Don't even know where to begin with the crafting tokens for relic.

[Granyala]

I wonder if I should do something about my general aversion to non-combat stuff in MMOs... I may need to find a way to force myself to like it.

Dude, it's a GAME. You character will be perfectily fine w/o a 210 weapon that carries suboptimal secondary stats for many classes (Not sure about DRK though) anyway.

If you're FORCING yourself to do something in a videogame... you're clearly doing it wrong.

I honestly, just find it difficult to enjoy gathering and crafting. I keep trying to force myself to enjoy it, but I have a hard time doing so.

It is difficult to enjoy. Esp gathering... such a snoozefest and ultimately all up to RNG.

Don't get me wrong, using the crafting skills gaming the RNG based procs and HQing an item can feel rewarding and fun.I esp like it when I clothe my kitty in complete selfmade HQ gear.

It's just that there is so much grind and timesinks attached to it, you basically have to no-life crafting if you want to get anywhere quickly.
(RMT would be the other option but you know what they say about the size of a cheaters private parts... )

I am saying though, what do you NOT like about crafting/gathering?

Like for me, gathering is MONEY and RELAXATION (one button fishing ftw).

What I don't like:
-Time limited Nodes. Be there within 5 minutes every half hour or bust
-Super retarded slow SP reg
-Can't change your mind mid way and interrupt the gathering -> node vanishes
-Ultimately no way of guaranteed HQ items in bulk (intended to keep them somewhat scarce I know, just so frustrating when you need them in bulk). All up to that 45/55% chance....

Yes a 1 button keyboard macro is DEFINITELY needed for extended farming.

[Yahallo]

Personally I used to hate gathering (I still don't like crafting).

But after I got my Zeta weapon and had about a month and a half to kill until HW, I decided "you know what, I have time I'm going to get my miner Lucis". Now before they super nerfed the Lucis tools, that was pretty much the fastest way to get to hate yourself. But I did it anyway. Along the way I made tons of money (and promptly spent it on gathering tools and gear). I barely did any combat that last stretch, only doing stuff if friends asked me to. Everything else was geared towards gathering. I found out a lot of stuff:
-fishing is very relaxing
-selling ore to the crafters makes me ton of money
-botany sucks no matter what because who cares about plants (joking sorta)

I'm not trying to say "take a month off to level your gathering" (it doesn't take a month anyway but the point is there). I am saying though, what do you NOT like about crafting/gathering? Maybe if you try to look at it a different way, you may turn it into an activity you like. Like for me, gathering is MONEY and RELAXATION (one button fishing ftw). Even after maxing out my Goldsmith I can see why my crafting friends really like to do it. I was trying my hand out at some higher level crafts (and remember I'm not an omnicrafter so I don't have all the crossclass skills). It's insanely challenging if you haven't been crafting for 2+ years like some people. I'd probably like it more if no HQ =/= thousands of gil lost. But thinking up "which crafting rotation is the best for me?" is actually a bit fun.
Not fun enough to make me a full time crafter, but it's there.

/pet

It ends up feeling like a job to me. I don't really play a game for relaxation, but for excitement. In the end, I end up trying to not fall asleep. I guess, I may have to end up treating it as a job to force myself; pretend that I will get fired if I don't do it on time.

Dude, it's a GAME. You character will be perfectily fine w/o a 210 weapon that carries suboptimal secondary stats for many classes (Not sure about DRK though) anyway.

If you're FORCING yourself to do something in a videogame... you're clearly doing it wrong.

Nothung is Best in Slot for Dark Knight; out of all the current available weapons, it is the most optimal Dark Knight weapon. Even if I hate the process, I need to get it; it is the kind of gamer I am. If I can get it and it is optimal, I need to get it. If I can't get it, then I need to change myself so I can get it. I don't hold anyone but myself to this ideal. I don't care if it is wrong, I am still doing it. I don't care if people call me crazy, stupid, etc. I don't care if they laugh at me for thinking like that, I am adamant about following this mindset I made for myself.

As a crafter / gathere i would say, u dont need a lot of money for this. if u got a friend that can gather, he can pick up some stuff for u and sell ur cheaper . and u can find a crafter that does not charge rediclus pricing. i am a crafter who likes to make free stuff for his fc memebers. but sadly I can't craft all of them because of specialist. between me and my crafting friends we can make most of the items.

the prices will surly drop for them over time anyway.

I will always pay market price for anything my friends give me, even if they try to just give it to me. It is just how I do things.