Hey everyone!

I just got AL, and have played with it for a couple days, overall it's great! I moved my Sim into an apartment and he wanted to throw a party, I noticed that there was an option for "building party" so I picked it. The party timer came up and everything, but nobody in the building actually came to the party, a couple of them were in the common area. Are they supposed to go to my Sims apartment? Do they just not like my Sim? Needles to say he had a lousy party.

also other than playable Sims in the building, do the "townie" neighbors ever have more than just a single Sim living in an apartment? are there ever any townie families?

There are no non-controllable apartment dwelling families. It's always single sims that move in to fill in the apartment slots, sort of like dormies in Uni. Presumably this is to lower the resources required to run with all those apartment dwellers, but it does sorta, well, suck.

I believe a "building party" has to take place in the common areas of the building, not your playable's apartment.

Hate to semi-hijack, but...
What about regular parties? My sim had one and his fellow tenants weren't on the call list. I figure that it's because you really don't have to greet them...like they're part of the 'family'...Anyhoo...two guests came: one went directly to the commons area to the pool table and the other stood in the hallway looking lost instead of coming into the apt. After chasing down the other guest and so on, my sim ended up with a 'not bad' (and he had chocolate cake too!!!)

I've search a couple of forums (as much as I could today since I'm at work) but couldn't find a guide or instructions to having successful parties of any type with AL. Can anyone help with a link or personal experience?

Thanks all!

HP you're right it does kinda suck, normally I don't like townies at all, but if they are going to be there anyway.. they could throw some kids or teens in there.

as for the parties, I guess that isn't too bad having to use the common area, it does makes sense. The building is one that came in the bin, there are only a couple tables and some chairs in the common area, no wonder his party was a dud. I'll have to move him out and add some party items and try again, let the endless smustle begin!

for regular parties I have only tried once but lightning struck a tree as soon as the guests got there and they left the lot.

Click on your front door and change the lock so it's open to anybody.

Thanks for the suggestion to change the lock, Doc Doofus. Jared had a "good party" with the guests actually coming into the apt; and despite the fact that his two ladies, who also live in his building, decided to crash without an invitation. Being the benevolent 'manipulator' that I am, I canceled the bold flirts and kisses from his queue to keep his 'game' going.

I've not even discovered the 'building party' option yet.
I was disappointed when I had my first saturday get-together. The landlord turned up, announced he was throwing a get-together for everybody and then went and sat down. He waited until the pizza arrived, took the delivery and after placing it on a table announced the place looked fine and he was leaving!
None of the other apartment inhabitants even came out of their rooms let alone looked at the food. Its a good job there was no party scenario box.

I didn't even know about the apartment party.Thanks for posting about it I'll have to try it.

I have had the little landlord get together once, and the same thing happened to me, I was surprised when it popped up, I had no idea about that feature. It did seem a bit useless as none of the neighbors came out and even the landlord himself wasn't there, but I was playing with the Newson family and they were all starving so I didn't mind them having the whole pizza to themselves :D

Thanks Doc I hadn't even tried to click the door to see if it was locked..doh! His next party was mildly successful, and some of the neighbors actually came, only one stayed for the entire party, but it was "not bad".

Yeah, seems the doors get automatically locked when a family moves in. Although that hasn't stopped any of my party guests from entering the apartment. As you may guess I have since found the 'Building Party' option.

I have one Sim in my neighbourhood who used to be a Uni mascot. He will quite happily let himself into anyone's home whether the door is locked or not and whether he is greeted or not.