Leod McGreggor - Week 1

For Leod McGreggor, Maxis have provided a few pre-made pictures to illustrate his background story. Here we see him leaving his parents' farm, boarding a taxi that is to take him to Riverblossom Hills. 

This fits his family biography, which says: "Leod comes from a long line of farmers. He left his homeland to start his own farm but will he be able to run it without the help of friends and family?" 

Next, we see him at his new abode, the farm on 115 Old Farm Way which he runs all by himself. It consists of an orchard and vegetable beds. Neighbour Betty Goldstein is seen in the back, waving at him and obviously finding him very attractive (as was confirmed in Betty's biography, if you remember).

A similar scene with Catherine Viejo follows; this time, Leod is having a drink on his porch. 

And while he is chatting to his friend Gabe O'Mackey, Leod is also waved at by Cleo Shikibu, Catherine Viejo's niece - a woman closer to his own age, and also interested in him.

Betty and Catherine are seen exchanging some gossip about an unsuspecting Leod who seems to be only interested in his thriving orchard, matching his personal bio, which reads: "Leod McGreggor has a farm…and an orchard. Will he be so focused on gardening that he forgets to cultivate friendships?"

This is where the Maxis-made pictures end.

We find Leod on a Saturday morning towards the end of winter. As you can see, his orchard is dormant this time of year; you can't see the vegetable garden behind the house but nothing is growing there right now, of course.

Here is Leod, a Fortune Sim who surprisingly does not want to run a farm at all but instead dreams of becoming The Law. (Well, I guess Maxis forgot that there are no farm-related lifetime wants in the game.) 

Unlike most other adult Sims who are usually at the beginning of their adult lives, Leod is already more than half way on the way to elderhood, with only 16 "years" remaining. He has 2,500 Simoleons in cash when the game begins; small inheritances from Betty and Catherine bring his account up to almost 3,900 Simoleons. 

The ground floor of the farmhouse has a cosy kitchen with a small dining table and two chairs on one side of the stair case, and a cosy if a little sparsely furnished sitting room with a fire place. Off one corner is a toilet. 

Upstairs are a bathroom and Leod's bedroom (with the cheapest single bed, again matching his hard-working ethics and lack of romantic interest) as well as his study. 

The barn is useless in that it is fitted with pens - but there are no farm animals in the game, and so why Maxis built the barn like that is beyond me. For now, it'll just stay as it is. 

It has just begun to snow when Robin Hogan, who moved to Riverblossom Hills only recently, walks by and his greeted. But before Leod can get to know his new neighbour any better, the taxi he'd ordered arrives and takes him to... 

...Belle's Boutique. The kilt and bare legs may be really attractive, and are good most of the year, but it does tend to get a little chilly for his nether regions in winter, Leod finds.

As he makes his purchase, Stella Roth enters the shop, on the lookout for friends. 

Other customers include Alexandra O'Mackey and Jason Greenman (not pictured). Leod greets his playable neighbours before he heads home.

On Sunday morning, luck is on Leod's side when he finds a job in the Law career: He will start as a File Clerk tomorrow. 

He makes the most of a relaxing day off, starting by lighting a fire to have the living room extra cosy. 

Gabe O'Mackey is his best friend, and he invites him and his daughter over for a breakfast of farm-style omelettes. Apparently, the warmth from the fireplace does not reach the kitchen, since his guests remain in their outer wear.

Winter is already on the retreat, and the pond behind the house is free of ice. Leod, Gabe and Jules spend a pleasant afternoon fishing. 

His first day on the job sees Leod with a promotion: He returns from work on Monday as a Law Firm Receptionist. 

This calls for a celebration, and although Gabe O'Mackey may be his best friend, a bit of female company is also nice: Cleo Shikibu joins him for Mac & Cheese and a glass of bubbly. 

Coming from a farming family, you should think Leod is used to getting up early. But when his alarm goes off at 6:00 am (his normal getting up time anyway!), he seems anything but happy. 

After a long day at the office, there is still the garden to take care of. He does not manage more than trimming the hedge and looking after the orchard before he needs a hot bath and is off to bed.

On Wednesday, he is made Legal Secretary, which does not only mean a bit more money but also starting an hour later than before.

Leod would actually like to have a date (maybe with Cleo?), but needs must - there are skills to learn and friends to make for his next promotion.

Leod is out in his orchard before work on Thursday morning, but does not get everything done by the time the car pool arrives.

After work and still in his suit, he sits down on the front porch to make a list - there is just so much to do now, with his job at the law firm and trying to keep the farm going at the same time, taking care of household matters plus not neglecting friendships, it is easy to forget one task or other.

Just before sunrise on Friday morning, a mysterious visitor appears at the farm and places an equally mysterious lamp on the front porch. For now, Leod doesn't do anything with it, but it is good to know it is there. 

He ends his working week with a promotion to Legal Biller.

Of course, he rings Gabe first and tells him of his latest achievement, and then his other friends. No time for a party, much as he'd love to see them - he is tired and wants to get in at least two of the three required skill points for his next promotion. 

This is where Leod's week ends (remember, he started on a Saturday). It was neither a brilliant week nor particularly eventful in any way, but he did reasonably well in his career, made a few friends (it does not come easy to him) and managed not to let the farm go to ruin. Someone to share the work load would certainly be helpful... we'll see what the future has in store for him!