Crafting v. Gathering v. Raiding

[Jonny_Tapas]

It's hard to say give the game to the crafters when you want to keep so much value in the latest content.

Raiders raid to show off their top tier gear that is unobtainable without lots of blood sweat and tears.

Unfortunately this most desireable gear being available thru raiding really takes away from the crafting and gathering community.

Crafters and Gatherers make the grind to 50 only to find out:

-You need to spend million on material just to:
-Begin to attempt to grind out what you need to:
-Obtain the latest gear that will allow you to:
-Make the best stuff that no one will ever buy because:
-It's available in the easy raids and:
-There's better stuff available in the hard raids:

SE has started on a direction of collect specific item and upgrade this specific item by collecting something else.

This concept could be easily incorporated to add set equal value in crafting, gathering and top tier raiding.

I would hope that SE would consider making the next set of Top Tier gear something that you first acquire thru the newest hardest raid and then upgrade it thru top tier crafting by using something only a top tier gatherer can obtain.

This system will drive equal value to all of those who work hard for their abilities.

[A_Magical_Unicorn_Rider]

Not really. Because then you have crafters/gatherers that can, and will, monopolize the system.

You're delusional if you think they won't.

Also, crafting is like watching paint dry. I'd rather drink gasoline than have to sit for hours watching my character auto-craft or even "push this button" while just sitting there. ¬_¬

[Ephany]

You only need to look at the sale history of ANY bit of gear on the market to see that it always sells.
I've never made gear at any level that hasn't sold.

People will always use crafted gear for a jump in stats when they have the gil to spare and it's not like the game is short of people leveling up.
I think you're exaggerating just a little.

[Xystic]

Also, crafting is like watching paint dry. I'd rather drink gasoline than have to sit for hours watching my character auto-craft or even "push this button" while just sitting there. ¬_¬

Your the type of players that actually drive the economy in MMOs. Crafting is a burden so you buy things when you need it. Without people like you, there would be little or no money ever involved in crafting~

[Lemuria]

As someone who has levelled all crafts and has both miner and botanist at 50 and a level 40+ fisher, I'm utterly dismayed by SE's treatment of crafters and gatherers. Truth be told, they don't seem to care much for them.

Gatherers and crafters both now have useless 'grind' mechanics to get their top-tier tools. I say useless because the items crafted are made for the sole purpose of obtaining these tools, and serve no other function. Fragrant logs cannot be made into lumber, Umbral Ore cannot be made into ingots or gems and Silver Brocade has less purpose than hempen yarn. Worse, anything less than a high quality version of the aforementioned items can't even be used for the tools!

Compare and contrast to, say, a raid where you're guaranteed to get a full item drop you can lot on and high-tier crafted gear has actually become harder to obtain than high allagan! I'd even go as far to say that the Zodiac weapon atma grind is more rewarding than the crafting grind.

Only the truly die-hard have honed their crafts to the point of 3-star excellence, while the rest of us scrape up gil to pay the exorbitant costs associated with this new grind. It's stupid, it's boring, it's not even well thought out. It's grind for the sake of grind, and I know from experience that Yoshi can do better than that.

[Kienkarajo]

I'd even go as far to say that the Zodiac weapon atma grind is more rewarding than the crafting grind.

Jesus, and I was going to start to level a leather-worker just for fun, I guess its not at all. Just when I read worst than atma..... no crafting for me.

[Jonny_Tapas]

There will never be a "Monopoly" because believe it or not there are still plenty of good people out there. In fact crafters / gatherers are generally the kinder hearted of the bunch... You can not "Monopolize" a service that is generally given away for free or even a moderate tip for thanks. Most of the douchebaggery is among the raiders.

Note I did say most not all*

Of course any and all random junk will sell. This is not what the OP is about. It's about crafters and gathers getting an opportunity to be involved in the best tier gear in the game without taking anything away from raiding.

The endgame craft/gather grind is just as intense as the endgame battle class grind. The rewards are simply not on the same level.