So...I'm probably on my 8th or 9th generation of villager's, most of which were born with zero skills passed down from their parents.

After dragging one of my villager's whom I've designated as a Farmer who is continually unsucessful at planting crops, gathering coconuts and fishing, I managed to bring her - Perl, 15 - to Trainee status. Even then, she still says "No" but I keep on trying to make her farm.

So I decided to just watch her work for a while. She went into the water and came right back out without going under water then watered the crops once, and now she's doing nothing. Not even doing laundry, or cooling her feet in the stream. She just doesn't do anything.

There are others in the same situation...all born during the same baby boom.

Is this normal?

Well, there are a few things to consider. What are the likes and dislikes of these villagers, for example? Do any of them dislike work or like resting? Does Perl dislike fish?

I've never yet had a villager who would never do ANYTHING. You just have to keep at them and they'll learn after a while.

Yeah, I know it takes a while to build skill. I've earned 9 totems and I feel that's enough for me, LOL but I want to make sure that everyone is at least Adept at their skills.

Also, I checked Perl' stats and she likes Snakes. That's it.

I've had one villager that disliked work and swimming, and liked playing! I just dragged him around to the "strange plants" until He was an Adept Doctor, and let him play the rest of the time. He never healed anyone, or even made the attempt! He was rather useless. He spent lots of time "Admiring the gong encasement," "Admiring the ancient mosaic," "Reading ancient writings," and "Relaxing at the beach!" Very frustrating!

I've had that a few times. It depends on the difficulty I think, and the likes and dislikes of a villager. Some villagers are just stubborn, keep 'arguing' with them till they give in and then smile when they actually keep themselves working.

Also, make sure they are not worried about anything.

Villagers who dislike work or learning are generally difficult to train. Those with dislikes for, say, fish or swimming, will tend to run away if dropped in the ocean, so it seems unlikely that Perl is one of those. Even those with no particular likes or dislikes in their details screen can be difficult sometimes.

By the way, I try to allow only villagers who are at least master scientists to mate; most of the time that means that their children will inherit some skills and will start to learn on their own.

I am totally evil I would poison her with stew.

Arnie, that's a good idea...I know it sounds kind of like the "New World Order", but I usually to try to pair up those with the same duties, because you tend to get some inheirited traits for learning that way. However, once in awhile one will come along that has something completely different from his/her parents...or I will get one marked for "doctor," but it says he/she likes wood, or lifting, or swimming. Those I allow to "choose" their duties.

Allwe need is the stew!

Yes!!! I was just thinking about The Death Stew!!! I only just remembered about stews when I noticed I have 3 Adept Doctors...it also reminds of The Sixth Sense: making my villagers sick on purpose.

I did a small tally and I think roughly 8 people are in danger tonight. I just spent about 30 minutes updating everything on the details screen and making sure my 8 people on "death watch" are at least Trainee's in their respective fields. If time is not on their side, they're dead.

*muahahahahahah*

So, I'm leaving the game on 2x speed and going to bed.

Let's see what happens in the morning

Also, just an FYI, I'm at 1,000,000+ food and 700,000+ tech points so they can survive the night. All puzzles complete, a few collectibles left and have 88 villagers (no Mommy's nursing right now).