GPM

I am finding it a very hard time to make gil with crafting. I do the math on the materials and find it better just to sell the raw materials because not only does it sell better but the amount of time and effort the POSSIBLY get a HQ item (mostly on the higher end items) is not worth the risk. Making HQ Darksteel Ingots on my server gain a net less less than a 15k profit compared to just selling the materials. Yes I can get all the mats for this myself but the massive amount of effort and costs getting the coke myself isn't much better. So I am feeling like, "Why Bother" I am missing something here. I have met people with all crafting class equipment max melded and millions of gil, but here I am with all classes at 50, armorer max melded with the Artisan's Raising Hammer and Artisan's Specticals, seeming totally unable to make a decent amount of profit for my effects and investments. To me it is seeming like with the gil game, it was better off not playing, as those in my FC who have not spent much of any time with any crafting have now millions of gil just from doing dungeons.

I am starting to wonder if the crafters GPM (Gil per minute) is just broken.

What am I doing wrong please?

idk what u just said.

But..

I fill my 4 retainers with 20 different items each. Each one dedicated to a particular crafter and I craft items that I have spent time investigating which sell well and fast etc. Doesn't take long to fill retainers and I usually find 500k or so the next day, if I don't refresh my retainers with replacements after sales. Seems fine for casual non-3 star crafting. IMO, gatherers are basically slaves, the ratio of profit:time between gatherer and crafter profit is that big ( on my server at least )

I agree with you on the 40 durability crafts when you are looking at high level crafts. However, I have found there is money to be made on lower level crafts for nearly all the jobs that are easy to HQ, and can be very profitable when you gather your own mats ( or have your retainers gather for you.) You just have to find your niche on your server.

The gil from crafting comes from turning NQ 40 durability items and gathered items into HQ proper equipment.

Unless you're an Alchemist. Then your gil comes from 40 durability low level crafting mats that require extremely expensive input items.

Thanks for the tips!