Everyone, I am sure, has a mental checklist that they follow in order to create and publish mods for the Sims. Below are my checklists and requirements for my own mods - by no means do I expect others to follow these.
General
- All textures must be tended to. This includes:
- Multiplier Image
- Specular Image
- Color Mask
- Overlay (if needed)
- Normal Map (if wanted)
- If the item has a custom mesh, I need to do the following:
- Optimize the mesh by removing any faces that are never visible, like faces on a couch that are hidden by the cushions.
- Clean up the UVMap so that its easy for others to re-texture, and so that patterns look as seamless as possible in the game.
- Make a low-poly version that is actually low poly, and not simply the same high poly mesh used in the high quality version - I absolutely hate modders that do this to their downloaders. HATE.
"Set" Requirements
Its fairly popular for modders to release "sets" as a mod. I, however, don't consider a couch and a lamp to be a set, I have very strict internal rules for what qualifies as a set. I'll more than happily download someone else's sets that don't fall under these rules, but I WON'T release something as a set that doesn't follow my rules (this listing is long!):* Denotes "extras" that I prefer to include as well.
- Living Room
- Couch
- Loveseat
- Chair
- * Coffee Table
- * End Table
- * Table/Floor Lights
- * Rugs
- * Fireplace
- * Matching Decor
- Bathroom
- Bathtub
- Shower
- Toilet
- Sink
- * Medicine Cabinet
- * Counters/Cabinets
- * Mirror
- Dining
- Dining Table
- Dining Chair
- * Hutch
- * Sideboard
- Bedroom
- Double Bed
- Single Bed
- Dresser
- * End Table
- * Mirror
- * Chair
- * Rug
- Decor
- For a decor pack to be a set it needs a minimum of 5 objects with a similar theme.
- Door/Windows
- Note: For me a wall is split into 4 height blocks.
- Long - at least 3 height.
- Short - Max 1 height.
- Wide - 2 width min.
- "Kitchen" - countertop height.
