Money

[Economizer]

Not true. I was merely informing him that crafting takes awhile before it starts to become profitable. Many crafts have it set up so that products made result in less gil than the ingredients cost. Especially recipes where one must HQ to overcome this hurdle (ex. Silent Oils).

Okay, I get it, I somehow misrepresented you or contradicted you so now you have to reply about how I'm wrong in some way.

I'm sorry if I misrepresented you, but sheesh.

If he is just starting out it's difficult to have the gil for armor, weapons and spells, let alone money for raising craft levels.

Which is why I suggested he get some money from selling crystals or some other items for gil.

Copper Ingots cost (assuming 5000 Gil a stack for Fire Crystals, and 12 Gil a piece for Copper Ore, it is less on my server for both generally) an investment of about 5576 gil, and they sell for about 20~30k depending on the server, with a profit of in the neighborhood of something like 18k. A player can either farm other crystals or fire crystals very easy, and a book gives out something like 200~500 Gil per page, making crafting not such a big investment for even the poorest, although it is still an investment of Gil unlike straight farming.

Crafting requires specific recipes at specific levels. One does not simply put in any ingredient and expect a profit out of it.

Did you even read what I wrote?

Crafting is a slight investment, you put in crystals and ingredients that you don't put in while farming, then you hope they sell at the AH. But once you get past that small hurdle (selling crystals if all else fails), you can turn it around into an easy but guaranteed payout.

I don't even know how this parses to "put in random stuff and lolprofits!" at all. This is me talking about how crafting is a Gil Investment between the time you craft and the time you AH things even on cheap synths like Copper Ingots.

Yep, this is a good craft for beginners. Hadn't thought of Copper Ingots. Brass Ingots (level 9 goldsmithing) are also great gil in stacks. And they sell pretty fast. You mentioned turning them into sheets and hairpins, which is a good idea if he's deciding to level goldsmithing. But again, it's a gil loss and so not the best idea if he's trying to make some quick money without having to spend it to make it first.

Again, read what I wrote.

Once you hit 9 Goldsmithing, you can even craft your Brass Ingots (at a loss) to Brass Ingots -> Brass Sheets -> Brass Scales, then Brass Ingots -> Brass Hairpins (save one for test item).

Now perhaps I should have been clearer, but this is (and it is kinda obvious) for after they've made money selling some Copper Ingots and Brass Ingots, if they want to make more profit on Silver Ingots. The stuff I wrote is a pretty easy guide (and pretty much a copy of anything on a wiki) on how to get to 20 Goldsmithing while making bank.

Nothing I wrote is bad advice, just as telling players to farm because it has no upfront investment (ignoring AH fees) isn't bad advice. I'm just trying to open up options for players who might not like farming.

[joker_balade]

kay, so pretty much farming for quick cash and crafting/fishing for long term

got lot of tips on my career path too lol

thanks all

[Ophannus]

A few months ago Mage Ballad scroll was going for ~1 mill since it's quested but now they made it a common drop from brd NMs. You could quest Utsusemi: Ichi scroll and sell it for about 1 mill too.

[Glamdring]

as to gear, unless your main is one of the ToAU or Campaign added jobs you can just get your AF and ride that until you can get 78, then get the el cheapo crap in Abyssea, that'll tide you through to AF3 +1. That's good enough gear to allow you to join (and contribute) to groups farming the current end-game stuff. You prolly have the conquest points to get conquest gear now, or you could always get your RSE. for that matter, crow set is available to most jobs, it's decent to get you to AF, farm the mats and just shout for a crafter, plenty around. Remember to tip them.

weapons/jewelry is another matter. if you have a good LS you should be able to borrow something until you get 75 and can start an Empy or 2, regardless of whether you choose elemental, the TP one or the full empy. however, if you are just a casual player (and it sounds like you are if you are doing this around work) fair warning, it's one hell of a grind. Jewelry, you can get serviceable drops from gold chests in Aby once you reach those levels that will tide you through to the good stuff. CoP reward rings are still nice, and the earring from ArkAngels is senerally serviceable as well. At 50? well you could try some BCNM spam. Also, make friends with the crafters in your LS, you might get SOMETHING for the slot from what they are making as vendor trash.

Regardless, you'll still be gimp to anyone who considers themselves elite, but you'll still be able to get things done if you are any good.

[joker_balade]

Regardless, you'll still be gimp to anyone who considers themselves elite, but you'll still be able to get things done if you are any good.

Point taken lol

[Eyeballed]

This.
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I suggest following the [Wikia] links on each of these pages to find where they are most prevalent. Everything here can be obtained by a Lv48 MNK or 0-Lv crafter with minimal funds easily.