I wish crafting didn't seem pointell to me, maybe i'm missing something

[Dimitrias]

A few months ago I created a new character because I got tired of endgame fighting all the time. I created one to just mainly gather/craft/farm. Its been a real nice change from what I was doing. I really enjoy playing this way.

But lately I feel like its pointless. All the stuff that I make sells really slow, and not for much on the markets. I vary rarely see anyone shout for crafters. Have seen someone do it a few times though, but only for caped crafters.

I only got my crafts to around lvl 30 atm, but maybe it becomes more important at end game and becomes really useful to people?

From past experience I know this game hands out everything so many different ways, I just don't feel that important, hope that changes in the future.

[Eye_Gore]

The big money money makers for crafters don't come till level 45 and after. There are a few items that are lower that will make money depending on the demand. The star items sell for really big money, but you may end up spending alot to be able to craft some of them. Master crafter recipes are a serious investment, but also offer a good reward.

[Alberel]

The trouble with crafting is that the game gives players all the loot they could need pre-50 and then post-50 it's relatively easy to gear using tomes and never buy crafted gear.

The things that actually DO sell well are gear for other crafters as the crafting quests don't give you enough gear to keep up with your levels.

Once you hit 50 you'll find the spiritbond market quite good for adventuring gear as there are always people farming tier III and IV materia. Food and potions also sell well if you know what kinds players actually want.

The really high tier 2* and 3* items can sell for a fortune but they require a HUGE gil investment in materia before you can ever make them.

[Odd]

All level 45-50 gear (non star), are very easy to HQ, and sell quickly at a decent price. This is due to people buying them for spirit bonding.

I make a lot of gil just off basic mats, like cloths/leathers/ingots, etc. For example, yesterday I quick synthed three stacks of boar leathers while I watched some TV. All said and done, I'd made 150k profit for time spent watching House of Lies. This isn't the most glamorous way to make money, but it adds up very fast.

[Lukha]

I make a lot of gil just off basic mats, like cloths/leathers/ingots, etc.

This. I made my first small fortune just selling Undyed Velveteen one or two pieces at a time last year; was selling so fast I couldn't keep my retainers full. The trick is to figure out what sells, and then fill a niche. Have something to sell, and there are only expensive small stacks or singles on the MB? Put up a large stack and price it a little cheaper per piece. Only huge stacks available for cheap? Sell in small quantities, or even single pieces at inflated prices.

And always, always take note of the prices things ACTUALLY sold for in the history; if items are posted for 200k, but nothing in the history sold for more than 50k, you're not going to have a lot of luck posting yours for 199k. Laugh at the tears of the players who whine about undercutting; they just don't understand how economics works.

[myahele]

Refining mats it certainly a great way tp earn gil if you can't reliably make hq multistar crafts. They'll sell much faster due people needing them for so many other crafts. And you can just quick synth.

[KhalidTheGreat]

Crafting isn't important in endgame unfortunately except maybe for CUL. But gear-wise you wont get much from it.

I mostly craft vanity gear/furniture which sells for good money. Or food that I personally use.

[ClaTheNinja]

You know those crazy people who already own a large personal house? Yeah, they got that kind of money from crafting. But you really have to be top of the line to hit it big. 3-Stars and 100% Desynth.

Crafting is the way to make money in this game. If being a millionaire is pointless to you, then yes crafting is pointless.

[Nutz]

Until you have multiple level 50 crafting jobs there's not a lot that you can make that other players can't:
-make themselves.
-buy from an NPC.
-find in a dungeon (really dungeon gear is generally just better).

Depending on the craft, however, there are furnishings that you can start making early on. There is no HQ furniture, so as long as you can fill the progress bar you can make it just as well as anybody else. There are also dyes, though the various beast tribe quests have provided a lot of those for cheap.