This is a classic legacy with a celestial theme, in which the heir in each generation is sworn to a different planetary ruler in the solar system, and must live in harmony under its dominion.
–that’s a pompous way to say that each generation will have a different focus determined by its planetary ruler. Let’s do this thing!
Premise and Objective
Starting in any order (though I’ve listed them here in order of distance from the sun), have the heir/founder in that generation meet the requirements of its ruling planet.
Important note: Take any trait, career, or Lifetime Wish out of the basket of possible selections once it’s been chosen–some of these have some overlap, but if you make a Charismatic Leader of the Free World in Generation Mercury, you can’t do the same again in Generation Jupiter, even though these options appear under both headings. Once you use it for an heir or founder, it’s off the table for good! To make it easier to keep track, I’ve put the duplicated items in red type.
Generation Mercury
Major Focus: Communication
Minor Focus: Intellect
Required trait: Pick at least one (more optional) of
- Charismatic
- Schmoozer
- Genius
- Bookworm
Max skill in: Writing
Reach level 10 in one of the following careers
- Journalism
- Politics
- Self-employed writer
Lifetime Wish
- Blog Artist
- Distinguished Director
- Leader of the Free World
- Major Master
- Perfect Student
- Professional Author
- Max Influence with All Social Groups
- Star News Anchor
University degree (optional): Communications
Associations: Mercury’s elemental correspondence is air, so let that be your guide if inspiration ever fails you.
Generation Venus
Major Focus: Love
Minor Focus: Beauty
Required trait: Choose one or more of the following
- Flirty
- Irresistible
- Hopeless Romantic
- Great Kisser
- Artistic
- Virtuoso
- Savvy Sculptor
- Photographer’s Eye
Max skill in: Choose at least one of the following
- Painting
- Sculpting
- Photography
- Any instrument
Reach level 10 in one of the following careers
- Music
- Film
- Stylist
- Architect
- Self-employed painter, sculptor, or photographer
Lifetime Wish
- Fashion Phenomenon
- Golden Tongue, Golden Fingers
- Heartbreaker
- HIt Movie Composer
- Home Design Hotshot
- Illustrious Author
- Master of the Arts
- Master Romancer
- Renaissance Sim (keeping within the theme of Love and Beauty)
- Rock Star
- Superstar Actor
- Visionary
- Vocal Legend
- World Class Gallery
University degree (optional): Fine Arts
Associations: Venus’ elemental correspondence is water and roses were sacred to the deity for which this planet is named. Choose your best-looking Sim for this generation.
Generation Earth
Major focus: Nature
Minor focus: Travel
Required trait: Choose one or more of the following
- (any of the Pets-themed ones)
- Adventurous
- Eco-Friendly
- Gatherer
- Good
- Green Thumb
- Natural Cook
- Loves the Outdoors
- Vegetarian
Max skill in: Gardening
Reach level 10 in one of the following careers
- Culinary
- Science
- Self-employed gardener
Lifetime Wish
- (any of the Pets-themed ones)
- Great Explorer
- Greener Gardens
- Private Museum
- Renaissance Sim (keeping within the theme of Nature and Travel)
- Seasoned Traveler
- The Culinary Librarian
University degree (optional): Science & Medicine
Associations: Earth is associated with the element of, check it, earth. Green and brown are associated colors. Make a nice hippie Sim and have fun getting them in touch with Gaia!
Generation Mars
Major focus: Military
Minor focus: Technology
Required trait: Choose one or more of the following
- Athletic
- Bot Fan
- Brave
- Can’t Stand Art
- Computer Whiz
- Daredevil
- Disciplined
- Eccentric
- Evil
- Grumpy
- Handy
- Hot-headed
- Loves the Heat
- Mean-spirited
- No Sense of Humor
- Socially Awkward
- Vehicle Enthusiast
Max skill in: Athleticism
Reach level 10 in one of the following careers
- Athletic
- Military
- Self-employed Inventor
- Firefighter profession
Lifetime Wish
- Become an Astronaut
- Become a Superstar Athlete
- Firefighter Super Hero
- Martial Arts Master
- Perfect Mind, Perfect Body
- Physical Perfection
University degree (optional): Physical Education
Associations: The planet Mars is named after the Roman god of war, and is associated with the element of fire and the color red. Because there literally isn’t war in the Sims, some aspects of the blacksmithing god Vulcan are represented in this generation, too, on the grounds that forging weaponry is certainly war-adjacent.
Generation Jupiter
Major focus: Abundance
Minor focus: Law
Required trait: Choose one or more of the following
- Ambitious
- Born Salesperson
- Charismatic (unless previously used in Generation Mercury)
- Excitable
- Family-Oriented
- Flirty (unless previously used in Generation Venus)
- Good Sense of Humor
- Irresistible (unless previously used in Generation Venus)
- Lucky
- Natural-Born Performer
- Party Animal
- Perceptive
- Perfectionist
- Social Butterfly
- Star Quality
Max skill in: Charisma
Reach level 10 in one of the following careers
- Acrobat
- Business
- Law Enforcement
- Politics (if not chosen previously under Generation Mercury)
Lifetime Wish
- Bottomless Nectar Cellar
- CEO of a Mega-Corporation
- Forensics Specialist
- Golddigger
- International Super Spy
- Leader of the Free World (if not previously used in Generation Mercury)
- Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous
- LIving in the Lap of Luxury
- Master Acrobat
- Master Mixologist
- Surrounded by Family
- Swimming in Cash
University degree (optional): Business
Associations: The planet Jupiter is named after the Roman god of thunder, and is associated with the element of air and the color white. Only white-furred animals could be sacrified to Jupiter in ancient Rome.
Generation Saturn
Major focus: Time
Minor focus: Role reversal
NOTE! There are two ways to play Generation Saturn
If you have Into the Future: Choose traits, careers, and LTWs appropriate to this pack. This is the Time Path.
ITF-ish traits (choose at least one of the following)
- Bot Fan (if not previously used in Generation Mars)
- Brooding (the future is a heavy topic, man)
- Genius (if not selected previously in Generation Mercury)
- Handy (if not selected previously in Generation Mars)
- Unstable (if you’re a masochist)
ITF-ish careers (reach level 10 in one of the following)
- Astronomy
- Bot Arena
- Video Game Developer
- Science
ITF-ish Lifetime Wishes
- Become a Creature-Robot Cross-Breeder
- High-Tech Collector
- Made the Most of my Time
- Monster Maker
- More Than a Machine
- Scientific Specialist
- The Tinkerer
Max skill in: Science
If you don’t have Into the Future, or just don’t want to play with it:
- Give your heir randomly generated traits throughout their youth (from birth through Teen).
- When your heir becomes a Young Adult, have them undergo a Saturn return–modify their traits using testingcheatsenabled to be the opposite (as much as possible) of what they were growing up.
- Or, if you begin with this generation, all your founder’s traits must be randomly generated, then reversed (as much as possible) upon becoming an Adult.
- Maximize a skill to go with their Saturn return (not original) traits. If you turned a Proper, Green Thumb Sim into one who is now Inappropriate and Hates the Outdoors, pick something indoors-y like Writing or Logic to maximize.
This is the Role Reversal Path.
Associations: Saturn, the planet, is of course named after Saturn, the Roman god of time. The elemental aspect of Saturn is earth, and the colors most associated with it are brown and black.
Generation Uranus
Major focus: Magic
Minor focus: Independence, free-spiritedness
Required trait: Choose one or more of the following
- Avant Garde
- Childish
- Commitment Issues
- Dramatic
- Insane
- Loner
- Loves the Cold (hey, Uranus is an ice giant!)
- Neurotic
- Night Owl
- Over-Emotional
- Rebellious
- Supernatural Fan
- Technophobe
Max skill in: Alchemy or Street Art
Reach level 10 in one of the following careers
Nah! Careers are for chumps. This Sim is a free spirit! Your Sim may not work in any of the “traditional” career paths, professions, or self-employment paths. If they can be “promoted” along a “track,” it’s off the table, with one exception: The Fortune Teller career (either branch, Mystic or Scam Artist).
Otherwise, the Generation Uranus Sim makes money by selling items at the consignment store, and that’s it.
Lifetime Wish
- Alchemy Artisan
- Celebrity Psychic
- Leader of the Pack
- Magic Makeover
- Master of Mysticism
- Mystic Healer
- Possession is Nine-Tenths of the Law
- Seasoned Traveler (if not already taken in Generation Earth)
- Street Credible
- Turn the Town
- Zombie Master
University degree: Nah! Sims ruled by Uranus are strictly autodidacts. They can attend University, but mustn’t ever graduate–at least, not until the next generation takes over.
Associations: Uranus was the father of Saturn in Roman mythology, and dubbed “Father Sky.” Sky blue is a good color choice here if you’re feeling match-y, and air is the associated element. People born under the sign of Aquarius are said to be ruled by Uranus; now you know why Aquarians are always such a pain in the ass.
(I said what I said.)
Generation Neptune
Major focus: Aquatics
Minor focus: Dreams
Note! There are two ways to play Generation Neptune
If you have Isla Paradiso: Choose sea-themed traits, skills, careers, and LTWs that are appropriate to this expansion. Definitely maximize scuba-diving. This is the Ocean Path.
If you don’t have Isla Paradiso, or just don’t want to play with it:
- Repeat your favorite planet, but this time, choose different traits, careers, and goals for your heir. Example: If your favorite planet is Mercury, and you’ve already played that generation with a Schmoozer who became Leader of the Free World, this time play it with a Bookworm who becomes a Professional Author, or maybe a Genius Distinguished Director, or perhaps a Charismatic Star News Anchor?
- If your favorite planet is Neptune, this generation is your wild card, to be played as you alone see fit.
- If you’re founding the legacy in this generation, play it as you would for your favorite planet (Neptune or otherwise). If/when you get to that planet’s generation, play it differently this time, as explained above in step 1.
This is the Path of Dreams.
Associations: Neptune is named for the Roman god of the sea, so be guided by water, blue-greens and deep blue shades, and the unconscious.
SCORING
There isn’t any. Play to have fun.
CHEATS
Use as you see fit.
MONEY
If you like a rags-to-riches play style, you can do that; but it isn’t required, and in some cases would just seem silly–are you really going to start with Generation Jupiter sleeping on a park bench? Then again, it could be fun to start with Generation Neptune living on a rundown houseboat, or Generation Earth trying to scrape by in a tiny house with a large garden. Be creative! How you deal with money is ultimately up to you.
Resources for the player
I cannot recommend Carl’s Sims 3 pages enough, especially because they helped me put this together. (Consider subscribing to his Patreon, if you’re able to!) Here are the pages I primarily referenced:
Other challenges similar to this one
So last night, I went to the symphony with my mother, and one of the pieces we heard performed was Gustav Holst’s The Planets. I immediately started thinking about incorporating the planets into a legacy in The Sims 3 because I am broken that way, so I started writing this as soon as I got home from the symphony.
–and only when I was nearly finished with it did I say to myself, wait a minute: Surely someone’s done this already? Because that is the trouble with playing 13-year-old games: Someone has definitely done it already. Accordingly, I have included some links to other solar system-y legacies and challenges I have since found in my belated research:
- GinovaSims Solar System Challenge – seems to be written for The Sims 4, but I’m sure it could be adapted to Sims 3 easily.
- The Planets Legacy Challenge – this is another Sims 4 challenge. Again, it’s likely easy to adapt to TS3.
- The Cosmic Legacy Challenge – this one’s for Sims 3 and looks seriously challenging–not for the faint of heart! (Or for ADHD people like myself who abandon all their challenges without ever finishing them.) Also, as one born under a Mercury-ruled sign, I had to lol at the requirement to “steal 3 items a day.” 😂 It’s what I deserve for making fun of Aquarians up there, I suppose.
I will not link and shall reserve commentary on the challenge I found that claimed Saturn was the child of Jupiter, except to say this:
Kids?–Wikipedia is right here, and it will be your friend if only you allow it to be. Please allow it to be.
My Sims 3 Challenges 