The heartbreak of a bad Sims 3 party
I have only thrown an "Epic" party once, and it was by accident. Typically when my Sims throw a party, the reviews of the guests vary from "It was okay" to "I had a fun time." But sometimes it can get even worse.
That being said, the worst part I threw happened last week: not one single Sim attended. This might have happened because the party started during a huge snow storm that closed schools for the day. Or it might have just been random chance. But I have to tell you, I was a little hurt!
I recently re-read this older article on Carl's Sims 3 Guide about how to throw a good party. One of the most important points he makes (in my opinion) is about the need for passive mood boosters. Your guests' experience is all about their mood, and anything you can do to give them positive moodlets without having to interact with them, the better.
The article mentions three mood boosters found in the base game: Beautiful Vista, Nicely Decorated, and Enjoying Music. These three passive mood boosters alone would probably be enough to guarantee a good party. But if you want to stack the deck, you can add more, based on which expansion packs you own:
Cozy Fire: Build a fireplace and start it up before your guests arrive.
Nectar Drinking: Open a bottle of good nectar and offer it to your guests.
Neuronic Synergy, Love is in the Air, and Totally Mellow: Buy the special incense holders from China, France, and Egypt respectively. Set them all alight in the room where your guests will congregate. (Try not to think about how bad that would smell in real life.)
Just as important is removing all the possible sources of negative moodlets before your guests arrive. Just like in real life, it's best to do a bit of cleaning first. Tidy up all the stray dishes, pick up any piles of clothes on the floor, check your main trash can to make sure it hasn't been knocked over.
The main source of negative moodlets at parties in my experience is crying babies and toddlers. It seems like I can never get through an entire party without one of the kids pitching a tantrum. One strategy is to fulfill all their needs before the guests arrive. Another is to have one of your Sims take the babies to another lot before the party starts!
As for that one Epic party? It was perfectly normal, except that a fist fight broke out between two guests. I guess everyone loves a little drama at a party!