Sims 3 - Common Game Fixing Mods - Hero Approved [ Edited ]

[EA_Leeloo]

Hey there Simmers,

We know that many of you enjoy using Mods to help shape and change the game in different ways and you are aware that here on AHQ we have a standing rule that links for Mods are a no-go. This rule is not changing.

But we have recognized that some Mods have become standard go-to's for fixing some smaller game issues that have not been addressed, and that it has been frustrating to both community members and our AHQ Heroes and Champions not to be allowed to share them here. 

With this being said, we have given permission for this thread to be here because we are hoping that it will help you, our players, to play. It will be maintained by our Heroes and Champions to house links to mods that they support as solutions to common game issues.

To affirm: EA, Maxis, and the AHQ team have not verified these mods, their safety to your PC, or game. 

We encourage you to use safe practices when downloading and utilizing any Mod from any location by using appropriate anti-virus/anti-malware tools and checks. 

Happy Simming!

[puzzlezaddict]

Mods for overall performance and stability

[Please read: How to install mods]

Sims 3 has no built-in method to clean up errors and data corruption, and some features are prone to breaking or not properly limited by the game itself.  Without any interventions, saves can become corrupted over time, leading to progressively worse glitches until the saves are unplayable or won’t load at all.  These mods improve the game’s overall stability and help prevent or fix minor issues before they become major ones.

This list represents my own recommendations.  All of the mods are compatible with patches 1.67 (disc/Steam/Mac 32-bit), 1.69 (Origin/Windows), and 1.70 (Mac 64-bit).  Please read the documentation for each mod before installing.

NRaas ErrorTrap:  This mod catches many errors before they can cause corruption.  It’s also quite chatty, so don’t be surprised to receive related notifications.  [This is a core mod, so be sure to download the version for your type of install (1.69/Origin, 1.67/Steam, or 1.67 other; 64-bit Mac players may use any of the options).]

NRaas Overwatch:  This mod performs basic resets and checks for potential outstanding issues on its nightly cleanup run.  It also flags and can reset stuck sims that would otherwise drag down game performance.

NRaas Traveler:  This mod replaces the EA-made travel transition with one that’s much more stable and less prone to breaking.  It’s recommended for anyone with an expansion that supports travel, so World Adventures, University Life, or Into the Future.  It also greatly expands travel options for players with or without these packs; please see this FAQ for more information.

NRaas Register:  This mod governs role sims, as in, those that staff a role-giving object plus a few others.  It also has settings governing stray animals, which is especially useful in preventing problems with strays in towns not built to accommodate them.

NRaas Traffic:  This mod governs the general use of vehicles and can prevent the overspawning of food or ice cream trucks or Showtime career performance limos.  It’s especially recommended for saves in Starlight Shores or any world with a population of sims high up in the Showtime careers.

NRaas MasterController:  This mod does nothing on its own but is a tool for issuing one-time commands.  Its reset functions are useful for the ability to reset anything from a stuck sim or object to the entire town.

[See also] NRaas Tips for better game performance:  This is an excellent list of recommendations for maximizing performance on any system.

[puzzlezaddict]

Mods that fix specific known issues

[Please read: How to install mods]

These mods address individual bugs or glitches or narrow issues that can nonetheless cause glitches or other unwanted effects.  This list represents my own recommendations.  All of the mods are compatible with patches 1.67 (disc/Steam/Mac 32-bit), 1.69 (Origin/Windows), and 1.70 (Mac 64-bit).  Some mods also require a certain expansion to be present. Please read the documentation for each mod before installing.

NRaas GoHere:  In addition to its other feaatures, this mod addresses certain routing issues.

NRaas Hybrid:  This mod corrects some issues with occult sims, both hybrid and otherwise.

NRaas RelationshipPanel:  This mod fixes relationship panel errors and allows for the removal of sims from the panel.

[Butterbot] Canning Station Overhaul:  In addition to expanding available features, this mod fixes a number of issues related to Grandma’s Canning Station from the Sims 3 Store.

[Shimrod] Dive Cave Reset Fix:  (hosted on Sims Asylum; free registration required) When a sim explores an underwater cave while diving, the sim will likely be reset to land.  This mod prevents the reset.

[Butterbot] Infinite Laundry Buffs Fix:  This mod prevents buffs from doing laundry from reappearing after they should have expired.

[Chicken0895] Money Tree Fix:  (hosted on Sims Asylum; free registration required) When a sim with the Gatherer trait harvests a money tree, the tree won’t be harvestable again.  This mod fixes the issue.

[Buzzler] Mood Hotfix:  This mod corrects issues related to how the game calculates a sim’s overall mood.

[velocitygrass] No (or fewer) automatic memories:  Memories drag down performance to a significant extent and are accumulated by both active and inactive sims.  Players that don’t want to disable memories entirely can install this mod to limit their generation, or use the provided tool to create their own version of the mod.

[nikel23] Opportunity phone call fix:  When Into the Future is installed, phone calls offering skill opportunities almost never happen.  (Please read the technical information on the mod page for more details.)  This mod fixes the underlying issue.

[Arsil] Throw a Great Party Dreams Fix:  The party outcomes introduced in the University Life expansion cannot fulfill a sim’s wish to “throw a great party,” so the wish often doesn't complete. This mod fixes the issue.

[puzzlezaddict]

Mods that introduce helpful features

[Please read: How to install mods]

While not necessarily addressing a specific bug or glitch, these mods offer a variety of useful features that can improve performance or avoid unwanted effects.  This list represents my own recommendations.  All of the mods are compatible with patches 1.67 (disc/Steam/Mac 32-bit), 1.69 (Origin/Windows), and 1.70 (Mac 64-bit).  Some mods also require a certain expansion to be present.  Please read the documentation for each mod before installing.

NRaas Retuner:  This mod allows players to change the attractiveness of certain actions or objects and allow or block autonomous or user-directed interactions.  If a certain interaction becomes problematic, changing its related settings through Retuner can prevent sims from performing the interaction at all or lower the chance that they will choose to do so on their own.

NRaas Mover:  This mod expands the options for moving, including supporting overstuffed households and those without an adult sim.

NRaas Saver:  This mod provides periodic prompts to the player to save progress and to use “save as” rather than overwriting save data with “save.”

NRaas Tempest:  This mod allows the player to create profiles for allowable weather (by percentage) and temperatures (by range), either by season or over a shorter time frame.

[velocitygrass] Add Any Lot Size:  This mod allows for the placing of any lot size in Edit Town, getting around issues with nonstandard lot sizes or oddly-shaped empty map areas that won’t accommodate a default lot size.

[AussomeDays] Additional Entry and Exit Routing Slots:  This mod allows sims to use more doors to enter or exit school and university buildings, reducing crowding and its consequences.

[Nona Mena] Super Hamper:  This modded object collects dirty laundry rather than allowing it to pile up around the house.

[icarus_allsorts] User-directed Scolding:  This mod makes scolding and punishment user-directed rather than being uncancellable.