[FAQ] CC use, CC issues, and personal

Patreon only allows one pinned post so before bothering with what I have to say, be sure to check out the list of CC from other creators that are edits of or compatible with my content: HERE

This is essentially a more detailed version of my TOU but I wanted to address common CC issues in the same place, too.

FAQ for my Sims 4 CC:

Allowed:

• Recolor/retexture/add swatches
• Fit CC to foals
• Adjust CC to make it compatible with specific body mods/shapes
• Combine multiple items into one CAS slot (ie, combine bell boots with brushing boots into a single accessory slot instead of two slots)
• Creating build/buy items from my meshes (eg hanging bridles or saddles, clutter, etc) though I prefer being asked first mostly so that I'm aware of it happening. This requires a bit more than just resizing or recoloring it.

NOT allowed:

• Monetizing any of the above, including Early Access
• Any of the above without giving credit or linking back to my page
• Taking my mesh or parts of it and redistributing it as your own work (exception for build/buy conversion) -- applies to anything with the "original mesh" tag
• Converting my meshes to Sims 3

FAQ of Common CC issues:

• Tack clipping or deforming with animations/body morphs: let's be honest--the real reason EA didn't include realistic tack is because it's difficult to fit realistic tack to all animations and body sizes. CC creators do their best but we're limited by what the game allows. I really hate seeing my bits deform but I'm at my limit of figuring out a better option while still making it function as a whole. I do wish I had a better solution for this. The neck and shoulders are also particular about this; we do what we can.
• CC positioned strangely on horse model: this seems to be because of mods that change the default shape of the horse model. This unfortunately is not something I can address. I test my content with EA default and/or body mods that make only minor changes to the model. I can't make a version for every mod out there and this is why I allow for edits to fit these mods.
• Overlapping textures: there's simply no way for me to account for every CC combination out there and the area we have to work with on the horse map is very small. I can only promise that my own CC will not overlap with itself.
• Missing textures or irregular textures: this typically means you're missing a reference mesh. All my CC should embed anything of mine I've cloned, but sometimes I miss that step or sometimes S4S has not done what it's supposed to. Let me know if this is occurring and I'll try to figure out why.
• Particular meshes looking odd when zoomed out at a far draw distance: This happens most often with hair. Sims 3 did the same thing. I don't have a clear answer to why some do it and some don't other than something with how the game renders. Once zoomed in, it fixes itself.
• Not showing up in game: double check you unzipped the file. Simple mistake to make. Secondly, double check that it isn't placed too deep in your Mods folder. The game can only read around three file folders deep and more subfolders will cause the item not to be read by the game and thus not show up.

FAQ Regarding requests & CC I won't likely make:

As a general rule, I don't take direct requests. You can request something, but keep in mind that I'm not obligated to make it. I sometimes scan the TES "looking for" posts and my channel on there, but I don't RP anymore--if I make something it's either because I want it for my personal gameplay or because it interests me to see it completed in my style.

That being said, I am not the best creator for certain CC. I won't guarantee I'll never make anything listed below. I'm just probably not the best creator to ask for it.

• Western saddles -- I will do Western bridles, boots, etc but unless I get the SSO Western saddle mesh, I won't be making them. There are several nice Western saddle edits from other creators as is.
• Non-riding/non-discipline RP items -- by which I mean stuff like blankets, fly sheets, shipping halters, cribbing collars, veterinary/rehab items, etc. Not only have these largely already done by other creators but these are generally more specific to RP situations than other CC and thus it doesn't interest me to cover them
• Foal CC -- I allow any of my CC to be fitted for foals but I do not play with foals so I won't be making items for them myself
• Anything purely 2D -- some stuff would work with much less hassle in game if it were 2D rather than 3D. Will that convince me to make it 2D? No. No, it will not.
• Items for heavy/draft-type breeds -- if no one beats me to it (and they are welcomed to do so), I'll eventually convert the SSO-draft specific manes & tails with their accessories. Aside from that, this is a breed type I truly have very little knowledge of or personal want to play with
• Carriages, carts, or other harness items -- I'm up to making the bridles for this stuff but that's about it
• Fantasy/unrealistic items -- I thought about making some as I had for Sims 3 but there are more creators for Sims 4 who make these items than there were for Sims 3. I may still make things that are particularly niche to me but largely won't be doing so.
• Medieval/war/Western-centric historical tack -- I'll probably have some crossover when I do baroque bridles in my art style, but making tack specifically in this category is not a strong interest of mine. I much prefer Asian/Eastern style items.
• Any items for human Sims or build/buy items -- same reason as for most of the others; I just don't have as strong of a personal desire for it. Posing a horse/rider pair in Sims 4 gives me a headache and I've never been much of a builder. Any of my past static items from Sims 3 (under the MSE/Morningstar Equestrian name) are free to be converted to Sims 4 by another creator with credit. If you are wanting to convert an object I made in the past and need help finding the file, feel free to message me. Most of the links to my Sims 3 content are down, but I still have the files...somewhere.

Personal

I largely don't think it matters but because it explains most of my off-mannerisms and I don't like inaccurate speculation on my neurodivergence, I have hebephrenic schizophrenia. This means:

• Sometimes I can be really engaged in a discussion and sometimes I'll seemingly have disappeared for days or weeks without a word. I kind of go through cycles of social presence and social withdrawal.
• I'm not a very expressive person and have difficulties communicating my thoughts. I tend to either come off as very blunt or over-explain what I'm thinking. Neither is intentional. Please don't take offense to the former; it's just the way I talk. For the latter, don't be afraid to ask for clarification. I try to be coherent but sometimes I don't succeed at it.
• I am terrible at certain tasks that require cognitive organization. This is why I complain about 2D mapping & texturing so much and why I cannot ever keep up a work list despite all the tools out there to help. It's not a task my brain is built to excel at. Counterintuitively, it's also why I tend to release bulk content instead of one at a time. If I'm doing a set of things that my mind has grouped as similar, it's easier for me to finish that "set" before moving onto a different "set" regardless of how similar they actually may be.

Also not important but other things about me: I work as a lab manager in neuropharmacological research, greatly prefer cats over dogs, Genshin Impact and Souls-likes are pretty much the only other games I play, and my other creative outlet is writing extremely dark & transgressive fiction. I make Sims horse CC because I used to ride horses when I was younger and it's something I sadly can't foresee doing again in my adult life. This keeps me connected to that part of me. I also enjoy seeing my art engaged with and sharing CC with other players is how that happens with Sims 4.