LF advice from 3-star Crafters: How to properly commission a set of i220 gear?

Hi everyone. I want to obtain a full set of the i220 WAR gear, but I'm trying not to go bankrupt in the process. I'm hoping I can bring the cost down somewhat from the MB mark-up by having it directly crafted.

But I've never commissioned an item directly before, especially not an expensive item requiring high-level crafting expertise. Until now, I've either lived off dungeon drops, vendor upgrades, crafted everything for myself, or just paid MB prices. So I'm uncertain how to properly place an order with someone else.

I don't want to breach expected etiquette for this sort of craft, or somehow inadvertently waste a crafter's time.

If any experienced high-level crafters can offer advice or instructions, it would be helpful to me. Some of the points I'm most uncertain about are below in a separate post (forum character limit).

• Do I place a direct order for the items and just let the Crafter set a final price, or am I expected to bring raw materials or pre-crafted subcomponents?
• Is it acceptable to just bring all the raw materials needed (like Eikon Hide) and let you assemble everything?
• If so, should I also bring all the Crystals / Clusters required?
• For crafting final products (like High Mythrite Cuirass), what is the expected or appropriate crafting fee? I don't want to inadvertently undervalue your services.
• For crafting subcomponents only (like Camphor for leather), what is the expected or appropriate crafting fee? I'm not having an actual gear piece created in these cases, but I still want to properly value your time and service.
• What quality of materials should I provide? Is NQ okay for the raw mats (like Lumythrite)? Is NQ okay for the subcomponents (like Eikon Iron Ingot)? Or should I bring only HQ items for the entire crafting chain?

I'll give you a quick rundown as I am a gilgamesh crafter, pretty much the short and sweet is just tell them the pieces you need crafted and make sure they can actually make it as a lot of people overlook the specialist lock behind most things, let them know if you're providing the mats or if they are. Don't just bring raw mats though. If you are, make sure they can make them, same rule applies. Most will find it annoying if for example you want a 220 brd chest crafted and you give them ltw mats when they can't do anything with it. Lastly, most people at this point that are 3-star crafting can probably do it with full nq mats, though if they are specifically saying they don't want your mats (I am one of them), then just ask for the straight-up cost, but don't expect an immediate turnaround, give them a bit of time to actually make it. Remember, you wouldn't be asking them to do it if you already had someone that would do this for free or some such.

Lawd Lawd Lawd! Ok here is the thing, you want a full set of gear and that is time consuming. Crafting each component is time consuming. You want to cut corners which is even more time consuming. It isn't going to be about insulting them it will be about if they have the time to do it. For instance, I have crafted many accessory sets from scratch it is at least an hour of crafting. Those from what I understand aren't nearly as involved as the main side pieces. GRIND THAT ESO GRIND IT GUD! I have the person provide all the mats, and crystals, they don't have to be HQ but they want a HQ item I would go for a half and half ratio of HQ components as a guide. Also, HQ food for your crafter depending on their preference and which stats they like to stack. Your issue is going to be getting a leather/wvr/arm combo specialist... a rare beasty indeed but I am on a small server. Set up a PF and see if you get any feedback. We have a crafting ls on my server that watches for such things.

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Originally Posted by panderin

Your issue is going to be getting a leather/wvr/arm combo specialist... a rare beasty indeed but I am on a small server. Set up a PF and see if you get any feedback. We have a crafting ls on my server that watches for such things.

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Note it's not necessary to find a single crafter with all the specialties you need. In fact, it's impossible, if you plan on equipping yourself with both armor and accessories. You'll need leather/wvr/arm for the left-side gear, certainly, but for accessories you will need to find goldsmith and carpenter, as well. Research the recipes for the items you want to have crafted, and provide the ingredients to the crafter you find.

Bear in mind, too, that if you want HQ results, it is difficult, possibly impossible, to guarantee HQ results if you provide the crafter with only NQ ingredients. The more HQ ingredients you supply, the better the odds of success - however, HQ ingredients are expensive, so you'll need to balance the costs.

Another option is to let the crafter do all the work. This will be MUCH more expensive than doing the research and getting the ingredients yourself, but it may still be cheaper than buying the equipment direct from the auction house (and also much less work on your part). It won't be THAT much cheaper, though - after all, if the crafter is doing all the work, why should they sell super cheap to you when they could sell full-price on the Marketboards? The fact that you're a guaranteed buyer, though, may encourage them to chip 10% or so off the price.

I've never commissioned a crafter myself, nor have I commissioned for anyone else (aside from the occasional freebie for my friends), so I don't really know what kind of etiquette is expected. In general, though, crafters who advertise are eager for business, as are the crafters that respond to your own ads. Talk to them, discuss what they feel are fair prices for their work, and if the costs are too steep thank them for their time and let them know you'd prefer to shop around a bit first but will keep them in mind. Keep a price limit in mind, and if NO crafter is willing to work under those limits, it may simply be that this equipment is currently out of your price range.

If that winds up being the case, your best bet is to make friends with a bunch of crafters and hope for freebies. XD

I would follow the other by staying that despite being the customer be Nice and do not hesitate to ask the Crafter if he need something or else
Plus the more you provide the better
The more HQ the better

But if you want to save up some gils
ASK what the Crafter need

Currently i can HQ most 3* without HQ bit i'm more confortable with 1/2 main comp HQ to reach 2000 quality start

Usually the more comp the customer provide the less i charge
The more HQ the less i ask
(Full HQ comp + cluster = free of charge and a kiss)

If you can give food it's better !

...

One time I got someone who ask me to do a craft for half the price in MB using my own comp and complaining that I was slow
(I am WVR, GSM and BSM spec... And the craft needs a leather that I couldn't do...)
And still complaining that ask a little bit more
I recieve no tips and was spit in the face.

Never again!

I usually do crafts for 'free' so long as I am given the materials:
- HQ Eikon ingredients from ESO is usually 'enough' for the ingots. I assume the same for the leather. Then with leather and ingots being HQ, the recipes should be quick and easy to hq.
- NQ Lumythrite Ore is enough to reliably HQ unless I get terrible Hasty procs.
- Not all crafters can make every item. As an example I cannot make the Leather (requires LTW and ALC?)

HQ food is also welcomed. The mats are really really easy to farm if you have gatherers.

Honestly, just ask around to your server's crafters and see what each individual would require to get the craft made. If one of them gives you a reply you're happy with, work with them. There's no one way about it.

Thank you everyone, a lot of helpful advice. Especially reminding me about providing Crafting food, that's a great idea.

I definitely understand how time-consuming Crafting is (and how expensive it is to gear up and meld), that's why I wanted to work with the Crafters as much as possible.

From your advice, it looks like the greatest obstacle is just time. So, I think my plan is shaping up as:

• Treat this like a Relic Quest and all the subcombines as subquests
• Provide as many HQ mats as possible each step of the way (preferably full HQ mats) — even if not absolutely necessary, this saves each crafter a lot of time.
• Get all the subcombines crafted before requesting a final product, unless the subcombines use the same Spec as the product
• Provide all the Crystals/Clusters
• Provide food
• Don't expect everything crafted in one day (which is fine with me)

For now, I'll focus on collecting the materials, then all the subcomponents.

I wish more people were like you! Its a blessing to find people willing to work with crafters and understand the time and effort that goes into such things.

Yeah that's a great way to go about it! Crafters really appreciate someone supplying all the components! Typically when crafting for others the items not given are food and clusters so don't forget that! I have crafted so many items for friends and clients that forgot those so I have to buy clusters from the mb. ;-; I can't check what server you are on my phone, but if you are on Ultros I can help you out. I am CRP/WVR/LTW/ARM/GSM 3* specialists. :)