If I set the pool size for a service to 0, do sims in that pool get reassigned to do something else, or do they just get purged from existence? I'd like to keep all of the pre-made sims that come with a world, but some of them I'd prefer to get reassigned to something else rather than be stuck in a service that I never actually make use of. I already have the homeless management turned off in both StoryProgression and Overwatch, but I'm curious if Register itself will also delete these sims.

I think service sims are not the real pre-made residents, they spawn random.
Service Sims
Babysitter
BartenderService (Not to be confused with the Mixologist Role controller by Register)
Dancer
Firefighter
Maid
MailCarrier
NewspaperDelivery
PizzaDelivery
Police
Repairman
Repoman
SocialWorker
Note: Cats, Dogs and Horses are part of the Service Pool

All the worlds I've checked have premade homeless sims that appear to be pre-assigned to certain services. But the list is usually, perhaps always, not complete. For example, Sunset Valley starts with assigned maids, mail carriers, babysitters, etc., but it doesn't have premade dancers because dancers came with Generations and SV was created with only base game content. So the dancers would be newly spawned, unless there's some extra data in the game that adds specific dancers. But Kate Pistachio will always be there.

Sims spawned later to fill empty service and role assignments will of course be randomly-generated, with the pudding faces (all sliders at zero) to match. But those only appear when the game thinks it needs to replace the existing sims, typically when those sims age out of an assignment.

To answer the original question, I would guess that the premade NPCs won't be immediately deleted with Manage the Homeless set to False, but they'll be unprotected and may well disappear later for no apparent reason. If you want to keep them around, I'd suggest manually giving them another service or role assignment.

If you really like their look, you can get them into CAS and save to the saved sim folder.

Later you can exchange any sim in CAS (same age, gender) with a saved one. Only the look and clothes will be exchanged.

I personally exchange mostly role sims this way, I don't like any of the EA created sims, npc nor residents

C-Dark post_id=96324 time=1692296640 user_id=236 wrote: I think service sims are not the real pre-made residents, they spawn random.

puzzlezaddict post_id=96325 time=1692298603 user_id=17934 wrote: All the worlds I've checked have premade homeless sims that appear to be pre-assigned to certain services.

Yeah I've been going by the sims listed in a wiki to determine which are pre-made and which are randomly generated. The list for Bridgeport for example, where I've been playing lately https://sims.fandom.com/wiki/Bridgeport#NPCs

puzzlezaddict post_id=96325 time=1692298603 user_id=17934 wrote: To answer the original question, I would guess that the premade NPCs won't be immediately deleted with Manage the Homeless set to False, but they'll be unprotected and may well disappear later for no apparent reason. If you want to keep them around, I'd suggest manually giving them another service or role assignment.

Sounds like I should just manually re-assign them then to be safe. I have noticed that some of the sims listed in the wiki do appear to be missing for whatever reason. Seems like maybe the default pool size in register wasn't large enough for them? Bridgeport is apparently supposed to have 4 Social Workers, but the only one that's actually still in my game is Emilio Morales.

C-Dark post_id=96326 time=1692299500 user_id=236 wrote: If you really like their look, you can get them into CAS and save to the saved sim folder.

Later you can exchange any sim in CAS (same age, gender) with a saved one. Only the look and clothes will be exchanged.

I personally exchange mostly role sims this way, I don't like any of the EA created sims, npc nor residents

I've got a save that I keep from the start of the world where I've edited lots, and given the existing sims makeovers so that I don't have to make these changes every time I start a new game in that world. The only world where I've found this isn't feasible is the University world. I haven't figured out a reliable method of pre-editing lots and sims there before my sim has visited.

For the University world, you can put the .nhd file for a world you've edited into the save folder for the new save you're playing. When your sims travel to University, the game will load the data from the existing .nhd file. This works for any vacation world, and also for other homeworlds you send your sims to using Traveler.

There was a conversation a while back about Register removing extra sims with certain service assignments, in case you're interested:

register-discussion/topic9648

puzzlezaddict wrote: ↑

August 17th, 2023, 5:03 pm

For the University world, you can put the .nhd file for a world you've edited into the save folder for the new save you're playing. When your sims travel to University, the game will load the data from the existing .nhd file. This works for any vacation world, and also for other homeworlds you send your sims to using Traveler.

I actually did try that method before with the University world, but it resulted in weird issues like some of the sims disappearing from the households/dorms there. It's also possible I did something wrong in the process. Maybe I'll give it another try at some point.

puzzlezaddict wrote: ↑

August 17th, 2023, 5:03 pm

There was a conversation a while back about Register removing extra sims with certain service assignments, in case you're interested:

register-discussion/topic9648

Based on that thread, it sounds like it's good that I only ever edit my starting save with StoryProgression and Register taken out of my mods folder. I'll have to load it up and check if the missing sims I've noticed in my current game are still there in the beginning. Maybe I can re-assign them before they get purged if I decide to start a new game.