The Sims 4: Random Decades Challenge

A mash-up of my favourite two Sims 4 Challenges - enjoy!

Written by Jordan / Twentiethcenturysims

Background: The Sims 4 Random Legacy Challenge was posted on Mod The Sims by tigger89. The Sims 4 Decade Challenge was posted by CuteCoffeeGal as a Google Doc. I have now played both these challenges (though admittedly - only reached Gen8 of the random legacy) and I think it would be fun to combine the two. As the rules draw heavily from the work of these two initial creators, I owe them a lot of thanks.

The draw of the Random Legacy Challenge for me has always been the unplannable nature of it, which reflects the reality of life. The Decade Challenge has recently added a new level of realism, with the passage of time visibly marked through changing technologies and attire.

The decades element will apply to the randomization - for example, as it was far more common to have larger families in the 1890s, the odds will change to reflect this. Additionally, the challenges that a family may face will be inspired by the real challenges faced by our ancestors.

Aging and Generations

Each ‘decade’ will last for a generation: From the time your heir comes of age, to the time that the next heir comes of age. I’d recommend playing on normal life span.

Holidays

The rules for holidays will follow those laid out by CuteCoffeeGal in her rules here.

LGBTQ+ Sims / Sims of Colour

The Sims is your game, and you choose how you play. Although you may wish to follow the rules regarding relationship and marriage rights suggested by CuteCoffeeGal in her rules, you may also choose to disregard these aspects of the challenge, or explore the political issues of interraccial and queer romances in your gameplay. Queer and interracial romances have always existed, whether they were legally permitted or not. I encourage you to research the topic if it interests you, and have a good time with your gameplay!

War

Throughout the span of the Random Decades Challenge, Sims will be involved in wars. The rules will largely be the same as the Decades Challenge Rules, though the odds of survival will vary with each war. Though the cowplant method described does work, it is recommended you use Kuttoe’s Enlist in War mod.

Starting your game

1. You should start your game in a new save file.
2. Roll the parameters for your 1890 generation (or whichever generation you would like to start with). Parameters include:

• A. Marital status
• B. Number of children
• C. Primary Career
• D. Secondary Career
• E. Generational Goal
• F. Misc Fun

3. Create your Founder and all spouses/helpers in create-a-sim, OR create your Founder and their parent(s) (if helpers are rolled) in CAS and recruit a spouse from the world. Your founder must be a Young Adult.
4. Select a place to live, according to the following guidelines (as laid out in more detail here):

• You may not live in Strangerville.
• You may not live in Del Sol Valley until the 1950s.
• It is not recommended to live in Sulani before the 1960s.
• You can use only the starter funds for your family to buy/build a home, no money cheats are allowed. If you wish to buy a home outside your means you may ‘take out a bank loan’ and pay the money back (with 10% interest) before your Founder dies.
• Single, working sims may live in apartments. Once married, they must purchase a house.

5. The rules regarding modern conveniences, fame, odd jobs, and eco living remain unchanged from CuteCoffeeGal’s rules.
6. For the random side of things, all rules from the Random Legacy Challenge apply except the following: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 16, 20, 21, 22. Reasons for these exceptions are summarized below.

• 1: The challenge runs for 13 generations, from 1890 to 2010, with one generation per decade.
• 4, 5 & 6: Money can be made in any way the player desires, as long as it is decade-appropriate.
• 7: The rules for part time jobs will be those for the Decades challenge.
• 10: The rules for choosing an heir will be those for the Decades challenge.
• 12: You may turn off aging and switch to the spares’ household long enough to establish their family life. That said, this is not a rotational challenge, and the focus will be largely on one family line.
• 16: You can keep the money brought in by marrying spouses - otherwise, no one would ever marry the Landgraabs.
• 20: No wishing wells, no magic.
• 21: You may choose your lot traits with the exception of the off-the-grid trait that should be applied for the 1890 decade.
• 22: No occult sims, no magic.

7. Some of the ‘misc fun’ parameters have been disallowed because they conflict with the decades challenge rules, but some have just been disallowed because I do not vibe with them.

1890

• All rules from the Decades Challenge Rules apply (with the exceptions regarding race/sexuality mentioned above)
• Parameter rolls for 1890

• Marital Status (1-25)

Parents should be elders. Once they pass away, they will not be replaced with new helpers, unlike the original Decades Challenge.

• Number of Children (1-10)

Since your sims can only Try for a Baby, not Woohoo, once you reach your child number...sorry!

• Primary Career (1-10)

This roll is exclusively for your male head of the family.

• Secondary Career: In this decade, women cannot work, unless they are widowed or divorced. Refer to C3. Male helpers who are elders may have an unconventional career (Roll C2).

• Generational Goal: As found in the Random Challenge rules, with the exception of 9. If you roll this, please roll again.
• Misc fun: All misc fun from the rules are allowed, with the exception of 2, 3, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23. If you roll any of these, please roll again.

1900

• All rules from the Decades Challenge Rules apply (with the exceptions regarding race/sexuality mentioned above)
• Parameter rolls for 1900

• Marital Status (1-25)

Help can be parents or siblings. If the number of helpers + children rolled exceeds the number of allowed sims in a household (8), and the helpers do not pass away before it is time for the pregnancy of these children to commence, the helper may be moved out.

• Number of Children (1-10)

Since your sims can only Try for a Baby, not Woohoo, once you reach your child number...sorry!

• Primary Career (1-10)

This roll is exclusively for your male head of the family.

• Secondary Career (1-10)

Male helpers younger than elders (ie. siblings) may roll for a secondary career. Male helpers who are elders may have an unconventional career (Roll C2).

In this decade, women cannot work, unless they are widowed or divorced. If widowed or divorced, refer to C3.

• Generational Goal: As found in the Random Challenge rules, with the exception of 9. If you roll this, please roll again.
• Misc fun: All misc fun from the rules are allowed, with the exception of 2, 3, 12, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23. If you roll any of these, please roll again.

1910

• All rules from the Decades Challenge Rules apply (with the exceptions regarding race/sexuality mentioned above)
• Parameter rolls for 1910

• Marital Status (1-25)

Help can be parents or siblings. If the number of helpers + children rolled exceeds the number of allowed sims in a household (8), and the helpers do not pass away before it is time for the pregnancy of these children to commence, the helper may be moved out.

• Number of Children (1-10)

Since your sims can only Try for a Baby, not Woohoo, once you reach your child number...sorry!

• Primary Career (1-10)

This roll is exclusively for your male head of the family.

• Secondary Career (1-10)

Male helpers younger than elders (ie. siblings) may roll for a secondary career. Male helpers who are elders may have an unconventional career (Roll C2).

In this decade, women cannot work, unless they are widowed or divorced. If widowed or divorced, refer to C3.

• Generational Goal: As found in the Random Challenge rules, with the exception of 9. If you roll this, please roll again.
• Misc fun: All misc fun from the rules are allowed, with the exception of 2, 3, 12, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23. If you roll any of these, please roll again.

• War (1-10)

All male sims (T, YA, A) at the start of the decade are enlisted in war. Male sims who become teens during the decade are also enlisted. For each enlisted sim, roll to determine their fate. ‘Wounds’ can be simulated using custom content. Suggestions are linked below as examples. The enlist in war mod can still be used, as the odds of living and dying are still 50/50.

1920

• All rules from the Decades Challenge Rules apply (with the exceptions regarding race/sexuality mentioned above)
• Parameter rolls for 1920

• Marital Status (1-25)

Help can be parents or siblings. If the number of helpers + children rolled exceeds the number of allowed sims in a household (8), and the helpers do not pass away before it is time for the pregnancy of these children to commence, the helper may be moved out.

• Number of Children (1-10)

Since your sims can only Try for a Baby, not Woohoo, once you reach your child number...sorry!

• Primary Career (1-10)

This roll is for the man of the house, be he the heir or the husband of the female heir.

• Secondary Career (1-10)

Male helpers younger than elders (ie. siblings) may roll for a secondary career. Male helpers who are elders may have an unconventional career (Roll C2).

In this decade, women can work if they are widowed, divorced, single, or if their husband does not bring in enough money. If these apply, refer to C3.

• Generational Goal: As found in the Random Challenge rules.
• Misc fun: All misc fun from the rules are allowed, with the exception of 3, 12, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23. If you roll any of these, please roll again.

1930

• All rules from the Decades Challenge Rules apply (with the exceptions regarding race/sexuality mentioned above)
• Parameter rolls for 1930

• Marital Status (1-25)

Help can be parents or siblings. If the number of helpers + children rolled exceeds the number of allowed sims in a household (8), and the helpers do not pass away before it is time for the pregnancy of these children to commence, the helper may be moved out.

• Number of Children (1-10)

Since your sims can only Try for a Baby, not Woohoo, once you reach your child number...sorry!

• Primary Career (1-10)

This roll is for the man of the house, be he the heir or the husband of the female heir.

• Secondary Career (1-10)

Male helpers younger than elders (ie. siblings) may roll for a secondary career. Male helpers who are elders may have an unconventional career (Roll C2).

In this decade, women can work if they are widowed, divorced, single, or if their husband does not bring in enough money. If these apply, refer to C3.

• Generational Goal: As found in the Random Challenge rules.
• Misc fun: All misc fun from the rules are allowed, with the exception of 3, 12, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23. If you roll any of these, please roll again.

• Great Depression (1-10):

Roll to determine what percentage you must reduce your household funds by at the start of the decade, to simulate the stock market crash.

• All sims who become young adults in this decade must randomize (1-3) and take one of the following traits when they reach YA: 1. Gloomy, 2. Mean, 3. Noncommittal.

1940

• All rules from the Decades Challenge Rules apply (with the exceptions regarding race/sexuality mentioned above)
• Parameter rolls for 1940

• Marital Status (1-25)

Help can be parents or siblings. If the number of helpers + children rolled exceeds the number of allowed sims in a household (8), and the helpers do not pass away before it is time for the pregnancy of these children to commence, the helper may be moved out.

• Number of Children (1-10)

Since your sims can only Try for a Baby, not Woohoo, once you reach your child number...sorry!

• Primary Career (1-10)

This roll is for the man of the house, be he the heir or the husband of the female heir.

• Secondary Career (1-10)

Male helpers younger than elders (ie. siblings) may roll for a secondary career. Male helpers who are elders may have an unconventional career (Roll C2).

In this decade, women MUST have a career. Once they marry, they can keep their career or leave to become a housewife. Refer to C3.

• Generational Goal: As found in the Random Challenge rules.
• Misc fun: All misc fun from the rules are allowed, with the exception of 12, 17, 19, 21, 22, and 23. If you roll any of these, please roll again.

• War (1-10)

All male sims (YA, A) at the start of the decade are enlisted in war. Male sims who become teens during the decade are NOT enlisted. For each enlisted sim, roll to determine their fate. ‘Wounds’ can be simulated using custom content. Suggestions are linked below as examples. The enlist in war mod can still be used, as the odds of living and dying are still 50/50.

1950

• All rules from the Decades Challenge Rules apply (with the exceptions regarding race/sexuality mentioned above)
• Parameter rolls for 1950

• Marital Status (1-25)

View the Random Legacy Challenge Rules for explanations of each.

• Number of Children (1-10)

Since your sims can only Try for a Baby, not Woohoo, once you reach your child number...sorry!

• Primary Career (1-10)

This roll is for the man of the house, be he the heir or the husband of the female heir.

• Secondary Career (1-10)

Male helpers younger than elders (ie. siblings) may roll for a secondary career. Male helpers who are elders may have an unconventional career (Roll C2).

In this decade, women may have a career. They must quit their jobs when they have babies, toddlers, or children. Once their children are teens they may return to their career. Refer to C3.

• Generational Goal: As found in the Random Challenge rules.
• Misc fun: All misc fun from the rules are allowed, with the exception of 12, 22, and 23. If you roll any of these, please roll again.

• War (1-10)

The eldest son of this generation is enlisted in the war when he becomes a young adult. The eldest daughter is enlisted as a volunteer nurse when she becomes a young adult. For each enlisted sim, roll to determine their fate. ‘Wounds’ can be simulated using custom content. Suggestions are linked below as examples. The enlist in war mod can still be used, as the odds of living and dying are still 50/50.

1960

• All rules from the Decades Challenge Rules apply (with the exceptions regarding race/sexuality mentioned above)
• Parameter rolls for 1960

• Marital Status (1-25)

View the Random Legacy Challenge Rules for explanations of each.

• Number of Children (1-10)

• Primary Career (1-10)

This roll is for the man of the house, be he the heir or the husband of the female heir.

• Secondary Career (1-10)

Women and male helpers younger than elders may roll for a secondary career.

Male helpers who are elders may have an unconventional career (Roll C2).

In this decade, women may have a career. They can take maternity leave in the third trimester and after the baby is born. Refer to C3.

• Generational Goal: As found in the Random Challenge rules.
• Misc fun: All misc fun from the rules are now allowed.

• War (1-10)

The first two children drafted for the Vietnam War when they become a Young Adult, regardless of gender. For each enlisted sim, roll to determine their fate. ‘Wounds’ can be simulated using custom content. Suggestions are linked below as examples. The enlist in war mod can still be used, as the odds of living and dying are still 50/50.

1970

• All rules from the Decades Challenge Rules apply (with the exceptions regarding race/sexuality mentioned above)
• Parameter rolls for 1970
• Marital Status (1-25)

View the Random Legacy Challenge Rules for explanations of each.

• Number of Children (1-10)

• Primary Career (1-10)

This roll is for the man of the house, be he the heir or the husband of the female heir.

• Secondary Career (1-10)

Women and male helpers younger than elders may roll for a secondary career.

Male helpers who are elders may have an unconventional career (Roll C2).

In this decade, women may have a career. Refer to C3.

• Generational Goal: As found in the Random Challenge rules.
• Misc fun: All misc fun from the rules are now allowed.

  ---

1980

1990

2000

2010