Bare necessities :P

[simgaroop]

So I was looking at my downloads folder and realized I had 1.87 Gb of stuff in one of my subfolders.

And that's just my "objects folder"!!!

WTF?! No wonder my game takes forever to load lately.

So, in an abrupt movement, I deleted all my stuff. No more 80000 clutter files and a gazillion wall recolors I never use.

Good thing I was anal retentive enough to keep the CC for my two lots apart, otherwise they'd be completely screwed up now.

So now, I ask you, my fellow simmers who have managed to keep your downloads folder in a manageable, tiny size: Which are the basic buy and build stuff you have? I think I'll get some Holy Simoly stuff and a few recolors. And that's it, but I'm probably missing something.

So... which are your (Maxis Match, preferably) must haves?

When I'm done with that, I'm going to nuke my clothing folder. But the fact of having to play detective with all those meshes is a huge turn off. Meh, I'm lazy. I can live with the 1.70 Gb of clothes for now... :S

Comments

[simsinthecity.livejournal.com]

Really, I've only been into MM for just awhile, thanks to you and strange_tomato. So I'd say consult the handy-dandy list you made for wcifsims. But I haven't really gotten into the list deeply, so I can't say what is a must have from there, but it does look good.

[ikielove.livejournal.com]

Wow! That's a lot of CC. I think my downloads file is 1.5 Gb total. My game is slow enough as it is.

[simgaroop.livejournal.com]

I blame the time I made my posters. I downloaded a lot of specific stuff to build the fantasy settings, plus all the costumes. And I never really cleaned all that stuff out.

I want to go back to under 2 Gb. As soon as I finish my planned hair retextures, I'm also deleting any other non-Maxis match files I may have, to reduce the load for my poor laptop.

[ikielove.livejournal.com]

At least you get awesome stuff from all your stuff:) I just get lag.

[pnkpnthr334.livejournal.com]

That is an insane amount of CC! My entire folder is around 1.2GB!

I don't download much furniture, but the stuff I do have is mainly Holy Simoly sets. I also have some shorter versions of various bookcases from N99 (i think). Then I have recolors of just about every game object from Piggi's Sims. I also have the Sims Store furniture sets from MATY.

[simgaroop.livejournal.com]

Uggh... I have no idea when I accumulated so much stuff! >___<

Hmmm... that's pretty much what I was planning to do :). I'm also redowloading Huge Lunatic completer stuff. And I'll stay the hell away from TSR's stuff as much as possible. I've just read they add spyware and trojans to their files and that's horrible.

[traciandrus.livejournal.com]

I just removed my whole download folder the other day. Totally re-organized it. Its sooo much better now. I had 1.7gbs in total. Now I have 500mb. :)

I couldn't live without my holy simoly. I kept all those files. But as for any other objects? The toddler blanket. Thats a godsent.
Its really hair I can't live without. I had to replace all yours, and alot I got from GOS> But At least I can find the stuff now. :)

Good luck!

[simgaroop.livejournal.com]

Thanks :)

Yup, I also kept the Holy Simoly files (and your matching activity tables for their cute nurseries). They are by far the best made original objects in my opinion.

[orikes13.livejournal.com]

It's hard trying to keep a downloads folder at a reasonable level. I'm probably not the best one to give advice, since I think my whole downloads folder is at about 2.2 GB the last time I checked.

I think you're on the right track with picking one or two Holy Simoly sets and sticking with them. Maybe pick one modern and one traditional style. I know some people swear by the Kitchen Basics set on MTS2 (By buggyboyz? Something like that).

My rule of thumb is that anything I download must have versatility. It has to have enough decent recolors that I'm going to use and that I think will work with other items I already have.

Clothes are actually my problem right now. :}

[simgaroop.livejournal.com]

Ever since I discovered sites like Garden of Shadows, it's been nearly impossible to stay under 2 GB. I need to be more picky with the stuff I download from now on.

I'm trying to stick with stuff that either completes Maxis sets or that borrows their textures from Maxis/Holy Simoly sets. That way, I get more variety without increasing the size of my Downloads folder too much. I had that kitchen for a while, but I never used it. So I ended up deleting it. I now abuse the one from K&B or Freetime.

Clothes, and especially clutter are my issues too.

Thanks for your help! :)

[pearkiwi.livejournal.com]

My entire folder is roughly 400 mb. Of course, I deleted my download folder a few days ago, and it was 3 GB then, so yeah. But now, everything is sorted by type, & creator. It all gets compressorized plus there's a picture in the folder.
Never again will I not know what's in my game.

All of the stuff I have right now is from the maxis match wcifsims weekly lists, but I'm slowly adding more. I'm sticking to maxis recolors, completer sets, and maxis match in general. I'm being really strict about the stuff I do download from now on; if it doesn't get used by a week after I download it, it's gone. And I'm no longer downloading pretty things that will never be used more than once or twice, if at all.

[simgaroop.livejournal.com]

I shall follow that strategy too. I often forgot the stuff I downloaded in the first place. Especially if it's random clutter or fancy recolors that require me to search through my whole buy catalog if I want my room to look like the original pic at the site.

Keeping a picture is a great idea :).

[sawcat.livejournal.com]

I just did a good purge of stuff myself, dumped 14,000 files-

- Holy Simoly, Around the Sims, and Adele's were untouchables. I may go and seperate unusual stuff I won't use much, like the oceanography pods, but they will be in a folder to stick in if needed

- Fway, Leesester & tbudgett build completers from MTS
- Second Empire build completer by Shakeshaft (until someone better does their own)
- chrissy6930's completers and mission set, both from MTS & http://www.ts2creations.com/
- Windkeeper's Helios set
- low rock edging fences, ones that look like rocks- I've got a variety of them
- Lyran walls
- wallpapers from Blacky's Zoo
- extracted clutters from GoS, Simvention and that new site I don't remember the name of that had the captain's log
- Hughlunatic's maxis fence recolors and ikea addons

[simgaroop.livejournal.com]

I don't use Adele's stuff, but I'm keeping her new Sci Fi set in a separate folder because I've got plans for it later.

Those build completer sets were the very first things I redownloaded :). Especially fway's AL sets.

That seems like a very good list to follow to start over. Thanks for your help! :)

[redikolous.livejournal.com]

I'm getting stuff from HP (the swimsuits, mostly), Plum, fanseelamb, fakepeeps, migamoo, and some valuable stuff (http://modthesims2.com/member.php?u=841860&view=faveds). Also got some stuff from Xander, Hagerks, and windkeeper, HolySimoly.

[simgaroop.livejournal.com]

You've just reminded me to check my faved downloads :). I almost always thank the creators, but I often forget to fave some things. Nonetheless, I remember there was some stuff I really liked in there last time I checked.

Thanks for your help!

[redikolous.livejournal.com]

Ah, no problem. I'm downloading as well, and this is helping.

[profbutters.livejournal.com]

I have an "unused CC" folder where I keep anything I'm not using right now. I have a folder for wedding shop stuff, another for ice cream shop stuff, and another for cake shop stuff.

I just did a whole uninstall/reinstall and cleaned up my Downloads folder. My build mode folder is 31.1 MB: It's got walls by Holy Simoly (I love their siding and stucco), some recolors by a friend of mine that basically increases the color palette for Maxis stuff (lots more pink, yay!) Marvine's spiral stairs, the wedding cake walls and floors by dinkytink on MTS2, the Russian walls set by Apollyon Dynamite, SunniSims stuff that completes the Holy Simoly Tulip Bay set, and the Invisible Driveway. I also have the Pink Chill set by Sim Addict--I need lots of pink stuff in my legacy.

Buy mode's a bit bigger--156 MB. It has only one set of custom plants--white and pink recolors of the Japanese maple (they're beautiful except in fall and winter, when they flash blue), a couple of recolors of the wedding arch by Purplepaws, DJSSims recolor of the salon chair, and a very few special things, of which your fairy paintings are one :) I have some stuff by SimsDesignAvenue that I love, like the church organ and the hearse.

Holy Simoly has its own folder, 151 MB. Basically, I picked out one or two sets I like a lot and sprinkled in a few oddball things I wanted.

Hope that helps.

[simgaroop.livejournal.com]

I follow that strategy with my clothes. I have a folder for wedding dresses (it's been a long while since I last had a legacy sim get married), another for fantasy costumes and even one for some superhero/scifi suits I plan to use later.

I love pink stuff too. It's actually my favorite color for clothing, and I often end up buying mostly pink shirts or sweaters if I'm not careful. I guess I have "fashion periods", because before that I used to like striped stuff.

Thankfully, in sims land, there are plenty of pink objects and recolors available for your legacy. Now I'm wondering why you need so much pink, though. I have your story in my bookmarks, so I shall find that out soon :).

Thanks for your help!

[silvainsims.livejournal.com]

Holy Simoly- especially their Arizona and Phoenix sets.

These (http://modthesims2.com/browse.php?f=408&showType=1&tag=expansion+set) expansions for some of the window/door sets that seemed incomplete, especially the Independent Expressions one and the Mauritania one.

That's all I can think of right now, but I hope it helps.

[mixreality.livejournal.com]

Good question! Here's my VERY basic list of absolutely needed stuff:

Doors/Windows - Independent Expressions completer by MaryLou@MTS2;
Misc - Blueprint tiles (for building), by Dean0000@MTS2;
Misc - Invisible driveway rec by Frillen;
Stairs - Animated ladder stairs, by Marvine@MTS2;
Stairs - Recolorable wooden stairs, by Numenor (and plasticbox has some very nice maxis- and holy simoly-match recolors);
- - - - -
Bath - Backless shower and tub, by HugeLunatic@MTS2;
Deco - Holy Simoly Simply Elegant Curtains should cover all curtain needs;
Deco - Crazy Clutter, by MsBarrows@TSR, pretty much covers all cluttery needs and is very well done;
Deco - Shrunken Maxis plants by Fway@MTS2;
Electro - Cheap TVs placeable anywhere, by Numenor@MTS2;
Hobby - Chess placeable anywhere, by Ailias@MTS2;
Kitchen - Complete set of maxis-matching cabinets, by CTNutmegger@MTS2;
Lights - Maxis-matching candles, by Reyn@MTS2;
Misc - OFB Sign placable anywhere, by Numenor@MTS2;
Misc - Mailbox cover by Windkeeper@TSR;
Pets - One-tile pet beds, at Simwardrobe;
Seating - Cheap double bed, by Plasticbox@MTS2;
Seating - Shelf beds, by Inge@Simlogical
Set - Low Budget Wonders room set, by SimAddict99@TSR
Surfaces - Shelving Units and Chrome-Post shelving, at Simwardrobe (Mutske@TSR has some very useful-looking empty bookcases, but I haven't tested them yet).

[redikolous.livejournal.com]

This is going to be a great help.

[madame-ugly.livejournal.com]

I can't live without clothing/hair age conversions. I LOVE them (especially if the clothes are for elders and the hair is for all ages).

I approach cc downloading like I do shopping. If I think I'd like something, I email myself a link and then think about it a while before getting it. The only exception to this rule is if I see something and IMMEDIATELY know what sim I want it for (or if I'm shopping for a particular sim).

I also don't bother with a lot of furniture and buy mode stuff. I know if I opened that door I'd go completely wild and my game would explode.

[simtopi]

Most of my downloads are for clothes, hair and makeup so I've managed to keep my download folder pretty small. I'm always on the hunt for better maxis-match stuff in that category too.

As for build/buy mode stuff, I'm extremely particular about what goes in there. For the most part, I am happy with the Maxis objects but when I think it needs it, I'll download some different wallpapers, floors, that sort of thing. So far, I've only done that for when I need a place to look really old.

For the most part, I never thought anything was really missing from Maxis however, one thing that i love is the matching overhead cabinets by CTNutmegger on MS2. The wrought iron bed by Holy Simoly is neat to have because the game doesn't really come with one.

[unholypassion.livejournal.com]

Maxis add-on completer sets, to get the most out of the game's content - furniture, cupboards, wallpapers, etc. Then hair & clothing conversions.