The Sims 4`s latest expansion, “Enchanted By Nature,” brings a wave of fresh experiences to our digital lives. Beyond introducing the mystical Fairy occult type and new ways to embrace off-the-grid living, it unveils a whole new category of affliction: Ailments. Forget those mundane colds and sniffles your Sims occasionally catch; Ailments are a different beast entirely, less life-threatening perhaps, but often far more… inconvenient. These magical maladies require more than just generic medicine – they demand specific remedies and understanding.
What Are These Magical Maladies?
So, how does a Sim contract one of these enchanting ailments? Think of them as the whimsical, slightly chaotic cousins of standard germs. They are quite contagious, spreading readily through direct contact or simply by interacting with objects a sick Sim has recently touched. Spending time near an afflicted Sim is practically an invitation to join the misery club.
Adding to the mix, the new Fairy occult type can bestow these ailments upon others, sometimes intentionally, sometimes perhaps just as a side effect of their magical antics. However, a significant factor, and one unique to this system, is your Sim`s emotional state. A new balance meter in the Simology tab now acts much like an immune system. If your Sim is emotionally out of balance, they become highly susceptible – both to catching an ailment from others and even developing one spontaneously. Conversely, maintaining emotional equilibrium provides a robust defense.
Living with the Whimsy (or Misery)
While Ailments aren`t typically fatal – your Sim won`t keel over from Gnome Lure, thankfully – their effects can range from slightly annoying to downright chaotic. Symptoms might even manifest visually on your Sim, a clear signal that something isn`t quite right. Some ailments have purely negative effects, disrupting moods or forcing strange behaviors. Others, however, come with peculiar upsides.
Consider the “Gnome Lure” ailment, which causes sentient garden gnomes to appear spontaneously – a rather bizarre side effect, though Fairy Sims apparently find them useful. Then there`s “Simoleon Fever,” where your Sim literally coughs up money… which sounds like a win until you realize it`s probably your *own* money they`re somehow accessing. And the “Sonic Sinuses”? Sneezes that break nearby objects, balanced only slightly by improved Handiness. The universe, or at least this expansion, has a strange sense of humor when it comes to sickness.
Finding a Fairy Fix (or Other Remedies)
Unless you enjoy the unique brand of chaos an ailment brings (and some players might, for the positive side effects!), you`ll likely want a cure. Fortunately, there are several straightforward ways to banish these bothersome bugs:
- Consult a Naturopath: A quick phone call can arrange a professional cure, though at a steep cost of 1,500 Simoleons. Convenience comes at a price.
- Seek Fairy Aid: Any Fairy Sim can use their magic to cure *another* Sim`s ailment. A free and friendly option, provided you know a Fairy.
- Manifest at Moondrop Spring: A visit to the mystical Moondrop Spring in the Everdew neighborhood of Innisgreen offers a more ethereal method of purification.
- Become an Apothecary: Crafting specific cures at an apothecary table is perhaps the most reliable and self-sufficient method.
The Apothecary`s Art
For the DIY Sim, the apothecary table is your best friend. Crafting ailment cures is designed to be accessible; the necessary recipes are among the first learned when your Sim begins studying Apothecary Cures. Requiring only skill level 1 or 2, there`s virtually no grinding involved. The ingredients themselves are common and easily found through foraging in any world or simply purchased directly via the apothecary table. This low barrier to entry is particularly important for Fairy Sims, as, in a twist of fate, they *cannot* magically cure their own ailments and must rely on crafted remedies or the other non-magical methods.
A Rogues` Gallery of Afflictions
Here`s a brief rundown of the strange ailments your Sims might encounter:
- Burning Passion: Your Sim becomes intensely flirty… and prone to setting things on fire nearby.
- Creation Impulse: A dazed state paradoxically paired with enhanced crafting abilities.
- Emotional Void: Suppresses the infected Sim`s emotions and drains those nearby – truly a party stopper.
- Gnome Lure: Attracts those curious, sentient garden gnomes.
- Greenie Meanie: Makes your Sim a gardening savant, but also exceptionally grumpy.
- Luck Magnet: Steals luck from others to benefit the afflicted Sim – a selfish sort of sickness.
- Simoleon Fever: Causes your Sim to cough up Simoleons. Don`t spend it all at once.
- Sonic Sinuses: Powerful sneezes break objects, though handiness also improves, offering a self-cleaning/self-repairing problem.
Embrace the Weird
Ailments in The Sims 4: Enchanted By Nature add a layer of unpredictable charm (or annoyance) to the gameplay. Whether you choose to embrace the strange side effects or quickly seek a cure, understanding how these magical maladies work is key to navigating the new enchanted world. So keep an eye on that emotional balance, maybe learn a little apothecary, and try not to stand too close to someone with Sonic Sinuses.
Callum Darby