If I haven't whacked at an Unspolied point, DON'T MAKE IT DISAPPEAR!!!

[JamieRose]

It's bad enough that unspoiled/legendary points are on ridiculous spawn timers. It's even worse that if I need to back out before I've started that point becomes inaccessible until the next spawn.

This is basic QoL. Why does this game have so many issues with basic QoL!?

[Jojoya]

Because what you consider basic QoL may run counter to the developers' design intent for that content. They don't want players being able to juggle GP once they've interacted with a timed node to keep yields limited. Therefore you get your one chance before it disappears until the next respawn window.

It's a mistake we've all made at times. It's not difficult to learn to wait until you're ready to gather before interacting with the node, and not a big deal if you do make a mistake and have to wait a half hour before you try again (or an hour in the case of the ARR nodes).

[JamieRose]

Wow, that's pretty ridiculous advice. No one wants to wait a half-hour or more to do what you were going to do because of a freaking technicallity.

BTB, I just had another Node time out on me as I was about to pull out a 600 quality ore. Does this fit with this BS intent of the developer?

[Nezerius]

Or just don't start whacking at the node until you're ready? An unspoiled node stays up for about 6 minutes, which should be plenty of time to get ready. After those 6 minutes, you'll have as much time in the world to gather from the node, as long as you've interacted with it before the initial timer ends, as unspoiled nodes don't disappear while you're gathering from them.

Wow, that's pretty ridiculous advice. No one wants to wait a half-hour or more to do what you were going to do because of a freaking technicallity.

BTB, I just had another Node time out on me as I was about to pull out a 600 quality ore. Does this fit with this BS intent of the developer?

I'm assuming you were trying to get a collectable from an ephemeral node? Because unspoiled nodes (which are different from ephemeral ones) haven't been disappearing while mid-gathering since 4.0.

[tdb]

Timed nodes are endgame content for gathering classes. They are supposed to require thought and preparation to get good results. Be aware of the node's spawn timer - both when it spawns and how long it is up. Be aware of your current and max GP and the GP required for the buffs you want to use. Sometimes you can afford to wait for your GP to recharge on its own, sometimes you need to use a cordial, and sometimes you may just need to do a suboptimal gather in order to not lose the node.

Were you gathering collectables for scrips or aetherial reduction? There's always at least one scrip node up, so if you don't make it in time, just move to the next node. Aetherial reduction is a bit more difficult since there's four different types of aethersand and only one of them is up at any given time. On the other hand the window is longer and the node will respawn as long as it's open. Set up an alarm for the spawn time of the one you want and go do something else (either in-game or IRL) while you wait.

[Arazehl]

Wow, that's pretty ridiculous advice. No one wants to wait a half-hour or more to do what you were going to do because of a freaking technicallity.

BTB, I just had another Node time out on me as I was about to pull out a 600 quality ore. Does this fit with this BS intent of the developer?

To put it plainly you snooze you loose. You knew they were timed, you knew what time they spawned. You get one shot, so my advice is don't blow it. Not everything has to be easy pickings. If SE wanted it to be a handout they would have park the legendary node at your doorstep. There is a method to their madness when it comes to these spawns. What a dull game it would be if everything was a practically handed to you in this game, or as you put it a QoL change.

[Jojoya]

Wow, that's pretty ridiculous advice. No one wants to wait a half-hour or more to do what you were going to do because of a freaking technicallity.

BTB, I just had another Node time out on me as I was about to pull out a 600 quality ore. Does this fit with this BS intent of the developer?

It's not a "freaking technicality". It is working by design. Timed nodes are end game for gatherers and end game is always less forgiving of player mistakes. It's up to you to learn the system for how they work and to be prepared accordingly.

There are plenty of online resources out there to learn more about how gathering works. If you're still learning the locations and windows for the timed nodes, there are several website that provide trackers. FFXIV Clock and Garland Bell are the ones that tend to get mentioned the most often. Check them out and decide which one will work best for you.

As Nezerius said, unspoiled and legendary nodes no longer time out once you've opened the gathering window because they won't respawn during their 2 hour time window. If the gathering window closes, it's because you did something to close it.

If it's an ephemeral node, they will time out with the gathering window open but they are also up up for 4 Eorzean hours instead of 2. They also respawn during that time window once you've opened the gathering window on 2 of the normal node pairs in the area. Don't wait until the time window is about to close before you gather. If it is about to close, move on to the location of the node that will be spawning next so you'll be ready to gather the moment it appears. There's always an ephemeral node up each 4 hour window though it will alternate between mining and botany for each set of expansion zones.

Missing out on a 600 rating collectible because the window timed out is not a big deal when you consider the hundreds you'll end up getting as part of gathering end game. We all miss out occasionally due to accidents and distractions. It's not worth getting upset about.

[tdb]

There's always an ephemeral node up each 4 hour window though it will alternate between mining and botany for each set of expansion zones.

They have different materials though. If you're looking for a particular type of aethersand, the nodes for other types are not terribly useful.

[Jojoya]

They have different materials though. If you're looking for a particular type of aethersand, the nodes for other types are not terribly useful.

Of course they're still useful. Even if you don't want that particular aethersand, someone else does and will buy it from you if you list it on the MB.

Maybe you have a need for the crystals produced. If you don't, again someone else will likely buy them from you.

Or use the wait time to gather other things you need. An aethersand is useless by itself if you're trying to make something.

Farm scrip in case you end up with bad RNG on your Reduction when the node window reopens. Ever hit up an ephemeral node trying to get a certain quantity of aethersand then end up 1 or 2 short? I'll use my scrip to get those last couple instead of waiting around for the next window.

We have options. A player is going to accomplish a lot more by making use of them.

[JamieRose]

It never ceases to amaze me how much people are willing to defend pooly designed mechanics.