Strangetown: Introductions and character profiles

[strangetomato]

This is for my own reference, and also for anyone who isn't already familiar with Strangetown. It can also be referred to by us Strangetown fanatics when we want to discuss finer character points.

I've included the personality profiles, Maxis bios, aspirations, and the lifetime wants as they exist in my version of Strangetown. I'm not going to include turn ons/offs, because that isn't very relevant to me, and can be changed as needed. I look at aspiration and personality a lot more when considering attraction, so I change the turn ons if the rest works. Of course, this is a story, so I can always choose to ignore the game chemistry (though I probably won't that often).


Disclaimer: The character bios are the intellectual property of Maxis. I didn't write them.

On to the cast of characters...

General Buzz Grunt

The General likes to have his clocks set to military time. He used to enjoy barbershop quartet singing, but that is classified information.

sloppy/neat: 6
shy /outgoing: 7
lazy/active: 10
serious/ playful: 0
grouchy/nice: 2

Aspiration: Popularity
LTW: Have 20 Best Friends

Tank Grunt

Tank Grunt wants to be just like his old man. He spends his days lifting heavy things, dodging imaginary bullets, and being bigger than the other guy, but deep down inside, he wonders if anyone really knows who he is.

sloppy/neat: 6
shy/outgoing: 4
lazy/active: 10
serious/playful: 0
grouchy/nice: 5

Aspiration: Popularity
LTW: Become General




Ripp Grunt

Ripp totally doesn't care what you think of him. He is going to do whatever he wants to do, which is mostly what everyone else is doing.

sloppy/neat: 1
shy/outgoing: 8
lazy/active: 1
serious/playful: 7
grouchy/nice: 8

Aspiration: Romance
LTW: Reach the Top of the Music Career




Buck Grunt

More than anything, Buck wants to be a pet stylist to the stars. He spends a lot of time wondering why his father never seems to notice him.

sloppy/neat: 10
shy/outgoing: 3
lazy/active: 3
serious/playful: 0
grouchy/nice: 9

Aspiration: Undeclared
LTW: Undeclared




Pollination Technician No. 9 Smith

The only thing PT9 loves more than his lawn is his family. When he is not spending time with his children, he enjoys clipping coupons and staring up at the sky.

sloppy/neat: 7
shy/outgoing: 4
lazy/active: 2
serious/playful: 7
grouchy/nice: 5

Aspiration: Family
LTW: Marry Off 6 Children




Jenny Smith

Jenny loves having a career, but she wishes she could spend more time with her family, and maybe make some new friends. She really likes green.

sloppy/neat: 5
shy/outgoing: 4
lazy/active: 4
serious/playful: 3
grouchy/nice: 9

Aspiration: Family
LTW: Marry off 6 Children




Johnny Smith

Johnny dreams of being the hero that rides in on a white horse, or at least a cool sports car.

sloppy/neat: 3
shy/outgoing: 7
lazy/active: 5
serious/playful: 4
grouchy/nice: 6

Aspiration: Popularity
LTW: Become Hall of Famer




Jill Smith

When Jill closes her eyes, she sees dolphins. She has her heart set on becoming a deep sea welder someday.

sloppy/neat: 7
shy/outgoing: 3
lazy/active: 4
serious/playful: 6
grouchy/nice: 5

Aspiration: Undeclared
LTW: Undeclared




Olive Specter

Olive will stop at nothing to get what she wants. She spends her time collecting mushrooms, sharpening sticks, and excavating her yard.

sloppy/neat: 10
shy/outgoing: 4 (3)
lazy/active: 5
serious/playful: 5
grouchy/nice: 1 (2)

Aspiration: Knowledge
LTW: Become Criminal Mastermind




Ophelia Nigmos

Ophelia's hobbies include hypochondria and monitoring the air quality. She worries about the future... and the past... and the present.

sloppy/neat: 4
shy/outgoing: 6
lazy/active: 5
serious/playful: 4
grouchy/nice: 6

Aspiration: Family
LTW: Raise 20 Puppies or Kittens




Pascal Curious

No matter what happens, Pascal believes there is a logical explanation for everything. In his free time, he practices home psychoanalysis and collects conspiracy theories.

sloppy/neat: 10
shy/outgoing: 5
lazy/active: 5
serious/playful: 0
grouchy/nice: 5

Aspiration: Knowledge
LTW: Become Mad Scientist




Vidcund Curious

Serious and exact, Vidcund strives to fit the universe in a nice tidy package. He has an unnatural fondness for African violets.

sloppy/neat: 10
shy/outgoing: 1
lazy/active: 7
serious/playful: 4
grouchy/nice: 3

Aspiration: Knowledge
LTW: Reach the Top of the Education Career




Lazlo Curious

Not as studious as his older brothers, Lazlo got his degree in phrenology. He like to call phone psychics and spends hours trying to bend forks with his mind.

sloppy/neat: 0
shy/outgoing: 9
lazy/active: 2
serious/playful: 9
grouchy/nice: 5

Aspiration: Knowledge
LTW: Reach the Top of the Gamer Career




Crystal Vu

sloppy/neat: 6
shy/outgoing: 5
lazy/active: 8
serious/playful: 3
grouchy/nice: 3

Aspiration: Fortune
LTW: Earn $100,000




Loki Beaker

As soon as he perfects his latest invention, Loki is sure to get the recognition he knows he deserves. In the meantime, he keeps himself busy by trying to assemble a nuclear reactor out of common household items.

sloppy/neat: 10
shy/outgoing: 7
lazy/active: 8
serious/playful: 0
grouchy/nice: 0

Aspiration: Knowledge
LTW: Become Mad Scientist




Circe Beaker

Circe knows 238 different ways to make someone scream, and none of them are nice. She enjoys taxidermy and collecting coat hangers.

sloppy/neat: 10
shy/outgoing: 5
lazy/active: 10
serious/playful: 0
grouchy/nice: 0

Aspiration: Fortune
LTW: Earn $100,000




Nervous Subject

His hobbies include twitching and blinking a lot.

sloppy/neat: 10 (0)
shy/outgoing: 1 (0)
lazy/active: 10
serious/playful: 2 (0)
grouchy/nice: 2 (0)

Aspiration: Family
LTW: Reach Golden Anniversary




Lola Curious

Intelligent and focussed, Lola knows what she wants and and how to get it. She enjoys politics and telling those around her what to do.

sloppy/neat: 3
shy/outgoing: 8
lazy/active: 4
serious/playful: 3
grouchy/nice: 7

Aspiration: Fortune
LTW: Reach the Top of the Adventurer Career




Chloe Curious

The complete opposite of her sister, Chloe wants to meet new people and to have a good time. She can be found daydreaming or chatting on the phone.

sloppy/neat: 3
shy/outgoing: 8
lazy/active: 3
serious/playful: 8
grouchy/nice: 3

Aspiration: Romance
LTW: Become Celebrity Chef




Kristen Loste

Kristen envisions herself as a world famous sports champion. She doesn't particularly care for Strangetown, but it's only a pit stop on her track to greatness.

sloppy/neat: 3
shy/outgoing: 5
lazy/active: 7
serious/playful: 2
grouchy/nice: 8

Aspiration: Fortune
LTW: Become Hall of Famer




Erin Beaker

Erin spends a lot of time working on her psychic powers. Of course, she isn't really psychic, but don't tell her that.

sloppy/neat: 4
shy/outgoing: 4
lazy/active: 4
serious/playful: 7
grouchy/nice: 6

Aspiration: Popularity
LTW: Have 20 Best Friends




Ajay Loner

To pass the hours, Ajay enjoys counting the grains of sand in his backyard.

sloppy/neat: 6
shy/outgoing: 7
lazy/active: 4
serious/playful: 3
grouchy/nice: 5

Aspiration: Fortune
LTW: Become Chief of Staff




Bella Goth

Elegant and athletic are two qualities that describe Bella. She enjoys a variety of activities from golf to mini golf.

sloppy/neat: 7
shy/outgoing: 3
lazy/active: 5
serious/playful: 3
grouchy/nice: 7

Aspiration: Romance
LTW: Woohoo with 20 Different Sims

Some Notes about my approach:

Just because a character has a particular lifetime want, doesn't mean it will get fulfilled. Life's not always fair, afterall. The lifetime wants will play some part in their life and actions, though. They will seem to be striving for that LTW on some level, even if they never get there.

I don't intend to change the aspirations that Maxis provided, but if it makes sense in the plot (like if someone gets brainwashed, loses their memory permanently, or faces a major life altering event), it could happen.

I don't care onelittlebit whether or not the Strangetown Bella is the "real" one or not. She's there, she has the original Maxis bio, so she's really Bella Goth as far as I'm concerned. She probably won't ever be a major character in the story.

Crystal Vu is technically a townie, but is being pulled in as a minor character, since she has a relationship with Lazlo when you begin the game. She's like Kaylynn Langerak in Pleasantview - just as much a part of the drama as anyone else.

I have added one sim of my own design to the neighbourhood, as was needed for a particular storyline. I may add more if I have a good reason, but I'm going to work with the Maxis characters and townies as much as possible. I may also use characters extracted from Pleasantview with SimPE (more abductions), but I have no immediate plans for that. I have one other surprise waiting in the sim bin, but I can't say any more than that without ruining it. I hope it's a good one!

I will introduce character stats for sims born in game as they become available. I'll include them in a little roundup that is separate from the story, because this isn't a legacy. The stats are not part of the story, but they'll be there for reference. Alien personalities are a marvel to behold, afterall. I have one special little green sim right now who has all 0s and 10s in his personality!

Comments

[madame-ugly.livejournal.com]

*snort* It's been so long since I've looked at the little bios of the Strangetown inhabitants. I love PT9 even more for the "clipping coupons" line. How can players dislike him so much? In the words of Michele Angela Terrapin, "he's just TOO."

I see Vidcund is wearing a maternity top, too. Alien baybeeeee!

I'm not surprised Circe knows "238 ways to make someone scream, and none of them are nice." I've always thought she was far more evil than Loki (and it goes so well with my image of her as a dominatrix and Loki thanking her for zapping him in that lie detector chair--I have a fun post about that, check the Strangetown tag--I think).

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

I love those bios. They give a nice starting point for forming the characters. The thing about PT9 clipping coupons is great, and Jenny really likes the colour green. Really, really likes it, if know what I'm saying! *grin*

I agree with you about Circe. My interpretation of Circe is strongly based on that line. She's far more dangerous than Loki. I love the few glimpses of pure evil in Strangetown, many of them relating to the pursuit of knowledge. I'm really running with a few of them.

Alien babies are in full force, my friend. Oh yeah! I go a bit crazy with sim breeding at times, because I love seeing the genetics play out.

I saw that Loki post! It was great. ^_^

[hidden-kitten.livejournal.com]

"Really, really likes it, if know what I'm saying!"
LOL, my boyfriend noticed that before I did when I was giving him a tour of Strangetown...and he doesn't even play!

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's too funny. Jenny's WAY serious about the colour green. There's something about that green skin that's appealing though, even without the green obsession.

I also love how they actually have a lawn in the middle of the desert with the perfect white picket fence.

[simsbarbie.livejournal.com]

I'm so excited to begin reading this story. I love the bios. Very fun and amusing.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Hi there. I'm excited to have you as a reader too. ^_^ I hope you enjoy the story.

I've always loved those bios. Some of them are so silly and random, but I've tried to work them into the way I've developed the characters wherever it makes sense. I've stayed true to a lot of those details, as you'll see: Johnny's hero complex, Ophelia's worrying (which contrasts with her character design, but fits her personality and back story), and Circe's 238 different ways to make someone scream (couldn't forget that detail, now, could we?).

[missgan.livejournal.com]

Hey there, I've only just stumbled across your journal and discovered Strangetown, Here We Come - & after reading your profile and looking through the recent posts, I decided to go way back to the very first post, so I can catch up properly! :D

I really enjoyed these character profiles, especially the bios - they're my favourite part of every Maxis character! This post was particularly interesting for me because I don't play Strangetown that much, I'm more focused on Veronaville, so it's great to get to learn more about the Strangetown inhabitants this way. :)

My favourite character profile has got to be Nervous Subject's:
His hobbies include twitching and blinking a lot.

Kinda sad, but it really sums him up, don't you think? Poor kid, I wouldn't blame him for that, 'cos he does live with Circe after all.