Gunnar Roque: Senior Year

Gunnar's Junior Year is here.

We're still at La Fiesta Tech, Strangetown's college, and once again with the Shifting Paradymes.

It is Gunnar's Senior Year, and we're here because of him. 

His two band mates and friends, Jasmine Rai and Zoe Zimmerman, still live with him, but I don't know how long for - they are both eligible to join the Tri-Fruhm Sorority, and might leave any day. 

Also, they are two years below Gunnar, who, according to Maxis, is a "so-so musician, but he thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread. Perhaps he'll eventually understand why his female bandmates aren't exactly at each others' throats for his attentions." 

Here, it looks as if he is wondering whether Zoe could be one of the 20 Sims he wants to woohoo with in order to reach his lifetime want. 

But even someone as cool as Gunnar needs to skill before he can think of his end-of-term exam, let alone his final one.

The next day, the Shifting Paradymes put in a long overdue practice session. Gunnar needs a creativity skill point, and what better way to acquire it than this!

The visiting cheerleader appears to be really enthusiastic about their "roque" music :-) 

Gunnar returns from class after dark, and finds someone waiting for him. "Oh, hi, Professor Platz..." Although he does wish for his first kiss ever (can you believe he is still unkissed?), the two of them only have a very tame game of chess, and become friends.

The computer breaks down just as Jasmine wants to complete her Term Paper. Gunnar is usually not one to offer his help around the house willingly, but he has the highest mechanical skill, and so it befalls him to repair it. He wisely flings his ponytail back over his shoulder before he dives deep into the inner workings of the machine. 

Jasmine has the wish to join a greek house (and I know which one, he-he), and I have her to make the phone call. The sorority girls come over right away, but although Jasmine is very good friends with Sarah Love, her relationship with the rest of the "sisters" is zero, and even hanging out with them does not do the trick. That means she'll stick around for another while.

The next day is a busy day for the Shifting Paradymes. First, Gunnar meets and greets William Williamson. 

Then, Jasmine orders groceries and finds out that the delivery man is a certain Gordon Kim - he must be related to Shenene Kim, one of the girls at the sorority she is so keen to join. 

Gunnar invites his favourite professor over. Meredith Bar knows the the young man has only one semester left at college, and she really likes him... a lot. 

Some history lesson this was! Gunnar can finally put the first of 20 names on his list of Sims he's had woohoo with (and he is not unkissed anymore, either!).

And guess what - now that he knows "what it's all about", as soon as Meredith leaves, he rings his good friend Monica Bratford. The young woman has only just graduated and is happy to get another chance at college life, however brief. Also, inexplicably, she really likes Gunnar too... a lot. 

And indeed she becomes his 2nd woohoo.

It's exam day the next day, but when Gunnar invites Professor Platz over, it is clear that last minute tutoring is NOT on his mind ;-P 

The girls calm their exam nerves by performing the school cheer. Gunnar just watches - what's there to be nervous about? 

And indeed, there is nothing! Although Gunnar has not written his term paper, and the only assignments he did were more of the... *ahem*... hands-on kind, he gets super grades just like the girls. 

All three of them of course receive their full grants, and the household account is now at almost 5,800 Simoleons, in spite of them having bought a better kitchen stove and a dish washer at the start of term.

A celebration is clearly in order, and Gunnar shares a bottle of sparkling wine with his housemate, although it was actually reserved for next time Professor Platz comes visiting.

And here she is! I don't need to tell you how things progressed from her giving Gunnar a backrub, do I? Anyway, she's now # 3 on his list, and it gave his aspiration a big boost. 

Later, Zoe talks to him about the band. "How about we introduce a violin into our next piece?" Not that she (or anyone else in the band) knows how to play it, or even owns one! 

Jasmine, too, has a suggestion. "I could use a more traditional drum every now and then to make things more interesting... what do you think?" 

To be perfectly honest, Gunnar's thoughts rarely revolve around music. And he can not understand how Jasmine can be so terribly interested in her diary, when a cool guy such as himself is around! 

The next morning, Jasmine can't believe Zoe is having a bag of crisps for breakfast! "Better than yesterday's burnt spaghetti," Zoe grins.

No matter whether one lives at the dorms, in a sorority house or has a rented property, one is never safe from the Campus Coach! 

Lora Beckett appears to be immune to Gunnar's charm, and he can't talk her into letting him off the hook. But then... I notice that these two have 3 bolts for each other! Lora is so far the first and only 3-bolt-lady for Gunnar. If it stays that way, she might well be his future better half, once he's completed his list of 20 names. 

You could have shown a bit more effort in terms of table manners for the very last breakfast with your house- and bandmates, Gunnar! 

It's true - the day of Gunnar's final exam is finally here. 

But before the three of them leave, Gunnar attacks the broken TV with fervor. 

Yay! Gunnar has made it - he has just graduated Magna Cum Laude in History! 

Not bad for someone who has put in only minimal academic effort... but quite a lot of effort to establish friendships (and more) with his professors :-D 

He does not seem to be the type to throw a big graduation party; one-on-one is more Gunnar's style. And so we'll say good-bye for him for now, and will be back to this house when it's Zoe Zimmerman's turn. 

I really had fun playing Gunnar, and it wasn't hard keeping track of Jasmine's and Zoe's actions, either. A new NPC with a playable name was discovered, and Gunnar has found a three-bolt-lady - even if it will take a long time before anything can become of that.

Jasmine Rai: Freshman Year

Another student household: I am sure you all know The Shifting Paradymes, who are firmly established by Maxis at La Fiesta Tech. In my game, I have associated this college with Strangetown. Here are the band members and house mates Gunnar Roque, Jasmine Rai and Zoe Zimmerman. 

They rent this house at 116 Aridestra Drive. On the roof terrace, you can see their instruments. The hot and dry climate obviously does not harm the electric guitar, base or drum kit :-) 

According to Maxis, "The Shifting Paradymes have bonded over their love of music and moved into their own place to focus on their art. Will living outside the dorms inspire them enough to create the masterpiece they desire?" 

Indoors, we found an open plan kitchen-dining-lounge area, cheaply but cheerfully furnished, with a small showerroom in the middle and a bedroom in the corner. 

Upstairs are two single bedrooms, a somewhat better shower room and a desk with computer on the spacious landing. 

With only just over 1,400 Simoleons in cash, the housemates need to think carefully about spending any money. But I feel generous and invest not only in a better double bed (the two single beds are already good quality) but also in a chess table and two cheap chairs, since they all need logic skills for their History course. 

Jasmine Rai is the reason for us being here. She is a Fresh(wo)man and "... wanted to live out her dream of being a professional musician, so she founded the Shifting Paradymes. But now it seems she spends all her time trying to keep the band together," according to her bio. 

She is friends with housemate Zoe, but her best friend is Sarah Love. Suiting her bio and her Popularity aspiration, she fancies herself as a future Rock Goddess. Shouldn't she be studying music for that rather than history? 

Zoe Zimmerman is in the same year and same class as Jasmine, and also a Popularity Sim. But unlike Jasmine, she is an aspiring Celebrity Chef. Well, even for that career, she's got to start somewhere - maybe her lunch meat sandwiches have that little something that someone less interested in cooking would not achieve. 

Seeing that music is not her real focus goes well with what Maxis have written about her: "Zoe joined the band to get out of the dorms and make some new friends, but her real focus is on her studies. As much as she likes music, Zoe wants to graduate and get a job." Gunnar is two years ahead of the girls. A typical Romance Sim, he seems to be less interested in music as in where it can get him - to woohoo with 20 different Sims is his big goal in life.

Jasmine needs just one logic point and achieves it quickly with the newly bought chess board before she sits down to write her Term Paper.

She wakes up in her red bedroom the next day, still a little bleary-eyed. They all just went to bed "whenever", and get up rather late - good job classes are in the afternoon and evening for them! 

Gunnar seems to wonder whether he should approach Jasmine for some help with his lifetime want. So far, they are only just barely friends. This would somehow suit his bio, which says "Gunnar is a so-so musician, but he thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread. Perhaps he'll eventually understand why his female bandmates aren't exactly at each others' throats for his attentions." 

The girls are closer and spend much time today playing chess on the balcony. 

They leave for class and Gunnar stays home alone, something he doesn't really like. But then he rings the professor he wishes to befriend, invites her over, and a friendship is formed - it won't harm Gunnar's grades, either.

Jasmine loves to play "The Sims" and can be found at the computer anytime she doesn't have anything more pressing to do.

But she also does her share of housework without being asked.

Spaghetti straight from the fridge and a bag of cookies make up today's breakfast - probably not all that far from reality in some student households ;-D 

Jasmine is just taking out the rubbish when Stella Terrano walks by, but she is too slow - by the time she is ready to greet Stella, the young woman has left the lot.

The professor Gunnar has been befriending has just rung and asked after him, but he's at class. Jasmine looks out of the window in the hope of spotting him on his way back, so that she can tell him immediately about the professor's call.

Here she is, the professor in question - quite a bit older than Gunnar, obviously, but still a beautiful lady, I think. Might she become one of the 20 names on his list? (So far, there is none!) 

All three History students pass their end of semester exam with flying colours - and get the grants to match. 

Since Jasmine now needs a cleaning skill point, I send her on a cleaning expedition throughout the house. Goal achieved!

Gunnar needs loads of skill points this semester! Three or four logic and three mechanical - he really has his work cut out for him. Good job he can alternate studying mechanical (which doesn't raise his fun) with playing chess (which does, even though he doesn't look like it).

Zoe needs mechanical, too. So far, there has not been a book shelf in the house, but with their full grants, the three housemates can well afford not only a shelf but also a modern settee to place next to it, as well as another settee to replace the old, shabby one that was in front of the TV set. 

Jasmine is not at all interested in the school cheer as performed by the visiting Llama mascot - the paper holds her full attention. Zoe wonders what her friend is reading that's so capturing. (It's about games, that's all I know.)

For the first time this year, all three members of The Shifting Paradymes manage to have a meal together. 

After that, I send them (on foot!) to the College Corner Market to stock up on groceries and meet some of their fellow students.

While Jasmine takes care of the groceries, Zoe and Gunnar greet a few people. Unfortunately, they all need to go to class soon afterwards. 

It is still interesting to see what Tiffany Riley (looking out of the window), Jessie Pilferson and Buck Grunt are up to while I am not directing them. I am pretty sure Buck and Kay Kosmokos (remember her, the girl with the spiky hair?) are now an item - I heard the "falling in love" jingle and saw the two dancing together, although I never caught the hearts floating above their heads. 

Back home, Jasmine's best friend Sarah Love comes visiting on her own accord, giving the girls a chance to catch up. They have been talking on the phone a few times but not met at all this year. 

Aaron Hart walks by later and is also greeted by Jasmine, who recognises him as a cousin (or something like that) of her friend Sarah's boyfriend, Matthew Hart. 

Gunnar surprises me by wishing to write his Term Paper. I can just hear him declaring that "This, friends and fans, is going to be the BEST Term Paper EVER at Fiesta Tech, you'll see!" :-D 

The next morning after breakfast, I find all three Paradymes gathered in the kitchen, joining in a round of congratulations: For having best friends, for having acquired admission to the secret hobby lot for games, for having studied well, for having best friends for life... for anything, really! It is quite amusing to watch until they run out of things to congratulate each other on.

But not to worry - they can start all over again after having passed their final exam with A+ grades, their names on the Dean's List and the full grants as a reward! 

For Jasmine and Zoe, the Freshman Year is over; Gunnar's Senior Year has just begun. We will be back for him when it is time for the name "Roque" on the list - not all that long. 

I enjoyed The Shifting Paradymes more than I thought. My original intention was to play with more emphasis on them being a band, but somehow it never happened - they need other skills than creativity, and there wasn't enough time to fit everything in. But it was still fun, and I wonder whether Gunnar's professor will indeed become the first name on his list.