Am I doing something wrong?

[Elros]

Ok I have an armorer lvl 16 I haven't used in months because it was too confusing and overly difficult just to make simple things. Now with the materia system added I thought I would try to revisit my armorer to level it up, and I figured with all the changes that has been made in recent updates synthesis would make more sense. Well I just failed a level 15 leve (again I'm level 16) and I got only 1 out of 5 attempts successful! That just seems wrong to me. I tried doing it differently every time. There is no consistency so I can't learn to get better at it and I have no idea what difference it makes if it's white, yellow or red because it all seems so completely random if the synthesis is successful or not. I will admit to being a beginner when it comes to crafting but SE has made this way to complicated in my opinion. Am I doing something wrong here?

[BONKERS]

I feel your pain.
I was doing the same synths after the patch that were EASY and did not fail commonly that after, were insanely hard to do.
Careful synthesis is almost a waste of time because the gain in quality even if you succeed is almost matched by the durability loss. (at least all of the synths I was doing)

Synth'ing in Higher levels may be easier, I dunno. But Low level stuff feels really difficult now, even with a Primary smithing tool that is the same level as I am and gear that gives smithing bonuses.

[Frein]

I don't notice any difference between 1.18 and 1.19 as far as synthesis goes.

It's hard to say what exactly your problem is without knowing more, but I'd guess you're using a tool above your level. The penalties for doing that were greatly increased in 1.19.

[Kiara]

Hi Elros,

If you're just playing this game again after a long time off, you might not know about the changes with Optimal Rank / Optimal Class for all Items. Essentially, if you're not wearing Optimal Class / Rank Gear, you don't gain any of the bonuses they normally impart.

Some things to consider:

* Are you using a Rank-appropriate Tool? Using only the Weathered Tool (Rank 1) may be a reason you're struggling now.

* Are you using Optimal Rank / Class Crafting Gear? This helps, especially since 1.19 where Yoshida-san has made Stats matter more.

* Is any of your gear that is appropriate damaged? If it's in Yellow / Red, you should repair it.

* Lastly, to answer your question about the colors, White Orb is a safe time to use Standard Synthesis on for sure. If you get Flashing, you should consider "Wait"ing and seeing if you can get something safer.

* You should also equip Crafting Abilities that can help you.

Good luck.

[Jet]

Elros, some leves are harder than others, for whatever reason. Pick up another leve and I bet it'll be easier.

[MariyaShidou]

Hi Elros,

If you're just playing this game again after a long time off, you might not know about the changes with Optimal Rank / Optimal Class for all Items. Essentially, if you're not wearing Optimal Class / Rank Gear, you don't gain any of the bonuses they normally impart.

Some things to consider:

* Are you using a Rank-appropriate Tool? Using only the Weathered Tool (Rank 1) may be a reason you're struggling now.

* Are you using Optimal Rank / Class Crafting Gear? This helps, especially since 1.19 where Yoshida-san has made Stats matter more.

* Is any of your gear that is appropriate damaged? If it's in Yellow / Red, you should repair it.

* Lastly, to answer your question about the colors, White Orb is a safe time to use Standard Synthesis on for sure. If you get Flashing, you should consider "Wait"ing and seeing if you can get something safer.

* You should also equip Crafting Abilities that can help you.

Good luck.

To add upon this:

*Just because leve say lvl 15, it can actually be lvl 15-19.

*Did you get Facility buff? Do you have Training Book recommended? Almost all leves are still dated recipe so they still require those two, except certain leves like making Leather or Ingot are new.

[Jinko]

Crafting leves are using the old recipes and therefore still using the old crafting system, this is why you are having problems.

Trying grinding with your own materials, it will cost you but if you are clever you can make some money from it and you bypass the nasty old crafting system.

[Elros]

Oh ok so the leves are using the old recipies. I wonder when they will be updated? Sorry I have followed many of the updates to the game but I was never much of a crafter so I always skimmed those details.

Thanks Kiara and MariyaShidou for the tips. I have a level 12 armorers tool and I did use crafting facilities. I haven't got the training book, is that sold in the Grand Companies? I didn't use crafting specific gear, just whatever I had in my inv that matched my level so I guess I should try that.

[Urthdigger]

The training book is bought with guild points. It's not required to have in order to make it, it's just easier if you have it.

[Aleczan]

Since your post said you will look for craft-specific gear, I might as well share my experience. Might be useful information for you.

This is what my problem when I tried to do BSM LQ for LV25.

Before the patch, I use overranked equipment (clothing) on most of my craft classes because my main craft and second craft are both 30'ish. It used to be OK because I still got more crafting stats from those overranked gear than lower ones. But this patch made it so I got 0 (zero) crafting stat from my old overranked gear.

Let's look at the number, it surprised me a lot to see that just by updating my gear and get a few pieces of proper gear, my crafting stats improved so much.

(Stats are listed as : Craftsmanship / Mg.Craftsmanship / Control)

Old hammer, old overranked gear:
22 / 19 / 25

New hammer, old overranked gear:
35 / 33 / 28

OK That's a tad better....

Added a new Cotton Doublet Vest (Yellow)
48 / 37 / 28

Added a new Cotton Halfgloves (Green)
50 / 37 / 33

Dug out an Usagi Kabuto (should upgrade it to Silver or Black later for even better stats)
50 / 37 / 34

So yeah I got +28 Craftsmanship, +18 Mg.Craftsmanship, and +9 Control by getting proper gear for post-patch world. This is like half-completed though. I still have to get un-lazy and find myself crafting belt, pants, and shoes, and also upgrade my hat.