are awesome!

Don't expect any updates until Tuesday or Wednesday, I'm leaving tomorrow for a doctor's appointment concerning my allergies. Now, I'm going to follow in the footsteps of many other CJs before me, and let you guys be part of the story. Just PM me if you want to be involved, but be aware that your life won't be all sunshine. This CJ is relatively dark, and I plan to keep it that way. Thanks for your comments, they're always welcomed and appreciated.

Have a nice evening,

RHF

[bobinator 0]

God, great story line! Will you write my english paper for me? Please.

bobinator

[ILL Tonkso 1,236]

ah zee villages

[kingofsimcity 5,739]

Looks nice RHF.

[MallowTheCloud 41]

Date: 3/19/2005 5:10:47 PM
Author: RadioheadFan
Yes, I chose Oregon because it sounds so peaceful, especially along the coast. This is just me, but I've always envisioned Oregon like a little piece of Ireland in America. I've never been there, but if you have, tell me if this makes sense.

quote>

I don't think it's just you. I've always said the two places I want to visit around the world are Ireland and New Zealand. I think it's because of their similarities to Oregon.

So, I would have to agree.

And your story continues to be intriguing. You can be sure I'll be here waiting for the next update.

[Beloved 2]

O wow. I like the update. This Story keeps getting better and better. I'll be waiting for the next update.

 

And Good luck with your Doctor's Appointment. Allergies really bite. Mine will be acting up very shortly. I love Spring but the pollen stands in the way between flowers and myself lol. Me and Pollen really don't get along.

[SC4 meister 7]

Sorry for not commenting sooner I had to work longer than I expected, I am still a devoted fan of this CJ. Looking (and sounding) great as always! I love the new town and i would love to be part of the story. Keep up the great work, and I hope the doc can help.

[RadioheadFan 1]

Alright, I'll address your comments now, and give you some news.

bobinator: No, like I said in Sun Valley, I can't write your English paper, I have one of my own.

Tonks: Thanks. However, you could never pass for a Frenchman. I'm bilingual, and if I said something like that, everybody in my hometown would laugh at me.

KOSC: Thanks. Goldenrod Plains looks amazing, it will soon eclipse Thistlewood in awesomeness and pages.

Mallow: Thanks for confirming my beliefs. If I do one thing before I die, it's playing a round on Bandon Dunes, in Oregon. It's like paradise for me. Thanks for your continued support.

TGA: Thanks. And remember, I still need your character's name, gender, and job...I'm sure I'll be fine, it's not like it's life-threatening or anything...

SC4 Meister: .....What can I say. You are one of my biggest fans, enough to put me at #1 on your CJ list, ahead of many CJs that are better than mine. Thank you so much for your continued support, that comes from the bottom of my heart.

All: I'll try to update tonight before I leave. There's already 2 people who will be involved in the story, so 3 more can. PM your gender, name and profession and I'll handle the rest.

Have a nice day,

RHF

[mrbisonm 1,620]

Hope you don't mind me dropping in and snooping around here....lol

 

Nice CJ, I like your detailed pictures.

[oroen 0]

mmm... tropical fruits in Oregon...

Seriously, it's been a while since I've dropped in here, and I'm glad things are up and running. Such great stories out of the most simplistic of in-game-images!

[ar3man2005 0]

Very lovely town....like it so much !!

[nedal2001 285]

RadioHeadFan, the suspense!! Cant wait for the next update!

[JayStimson 211]

I want to see a pic of your van. And where's the local bar ? Every little town has to have at least one dive where the local losers get loaded every night.

[RadioheadFan 1]

Sorry guys, no update, because in 5 minutes, I leave my hometown for a doctor's appointment! This will be very rushed.

Mr.B: I am so honoured that you even visited my CJ. Nexis inspired me to change the way I played SC4, to try new things. If this CJ is 1/100 as good as Nexis, I'll be the happiest man alive. I sure hope you come back.

Oroen: They installed some heat wave thinga-ma-bobers that help to grow the tropical fruit. Ah, technology, eh?

ar3man: Thanks! Hope to see you around here more!

Nedal: Thanks for the link in your sig and the nice comments! Even though you're not officially involved, I dropped your name in here because I like your CJ so much and wanted to honour it. Thanks again.

JS: I'll try to get that for you, thanks for dropping in. Look forward to seeing more comments from you, New Haven is looking awesome!

All: As soon as I get back, a big update is coming. We'll see a new character move into the story...and remember, if you want to be involved, either PM me or post your gender, name and profession here. The positions of minister and Navy SEAL are already taken, but anything else is free, so have fun, and I'll be back soon!

Have a nice day,

RHF

[dhoppeii 12]

RHF, I hope your doctors appointment turns out well  and I can't wait for the next update. 

[sloppet 3]

 

[sloppet 3]

Really interesting...

 

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https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Avatar2%20.jpg align=baseline>

 

Visit my City Journal and tell me what you think about it...

 

[SC4 meister 7]

Two.....days...with...no...updates...not...sure...if...I...can..survive...Can't...hold...on....much...longer!  Hope the doc can help so you can be back here updating 24/7

[Kevin 101]

I really enjoyed reading the story, haven't finished yet, but I look forward to it and further updates!

[nedal2001 285]

Oh I havent told you that Thistlewood is where I want to go when I want to take a break from the mayhen erupting in Mayfina? Its why I have a nice house there! Still waitin for that update....

[RadioheadFan 1]

Alright, it's time for the update! This will be a big one, featuring some new characters and some new features I've decided to include. Also, the updates will feature a new format, just to make things more organized. Hope you like it!

So, what we'll do is first have pictures, with only small amounts of text. Then, we'll have a section called Artemis's Journal where he reflects on what's happening in Thistlewood. And, I'll always address your comments last. The news will always be first. So, here's the news!

Every once in a while, I've decided to have 2 special occurrences that will make this CJ better. First is the Region Census, which will take place every Tuesday, and is an in-depth statistical look at each of the towns.

The second event in Request Updates, where you choose what you want to see! These will take place every Wednesday, after census day. I take pictures of what you want to see, and there can be up to 3 requests, so if there's something you want to see, post it fast and I'll get it done.

That's all the news for now. So, here's the picture section, and then we'll get to Artemis's Journal!

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To start things off, there's been some new development in Huntington. Here's a shot of a new subdevelopment before development, located west of the windmill.

This is the very same subdivision after development. It brought almost 60 new residents into Huntington.

Another subdivision was built a bit later, bringing the population up another 60 residents. Here's what that subdivision looked like in the middle of construction.

And what the subdivision looked like when completed.

Some new local celebrities have also moved into the Thistlewood area. Mr. Nedal, who owns Riviera Crops, has had a house built in Thistlewood, near one of the new subdivisions and his good friends Mr. Bentley and Mr. Johnson. Recent developments have vaulted Mr. Nedal into the position of richest man in town, so he will probably bring his family into Thistlewood from Riviera Island, a land in the Indian Ocean. Here's his house.

And now, we will show these recent developments to the public. It turns out Mr. Nedal had secretly bought more land to develop more Riviera Crops products. He has 2 new farms on the edge of Huntington, producing exotic crops with the special heat-ray technology he developed. Now, there's tropical fruit in Oregon! Here's the two farms.

Also, he developed a new processing plant to make those yummy fruit into cello-phane wrapped goodness ready for shipping. Here's the new processing plant, also located in Huntington.

Now, some big developments. Angel Mills, a local minister, has started his own town, just down the road from Huntington. Westlake is a tiny hamlet with some farms only, but the future is promising and Mr. Mills is obviously an excellent leader. Here's what the town looks like from overhead.

The town has been a launching pad for the first two farmers in Thistlewood, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Bentley. Bentley has taken this opportunity to develop a new type of farm for him. He's moved into the fruit industry to compete with Mr. Nedal, although he only has 20% of the market share so far. Here's how the farm looks from up above.

Also, Mr. Bentley's best friend Mr. Johnson has opened a new farm, producing the same stuff, but increasing his export rate. He holds a 60% market share of the vegetable trade, with Bentley coming in with 40. Here's his new farm.

Yet another new town has also sprung up. Mark Dabb, a former Navy SEAL, has come to Thistlewood with the first industry. Dabb Naval Parts produces ship parts and marine ammunition, although a Marine/Navy clothing line is in the works. Here's his new town, Overdale.

Dabb Naval Parts employs almost all of the residents of Overdale. There's 2 processing areas, a lunchroom, a construction materials facility, and much, much more. Here's a shot of the entire facility close up.

Also, Barry Koblyanski has stuck his foot in the door first. He's built Overdale Building Supplies, which helps Mayor Dabb with his construction on both new homes and his naval parts facility. Here's OBS.

Here's a shot of Huntington after all the new growth.

And, a shot of the area developed so far. You can see the highway and many of the farms we've visited so far. Westland is the town to, well, the west, Huntington is the northernmost, and Overdale is to the southeast, easily recognized by the huge DNP facility. I put the signs up so you can see where each town is, hopefully you can read the small print.

Here's a picture of Mr. Dabb's house in Overdale, styled like Mr. Nedal's home to the northwest in Huntington.

And, to close out the pictures for today, here's Mr. Mills's house in Westlake, to the southwest of Huntington. It's the only house like it in the entire area, with a peculiar orange colour.

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Artemis's Journal, Chapter 1

Thistlewood is doing better than I expected. We've had some real characters, ones who like to hang out at the local dives, play pool, and knock back Buds like there's no tomorrow. I know that Nedal, Johnsey, Bents, Kobes, Dabbsy, and I like to head down to Sherry's and just cause chaos. We love it. Besides, we rule this town.

Bents and Johnsey were the first business here, and if they get a little drunk sometimes, nobody cares because everybody loves them. Kobes is like God because he zoned the land upon which Sherry's sits on. There would be no bar without him, so his drinks are usually free. Dabbsey brought the factories to Overdale, so he gets his drinks free too. That factory employs people from everywhere in the area, and he's a hit.

Nedal is the rich man about town. He has more class than the rest of us, he's polite, and deals out big salaries. Of course, he can afford it, he's the richest man in town! Word is he's going to move into the retail business...Kobes had better watch his back. And as for me, well...Thistlewood would be nothing without me. They know I own all the land, and that their babies would have no place to live if it wasn't for me. Therefore, they worship the ground I walk on.

And then they're the only player who doesn't head to Sherry's every night: Mills. I call him the Holy Man, because he's the holiest man this place has ever seen. He's in talks to build a church in Westlake, he's just securing the finances. If anybody can lead that place to prosperity, it's him. Since he's totally dry, there's no chance of him doing anything stupid!

That's it for now. Can't wait to talk to you again. See y'all later.

Artemis.

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Now, it's time for the region census. You'll get to see the stats behind the towns, who's growing, who's having some trouble, and who's staying the same. Alright, here we go.

Huntington

Population: 220
Jobs: 32 commercial, 99 agricultural, 131 total
Important Places: Riviera Crops farms and Processing Plant, Bentley Farms, Johnson Acres, Houses of Mr. Nedal, Mr. Bentley, and Mr. Johnson, Huntington Water Tower, Huntington General Store

Westlake

Population: 56
Jobs: 39 agricultural, 39 total
Important Places: Bentley Fruit, Johnson Acres, House of Mr. Mills

Overdale

Population: 159
Jobs: 24 commercial, 82 dirty industry, 106 total
Important Places: Dabb Naval Parts factory, Overdale Building Supplies, House of Mr. Dabb

That was the first census! Please leave feedback, and I'll decide whether or not to keep featuring it.

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Now, I'll address your comments!

dhoppeii: Thanks for your comments and well-wishes. Nice to see you concerned for my health, lol.

sloppet: Thanks for the comment, Scimonogre looks amazing.

SC4 Meister: I hope you survived long enough to comment on this update! I hope you're OK, and sorry it took so long for the update.

Nedal: Thanks. As you can see, you're pretty well set up over here, and things are only going to get better!

Thanks for your continued support guys, the comments keep me going when I don't want to finish updates, or I don't want to take pictures. They're really appreciated! And remember, tomorrow is request day, so tell me what you want to see and do it fast, because I only accept the first 3 requests.

Have a nice day,

RHF

[kingofsimcity 5,739]

I'll join in thistlewood! I can make you a mysim if you want. Cedar Plains?