I think what would help out with storytelling would be if this city has some lore. Currently there are pre-made NPC families in each world map with a small blurb about them. Unfortunately, all the NPC households feel like islands in that they don’t know other NPCs in the neighborhood.
It would be cool if NPC’s lives were intertwined with each other outside the player. That’s one thing I really loved about Sims 2. One Sim would have a beef with another one or having an affair with another’s sister. The Sims, especially back then, were messy.
I know Inzoi has it’s karma system but having messy Zois doesn’t have to compete with that. Actually, it can enhance it. That’s why I believe this DLC idea surrounding luxury would be good at exploring more into karma.
For example, you can have a rich miserly elderly Zoi who lives in a old massive mansion by himself. This dude has made enemies with other premade NPC Zois. It can be a Ebenezer Scrooge situation where he is haunted by ghosts who died with bad karma. If you play as this household you can help the ghost and change the miserly Zoi’s ways or die and become a karma ghost themselves.
Other pre-made Zois could be a rivalerly between an old many family and a new money family. The old money family could be big into business and investments and very snooty. Their home would look more traditional and they dress more classy. Maybe you’ll see a business named after them or some buildings. Players will notice this instantly and it would make the city seem more lived in. In the Sims they have the Landgraab family that fill this role.
The next family would be the new money family aka the nouveau riche. They could be movie stars, musicians, but personally I think it would be best if they got their fortune from social media. This would really contrast with the old money family. Their home can be designed more gaudy. They could also throw wild parties that your Zoi can be invited to.
These two households could really clash and could either get into arguments with them or get into physical altercations. It could be programmed that whenever Zois from these families meet their will always be a confrontation unless their is direct player intervention. It would be neat to hear about these confrontations on Zoi social media if there was a fame system.
An important household type would be a gold digger family similar to the Caliente sisters from the Sims. They can already have romantic relationships with wealthier Zois in the city. They could be scheduled to hang out at the high end shops and the casino.
Speaking of gold diggers, yet another household type can be the older gentleman married to a trophy wife. Or if you want to break up the mold, an older lady with a boy toy. The boy toy or the trophy wife can be enemies with the gold digger household.
