Unexplainable Synthesis Results – Request for more information or fixes on Quality

[Onizuka]

Hello, Eorzeans!

It's been since January that I'm planning to create a forum post where I talk about certain things I've noticed in my crafter's career. Now that I'm Rank 32 with 7/8 Disciples of the Hands (so I did many tests, but still without the higher rank abilities), I invested some time to write it in my blog and then bring it here, directly to the rep and dev team. I see that I can't attach pictures here, so, even if I copy-pasted every link here, for a better view of the article you might want to read it in my blog: FIRST and SECOND part.

In these almost 7 months, I've gathered around 700 crafting pics, and in the past days I've selected 214 of what I call “Unexplainable Synthesis Results”. It would take me a lot of time to upload all 214 photos here and probably no one would watch them all, so I selected just some examples (90, still a lot) of why I think there's something not working properly in the HQ mechanics of syntheses.
Nevertheless, it took me many days to select these pictures out of those 214, so I hope it will be enough and that the community reps will read it and forward it to the dev team.

Please note that this article is like LOST: if you miss an episode (a paragraph or a picture) you won't understand all of it!

First of all, let me clarify that this is not a complaint post: I really enjoy crafting and those 8 local levequests I always do every 36 hours give me exactly the relax I need.
There're, however, many things I don't yet understand about this art, particularly when I create items for myself. I've read many guides and other adventurers' experience, but I've come to these conclusions:

1. After 8 months (since September 22nd), there're still some things not officially explained (I'm mainly referring to the Craftsmanship and Mag. Craftsmanship stats, but Moon Phases as well).

2. Luck/Random Factor plays a role too big, in certain cases.

3. The main focus of this post: The Quality effect on a HQ result, or simply the way you obtain a HQ result, is either not functioning properly or too luck-based as well.


Starting with the first point, I've read many theories about the difference between Craftsmanship and Mag. Craftsmanship, but none of them convinced me. If we look at the stats of certain equipments, there're classes like Alchemist, Weaver, Goldsmith and Culinarian who often has equipments with Mag. Craftsmanship instead than Craftsmanship, so one could think that those classes uses more Mag. Craftsmanship than the others.
The “official” explanation says that one parameter affects certain type of synthesis, while another certain others. Well, not very informative...

I did many tests and I noticed that as an Alchemist, Weaver or Goldsmith with 100+ Craftsmanship and around 40 Mag. Craftsmanship I can synth materials or equipments even 8-9 ranks above mine, only failing one or two of the 6-7 available.

So, since I can succeed in those types of synthesis, I don't understand what's the usefuleness of Mag. Craftsmanship and which are exactly the types of items it affects or if it affects something else (for instance, I didn't notice any real difference in Quality, even with higher Mag. Craftsmanship).
Some official info, like done here with Gathering, would help.


Anyway, like I said this is not my main concern: that, is the HQ issues.

Other than a crafter, I'm also an explorer and a gatherer, and I like to earn what I get: obtain the items I need to later create my own equipment, something very satisfactory.

So, to have even more satisfaction, I often try to get HQ results of the item I need, particularly in case of a tool or weapon; but there're way too many times I didn't get a HQ even if everything seemed right to get one and after using hard-earned HQ materials, and other times when I got one without doing anything in particular.
I'll go in detail with pictures now.

[size=5]Unexplainable Synthesis Results[/size]
I noticed that successfully using Bold Synthesis on a multicolored orb often grants you the highest boost in Quality; problem is, Quality doesn't always seem to affect a HQ result.

I'll use Ironmongers stuff as the main examples.

Bronze Nuggets NQ, Rank 14
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75F5sb6Dc.jpg

Someone could say: “You need far more quality than that to create a HQ item!”, but this is just a commonplace, as there're also many, many times I got HQ results with low Quality and without any apparent reason. And this, a few months back, is what started to make me believe HQ/NQ-related syntheses needed a serious fix.
Just a few examples (look at the difference in Quality in the pics):

Bronze Nuggets NQ, Rank 25
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75F6MB25o.jpg

Brass Nuggets NQ, Rank 13
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75F6nv0TM.jpg

Brass Nuggets +2, Rank 17
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75F7A54Q8.jpg

...but later, with much more Quality, another NQ:
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75F7asJL4.jpg

...and later again, with very similar ending stats of the previous synth, +1, +2 and NQ:
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75oUc01t4.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75oU4tT84.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75oVVscB4.jpg

Same Quality of last pic with Iron Nuggets, I got +3:
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75oVvpHa0.jpg
LOG:
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75oWKiRd0.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75LJWvSGo.jpg

And so I thought again: “Maybe a HQ result depends on your Rank?”, but, as you can see from all those nuggets and as you'll see in later pics, it doesn't really matter if you're far above or below the synthesis rank.

Silver Nuggets: 3x Silver Ores +3 & 1x Silver Ore +2 used
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75LJx9AL4.jpg

I also used a lot of Brass Nuggets +2 to create HQ Brass Squares, always unsuccessfully...
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75LKMK15M.jpg

...while it happened that I crafted 16 (HQ1) with the Main Hand tool, as well as 2x Bronze Ingots.
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75LKq5lpg.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75LLH7UTw.jpg

So one could think: “Maybe the Off Hand tool has less chances for a HQ?”, but as already illustrated that's not the case, it just happens:
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75daQkhrs.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75dawagt0.jpg

This last NQ Bronze Ingot had 2 points less in Durability than the +1 one, so I thought: “Maybe a HQ result doesn't completely depend on Quality, but also on your Durability left?”, however...
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75dbLuPKc.jpg

While earlier, with more Durability (and Quality):
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75dbnr46M.jpg

...and here some Dodo Leather +3 with low Durability AND not too high Quality:
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75dcE230c.jpg

...and lastly, Willow Lumber NQ with a lot of Durability, made at Rank 22, VS Willow Lumber +1, made at Rank 18 with much less Durability and Quality.
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75IsgoOr4.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75Is6YuqI.jpg

...So having a lot of Durability left is not the case.

CONTINUES...

[Onizuka]

I had one more thought: “Maybe a HQ result doesn't completely depend on Quality or Durability left, but also how well you do during the whole synthesis, your successful and failed attempts, or how much you stress it.”...

But again, in my experience, and as you can partially see from all these synthesis logs, although certain times it seemed I had to stress the synthesis (low Durability left = synthesis stressed), like if I've to “deserve” a HQ...
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75ItXHrB8.jpg
LOG:
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75It1Kp_s.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75IuXbsMg.jpg
[Here, for instance, I got an Oak Hammer Grip +2 without even knowing why.
But if I had found a few Oak Logs +3 (and I did try to get them, although unsuccessfully), somehow creating an Oak Lumber +3, it would have been really funny if I crafted a NQ Oak Hammer Grip, as already happened with other Logs +3 in the past (see Willow Lumber above or Ash Plank below).]

Cotton Yarn +2 and NQ out of 2x Cotton Bolls +3
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75NW8oQq4.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75NXxRBHU.jpg

Undyed Hempen Cloth +3 and NQ out of 3x Hempen Yarns +3
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75NYQga9M.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75NYzTmNc.jpg

...this theory was proven wrong in many occasions, like in these “Perfect Synthesis” examples:

Willow Chips HQ1
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75NZQQw9E.jpg

Fire Shards HQ2 (look at the log)
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75TQPOA-4.jpg

...or in these “Stressed Synthesis” tests, where in one occasion I got a HQ1, but always with similar Durability left (Rank 29 recipes):

Sunset-auburn Canvas HQ1, Rank 25
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75TQuvOa0.jpg

Woad-blue Canvas NQ, Rank 26
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75TRKLaHs.jpg

Sunset-auburn Canvas NQ, Rank 30
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75TRi-xRQ.jpg

...and the conclusion for an HQ, as well as the use of Touch Ups, points me always in that direction: It's all too random.

Nephrite (NQ) out of a Jade +2
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75TSDXN8E.jpg

Jadeide +2 (HQ3!) out of a Jade +1
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75vNiE4iQ.jpg


Ash Macuahuitl Test
It took me one month to get 8x Obsidians +3, and I tried to create a HQ Ash Plank with the few Ash Logs +3 I had found. These were my results:

Four Ash Logs +3 used, always over 300 Quality, always Ash Plank NQ:
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75vOB9-FI.jpg

While earlier I got an Ash Lumber HQ (+1, always with Off Hand) with similar Quality:
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75vOp6QT8.jpg

So I used a normal Ash Plank with 4x Obsidians +3 and created a normal Ash Macuahuitl, that I managed to improve to a +1, one of the times Touch Up worked:
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75vPNR08w.jpg

I tried again and this time, with just some more Quality, I directly crafted an Ash Macuahuitl +2 (a bit strange...), and this is another time that Touch Up actually worked (or not?), being able to get a +3:
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K75vPn_GRU.jpg

Ash Macuahuitl +3 is what I'd call a rewarding synthesis (one month to get the materials and all), although I'm afraid it's all based on luck, according to all my other tests with Touch Up not properly working (more examples later).

Unless the Moon Phase has any impact...
I noticed that in Third/Last Quarter Moon (that is, when the moon is half white/half black) I got more HQs, but with the lack of official explanations it's hard to know if it's just a coincidence or not.

Hammers Test
And now the last detailed example of my latest creations, when I tried to craft a HQ Iron Raising Hammer and Fortified Iron Ornamental Hammer.

For materials, I had previously used multiple Iron Nuggets +1 (+3 for Nails), but...
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K750SUFtrc.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K750SuU1GI.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K750TILs48.jpg

While with normal Iron Nuggets...
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K750TjKvvw.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K750T_VlDI.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K7572L29-Y.jpg

I had a hard time to get those HQ items and some of them I didn't even understand how I got them, but now at least I could create my HQ hammers... or not?

For Armorer's, I decided to play safe and have a lot (82) of Durability left for Touch Ups, and...
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K7572yEnTY.jpg

...it didn't HQ, even if I had already got HQ results for Tools or Weapons with less Quality and no Touch Ups, like with this Crowsbeak Hammer +1:
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K7573M-trM.jpg

...where – digression – I used 2x Iron Nuggets +3 and 1x Bronze Ingot +1 to create the head (just a +1, not too rewarding if I think about all those weapon heads that HQed with much less Quality and no hard-earned HQ materials used):
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K7573uvOTY.jpg

...And NQ result for the Goldsmith's hammer as well:
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K7574MlhFo.jpg

Other examples of Touch Up properly (?) working

If we look at the deserved Crowsbeak Hammer +1 and at a few other +1 items obtained through Touch Ups, like:
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K756oJntbA.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K756on0sXM.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K756pDCeDA.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K756pZ780U.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K756pzt9QQ.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76LFyyCQc.jpg

...then I should have obtained a +1 even for many other syntheses, but...

Other examples of Touch Up Not (?) properly working

http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76LGPdNPU.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76LGz1-3E.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76LHS95h0.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76LHyskvs.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76P70NUys.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76P8Wyri0.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76P80Mn34.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76P9Onh4Q.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76P9rvX-M.jpg

Of course, getting, for instance, an Iron Pickaxe +1 at 122 Quality with only 4 Touch Ups doesn't seem likely, but if we look at the previous screens, with HQ items obtained with around 100-150 Quality (or less, look at that Canvas Half Apron +1 or at the next screens, without Touch Up used), then why it didn't always happen even with Touch Ups? Devs, more info or more fixes, please!

CONTINUES...

[Onizuka]

Other Random Unexplainable Normal Quality Results

Hempen Bowstring: 4x Moko Grass +3 used
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76Qimfs20.jpg

Earth Shard: Maiden Carp +3 used
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76QjEHeJs.jpg

Lightning Shard: Radiant Lightning Moraine +3 used
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76QjeENfY.jpg

Wind Shard: Striped Goby +3 used
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76Qj_Jo34.jpg

Beehive Chip: Bee Basket +3 used
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76QkfqCyQ.jpg

Antelope Sinew Cord: Antelope Sinew +3 & Beeswax +1 used
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76V3mNU0U.jpg

Brass Hatchet Head: 3x Brass Nuggets +2 & 1x Bronze Ingot used
First Test: Synthesis stressed, low Durability and high Quality
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76V4ZpUVk.jpg
Second Test: Synthesis Not stressed, high durability and higher Quality
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76V45DPFE.jpg

Other Random Unexplainable High Quality Results

Wind Shards HQ1, high and low finishing stats at Rank 18 and 31:
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76V5ezU9o.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76V5_9I7s.jpg

Hempen Yarn HQ1, opposite to the last, with low and high finishing stats at Rank 16 and 30:
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76aejp1UI.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76afCrgfk.jpg

More examples
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76afgl5Ng.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76af_bKDQ.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76aggWrTw.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76irKbXfU.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76irkZwV8.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76ir-itGI.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76isepNxY.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76is3IQWY.jpg

HQ Equip without Touch Ups:
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76RoyT9h4.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76RpQpCBc.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76RprWZ9A.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76RqJvnkg.jpg
http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...K76Rqoa54s.jpg

_________________________________________________________________________________

The greatest goal in doing something is to have, eventually, the satisfaction of your success (at least in a world like Eorzea), so you can imagine that, if someone takes many days or weeks to gather the HQ materials, crafts the needed item and in the end gets a NQ version, the average adventurer or someone with not too much free time may feel frustrated and not motivated to do it all again.

I've a lot of patience, so I can always try to get again the HQ materials I need, even if the time I spend in Eorzea is limited, but I also think if, in the future, I'll use one month to get or create every single HQ3 material and then, when I use them in the synth, I'll get a NQ or only a HQ1, spending another month to do it all again would make me guess if the system is not actually broken and if it's worth to invest time if you're not sincerely rewarded for your efforts.

I've read a post of Yoshida-san here, but he doesn't mention the Quality issue, more informations or plans to fix it.

_________________________________________________________________________________

So my questions/requests to the dev team are:

1. Can you please give more info on the crafting mechanics?

2. Can you explain once and for all the difference between Craftsmanship and Mag. Craftsmaship, like you did with the gathering stats, and if the lunar phase has any type of impact?

3. And particularly, can you expain the High Quality mechanics or, if it really is broken, fix it? I still have no idea if it depends on Quality, Durability left, how you succeed or fail during the synthesis or if it's simply random, so I don't know on what I should focus on. Yeah, Quality, but like all these pictures say, there's something not right and it does indeed seem random.

4. Overall, I'd like to have a more rewarding system for crafters that take their time, even weeks or more, to gather the HQ materials and end up wasting them in a NQ result because the system is either broken or not well explained. Luck/Random Factor should play a less significant role.

I'm sure that if the dev team decides to give, once and for all, more info on crafting and the HQ mechanics, or fix it if it's actually broken, it would be a new motivation for wannabe crafters as well.
All I'm asking is more info, and if the rep here would ask the devs what's the deal with those HQ results and then inform about it here, I'm sure more than one Eorzean will appreciate it.

I know it's a long post, but I wrote it in many days, going less in Eorzea, so I hope you of the dev team will read it and heartily listen.

Arigatou gozaimasu!

Cloudio Onizuka, Adventurer

[tragic]

My sample size for hqing is up to 539 and I still dont think I can make any sense of it. At this point I just want to say it is random and give up.