fine sand no longer sold at npc after 1.19

[Waaltar]

There won't be much of a market for sand because crystals and shards are so cheap.

To the extent that river or sea sand moves on the market, it will probably come from mining rather than culinarians, because the culinarians would want too much money for it because of the shards used to make it.

Thus the only market for sand now is for alchemists who want to use it to level up on...but there will probably be cheaper pathways.

So overall, getting rid of fine sand is thus a boon to RMT because it will help to increase demand and boost prices for crystals and shards. They have huge huge huge huge stockpiles of crystals and shards already.

This is another change that makes me suspect that there are corrupt SE employees who work with the RMT companies for a fee or a cut of the profits or whatever.

I guess we'll see how it plays out, but I'm pretty confident RMT will soon be acquiring a lot of gil from players as shard prices rise again.

[Kinseykinz]

There won't be much of a market for sand because crystals and shards are so cheap.

To the extent that river or sea sand moves on the market, it will probably come from mining rather than culinarians, because the culinarians would want too much money for it because of the shards used to make it.

Trueish...but no CUL ever sits down to 'purposely make sand for profit' they make it as a byproduct of ranking up/attempting HQ gem/stone results...so the shard cost is just the 'cost of business'. Not saying to expect a lot to appear in the markets, but considering in the past I only NPC'd since I thought it wouldn't sell, maybe now it's worth selling for 350-500 ea. But again, I'm not factoring in shard cost since when I get sand it was while trying to rank/HQ anyway.

Although this patch kinda really killed cooks for the moment, so I don't know how many are out there grinding on fish. But if you find one, maybe you can ask for their sand (many might just say sure, take it). That's the approach I'd take.
That and maybe look into potions/and regents that might make more sense to exp on now with changes made.

[EmeraldHill]

I need mah sand!

[Dallie]

As many predicted, shard prices have risen already by about 20%, but RMT retainers have decreased in the wards by at least 50% on Bodhum. There just isn't any other reasonable way to make shards any longer aside from self-gathered fish or buying the cheap ones at the vendor in LL.

I have absolutely no idea why someone thought this would be a good idea, without a compensating factor for alchemists...like at least leaving fine sand up until 1.20 when the new recipes are out.

One can only hope that there's a new conversion recipe by the time that patch hits, or pretty much every leveling alchemist will be forced to level fishing as well.

[Reika]

People just have to go catch the fish now... Malm kelp is relatively easy if you need lightning shards. Wind and Earth fish you can find at limsa for cheap to make with lightning shards.

[SeleneVenizelos]

Can still buy shards in the wards! This could be an attempt from the developers to form a basis from which to kickstart the non-existant economy in this game in the next patch or two.

[Reika]

Can still buy shards in the wards! This could be an attempt from the developers to form a basis from which to kickstart the non-existant economy in this game in the next patch or two.

I think people still bought shards and crystals prior to this change....

[SeleneVenizelos]

I think people still bought shards and crystals prior to this change....

Yeah, but now they'll have no choice but to pay the inflated prices.

[Darkrose]

I feel it was unfair that people bought tons and tons of Fine sand right before patch and now they have it easy and making tons of Gil off of Shard. For people who didn't they have it the hard way and there is no profit from making Fine Sand and turn it into Shard, not only that it required a ridiculous amount of time. If you gonna do this should have make Fine Sand a completely new recipe and call it something else and get rid of Fine Sand, it is only Fair!

[tymora]

Yeah, but now they'll have no choice but to pay the inflated prices.

What inflated prices? Shard prices back to pre-1.19 levels on Kashuan for a while now.
Granted that means the RMT is back again.