New to two-star crafting, would like some advice

[Astrelle_hyperion]

I've read most of the archetypical guides/threads (Caimie's, Jade's, and Kat's) and was all excited to give crafting some OHs today once I cap red scrip. However after playing with the simulator, and doing some trial runs on 1-star specialist mats last night (to test on two-star specialists recipes with cheaper mats today first), I'm having second, third & fourth thoughts.

My stats:
Craft 721-749 (will push all to 725 minimum given what i found last night -- rounding error in simulator led to three buffed CSIIs failing by one each to finish craft at 721), only BSM is at the high end
Control 674 (BSM 687)
CP: 396
Normally plan on HQ Seafood Stew, so control: 705, and CP 446.

These stats seem to fall short of most/all the listed rotations so I've had to tweak them: for instance Rath's rotation on Caimie's guide, I lose the final WN/HT section.

Currently I have a rotation that looks to be about 75% likely to HQ, given 2k initial quality. 2k seems easy to meet for the specialist recipes, but not for the on-specialist. I've only unlocked one folklore node, and don't have high enough perception to HQ those, so its hard (or super expensive) to seed that 2k into the intermediate mats, and most of the other final mats are likewise expensive/impossible to HQ (sands and fieldcraft respectively)

I'm willing to risk the 75% on the sky pirate stuff, since friends want NQ glamor even if I fail to HQ. (But more likely to get above 75% with increased HQ starting mats there anyways). I'm not willing to risk it on favor mats.

So I can spend a lot buying the folklore node HQ mats (they're often available, but at high prices), reduce the number of OH I'm aiming for this week from 6 to 2-3 in order to get some HQ favor mats to use/seed in. I could wait two more weeks to get another 180 chest (only BSM has it now), every thing else is white-gear. (Getting just CRP extra would boot-strap all the OH). I could spend more time grinding folklore books, and heavier melding there to reach the perception needed, etc

[StouterTaru]

I'm willing to risk the 75% on the sky pirate stuff

Start there, practice your rotation, and after about a dozen synths re-evaluate.

Sky pirate gear also has a chance to convert into tier V materia, and is plenty good enough to wear in dungeons.

[Astrelle_hyperion]

Here's what I used on the sky pirate stuff. Had 3/4 HQ'd. The one that was NQ failed 4 out of the 7 HTs, no good anywhere. replaced the final HT with a BT so only 5 IQ stacks. Planning another Dia run to get more raw materials and try some more. probably postponing trying to make the OH another two weeks -- will get the CRP 180 body, and see if I can get my gathering to the point that I can HQ the folklore mats

There's 9 spare CP, not counting the one PT that's in the bank. Definitely interested in knowing how I could do better. (Used a similar rotation on LTW & WVR... one of them LTW I think had to drop Innovation)


http://imgur.com/YObJRHh

[StouterTaru]

Your stats are better than mine where when I started making offhands, and I ended up going 20/22 HQ with a similar rotation. I did the HQ folklore material route, and had all but 1-2 HQ ingredients for the tools.

[Astrelle_hyperion]

Got a gathering friend to get me the HQ folklore for the BSM OH. Will probably go the roundstone route as well for basically a sure thing on the first OH.

[Rath]

Snip...

My stats:
Craft 721-749 (will push all to 725 minimum given what i found last night -- rounding error in simulator led to three buffed CSIIs failing by one each to finish craft at 721), only BSM is at the high end
Control 674 (BSM 687)
CP: 396
Normally plan on HQ Seafood Stew, so control: 705, and CP 446.

for instance Rath's rotation on Caimie's guide, I lose the final WN/HT section.

With those stats you should be able to do the entire rotation without any issues.
MaMa
CZ
SH (do not take ToT until SH drops unless you are comfortable with altering rotations)
PbP
PbP
FS till it drops. (first 3 are 100%, you require 6 more after that)
CZ
IQ
WN2 (do not take ToT until WN drops)
SH2
HTx4
CSx3
CZ
SH2
HT
MM2
HTx3
SH2
HTX2 (use BT/PT once for every ToT you got)
GS
BB
CS2

I am unsure what rotation you tried, as there is not a WN/HT rotation by me in that guide aimed at low stats. Only the one above. Practice this on 1 star 70 dur/2 star sky pirates. For 1 star you get less FS and everything else works out the same with low stats. If you get higher craft, you will need to clip CZ if you do not take a ToT during FS or fail a FS. Sky Pirates is better to practice with as you do not need to worry about any of the other things I mentioned for 1 star.

[Astrelle_hyperion]

Thank you! I had to modify that in two ways in the simulator

1) Removed the final FS (if all success it finishes early during the CSx3. In reality one might fail, or one ToT might be taken/etc so I don't think this changes anything, just something I'll have to watch out for.

2) After the MM2 it looks there are two many durability consuming steps, 6 HTs, 1 BB, and 1 CSII, removed one of the HT in the last chunk.

Still comparing it to two other alternatives I've found. After this dungeon I'll post my findings

[Rath]

Thank you! I had to modify that in two ways in the simulator

1) Removed the final FS (if all success it finishes early during the CSx3. In reality one might fail, or one ToT might be taken/etc so I don't think this changes anything, just something I'll have to watch out for.

2) After the MM2 it looks there are two many durability consuming steps, 6 HTs, 1 BB, and 1 CSII, removed one of the HT in the last chunk.

Still comparing it to two other alternatives I've found. After this dungeon I'll post my findings

Yes, that should have been 2xht as it is in the guide/jades topic on this forum. As for the FS you can go into the rotation early if you get all your FS, just do not start until CZ drops at least. With your stats, you should not be finishing early unless you get all 11 to succeed, and you should get at least one ToT during that phase anyways to prevent that. If you do not, then you just go into the main rotation unless you know how to alter it later to prevent an early finish.

There are quite a few different rotations out there. I am not sure on all the pros and cons of them. This one has 11 HT and a guaranteed progress method. Some others I like have 10 HT and use ingen 2 to boost BB, which works out almost the same quality wise, unless you get to 11 stacks and then it wins.

[cgbspender]

Tested it earlier too, made the same changes as you did.

[Firepaw]

Since here is a discussion for new "star" crafter I may also add my question in this.

Right now my Base stats on every crafter are between 718-724 Craftmanship / 697 Control / 395 CP

first I tried it with Baked onion soup HQ then with Emerald Soup HQ and out of 10 try I got 2 HQ ;_;
the rota I used, which I saw from Ashe but changed it a little bit, was:

MM
CZ
IQ
SH II
IN II
RS (max 4 trys)
CS II under IN II
HT until 10 Durability
MM II
SH II
CZ
WN II
3x HT
SH II
5x HT
SH II
GS
BB
2x CS II

i must add that I have not been blessed by RNGesus tonight, only had a few "goods" and a lot HT fails resulting in 7-8 IQ stacks, or is there something wrong with my rota, despite it should be for 2 star recipes.

Thank you already for looking into my problem /bow