Just some thoughts on the crafting changes

Without getting into specific abilities. The most noticeable change to me is that before, if you were clever, you could somewhat make up for lack of gear with skill. Now spending 10~15 minutes on a craft was motivation in itself to gear up. But until you did, you could make up for a bit more.

You can't do that nearly as much anymore. Effectively, the gear requirements have become higher. Of course if you're already max level and max geared you probably won't notice. Where this hurts a bit is leveling crafters - assuming, you know, you're actually crafting and not just buying levekits from someone, perhaps even trying to craft your own upgrades.

But, don't worry, I'm not going to ask for radical changes to crafting abilities or anything. If it helps bring in new players, awesome.

However... while there's some pretty good gear available for scrips, there's also some very big gaps in coverage, particularly pre-70. And even from beast tribe vendors. I would like to propose that leveling gear offered from these vendors be filled out a bit.

Almost all those cross class skills you had before you still have. They've been moved to each class's action list, at lower levels than they used to be available in many cases.

If you're feeling like you're struggling, make sure you're using Innovation,Ingenuity and Waste Not. Those are extremely powerful tools.

Level 60 scrip gear is still powerful enough to get you to 70. The only place where gear is awkward is at 50. It's not that difficult to push your way through the first few levels of HW crafting so you can get access to that expansion's leveling gear.

Also make certain you're putting basic melds on your gear, especially Cunning. New crafters underestimate just how helpful having an extra 10-15 CP can be.

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Originally Posted by Jojoya

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Hmm. Despite my efforts, it seems I was misunderstood.

1. I am not asking for old abilities back (honestly, I shed no tears over Whistle).
2. I am not asking for a change to the current abilities set (As mentioned, if it helps new players, more power to it).
3. I am noting that, objectively, there is less ability to work around lower gear; objectively, requirements have increased. By itself, I'm not saying this is good or bad. It is just the facts.

4. What I am suggesting - and this part is a bit more debatable - is that gear options be filled out a bit.

Lastly, I do wish to note that a lot of leveling gear has zero meld slots; melding is often impossible.

I can see how crafting can be a little tougher in the early stages, but crafting seriously has gotten much easier now, both stormblood era and shadowbringers, I went through the whole expansions and leveled max with lvl 60/70 gear. I never once upgraded my gear in shadowbringer, and I macrod everything. It sounds like you may need to better adjust the abilities you are using. Lots of great folks on here who do not mind throwing some help. What lvl are your crafters, what is the basics of your rotation?

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Originally Posted by Lemuel81

I can see how crafting can be a little tougher in the early stages, but crafting seriously has gotten much easier now, both stormblood era and shadowbringers, I went through the whole expansions and leveled max with lvl 60/70 gear. I never once upgraded my gear in shadowbringer, and I macrod everything. It sounds like you may need to better adjust the abilities you are using. Lots of great folks on here who do not mind throwing some help. What lvl are your crafters, what is the basics of your rotation?

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If you've got blue gear it's trivially easy. This much I do agree on, per the original post.

My crafters are all almost 80 at this point. With the 70 scrip gear I am having zero issues.

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Originally Posted by Risvertasashi

If you've got blue gear it's trivially easy. This much I do agree on, per the original post.

My crafters are all almost 80 at this point. With the 70 scrip gear I am having zero issues.

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My apologies, it was late and when I read your post, I had the impression that you were having a hard time pre 80. I leave this to others as I am still in lvl 80 white gear, so I cannot comment on recipes past that :)

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Originally Posted by Risvertasashi

Lastly, I do wish to note that a lot of leveling gear has zero meld slots; melding is often impossible.

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What leveling gear have you been using? Most of it is basic white gear with one or two slots. Aside from the very low levels before melding is unlocked, gear without meld slots only exists at the former and current endgame levels (50, 60, 70 and 80). You can skip over those easily enough while leveling, especially if you can temporarily accept NQ gear.

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Originally Posted by Risvertasashi

.... Effectively, the gear requirements have become higher. Of course if you're already max level and max geared you probably won't notice. Where this hurts a bit is leveling crafters - assuming, you know, you're actually crafting and not just buying levekits from someone, perhaps even trying to craft your own upgrades....

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The gear requirements have NOT gotten higher. They have gotten lower. Really.

Honestly, the problem for people leveling today is they outgrow their gear so quickly, it doesn't pay to meld it. It used to pay more for spiritbonding than the stats, but even with all the crafts, it no longer does.

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Originally Posted by Shadygrove

Honestly, the problem for people leveling today is they outgrow their gear so quickly, it doesn't pay to meld it. It used to pay more for spiritbonding than the stats, but even with all the crafts, it no longer does.

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Actually melding is MORE worth it now than in the past. Now that materia is removable you no longer 'waste' it by melding leveling gear. When you outgrow your gear you can take the materia with you to the next set.