Gathering shards takes to long.

[seorin]

It's a problem of inequality. Shard consumption increases rapidly, but the gathering rate is almost entirely static. It's a situation where demand far outstrips supply until only bots can keep up with the demand.

Personally, I think shards should just be removed entirely. They don't add any value in terms of gameplay, and removing them would cut off a huge source of income for RMT bots.

[muwa]

Shards are both expensive AND take too long to gather? Well don't I feel silly with all 4 retainers capped on shards.

If it's so fast, would you mind telling us how long it took you to gather 240k+ shards (9999 x 6 elements x 4 retainers)?

[Vespar]

Adding to this, it would also be nice if you could "combine" smaller shards into crystals and crystals into clusters. Perhaps it could be an alchemist ability?

I recall back in 1.0 alchemist had an ability to break crystals into shards.. (or maybe I was told wrong... )

[Pandastirfry]

I recall back in 1.0 alchemist had an ability to break crystals into shards.. (or maybe I was told wrong... )

They did, you could also "craft" crystals, from fish, it was pretty much the only use fish/fishers served

[LamiaTrucido]

It's deliberately set this way so that low level characters will have a money making opportunity.

It deliberately cycles gil from high level characters to low level characters.

[Limecat]

I would definitely like to see the Wards increase shard amounts more, have the GP cost of the Wards greatly reduced, or give DoL a couple tiers of a trait that increase base yields of shards to two and then three.

[KikInperi]

I would definitely like to see the Wards increase shard amounts more, have the GP cost of the Wards greatly reduced, or give DoL a couple tiers of a trait that increase base yields of shards to two and then three.

Yes, please.

[Kewitt]

do a bore skin map everyday and after 2-3 weeks you will no have issues anymore. I think I have close to 4k now.

[Shori]

I find i'm getting more shards and crystals by levelling my alt classes/jobs on sprites such as in the swiftperch area for lightning. Every 2 or 3 kills I get 4 shards, or 1 crystal, but am also gaining the exp to level the classes.
Though I guess for someone already 50 on all classes that suggestion is kinda lame :/

[RazeLandale]

The more crystals ability could definitely stand to be better. But generally speaking you shouldn't waste your time farming them in the first place. Buy them on the ah, craft your stuff and profit. You don't need to do everything yourself.