Propositions to address crafting/economic woes circa 3.0.

[Aeyis]

Actually, that's inaccurate. Just because crafted gear are always 20 ilevel below the strongest tome gear does not mean crafted gear are not viable. In contrast, crafted gear had always been VERY DESIRABLE even when they were 20 ilevels lower. We all know very well how overpowering crafted i70 were comparing to the "hero" set of i90 bought with Myth tomes back then.

I don't, as I wasnt around then. Main stats can not be added to the left side or weapons, making them less powerful in comparison to the accessories.
Left side stats bonusses were already up for debate, and as poster above you pointed out, pretty much only if the raid dropped secondary stats were really bad.

For instance, you can sacrifice only 3 Strength, but gain a lot more Vitality, Crit rate, skill speed, accuracy and determination. In ARR end game, substituting appropriate i120/i130 accessories with the proper pentamelded i110 crafted accessories contributed much to the victory for a lot of hardcore raiders, and helped many of them beat T13.

Accessories is not the same as [equipment]. Just because accessories were viable, it doesnt make [equipment] viable. What of the leftside or weapons? Which actually provide the majority of stats to begin with.

I don't think the current crafted i180 items are weak at all. Have you pentamelded them and tested them yet?

That's very weak reasoning.
Comparing stats isnt that much work.
I could only see someone use one if for example the WHM chest had no PIE, and the person in question really wants more PIE.
Also, you need tier V materias to reach most desirable caps (or even get close), materias which arent typically available. Unlike with crafting or gathering equipment you cant just use lower grade materias for a ''good enough'' effect either.


Being lazy (or genuinely lacking time) has been the main reason why crafting items (exceptions aside) sold in the past.
Not being gimped too much is also not the same as being viable.

If not, we can't make that call saying they're not powerful yet. We obviously cannot substitute a whole set of i200 with pentamelded i180.

Which more then implies pentamelded i180 is far weaker.

Right now, the biggest problem is not the powers of i180, but the availability of mats to make the i180.

Ofcourse. But if it wasnt, the biggest problem then would be the powers of i180 (or lack thereof)


Tho I do remember when crafted equipment was very desirable, I believe it was in 1.0.