Mining, logging, and harvesting needs to be easier.
When I first started playing this game I loved how in depth the whole system was, and the very first thing I tried to do was become "self-sufficient" as well as try to make gear that if I couldn't afford, I could just make it from scratch with the in-depth crafting system.
Years later, I'm still stuck on crafting levels that are quite low, but extremely high cost to level and not enough players willing to purchase or make low-mid level gear/items/materials. If its not 75+ it really won't sell anymore. And even brand new players get easily turned away because a lot of the equipment that would be available for their levels isn't there (and also being told its pointless to get even good/decent gear for levels 10-75) and if they try to start crafting they still have to reach at least 40-60+ crafting skill to make equipment for (wait for it) anything over lvl 15+. I can't sell anything to newer players because the materials to make lvl 15+ equipment or items are either too expensive to buy, aren't sold in the AH because they are no longer selling, or the time gathering enough materials takes a ridiculous amount of time (considering how fast people can lvl up nowadays...).
I've taken a while to play FFXIV, and the overhaul to crafting was great in a lot of ways and some things need to be implemented into FFXI.
1.)First of all, the mining/logging/harvest points need to show up to the naked eye easier like a little gleam that says, "Look at me!" I'm tired of running around mines or wooded areas pressing my "tab" key and hoping it will show a mine/log point. It would be helpful if people that try to mine/log/harvest materials had some type of markers that show up easily instead of Tab key spamming.
2.)Spawning time for points should be shortened to 30 seconds at most, and more consistent to certain areas. It is a pain to spend 5mins and more having to back track or search around until another point spawns. Also it would help to be able to have at least a consistent 3-5 attempts to mine or log a single point instead of a random 1-5 with highly possible breaks in the tools we use. A permanent pickaxe/hatchet/scythe tool would be extremely helpful. Every time I use one of those tools in a stack of 12 the item splits off into inventory (if it doesn't break) and I have to keep sorting my inventory to get my 11 pickaxe in a stack and 1 pickaxe separate back into a full stack of 12.
3.)In FFXIV I could select the item I wanted to try to mine/log/harvest with a percentage on my chances of obtaining said ore and also the tool I was using to obtain the item DIDN'T BREAK. In FFXI it is completely random and I can only hope to get enough of the ore or log types I need. I.E. I take a stack of 12 pickaxes to focus on getting Iron Ore to attempt to take time to focus on levelling up my smithing skills or make guild items for points. On a good day I'll get maybe 4-6 iron ores for all 12 pick axes and a whole lot of useless items I really don't need (Like snapping moles and copper/tin ores that suck up inventory unless I toss them or can get enough to craft an ingot...).
The easiest way to fix this is to give those that are willing to take the time to work on crafting skills (and gathering the materials from scratch due to cost or availability) the ability to choose what they're in a particular area to mine/log/harvest for. If I want to mine for Silver Ore and my goldsmithing is a high enough level for me to use or make silver ingots, it should show up on the menu for the type of ore I can get, and a success rate on obtaining it.
Same thing with logging. If I need elm logs I should be able to focus on a particular area and get the logs I'm looking for instead of a whole bunch of items (like arrow-wood logs...) provided I have the woodworking skill at a level where I can start logging for that type of wood.
With the current system and player base I can't make enough gil to level up crafting in woodworking, blacksmith, goldsmith, clothcraft at all due to lack of materials, or ability to obtain the materials quick enough to meet either guild point requirements because mining/logging and harvesting points are too difficult to use effectively for maintaining and upgrading their crafts.
I hope there will be some thought into an update that can improve the situation and encourage a reversal of the trend to dying high level crafters by making it easier for those of us that do like crafting to have an easier way to obtain materials for those fields and more time for getting our skills up.