Suggestion : New Gatherer skill "Aether Cut"

[Kosmos992k]

As was mentioned in another topic....

I would prefer a way to break down clusters and crystals.

....which got me thinking.

This should be added as a top level BTN/MIN skill, but it should be locked behind a quest line that is very difficult for RMTs to complete to prevent them from getting the skill and further abusing their bots.

I suggest a two part 'skill' for gatherers. Aether Cutting is the process of breaking clusters and crystals down. Cleaving is the skill used on each attempt to cleave a piece from the original cluster or crystal.

(Please Note: I haven't 'done the math' on what the maximum GP is for gatherers, so the numbers are just approximations.)

Skill : Aether Cut
Cost : 100 GP.
Time of effect : 120 seconds

Starts the process of breaking down clusters to crystals, and crystals to shards. Cordials cannot be taken while performing an Aether Cut. Once cutting starts you have a maximum of 120 seconds to complete all 8 attempted cleaves of a cluster or crystal. Failing to complete in time forfeits the remaining attempts.

Skill : Aether Cleave
Cost : 80 GP

Based on your perception skill, each use cleaves one shard from a crystal, or one crystal from a cluster. Clusters are twice as difficult to cleave safely vs crystals.

The % chance of a successful cleave should be based on perception, with a minimum score to attempt the skill, and any perception over the minimum applies a positive modifier to the chance of success. Minimum chance of success is 40%, maximum is 90%, there is always a 10% chance of failure. The % is modified by any extra Perception you have over the minimum score required. For Clusters, the modifier value is halved.

You may try to cleave up to 8 times per Aether Cut on the same crystal or cluster in a sequence. Once you start cutting a cluster or crystal, the original item is lost, leaving a single crystal from a cluster, and shard from a crystal as the minimum return when using the skill.

So if you start cutting a cluster and fail the first cleave attempt, and then quit; you would be left with a crystal of the same aspect the original cluster had. If you cleave a cluster successfully 8 times, you acquire 8 crystals. The same is true of cutting crystals into shards, you consume the crystal, but gain between 1 and 8 shards per crystal.

This means that in theory, each cluster could ultimately break down into 64 shards. based on RNG and your modifiers.

One last thought. There is always a 1% chance of a peerless cleave which will cleave a shard or crystal from the original item. If this happens, when the Aether Cut ends, the original cluster or crystal remains undamaged.

[Zigabar]

Oh hey, that's me.

While I'm not against your proposal (though if I'm reading it right, I would like to receive more than 8 crystals per cluster, if it's to be that costly in GP. Crafting can take quite a lot of shards/crystals/clusters), I was thinking more along the lines of how Aetherial Reduction works. A quest obtained skill that doesn't have any cost, aside from the sacrificed crystal/cluster, and generates between x-y amount of crystals from clusters or shards from crystals.

[Culfinrandir]

It's basically a complex Aetherial Reduction. What would be useful would be the ability to gather "collectable" clusters than can be reduced to guaranteed shards & crystals of the same type.

I'd also like to mention that clusters aren't widely enough available given that more & more crafts rely on them. Anywhere that has high levels of Aether, such as Sea of Clouds & Churning Mists, should have copious supplies of clusters from their highly visible crystals. Going forward into Stormblood, if the same system is kept, we will be using exclusively clusters by about crafting level 66 & the current supply would make it unbearable.

[Legion88]

I thin this i not needed in any way. With Aetherial Reduction you can gather crystals and clusters very easyly (Source) and shards can be brought back with BOT/MIN retainers easyly too. No need to add an even more complex method to this like you suggested.

Maybe just break down clusters to crystals to shards with an easy action crafters can learn on a specific level (60?) with a ratio like 1 to 10+

[Felis]

I don't know what BTN and MIN have to do with changing a material in another material.
It should be a ALC recipe, like it was during 1.x

1 Tarantula + 10 Lightning Shards = 2 Lightning Crystals
1 Bone Crayfish + 1 Lightning Crystal = 3 Lightning Crystals
1 Umbral Moraine + 1 Fire Cluster = 32 Lightning Crystals

[Zigabar]

I don't kknow what BTN and MIN have to do with processing of raw materials.
It should be a ALC recipe, like it was during 1.x

1 Tarantula + 10 Lightning Shards = 2 Lightning Crystals
1 Bone Crayfish + 1 Lightning Crystal = 3 Lightning Crystals
1 Umbral Moraine + 1 Fire Cluster = 32 Lightning Crystals

I didn't play 1.x, was there a way to make shards? Crystals and clusters are very easy to come by thanks to Aetherial Reduction.

[Felis]

I didn't play 1.x, was there a way to make shards? Crystals and clusters are very easy to come by thanks to Aetherial Reduction.

Killing enemies, they dropped shards. Dodos as an example dropped wind shards.

Or
1 Malm Kelb + 4 Lightning Shards = 12 Lightning Shards
1 Lightning Moraine + 1 Lightning Crystal = 24 Lightning Shards

[Zigabar]

1 Malm Kelb + 4 Lightning Shards = 12 Lightning Shards
1 Lightning Moraine + 1 Lightning Crystal = 24 Lightning Shards

I don't have an issue with that being re-implemented then, assuming the materials can be gathered by retainers. If I had to go gather Malm Kelb or whatever item is needed myself, then it defeats the purpose of not going to a node and getting the shards direct, for such a low return. I still think a reduction method is most efficient.

[Paladinleeds]

Personally I'd prefer a way to make Clusters. Crystals and Shards are easy to come by (Hint: If you have a Botanist/Miner retainer at level 26 for Crystals and level 1 for Shards, they can gather them for you!), but I find Clusters are a major thorn in my backside.

[Zigabar]

Personally I'd prefer a way to make Clusters. Crystals and Shards are easy to come by (Hint: If you have a Botanist/Miner retainer at level 26 for Crystals and level 1 for Shards, they can gather them for you!), but I find Clusters are a major thorn in my backside.

Such a waste of a venture though. There is much more revenue to be made having them gather other items you can sell and then just buying the shards. Have you tried Aetherial Reduction? I have more clusters than I know what to do with, besides selling them.