Why is crafting/gathering so difficult/grindy?

[Frizze]

Youre having gathering issues? Do this: Have stats high enough to get at least 1% HQ. Find +1/2 attempt node. Use 300 point skill to get extra swing. Successfully gather 5 items in a row. Use skill that guarantees HQ gathers. Use skill that gives you extra yield on next swing. Gather 2(+) guaranteed HQ items. Repeat yield and gather if on +2 swing node. You just spent 400-500 GP for 2-4+ guaranteed HQ drops from a single node. Respawn node, use cordial, repeat. Be done gathering much sooner then you thought.

[Maeka]

Youre having gathering issues? Do this: Have stats high enough to get at least 1% HQ. Find +1/2 attempt node. Use 300 point skill to get extra swing. Successfully gather 5 items in a row. Use skill that guarantees HQ gathers. Use skill that gives you extra yield on next swing. Gather 2(+) guaranteed HQ items. Repeat yield and gather if on +2 swing node. You just spent 400-500 GP for 2-4+ guaranteed HQ drops from a single node. Respawn node, use cordial, repeat. Be done gathering much sooner then you thought.

I dunno about you, but with me, even if I use the 100 point +success skill (because I get 70% success, 3% HQ on Lv62-63 now), I still average 1 miss per node. In fact earlier today, I was gathering Larch Logs... 85% success chance after using the 100 point success skill. Guess what? two misses in a row. And then, the next node, I missed again. Node after that, another two misses. With 85% chance of success, mind you. That's 5 misses in 12 attempts. With a supposed 85% success.

That's why I hate the RNG in FFXIV. I'm pretty sure there are hidden modifiers the game does not tell you about.

Also, I cannot activate the Gather+1 nodes, because the stats required are set so stupidly high, you won't see that until you're Lv68+ probably. That's how it was in Heavensward, none of the bonuses were available until way late in levels, even on stuff like Mythrite.

It's also why I loathe Hasty Touch and Rapid Synthesis. Yeah, sure, you are SUPPOSED to get 80% after SH2, but uh. In practice, I find there are times it seems more like 50%.

[Frizze]

We've all seen streaks of good and bad RNG. It happens. My first day leveling up in SB i didnt get a single miss while i was mining up my HQ GC turn ins(5ish mins of work), meanwhile my botany swings were missing like you wouldnt believe(closer to 20 mins work). And of course, both had the same exact stats - unmelded red scrip gear i had collected around a year ago and never bothered to upgrade(which has enough stats to activate most of the bonuses through level 65ish). The swing +1 node mostly activates off GP, so you could use food if you arent naturally set with that stat.

And i guess you might not already know this, but you can gather crystals to hit the chain bonus needed to activate Deep Vigor(100% hq) or its botanist equivalent.