Question for the Crafters

[CodeCass]

So over the course of leveling my DoW/DoM classes, something came to mind that begs me to ask a question, and I was curious if the crafters out there could shed some light on it for me:

So leveling the DoW/DoM classes, honestly doesn't require that much gil. As I've been going along, I've done what I can to Assimilate what equipment I don't need for materia to sell for a decent profit, and I am constantly using my abundance of GC Seals to buy Potash or Coke and selling stacks on the MB for a good amount. I've got around 1 million gil, and that's just because I don't have much to spend it on.

Now to my understanding, leveling all my crafting classes is somewhat of a gil sink. I've been told before my first step is to get everything up to at least 15 before continuing on. And here's my question: generally speaking (as I know MB prices fluctuate and it's on a world to world basis) about how much gil should I save up before I sit down and focus on leveling my DoH classes to 15? For starters, as I said, I'm wanting to get everything to at least 15 before continuing. I'm just curious as to just how much gil I should try and have before attempting this venture. Again, I'm just looking for an approximation....


As always, thanks for any and all help everyone!

[Roth_Trailfinder]

Getting to 15 in any crafting class should be relatively cheap. You are not subject to the whims of the Marketboard, only the fixed costs of NPC vendors in the various guildhalls.

Just make everything in the 1-5, 6-10, and 10-15 crafting logs once. Depending on experience bonuses (are you Rested? Eating food? Getting a lot of Quality added to your recipes?) and the size of the crafting logs you should hit 15 in most (I think either Armorer or Blacksmith was the one I did not) before finishing those crafting logs. In that case, just pick something cheap and spam it until you hit 15.

Progressing higher than 15, though, you are likely going to want to start leveling your gathering classes as well, to cut the cost of materials on the marketboard.

[CodeCass]

Just make everything in the 1-5, 6-10, and 10-15 crafting logs once. Depending on experience bonuses (are you Rested? Eating food? Getting a lot of Quality added to your recipes?) and the size of the crafting logs you should hit 15 in most (I think either Armorer or Blacksmith was the one I did not) before finishing those crafting logs. In that case, just pick something cheap and spam it until you hit 15.

Progressing higher than 15, though, you are likely going to want to start leveling your gathering classes as well, to cut the cost of materials on the marketboard.

Understood. I appreciate the feedback. I've already been trying to kind of head off at least some of the crystal farming by sending my BOT retainer out and constantly having him bring back different sets of crystals, just to help get supply at least started

[Kael_Raiju]

6 - Always use food of some kind; even if it's low quality basic stuff. The 3% boost is worth it.

7 - Ask your GC to put up some sort of company booster.

8 - Use the crafting tables in an FC. Side note: even if you have just one crafting table.... say it's for Blacksmith but you want to craft as a weaver. Set character to blacksmith, click on table for buff, switch to weaver, buff still active


9 - Learn rotations and learn them early. Anything below 50 generally do quality over progression first. Most items in the 2-4* its a good idea to get 75-85% progression done before doing the quality. This is all relative though to your stats and the item but it's a general good rule of thumb.

[Roth_Trailfinder]

To add to what Kael said, I'd take them all up together. 1-15, 15-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50. Do not start on the next tier with one class until the rest are all caught up.

As for order, generally speaking, Weaver and Goldsmith first. Then Leatherworker, and lastly, whatever order you want to do them in. There are two exceptions, however : the 30-40 range, start off with Culinarian (for Steady Hand 2)and then go on to Weaver and Goldsmith, Leatherworker, then the rest; and the 40-50 range, where you want Carpenter to hit 50 first, for Byregot's Blessing.

6 - Always use food of some kind; even if it's low quality basic stuff. The 3% boost is worth it.

Although I've no qualms with the rest of Kael's advice, this right here I cannot agree with. And the reason for it is one of magnitude. For crafting, Food is not significant.


Rested is 50%. Food is 3%. Using nothing but NQ materials and filling the Quality bar to 100% is 300%. If the recipe is normally worth 1200 experience, food is only adding 36 experience to that. Rested only adds 600 to it, for a grand total of 1836. If you have neither of those but take the thing to 100% Quality, it is worth 4800 experience. Add both of those back in, and you still only get an extra 636, for a total of 5436.

36 points is a paltry amount compared to 4800 or 5400. Food is NOT vital for leveling crafting. Adding Quality is.

And that holds true no matter what level the recipe is or how much base experience it offers.


As for tips on crafting ... you should be able to come up with this stuff on your own just from doing. But the basic idea is to use your CP as wisely and frugally as you can. Get yourself so that one more Synthesis action will finish off the recipe, and then start adding Quality. Add as much Quality as you can, because that has a significant impact on the amount of experience you gain for finishing the recipe. Bear in mind that Quality from HQ materials does NOT count, so using HQ materials cuts into your potential experience gains. When you've added as much Quality as you can, then finish it.

One reason for the cross class moves is that they help with playing Durability Games. Another is they shift where the RNG comes into play. And another is that they allow you to extend your CP. Master's Mend 1 and 2 are fine. Manipulation is a somewhat cheaper, "heal over time" version of Master's Mend. But why restore 10 Durability per turn for 3 turns, or 30 or 60 Durability all at once, when you can halve your Durability use? Waste Not 1 and 2 do that. Steady Hand is a nice 20% increase to the success rate of your moves. Basic Synthesis goes from 90% to 100% under it, and Standard Touch goes from 80% to 100% success with it. Steady Hand 2 increases that 20% to 30%, making even the 50% moves of Hasty Touch and Rapid Synthesis worth using, especially since those two moves do not cost any CP in and of themselves. Of course, more CP is always a good thing, and Tricks of the trade and Comfort Zone work to meet that little need.

As you level, the reason for starting with Goldsmith and Weaver for each level range (with the two noted exceptions above) is simple. Those are the two classes that will make the bulk of your gear. Goldsmith makes the majority of your jewelry, as well as your Weaver's Needles. Weaver makes the bulk of the clothing you will wear as a crafter, though Leatherworker makes some and Carpenter makes some shoes. Making your own gear allows you to get it cheaply, and ensures that you can get it HQ. You'll want it HQ because of the better stats HQ has compared to NQ.

And once you hit the low-mid 20's in any craft, you can make any sub-50 recipe HQ from entirely NQ materials as long as you have HQ gear on. It won't always be easy (especially the 40 Durability recipes, the 70/80 Durability recipes will be cake) but it is very doable.

Actually, there is something else I cannot agree with.

10 - Don't be afraid to ask for help from other members. Get the experienced ones to make your HQ items for turn in. It usually takes 15 items every 5 levels when doing leves equivalent to your current rank. IE level 30 leves for 30-35 character level. What takes you 3 attempts to HQ can be HQ in 5 strokes from a 4* crafter.

Make the stuff yourself. If it takes you a couple tries (and it may, on the 40 Durability recipes) you are still earning experience.

[Kael_Raiju]

10 - Don't be afraid to ask for help from other members. Get the experienced ones to make your HQ items for turn in. It usually takes 15 items every 5 levels when doing leves equivalent to your current rank. IE level 30 leves for 30-35 character level. What takes you 3 attempts to HQ can be HQ in 5 strokes from a 4* crafter.

11 - LEVES LEVES LEVES - fastest way to level a crafter. Use Google to find a list of leves appropriate to your level as mentioned before. Most guides are out of date but what they will do is tell you the location of the leve for your level. Most turn in items listed are WRONG. Someone who is lvl 25 in a class can jump to 50 using all HQ items and about 60 leves. It's much faster than you think!

Gil guestimate: less than 1 mil, less than 500K if you gather the stuff your self. Don't worry too much about gear if someone is crafting items for you!

Good luck!

Sorry about the multiple posts.......... limitations....

[CodeCass]

I appreciate all the info Kael_Raiju! So in your opinion, which DoH classes would be the best to level to 15 first? I don't have my current level list in front of me, but I know I have Weaver and I think Carpenter both to 15 so far. Sounds like Culinarian should be next on the list?


Also, would anyone happen to know of a fairly up-to-date guide online for Beginner Crafters? It just seems like there's ALOT to crafting the correct way, and if I can find some sort of written guide or video as a starting reference point, that would be a wonderful help!

[Kael_Raiju]

Couple of other things to keep in mind:

1 - Do your beast tribe dailies. Easy XP. You can do the work with one class and get credit with another.

2 - Do the daily grand company turn ins. Better yet, turn in HQ for double XP/Seals

3 - Don't use leves before lvl 20 ideally lvl 25/30. Doing the dailies will get you to 25 easily and quickly.

4 - Don't rely on MB for mats, especially later on. You can craft a platinum HQ nugget easily and save yourself 100K plus (depending on server)

5 - Level ALL I repeat ALL your crafting classes. Culinarian can be annoying but Hasty touch is a must, especially, if you want to make HQ items for turn in.

[dspguy]

In the greater scheme of things, getting to 50 in all crafting classes is cheap. It is the materia melds that are necessary for higher tier recipes is the expensive part. However, that's not to say you can't make gil earlier than 4-star recipes. But you'll rely on volume, diversity and filling niches to make some bank.

[Snootles]

I strongly advise you to level your gatherers as well. It saves you a ton of money if you are able to get your own materials. Plus, every piece of gear you spiritbond, convert and save the materia. You will need them later to meld yourself.

Also, don't forget that you can repair your own gear with Dark Matter. You can even overrepair it to 190ish% condition. I kept forgetting that lol. Saves a bit of a gil too