Quote Originally Posted by DumdogsWorld View Post
to make things more difficult for you. No, really.
But it doesn't make crafting more difficult. I completely forget they exist. It's only more difficult for new people leveling crafting. I got some friends that started playing several months ago and just started trying to craft. I just give them shards but now I gave them access to my garden and showing them how to plant shards when they need them. I just supply them the seeds from my retainers.