The Sims 3 Ambitions Guide Essentials The Sims 3 Primer
Mood
Mood
There are a handful of ways to measure your Sim's life progress, such as Simoleons or the current career promotion, but mood is how you measure your Sim's immediate condition.
Your Sim's happiness and/or misery is displayed right there on the Mood meter—shaped like an upside-down exclamation point—which turns green when the Sim is pleased and bright red when something is seriously amiss.
There is a yellow point in the middle of the Mood meter that gives you a warning. Inject something fun or enjoyable into your Sim's day or mood will continue to plummet.
To succeed in life, you must keep your Sim happy. Pushing the Mood meter in to the green indicates happiness.
And if you can boost the Sim's mood all the way into the "bubble" at the top of the meter, then you know your Sim is truly happy. As long as the Mood meter is in that bubble, the Sim accumulates Lifetime Happiness points.
This lasts until the mood drops out of the bubble, even if the Sim is still shown to be happy by a largely green meter.
Moodlets
Mood is a bird's-eye view of everything the Sim is feeling at that given moment. Moodlets are slivers of that mood.
These smaller emotions, feelings, and cravings are not passive indicators—these are real-time assessments that should never be ignored.
Some moodlets demand immediate attention, such as moodlets that indicate hunger or a lack of hygiene.
These negative moodlets contribute to a decreased overall mood, which affects so much of your Sim's life, such as their performance at work.
Negative moodlets can typically be dispelled with an action, such as taking a shower to get rid of the Grungy moodlet.
There are three types of moodlets: positive, neutral, and negative. To keep mood up, you need to do more things that inspire positive moodlets. Moodlets have varying degrees of effect on overall mood.
Some moodlets are very minor and do not necessarily cause a mood swing. However, these little annoyances can add up to an unhappy Sim if they are ignored.
To combat these, rectify any conditions causing a negative moodlet and seek out activities that cause positive moodlets.
Moodlets are timed—they only last for a certain time before they either vanish, or in the case of several negative moodlets, lead into worse moodlets.
While a moodlet is active, it contributes to the overall mood. There is no state of decay. As soon as the timer on a moodlet expires, that moodlet's effect on the overall mood vanishes.
Here is a list of all of the moodlets your Sim can feel, broken down by effect—positive, negative, and neutral. The duration of each moodlet is also included so you know how long the effects of a moodlet will influence overall mood.
Positive Moodlets
| Moodlet | Effect | Duration in Hours | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minty Breath | 5 | 4 | Sims love to be around those with Minty Breath. It sure beats the alternative. |
| Feeling Lucky | 5 | 23 | Today is Sim's lucky day. Who knows what good will happen? |
| Heard Theater Music | 10 | Variable | The music pulsing from the inside of the theater sounds awesome. Perhaps tickets are still available! |
| Educated | 10 | Variable | Exploring the local halls of culture and learning may teach even the most studious individual a thing or two. |
| Impressed | 10 | 0 | Touring public places sometimes reveals unexpected and impressive sights. |
| Let Off Steam | 10 | Variable | Having a friendly ear to complain to helps when you need to vent. |
| Decorated | 10 | Lasts as long as Sim is in room | Sims enjoy well furnished homes. By the looks of things, this place isn't so bad! |
| Brightened Day | 10 | 3 | Good Sims know exactly what to say to make someone's day better. |
| Had a Nice Nap | 10 | 5 | Having a great, refreshing nap may be just enough to hold back the onset of sleep. |
| I Am Beautiful | 10 | 4 | Reconizing beauty, even one's own, is just a benefit of vanity. |
| New Car Smell | 10 | 2 | Ah, that new car smell is so factory fresh! |
| Fascinated | 10 | 2 | Some Sims take joy in things ordinary Sims might otherwise overlook. |
| Got a Good Deal | 10 | 8 | Saving a few Simoleons is pure satisfaction! |
| Saw Great Movie | 10 | 16 | Sims have a special place in their hearts for movies on the silver screen, and a special place in their stomachs for the buttery popcorn. |
| Flattered | 10 | Variable | Compliments are quite flattering! |
| Intrigued | 10 | Variable | Juicy gossip satisfies eager ears! |
| Attractive | 10 | Variable | When a Sim looks this good, it's difficult for others not to notice. Wowza! |
| Hilarious Conversation | 10 | Variable | Some Sims should be stand-up comedians with the humor they're dishing out. |
| Tranquil | 10 | 8 | Nothing can stress or anger Sims who have reached their happy place. |
| Squeaky Clean | 10 | 7 | Experience the clean sensation of practicing personal hygiene! |
| Cheered Up | 15 | 3 | Gobs of sobs are stopped by the kind words of others. |
| Duck Time | 15 | 5 | Rubber duckies make hygienic cleansing fun! |
| Calmed Down | 15 | 3 | Sometimes all an Angry Sim needs is an understanding voice to help them get through a bad mood. |
| Enjoying Solitude | 15 | Variable | Introverted Sims like it best at times when others completely and utterly stay away. |
| Buzzed | 30 | 3 | Caffeine can really wake a Sim. Use this time wisely, because after the high comes the low... |
| The Life of the Party | 15 | 3 | Not only do party animals love to party, but other Sims love to party with them. Wooo! |
| Excited | 15 | 3 | Excitable Sims tend to get, well, excited. |
| Great Kiss | 15 | 3 | Great kissers give amazing smooches. |
| Inspired | 15 | 4 | A genuine and original work of art can inspire and render viewers speechless upon experiencing. |
| Oddly Powerful | 15 | 5 | The feeling of power is...intense! Science has bestowed Super Sim capabilities! |
| Fiendishly Delighted | 15 | 6 | Sims of the Evil persuasion take pleasure in the misfotune of others. |
| Fulfilled | 15 | 6 | The satisfaction of having a wish come to fruition feels great! |
| Returned Stolen Property | 15 | Kleptos enjoy returning things even more than... ending up with them. After all, it's more difficult to do the right thing, even when it follows the wrong thing. | |
| Fresh Start | 15 | 24 | Moving into a new location provides a clean slate many dream of! |
| Likes Work | 10 | Variable | Work isn't quite the daily grind for everyone. Bring on the overtime! |
| Out After Curfew! | 15 | Variable | Being out after curfew is totally radical. |
| Pristine Picture | 15 | Variable | The pixels are dancing daintily on the television, perfectly in harmony within the highest resolutions money can buy. |
| Cozy Fire | 15 | 5 | Sims enjoy the warm cheery glow of their fireplaces...poke them for extra warmth! |
| Pumped | 15 | 4 | If Sims work out long enough, they get Pumped. Workouts are even more effective while Sims are pumped. |
| Sweet Venue/Party | 15 | Variable | The choice in venue for this party is excellent. It sure beats the standard house party. |
| Andrenaline Rush | 15 | 3 | An Adrenaline Rush will keep this Sim pumped and running around everywhere for some time to come! |
| Feeling Calm | 15 | Variable | It turns out it was just anxiety getting the best of your Sim. The object wasn't left turned on and impending disaster wasn't looming. But, double checking helps to calm the anxiety. |
| Comforted | 15 | 3 | A quick cry on the shoulder helps the sadness go away. |
| Sugar Rush | 15 | Variable | Filling up on sugary goodness makes everything more fun! |
| New Stuff! | 20 | 2 | Sims love getting new things for their homes! |
| My Love! | 20 | Variable | Sims in love swoon and flutter about like fools oblivious to the world around them. |
| Pregnant | 20 | Lasts until birth | The wonder of creating new life makes pregnancy an exciting time for most Sims. |
| One With Nature | 20 | Variable | Outdoorswomen find themselves quite happy when not tucked away indoors. |
| New Home | 20 | 24 | It's a new place to call home! |
| Read a Masterpiece | 20 | 24 | Turning the last page of a masterpiece is like falling in love...it's a beautiful thing. |
| Saw Great Game | 20 | 16 | The fans are rowdy, the food is messy, but when combined with a sports game, it's an experience Sims love! |
| Cuddle Time | 20 | 5 | Teddy bears make excellent sleeping companions. |
| Exhilirating Shower | 20 | 4 | It makes sense that if a Sim uses quality plumbing, they get quality showers. |
| Awesome Party | 20 | 3 | Party plus Party Animal usually equals Awesome Party. It's simple math! |
| Great Adventure | 20 | 3 | Sim had such an amazing time! How could this adventure possibly be topped?! |
| New Friend | 20 | 8 |
Meeting someone new and hitting it off well enough to call them a friend is spiffy!
|
| Nicely Decorated | 25 | Last as long as Sim in room | Well designed décor stands out in a good way and tends to make everyone happier. |
| Entertained | 25 | Variable | Sim is entertained. |
| Winner! | 25 | 8 | Sims never tire of the thrill of victory. |
| I Am the Greatest! | 25 | 8 | It doesn't really matter how you got there. Being at the top means being at the top; you are the best! |
| Virtually Victorious | 25 | 8 | Success! Sims love the (virtual) taste and smell of (virtual) victory. |
| Saw Great Concert | 25 | 16 | Sims unanimously agree that experiencing a concert is well worth the potential inner-ear damage. |
| Saw Great Play | 25 | 16 | Sims love to watch people on stage doing funny and unexpected things right before their eyes. Sometimes they get the strangest feeling of déjà vu. |
| Honor Student | 25 | 24 | Hard work and a nose to the books pays off with satisfactory acceptance into the Honor Roll. |
| Warmed | 25 | 3 | There is nothing like the feeling of a warm flame to make a Sim happy. |
| Saw Great Symphony | 30 | 16 | A feast for the ears, Sims devour the mellifluous melodies of symphonies with jubilee. |
| Threw a Great Party |
30 |
24 | Sims love a great party and the host who throws them. |
| Celebrity | 30 | Variable | Sims love being recognized by their fans. Celebrity status is so cool! |
| Superior Equipment | 30 | Lasts as long as Sim near object | Food made with top-of-the-line equipment just has that superior flavor! |
| Beautifully Decorated | 40 | Lasts as long as Sim in room | Rooms adorned with the most expensive sculptures and paintings improve life dramatically. |
| Having a Blast | 40 | Variable | Sim is having so much fun it's almost criminal. |
| First Kiss | 40 | 24 | A Sim's first kiss can leave them glowing for a long time. |
| First Romance | 40 | 48 | Love has bloomed for the first time. Could this be the real thing? |
| Wedding Day | 40 | 24 | Sims love to celebrate this incredibly important day with a party...just make sure everything goes to plan! |
| Celebrated Birthday | 40 | 24 | Birthday parties are the best! |
| Father of the Bride | 40 | 24 | Seeing a daughter married makes a father so proud. |
| Father of the Groom | 40 | 24 | Seeing a son married makes a father so proud. |
| Mother of the Bride | 40 | 24 | Seeing a daughter married makes a mother so proud. |
| Mother of the Groom | 40 | 24 | Seeing a son married makes a mother so proud. |
| Charitable | 50 | 24 | It feels great to help out other Sims, especially when they are in need. |
| Newly Engaged | 50 | 24 | With a ring on the finger, vows and true love forever aren't far behind. |
| Just Married | 50 | 48 | Sims always enjoy the joyful period following the marriage. Let's hope the love lasts... |
| Divine Meal | 75 | 168 | Sim has experienced a meal so exquisite, so divine, that it defies description. (i.e., Ate Ambrosia) |
| It's a Boy | 80 | 24 | Bouncing baby boys are delightful additions to any family! |
| It's a Girl | 80 | 24 | Gurgling baby girls are delightful additions to any family! |
| It's Triplets | 80 | 24 | Three babies! Hope your Sims wanted a big family. |
| It's Twins | 80 | 24 | Wow, your Sims were lucky enough to have twins. Double trouble! |
| Good/Great/AmazingMeal | Variable on cooking skill | Variable | Yummy! Sim enjoyed that meal more than the standard fare. |
| Comfy | Variable on quality of the chair | Variable | Nothing beats a good seat for comfort except perhaps a better seat. |
| Well Rested | Variable on quality of the bed | Variable | It's easy to wake up on the right side of the bed when you get plenty of time in the bed. |
| Beautiful View | Variable on trait | Variable | Would you look at that view! |
| Beautiful Vista | Variable on trait | Variable | This...house...is...incredible! Somebody really knows how to live. |
| Enjoying Music | Variable on music preference | Variable | It's hard not to enjoy a beat this solid. |
| Fit Atmosphere | Lasts as long as Sim is in gym | Variable | Exercising at the gym really improves the quality of the workout. |
Neutral Moodlets
| Moodlet | Duration/Effect | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Learning Quickly | Indicates sped-up learning | Sim is picking up on this skill really quickly–how satisfying! |
| Cozy Fire | Lasts as long as Sim is in front of fire | Sims enjoy the warm cheery glow of their fireplaces...poke them for extra warmth! |
| Has to Pee | Alerts that Sim must use bathroom | Your Sim needs to go. Like, "go." |
| Hungry | Alerts that Sim must eat | Your Sim's a wee bit peckish. The stomach growling isn't far behind. |
| Sleepy | Alerts that Sim must go to bed | Get Sim to bed soon, to avoid the wrath of the truly tired. |
| Stuffed | Sim is completely full | Forcing Sims to eat when they are not hungry may lead to loss of appetite and weight gain. |
| Garlic Breath | Lasts 3 hours | Whoa! It might be time to scrub away that garlic with a toothbrush. |
| Fatigued | Variable | Activity of the athletic variety naturally leads to a little muscle fatigue. |
| Baby is Coming | Indicates birth is soon | Uh oh! The water has broken, contractions have started, and the baby is on its way! Get the mother to a hospital soon or sit tight until the baby arrives! |
| Power Study | Indicates sped-up homework/learning |
That quiet library atmosphere makes reading, studying, and working so much more efficient!
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Negative Moodlets
| Moodlet | Effect | Duration in Hours | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| On Fire | -200 | 1 | Contrary to popular belief, being on fire is not healthy and can lead to symptoms including panic, burns, and death. Best find some water quickly! |
| Starving | -80 | 0 | Allowing Sims to starve is quite cruel! Get Sim some food immediately to avoid an unnecessary death. |
| Heart Wrenching Scene | -60 | Lasts until leaving | Witnessing a break up is truly heartwrenching. Hopefully the two Sims can reconcile and find new love elsewhere... |
| Betrayed | -50 | 24 | Being cheated on is tough to move past. Talking it out with the other Sim would speed the healing process. |
| Mourning | -50 | 48 | The death of a loved one affects those closest to them. Sims can mourn at a tombstone or move it to a graveyard to feel more at peace. |
| Heart Broken | -50 | 48 | A broken heart is an affliction only time and tears can heal. |
| Vile Surroundings | -40 | Lasts until leaving or cleaning | This room is so fetid and foul. Sims were not meant to endure such a lax household cleaning philosophy! |
| Exhausted | -50 | 0 | At this level of sleep deprivation, even the floor looks like a good bed to this Sim. |
| Failing | -40 | 18 | Having to stare at a failing grade on a report card just stings. Homework completion and a good mood will improve low marks. |
| Desolate | -50 | 0 | When Sims get really, really lonely, they need to talk to somebody. Anybody. |
| Singed | -40 | 0 | Fire burns quickly, but it will burn a Singed Sim even faster, so avoid hot situations. |
| Singed Electricity | -40 | 0 | Sims find it unenjoyable to be electrocuted, especially because it may stop their heart. Until this wears off, Sims should steer clear of further potentially electrifying activities. |
| Horrified | -35 | 8 | Terrible things have been seen underneath the mausoleum. Explorers beware. |
| Stressed Out | -40 | Variable | Sim is in desperate need of some entertainment. The daily grind has ground the enjoyment of life to a halt! |
| Really Has To Pee | -30 | 0 | The bladder situation has only gone from bad to worse; find a bathroom soon! |
| Missed the Wedding | -30 | 24 | It's a bad, bad, bad idea to miss the wedding. It takes two to tango and your Sim missed the dance. |
| Rejected Proposal | -30 | 6 | It hurts to propose and be rejected. The good news is that Sims can try again as many times as they like. Of course, each rejection will hurt just as much. |
| Fired | -30 | Variable | Ouch! Getting thrown out of the workplace never feels good. Time to find a new job... |
| Missing Work | -30 | 0 | Workaholics don't get stressed from working, but from not working. |
| Lost a Friend | -25 | Variable | The loss of a friend hurts, but can be easily rectified by giving them a call and rekindling the friendship. |
| Scared | -25 | 3 | Scaredy-cats are scared of pretty much everything, but they really show it when their life flashes before their eyes. |
| Virtually Terrified! | -25 | 3 | Yikes! That snaggle toothed monster looked far more realistic than expected. Who knew monster breath would be so...fragrant...in virtual reality. |
| Too Many People | -15 | 0 | Certain Sims may not feel too comfortable around large groups. |
| Nauseous | -25 | 2 | Sim isn't feeling so hot. You may want to keep her around a bathroom. |
| Filthy Surroundings | -30 | Lasts until leaving or cleaning | The grime and muck is really starting to pile high. It won't be long before it starts paying rent. |
| Plagued by Nature | -20 | 0 | It's often best for Sims who Hate the Outdoors to spend as little time out there as possible. |
| Stir Crazy | -15 | Lasts until leaving house | Sims should leave the house frequently for sanity's sake. Shake well with a community marinade for best results. |
| Tired | -40 | 0 | When Sims get too tired, their mood begins to go south. |
| Very Hungry | -40 | 0 | Gnawing hunger is not a good feeling for Sims. Feed regularly to avoid. |
| Hydrophobic | -20 | Lasts until away from water | There's just too much water for Sim to enjoy this moment. |
| Drowning | -40 | Lasts until taken out of water | Sims breathe air. Anything else gets a little...suffocating. |
| Stuff Taken | -15 | 24 | Sims really like their stuff, and when someone grabs it, they take it quite personally. |
| Rejected By Ex | -20 | 6 | Sims don't like getting rejected, especially by someone who used to like them. Sims will have less luck socializing while they stew over a rejection. |
| Witnessed Betrayal | -20 | 6 | Witnessing the romantic betrayal of a loved one is quite devastating. |
| Detention | -20 | 4 | Aww shucks! Nobody likes spending time in detention! |
| Embarrassed | -20 | 3 | Situations like this should be avoided at all costs...they're hard to live down. |
| Aching Back | -20 | 4 | An aching back is quite the nagging problem. A massage would surely help. |
| Buzz Crashed | -10 | 3 | Caffeine buzzes wear off eventually, leaving a sad Sim. Walk it off or have another cup! |
| Disgusted | -5 | Lasts until leaving or cleaning | Revolting sights and smells will have this effect on Sims, so it's best to move them away. |
| Afraid of the Dark | -15 | 0 | Heading inside or finding a bit of sunlight will take care of this cowardly affliction. |
| Disappointed | -15 | 24 | Some Sims just hate it when they blow a chance to impress others. |
| Caught After Curfew | -15 | 3 | It's so unfair! Why don't parents understand? |
| Offended | -15 | 3 | Offense, when given, will require a healthy dose of time to forgive and forget. Or the dreaded apology. |
| Humiliated | -15 | 3 | Humiliation tends to rear its ugly head just behind the heap of insulting comments. |
| Threw a Lame Party | -15 | 8 | Some Sims throw awesome parties. Others throw parties that compare roughly with a stomach virus. |
| Crying Baby | -15 | Lasts until leaving or baby stops crying | If the baby can't be quieted, it's best to get as far away as possible. |
| Feeling Anxious | -15 | Variable | Neurosis overtakes some Sims with a feeling of anxiety that can only be solved by confronting the problem head on. |
| Anxious to Advance | -15 | 0 | It's been a long time since a promotion has been earned or a skill has been improved... too long! |
| Overworked | -15 | 12 | All work and no play makes it so that Sim needs to lay off putting in all that extra effort. |
| Upset | -15 | 3 | It's hard to endure the rough patches with those you care about. |
| Itchy | -15 | 4 | There's just no way to scratch the cursed itch! |
| Bad Night's Sleep | -15 | 6 | Sleeping on a cheap bed would make any Sim grumpy. |
| Dirty Surroundings | -15 | Lasts until leaving or cleaning | Garbage, filth, and grime do not improve one's surroundings. |
| Enemy! | -10 | Lasts until Sim leaves | The presence of garbage would be preferred to that of a hated enemy! |
| Unfinished Room | -10 | Lasts until room finished | This room needs proper flooring and wall covering of some sort to be considered complete. |
| It's Dark | -10 | Lasts until room brightens | A little light would certainly improve things. Perhaps some windows to let natural light in, as well? |
| Strained | -15 | Variable | Sim could stand a few hours of fun to iron out the stress. |
| Sore | -10 | 6 | Sims may occasionally feel a little pain, but the results are usually worth it. Sometimes a massage can help... |
| Technophobia | -10 | 3 | Some Sims really can't stand watching TV no matter what the channel. |
| Can't Stand Art | -10 | 3 | One Sim's art is another Sim's garbage. Some Sims just don't appreciate the finer things in life. |
| Rude Awakening | -10 | 1 | Loud noises and ruckuses will disturb sleeping Sims. Keep those stereos off and the conversations somewhere else, and don't light the bedroom on fire. |
| Dislikes Children | -10 | Last until Sim or child leaves | Some Sims just don't find children to be adorable bundles of joy. |
| Rude Guest | -10 | 4 | Sims don't like it when other Sims are rude, especially houseguests! |
| Rejected First Kiss | -10 | 6 | It's sad when a Sim gets rejected for a first kiss. Very sad. A rejected sim needs time to cool off before their social skills will be back on track. |
| Bad Reception | -10 | Variable | Cheap television sets don't always provide the most pristine picture. |
| Tired From Moving | -10 | 6 | It's been a long day, but it's good to be home and settled in. |
| Creeped Out | -10 | Variable | Ewww! Someone sure is acting creepy! |
| Cold Shower | -10 | 3 | Freezing jets of water will dull any mood. Perhaps it's time to upgrade the shower... |
| Tastes Like Fridge | -10 | Variable | Every bite shouldn't contain flavors from everything else in the fridge. Quality fridges never have this problem! |
| Uneven Cooking | -10 | Variable | At least the left-most portion was cooked correctly...right? Maybe a nicer stove would burn better. |
| Lonely | -15 | Lasts until Sim finds company | Communication is a must for Sims. A quick chat will fix things right away. |
| Smelly | -10 | Lasts until shower | Sims don't like to stink. More importantly, Sims don't like other Sims that stink. |
| Grungy | -5 | Lasts until shower | Yuck! That layer of grime growing might mean it's time for a bath or shower. |
| Wasted Food | -5 | Variable | Don't throw away good food! There are starving children in Strangetown! |
| Creepy Graveyard | -5 | Variable | Graveyards are terrifying places filled with dead bodies, the ghosts of the bodies, and fear. |
| Boring Conversation | -5 | 3 | Yawn! Will they ever stop talking? |
| Feeling Unlucky | -5 | 23 |
Today is NOT Sim's lucky day. Nothing good can come of this.
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