PlumAntics Simstrology Mod (V2)

Hotfix for V2 (v2.01) 

I am issuing a hotfix today to resolve the following issues: 

•  Retrograde states not maintained across zone load or after entering CAS
• Animals/Pets being affected by retrogrades -- I added a cheat menu item that says "Remove All Simstrology Traits From Animals and Pets" as a backup as well.

A living astrology gameplay system for The Sims 4.

About This Mod

PlumAntics Simstrology Mod is the core gameplay package for the Simstrology system. It gives Sims a Simstrological identity, tracks their chart state over time, and powers the shared world systems that the rest of the Simstrology line builds on.

This is the V2 release, and it is a major step forward.

Older versions leaned more heavily on XML-driven behavior. V2 moves the mod onto a Python-powered universal Simstrology clock, allowing the system to behave less like separate astrology features and more like one connected simulation.

In player terms: the stars are no longer just labels on a trait panel. They are part of a live gameplay engine.

What’s New in V2

V2 introduces a shared runtime that keeps chart-based gameplay moving as one system.

That means:

• one universal clock drives chart-aware gameplay
• retrogrades are tracked more consistently
• startup and save-load behavior are more reliable
• active systems can restore more cleanly when entering a save
• chart timing, state, and progression can work together instead of feeling disconnected
• add-ons like Childhood, Skill and the future Career can plug into the same live simulation layer

The result is a world that feels more dynamic, more coherent, and more alive.

Choose Your Onboarding Path

Players can enter V2 in one of three ways:

Sun First
A more step-by-step route that lets you build into the chart through Sun, Moon, and Rising over time.

Rising First
A more snapshot-driven route that uses Rising as the anchor and allows the broader chart to fill in from the current sky.

Upgrade to V2
Existing households from the earlier Simstrology build can migrate into V2 through the self-select pie menu:

Your Simstrology Hub > Upgrade to V2 > Refresh My Simstrology to V2

This built-in migration path lets older households move into the new universal Simstrology clock without needing to restart.

After onboarding or upgrade, all paths converge into the shared V2 gameplay framework.

What the Core Mod Supports

Once a Sim is part of the system, the core mod can support:

• visible Sun, Moon, and Rising identity
• chart ruler assignment (interpretable at Simstrology Skill Level 4)
• dominant chart element and mode markers
• natal chart readouts (available to read at Simstrology Skill Level 4)
• house systems (available to read at Simstrology Skill Level 4)
• progressed Sun systems
• retrogrades (retrograde notices begin at Simstrology Skill Level 2, with deeper transit awareness opening at Level 4)
• return-style events such as Moon Return and Solar Return
• compatibility-style sign discovery and social flavor

The goal is for a Sim’s chart to feel like an ongoing part of their life, not just a one-time trait assignment.

Why the Universal Clock Matters

The universal Simstrology clock is what makes V2 feel like a living system.

Instead of every feature acting on its own, the mod can now:

• remember hidden chart state
• restore active systems on load
• keep retrograde timing coherent
• drive notices, buffs, and chart refresh behavior from one live source

This becomes even more important as the Simstrology ecosystem expands. The core mod is the shared astrological world that later systems live inside.

Skill Integration

On its own, the core mod gives Sims their chart identity and shared world systems.

When PlumAntics Simstrology Skill is installed, that identity becomes something Sims can actively study and interpret. Sims with enough Simstrology Skill can begin reading chart information rather than simply carrying hidden chart state behind the scenes.

The current progression looks like this:

• the core mod gives the Sim a chart
• the Skill add-on allows that chart to be studied and understood
• higher knowledge unlocks richer interpretation gameplay

In the merged design, Level 4 Simstrology is the main interpretation tier where fuller chart reading begins to open up.

What Makes Simstrology Different

This is not just a set of astrology-flavored traits.

What makes the Simstrology Mod distinctive is:

• two different onboarding fantasies: Sun First and Rising First
• a shared chart-state model behind the scenes
• a live universal Simstrology clock in V2
• merged systems for retrogrades, houses, returns, and chart markers
• strong expansion support through Skill now, with Career and other add-ons later

The fantasy is simple: Sims do not just have signs. They live inside a moving Simstrological world.

Best Fit For Players

This package is for players who want:

• a core Simstrology framework for the whole save
• charts that matter beyond initial assignment
• dynamic systems like retrogrades and chart-based notices
• a foundation that grows naturally with the Skill, Childhood, and later Career add-ons

If this is the only package installed, it should still feel like a full core identity system. If you install add-ons, it becomes the foundation everything else builds on.