Help me understand 'Brand of Ice/Lighting/Fire' etc..

[Roez]

I ... still do not see the use of those skills. Mainly, because of another skill called Flawless Synthesis. For 15 CP you get a guaranteed 40 Progress on the item. When you would be looking at 15 Progress on a Careful Synthesis and 17 Progress on a Basic Synthesis, getting that doubled (I presume that's the impact that doubling your Efficiency for a few turns would have) does not provide as much guaranteed progress as Flawless Synthesis.

Depends on the level of the combine compared to your own level, as well as your craftsmanship number (it's higher with better gear and food). This is why Ingenuity I & II are so important (they reduce the level of the synthesis to at or below your own level). edit: what I mean is the amount of progress you get varies for basic and standard synthesis, depending on those things mentioned.

The Brands give you 200% efficiency, so when they work they provide more progress than the others.