Why is Crafting still in the game?

[Nekodar]

I craft pretty much all of the gear I use for levelling the 5 classes I don't have at 50 yet.
Every 2-5 levels, a new gearset, with weapons/shields as I level up.
Let everything spiritbond and convert to materia...

[Tetsaru]

I craft pretty much all of the gear I use for levelling the 5 classes I don't have at 50 yet.
Every 2-5 levels, a new gearset, with weapons/shields as I level up.
Let everything spiritbond and convert to materia...

I used to do the same thing... until I got everything to 50.

It's kinda messed up, now that I think about it: you level up and spiritbind old gear to convert into materia to use on newer gear, but once you hit 50 and start getting endgame dungeon gear, it all becomes useless, unless you sell it, use it for crafting/gathering classes, or are working on a relic (which, I have all of those now too).

[KraggyKor]

Then, I realized that crafted gear for War/Magic classes required the same tomestones that were used to buy darklight. In some cases, the crafted gear needed more of them. That made crafting gear for War/Magic classes completely obsolete. Who in their right mind would collect an equivalent or higher number of tomestones and spend it on crafted gear instead of Darklight? .

For those of us that won't tolerate the horrible Tome grind to get DL are quite happy to buy iLevel 70 bling (and other gear perhaps) the moment we 'ding' 50. Saves a lot of tedious re-running WP/AK/DRs/whatever grinding Tomes for DL bling.

[Sove92]

Even now, tanks get more from the Gryphonskin jewellery + Rose Gold Earscrews than from the i90 raid accessories. That 400 extra HP compared to 49 extra STR (which boosts you to next Parry reduction tier too, and extra damage generates more hate) is meaningless in a good party, nothing in the game needs you to have that 400 extra. It's safer, sure, but the overall returns are still better from the crafts.

[Tetsaru]

Even now, tanks get more from the Gryphonskin jewellery + Rose Gold Earscrews than from the i90 raid accessories. That 400 extra HP compared to 49 extra STR (which boosts you to next Parry reduction tier too, and extra damage generates more hate) is meaningless in a good party, nothing in the game needs you to have that 400 extra. It's safer, sure, but the overall returns are still better from the crafts.

I actually main PLD and use these, mainly because PLD/WAR can actually benefit from having STR, VIT, and DEX. Other jobs... not so much. It's kinda odd because you don't see any other high ilvl accessories with both STR and DEX on them. I suspect SE will do something along the Fending/Slaying/Aiming/Healing/Casting route with whatever new crafted gear they introduce.

That said, while these accessories have served me well and I wish there were more options like them, I spent way too much gil (probably in the millions range) making them. And if SE is intent on the "keep dungeon ilvl's higher than crafted ilvl's" mindset, I doubt I'll do it over again. I'd like to have enough gil ready for when personal housing comes out, lol...

[FJerome]

A lot of the content in this game, like housing and half the end-game dungeons, seems to assume the average player is in a reasonably small, reasonably rich and extremely tight-knit FC. iL70 crafted gear has one huge advantage over drops - you can transfer it easily between players - so if you have the resources the moment a friend hits 50, ding, HQ i70 penta-melded everything. No fuss, no muss, no tedious queuing for CT.

[Crimson-Falcon]

the main idea from crafting/gathering classes is make gil

they are not supposed to give you advantage on endgame contents

[Tetsaru]

Personally, I felt that PvP gears could be a turn around for crafters but it doesn't seem to be the case.

If SE had made all PvP gears, (i55, i70 and i90) obtainable through crafting, then I think it would have made the crafting scene more lively again.

i55 gears could be made through current mats, then players wear them and get into PvP, earn wolfmarks where these wolfmarks can buy new crafting mats specifically used to craft i70 and i90 gears.

Personally, I think it's messed up that there are ilvl's involved in PVP gear in the first place. Imo, players in PVP matches should be on as even a level as possible in terms of stats; actual skill itself should determine the victor, not "LOL I have biggar numberz than you."

the main idea from crafting/gathering classes is make gil

they are not supposed to give you advantage on endgame contents

You don't think it would be cool to be considered a legendary crafter in the game? To be able to make gear so unique and customized that few can match, to forge blades and armor using secret kobold smelting methods, or weave robes in the technique of the sylphs, and then have them go toe to toe with the best dungeon gear in the game? To have people wanting items with your name on it? Or even something as simple as making your own house the coolest-looking one on your ward? Personally, I'd love to be able to do stuff like that; it'd be a lot more fun than spamming Coil and CT and primals all week...

[Sotek]

You don't think it would be cool to be considered a legendary crafter in the game?

No. Because, while that's a nice concept, it doesn't work in a MMO.

"Oh look, there's Sotek! The Legendary Crafter #15236211".

A much better concept is one they've already played with; having a NPC be a legendary crafter. The Relic quest involves crafters, we need more content like that. More content like XIs Cursed and Salvage gear, where we bring crafted items to a NPC who makes the legendary gear. Content that involves getting the best gear through endgame activities and involving crafters.

[SendohJin]

No. Because, while that's a nice concept, it doesn't work in a MMO.

"Oh look, there's Sotek! The Legendary Crafter #15236211".

A much better concept is one they've already played with; having a NPC be a legendary crafter. The Relic quest involves crafters, we need more content like that. More content like XIs Cursed and Salvage gear, where we bring crafted items to a NPC who makes the legendary gear. Content that involves getting the best gear through endgame activities and involving crafters.

i don't disagree but it doesn't stop them making you "the hero" in the main story.

all they have to do to involve crafters without losing the value of raids is make raids drop EX materia instead of gear, that you need high level crafters to Meld before they are actually useful.