HQing stuff

[MN_14]

Starting off with SH2->RS is a bit more of an "advanced" level than I was trying to help reach. Yes, where it can be used it generally saves at least one Progress step (at the cost of adding another layer of RNG) but it was above and beyond the scope of the point I was illustrating there.

I understand completely. The only reason why I mentioned this was because Ksenia seems to be avoiding the use of any RNG based ability, which could well be the main reason why they're struggling to HQ items from low starting quality (assuming they aren't well geared enough for a RNG free solution; I'm not familiar with the exact requirements for that). Unfortunately, RNG is something that every crafter has to deal with since that's what adds a small amount of challenge into the system and forces you to throw in some strategy. Complaining about RNG in crafting is akin to complaining about the real-time nature of the game's battle system.

[Alx789]

Maybe gear?
I never use hq materials (and don't know how to make them) and have no problems to HQ items with level up to 2 higher than my own. Also i have ~ 70% chance to get HQ at my-lvl+3 and 50% at my-lvl+4.

To do this i use modified 3-4star rotation with PbP*2 RS CS2*2 progress sequence. If item is very near to my level i replace one or both PbP to HT... If very far - one of CS2 to RS (risky!). Such rotations hits 12-14 HTs and often finishes quality progress even without hitting Byregot (for near level items).

[Alisi]

Maybe gear?

Well, yeah, if I had the best gear with overmelding from ARR, I'd be able to get HQ no prob too probably. As I said, though, I didn't reach 50 during ARR in any of my crafting classes save one so I never had that end game gear to help push me over the hump to the next expac.

[TechnoTechie]

Well, yeah, if I had the best gear with overmelding from ARR, I'd be able to get HQ no prob too probably. As I said, though, I didn't reach 50 during ARR in any of my crafting classes save one so I never had that end game gear to help push me over the hump to the next expac.

you should be able to get the artisan gear for pretty cheap now. Retainers are bringing it back and people are crashing the prices on many servers. I actually did 53 -> 60 on my crafting classes with almost no overmelding aside from CP on accessories. Getting from 50 -> 51 would feel like the biggest hurdle I think. HQ some archaeoskin gear after that and you'll be fine as you hit each tier of gear.

[MN_14]

You really don't have to worry about getting the artisan's gear as they don't provide that big of an upgrade over AF pieces. However, if you're under-leveled, don't have a lot of melds done and are missing a lot of level 50 cross class abilities, you'll likely have to use some HQ materials. I tested this a while back (using no level 50 cross class abilities):

Item: Level 51 Mythrite Nugget using all HQ mythrite sand and an NQ mythrite ore.
BSM Level: 50
Gear: Combination of i55 AF gear and i60/70 artisan's gear
Craftmanship: 346
Control: 341
CP: 366 with food (I did not use comfort zone, but CP was stretched very thin so I had to rely on a high enough number of good procs)

In this case, progress can be completed with a single rapid synthesis and 2x careful synthesis 1. I used a GS and AT finisher and got 100% at IQ9 and 92% at IQ8.

I've replicated this using a simulator and looks like you can use manipulation up to 3 times depending on RNG (and your starting CP).

If I had used byregot's blessing instead of advanced touch and had a starting quality of 1000, I'd end up with 80% on 8 stacks of IQ (89% if innovation is used as well). Once you reach level 51, however, 0 starting quality is fine since your level is matched, provided that you have Byregot's blessing.

[TechnoTechie]

Item: Level 51 Mythrite Nugget using all HQ mythrite sand and an NQ mythrite ore.
BSM Level: 50

Were you actually a level 50 blacksmith at the time? I remember trying to craft heavensward recipes right out the gate as a level 50 and having 450+ craftsmanship and 420+ control with around 356 CP without any food buffs (fully melded end-game artisan set with lucis tools), and it was as hard as trying to synth a 3-star item as a level 50.

With those stats, I'd already been beyond 3-star crafting and was making 4-star items on a daily basis, so the actual items weren't much of an issue, but I remember the materials giving me the hardest time at level 50 because the recipe was 51. I had actually had an easier time HQing final products with NQ nuggets because I was more familiar with the extra durability allowance.

This is why I say that the biggest hurdle will be getting from 50 -> 51 unless they reduced the difficulty modifier for crafting above-level recipes since 3.0 -- I'd highly suggest hitting level 51 before you attempt heavensward recipes.

EDIT: I just read that you were using full HQ sands. I guess that makes things much easier LOL

[MN_14]

EDIT: I just read that you were using full HQ sands. I guess that makes things much easier LOL

Yep, this test was done to see how possible it was to craft these if you were a new single class crafter who had not geared up. The only difference is that you'll be forced into needing HQ materials for a decent shot at an HQ, much like how an under-geared single class crafter in ARR wants some HQ materials for 1* and 2* crafts if they are missing Byregot's Blessing.

If you're properly geared and have most cross class abilities, levels 51-53 shouldn't really be a problem at level 50 since level 53 crafts are actually around the same difficulty as level 50 4* crafts. Level 51 materials can be crafted using a variation of the lucis turn in rotations.

[Alisi]

snip

Oh, I'm doing okay right now. The comments here have really helped me out. I'm getting much better at judging things. I have two of my craft classes at 60 now. Alc is 58 and Wvr is close to that. I'm chugging right along.

I was just responding to the very unhelpful 'I have no trouble what-so-ever' comment that some people feel it's necessary to say when others are asking for help. It just irked me.

[Callback]

Just a small thing, for 40 dura items I personally like to slot in manipulation so I can pop that at 20/40 (or 15/40) instead of risking showing an excellent at 10 and needing to ToTT it.

Not sure how applicable this is at 60, but it hasn't failed me so far up to 59.

[cgbspender]

At 60, you don't need ToTs or manipulation at all anymore. Everything at that level (assuming a few melds, and the necessary cross-skills) is rng-free, except for 2-stars recipes.
I could be popping an excellent status over a "bad" ball, it just wouldn't make a difference.