Mastering the Shadows: The Best Traits for a Criminal Career in The Sims 4

So, you want your Sim to embrace the dark side and rise through the ranks of the criminal underworld in The Sims 4? Excellent choice! While The Sims 4 offers a plethora of career paths, the criminal career allows for a unique gameplay experience filled with mischief, intrigue, and, of course, a little bit of law-breaking. But what are the best traits to equip your budding villain with to ensure their success?

The ideal traits for a criminal Sim in The Sims 4 are Genius, Mean, Goofball, and Evil. The Mischief skill is required for success in this career, and selecting Genius for the logic it provides for programming in the Oracle branch, Mean and Evil for increasing negative interactions, and Goofball for achieving the playful mood will help your Sim advance to the top. While not mandatory, these traits will give your Sim a significant edge in navigating the treacherous waters of the criminal world.

Delving Deeper: The Ideal Trait Combinations

Let’s break down why each of these traits is so beneficial and how they synergize to create the ultimate criminal Sim:

• Genius: You might be surprised to see this on the list, but hear me out. The criminal career branches into two distinct paths: the Boss branch and the Oracle branch. While the Boss branch focuses on classic villainy and intimidation, the Oracle branch is all about hacking, programming, and digital manipulation. The Genius trait significantly boosts your Sim’s Logic skill, which is essential for excelling in the Oracle branch. Even in the Boss branch, a bit of strategic thinking never hurt anyone, right?

• Mean: This one is a no-brainer. The Mean trait allows your Sim to perform more mean interactions with other Sims, which is vital for building the Mischief skill early on and maintaining a suitably intimidating persona. This trait really complements your Sim’s path of villany. Furthermore, mean Sims can use Mischief interactions to taunt, insult, and prank other Sims, which will assist them to advance along the criminal career.

• Goofball: Again, this might seem counterintuitive, but the ideal mood for criminals up to level 5 is playful! The Goofball trait makes it much easier for your Sim to achieve and maintain a playful mood, which is crucial for those early promotions. It provides the perfect cover for a Sim who is secretly plotting world domination (or at least, neighbourhood domination).

• Evil: This trait allows Sims to gain a positive moodlet from the suffering of other Sims. Given the nature of a criminal career, this can be a great way for a Sim to avoid stress and remain energized. Furthermore, Evil Sims have access to unique Mischief interactions that will help them develop the Mischief Skill.

Skills: The Tools of the Trade

While traits define your Sim’s personality, skills are the tools they use to succeed. For the criminal career, Mischief is paramount.

• Mischief: This is the core skill for any aspiring criminal. Level up your Sim’s Mischief by performing pranks, telling lies, and generally causing chaos. The higher your Mischief skill, the more potent your mischievous interactions become.
• Handiness/Programming: Depending on the branch you choose, you’ll want to focus on either Handiness (for the Boss branch) or Programming (for the Oracle branch). These skills will unlock new interactions and career opportunities.

Mastering the Playful Mood

As mentioned earlier, the playful mood is surprisingly important for early career advancement. Here are some ways to induce a playful mood in your Sim:

• Watch comedy: Tune into the comedy channel on TV.
• Read a joke book: Head to the bookstore and pick up a comedy book.
• Tell jokes: Practice telling jokes to other Sims (requires some Mischief skill).
• Play with toys: Simple but effective, especially for Goofball Sims.

FAQs: Your Burning Criminal Career Questions Answered

1. What is the sole skill required for the criminal career?

The sole skill needed for the criminal career is Mischief. Master the art of pranks and playful wickedness to climb the ranks.

2. What is the best branch to choose in the criminal career?

It depends on your play style! The Boss branch is for classic villains, while the Oracle branch is for tech-savvy hackers. Both are equally viable.

3. Is the criminal career in Sims 4 good?

The Sims 4 Criminal Career starts slow with low pay, but its bonuses and unique gameplay make it worthwhile. The top levels offer decent pay and flexible hours.

4. Can Sims get arrested in The Sims 4?

Yes, Sims can be arrested for actions like using the street art kit on a public lot, being caught stealing with the Kleptomaniac trait, or blowing up a police car.

5. Can my Sim be a serial killer?

While there isn’t an official “serial killer” career, Sims can kill other Sims. Killing too many can result in warnings from the Grim Reaper.

6. Is it possible for my Sim to get kidnapped?

Yes, Sims can be kidnapped by aliens. A hidden meter increases the likelihood of abduction.

7. Which trait is best for a villainous Sim?

The Mischief skill is paramount for players interested in pursuing a villainous path.

8. Which is better, the Villain or Diamond Agent branch of the Secret Agent career?

The Villain branch gets an 11th level. Overall, the weekly pay is similar, but the Villain branch offers more short work days.

9. What does the Insane trait do in The Sims 4?

Sims with the Insane trait have random emotions, rather than ones influenced by their environment. They may get angry, sad, or embarrassed for no apparent reason.

10. Can Sims be robbed in The Sims 4?

There are no robbers, but Sims with the Kleptomaniac trait may autonomously steal objects from community lots and other Sims’ homes.

11. Can I put my Sim in jail?

Sims in the top levels of the Criminal career could receive a career chance card that might result in them being sent to jail off-screen.

12. Can Sims commit murder?

Yes, Sims can murder one another in various ways. The game also includes police interactions and the possibility of illegal activities.

13. What does the Kleptomaniac trait do?

The Kleptomaniac trait allows Sims to steal objects from community lots and other Sims’ homes, either autonomously or through player input.

14. What is the highest-paying career in The Sims 4?

The highest-paying career is the Military career track, specifically the Officer branch, which can earn §16,880 per week.

15. Which Sims 4 townies are evil?

Notable evil Sims include Malcolm Landgraab, Miss Hell, Max Villareal, and Serena Bhamra.

In Conclusion: Embrace the Chaos

The criminal career in The Sims 4 offers a unique and engaging way to play the game. By selecting the right traits – Genius, Mean, Goofball, and Evil – and focusing on developing the necessary skills, you can guide your Sim to become a master of mischief and a true force to be reckoned with in the Sims world. So, embrace the chaos, break the rules, and have fun building your criminal empire!

And for those interested in learning more about the educational aspects of gaming, be sure to visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.