"Is it worth it?" and random Q's

[el_tio]

Sorry for the basic questions, but I'm getting serious about crafting again. I clawed Smithing to 54 ages ago, put it aside, now I've taken it up again and brought it to 60. I've wanted to be a 100 crafter for ages so I figure I need to work at it otherwise it'll never get there. But I was wondering...

*(my most basic Q): Do all your subcrafts have to be above a HQ tier or just your main craft? (this was implied in the sticky but not really spelled out)

*Is there any point to getting the +Synth items before 100, for skillup purposes at least? The only thing I can think of is to get you into the "sweet spot" for skillups and then take them off when you're past it.

*What's a good key item to get for smithing? Smithing seems awfully lacking. Leather has the enchantment for powder boots and haste belt, bone/GS has the ones for reraise items...the only thing remotely appealing for Smithing is the one for Twicer, which is beyond niche.

And the big one:

*Is getting a craft to 100 worth it? Particularly smithing. It doesn't seem the strongest of the 100s, I just want to know if I'll still have the opportunity to make lots and lots of money.

[Djqwakqwak]

*(my most basic Q): Do all your subcrafts have to be above a HQ tier or just your main craft? (this was implied in the sticky but not really spelled out)

Yes, all sub crafts need to be above the tier level to get that tier.
Example: Sha'ir Manteel 95gold, 60cc has a t0 due to the cc skill

*Is there any point to getting the +Synth items before 100, for skillup purposes at least? The only thing I can think of is to get you into the "sweet spot" for skillups and then take them off when you're past it.

They arent necessary but they can help.

*What's a good key item to get for smithing? Smithing seems awfully lacking. Leather has the enchantment for powder boots and haste belt, bone/GS has the ones for reraise items...the only thing remotely appealing for Smithing is the one for Twicer, which is beyond niche.

Im not sure about this one.

*Is getting a craft to 100 worth it? Particularly smithing. It doesn't seem the strongest of the 100s, I just want to know if I'll still have the opportunity to make lots and lots of money.

any craft has the possibility of making money, the key to making the most with any craft is to know your market, ffxiah is the best for this, with prices constantly changing, the way to make money is to be on top of things

hope this helps..

[Celebrindor]

*Is there any point to getting the +Synth items before 100, for skillup purposes at least? The only thing I can think of is to get you into the "sweet spot" for skillups and then take them off when you're past it.

To be honest, I feel the best thing about getting each +skill item when they become available is because its a metric fuckton of guild points for all the items, and you'll get sick of seeing money go down the drain. That, and when you are a journeyman and can get your smithing gloves, the average turn in item will have a higher point/gil ratio than later. Not always the case, but very often it is.

Plus, if you want a subcraft's +skill item (ex. I have my shaded specs from GS), it doesn't hurt so bad to switch guild allegiances if you can "take breaks" dumping GP in one craft.

*What's a good key item to get for smithing? Smithing seems awfully lacking. Leather has the enchantment for powder boots and haste belt, bone/GS has the ones for reraise items...the only thing remotely appealing for Smithing is the one for Twicer, which is beyond niche.

dunno about enchantment items, but every smither I know loves sheeting, and I'm thinking about getting it myself even from a subcraft standpoint. Just saves a helluva lot of time, and since you can't HQ sheets, might as well save time.

And the big one:

*Is getting a craft to 100 worth it? Particularly smithing. It doesn't seem the strongest of the 100s, I just want to know if I'll still have the opportunity to make lots and lots of money.

Too server dependant, depends on the markets/niches/etc. I only leveled CC for self reasons (as a mage, a lot of self-signed HQ items are on my list- prism cape, devotee's+1, mahatma slops, umbra cape, mahatma hpl., you get the idea) and the money is secondary. I'd say if you take that approach, it'll be worth it.

[Alathar]

*Is there any point to getting the +Synth items before 100, for skillup purposes at least? The only thing I can think of is to get you into the "sweet spot" for skillups and then take them off when you're past it.

One thing they can help with is giving you a chance of HQ. Essentially, you cannot HQ if your enhanced skill level (support, gear), is below the item cap. (Note: I don't think I have ever seen someone explicitly state this point, but in ~1500 synths skilling bone, i never HQed if below the synth cap). If you are 4 away from the cap, you can't HQ without gloves, anvil, or apron. This isn't as relevant at your current skill level, but if you get up into the adaman gear area, having a shot at HQ is a nice bonus.

[vegetaa]

Essentially, you cannot HQ if your enhanced skill level (support, gear), is below the item cap. (Note: I don't think I have ever seen someone explicitly state this point, but in ~1500 synths skilling bone, i never HQed if below the synth cap).

I'm doubtful about this.

While the odds of HQing are at best those of a T0 synth, I'm pretty sure you can HQ even when your skill is below the item cap. I'm actually pretty sure it happened to me several times back when I was skilling WW up...gonna check this tonight on my notes.

[Jones]

I know I made a Cape+1 while skilling up CC. I'm nearly certain my craft was at 4 at the time, as I had just dinged 4 on grass cloths and then went straight to capes, so with advanced support I should have only been 7, while the cap for capes is 8. I don't think I had dinged 5 yet when I did it, but being an amateur crafter, I didn't know this was anything special past just a fluke T0.

[Spekkio]

i know i hqed a silk cloth skilling on it and i'm fairly confident i was more than 1 lvl below cap. also, + skill items increase your augmented skill lowering your roll to break (at least i think it does) and that can save you money or if you're low enough you can't skill on breaks, get you a roll on a skillup you wouldn't have normally had.

[Skeetaru]

Here are your answers

1. Yes, the tier you get to HQ an item is the lowest (i.e. lowest %) tier that either your main OR your subcrafts hit.

if a synth is lvl 80 main craft and 60 subcraft - tier 0

2. Yes, get the GP going as early as possible - it will make everything pre and post 100 easier.

3. Don't worry much about the key item - Smithing seems to be probably the most steady money out of any craft now.

4. I would say no, not anymore because of the state of the economy in FFXI and the over saturation of 100 crafters undercutting each other. Coupled with SE never doing really anything positive for crafting and it makes 100 crafts only good if you want to HQ stuff for yourself or friends.

EDIT: Lock this thread too before some more bad information gets added prz!

[el_tio]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

And on the debate, I'm almost certain I HQed into steel ingots instead of iron ingots while I was skilling up smithing.

[Alathar]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

And on the debate, I'm almost certain I HQed into steel ingots instead of iron ingots while I was skilling up smithing.

The argument is not whether or not you can HQ while skilling up, it's whether or not you can be below the cap (even with support, items) and still HQ.

[Tubbers]

One thing they can help with is giving you a chance of HQ. Essentially, you cannot HQ if your enhanced skill level (support, gear), is below the item cap. (Note: I don't think I have ever seen someone explicitly state this point, but in ~1500 synths skilling bone, i never HQed if below the synth cap). If you are 4 away from the cap, you can't HQ without gloves, anvil, or apron. This isn't as relevant at your current skill level, but if you get up into the adaman gear area, having a shot at HQ is a nice bonus.

This is incorrect. I've HQ'd plenty of things while my enhanced skill was below the cap. Specifically 3 Gavial Masks and 4 Nereid rings. Yes, enhanced skill was below the cap.

[Theraven]

This is incorrect. I've HQ'd plenty of things while my enhanced skill was below the cap. Specifically 3 Gavial Masks and 4 Nereid rings. Yes, enhanced skill was below the cap.

Are you sure? I've leveled Gold to 100, all subs to 60, Cloth to 90 on a mule, 3 subs on the cloth mule to their 40's and Leather on another mule into the 50's and I've NEVER hq'd anything while skilling up if I was below the cap including items/support. I've hq'd many times skilling up, but I was always at or above the cap via support/items when it happened.

[el_tio]

*(my most basic Q): Do all your subcrafts have to be above a HQ tier or just your main craft? (this was implied in the sticky but not really spelled out)

Yes, all sub crafts need to be above the tier level to get that tier.
Example: Sha'ir Manteel 95gold, 60cc has a t0 due to the cc skill

So hauby is impossible to get to T2? Cloth 64+5 and Smithing 96+3 is the best I can figure. Unless you get cloth to Veteran then downlevel it. >_>

[Alathar]

So hauby is impossible to get to T2? Cloth 64+5 and Smithing 96+3 is the best I can figure. Unless you get cloth to Veteran then downlevel it. >_>

You cannot tier 2 hauby. Also, if you got cloth to veteran (to get tapestry i assume?) and downleveled it you would only be +2 smithing since you can't get 2 crafting moghancements. Not only that, you can't wear the two aprons simultaneously. Therefore at best, you're looking at 65+4 Cloth, Smithing 95+3 (2 skill short).

[Soa]

Essentially, you cannot HQ if your enhanced skill level (support, gear), is below the item cap.

I can confirm that this is incorrect. I HQ'ed several things on my cooking mule while skilling up with no enhancements (Pipin Hot Popoto for example), and just the other day I synthed a Gavial Mask +1 with 96+2 skill. I also had a few Nereid Rings while skilling on those too, almost positive I was below cap with enhancements.

[cdgreg]

1. I was under the impression you can HQ while being below cap.

2. Is it worth it? I leveled a craft to 100 for fun, I really never plan on making all the gil/time I invested back. If I get ridiculously lucky one day and T0 dusk gloves I will, otherwise save your gil. That's just my opinion though, if you're going to craft for fun and enjoy it then yes it's worth it. If you're thinking of smithing from 55-100 just for the "profit" you're going to need a hell of a lot of gil up front to achieve this and some luck in the end.

[Aphelidia]

you can HQ while under cap level. otherwise, those synths that are labeled at lvl 101+ would not be possible to HQ, but they are. Although ill admit theres no real way to 100% confirm those synths are indeed above level 100 <.< but anyway, thats just one example among others. Ive HQ'd things while under cap before, sucks that at those times it was synths that didnt matter eh.

[tymora]

you can HQ while under cap level. otherwise, those synths that are labeled at lvl 101+ would not be possible to HQ, but they are. Although ill admit theres no real way to 100% confirm those synths are indeed above level 100 <.< but anyway, thats just one example among others. Ive HQ'd things while under cap before, sucks that at those times it was synths that didnt matter eh.

You can confirm it by checking your local guild recipe NPCs.
Person who gives you NQ boost lists recipes 1-5 levels above your current skill level. HQ boost lists recipes 6+.

[Alathar]

you can HQ while under cap level. otherwise, those synths that are labeled at lvl 101+ would not be possible to HQ, but they are.

Why would 101+ not be possible? I was saying you can't HQ below the cap. i.e. maybe you can't HQ those synths 101+ without items/support?


It seems that the general consensus is that people think that you can still HQ while under skill cap. I don't know how many of these are "gut feelings" and how many are based on data. I skilled up my bone mule from scratch and recorded every synth (HD got wiped in the summer ). I started on the hypothesis that you cannot HQ while below the cap and in 1800 synths minus a few (levels where HQ was desirable e.g. trumpet ring). Never in that time did I see anything to disprove this. This isn't to say that it's impossible, I could have just been unlucky.

This next bit isn't directed at anybody specific and is not intended to offend. The fact of the matter is, I don't know if I can trust what other people say. Of course, you don't have to trust what I say either. This is essentially why I conducted the test, to prove to myself that you cannot HQ it while below the cap. This way I can be sure that the tests were under the right conditions vs. "I remember HQing this once. I was probably below the cap."

[tymora]

Why would 101+ not be possible? I was saying you can't HQ below the cap. i.e. maybe you can't HQ those synths 101+ without items/support?


It seems that the general consensus is that people think that you can still HQ while under skill cap. I don't know how many of these are "gut feelings" and how many are based on data. I skilled up my bone mule from scratch and recorded every synth (HD got wiped in the summer ). I started on the hypothesis that you cannot HQ while below the cap and in 1800 synths minus a few (levels where HQ was desirable e.g. trumpet ring). Never in that time did I see anything to disprove this. This isn't to say that it's impossible, I could have just been unlucky.

This next bit isn't directed at anybody specific and is not intended to offend. The fact of the matter is, I don't know if I can trust what other people say. Of course, you don't have to trust what I say either. This is essentially why I conducted the test, to prove to myself that you cannot HQ it while below the cap. This way I can be sure that the tests were under the right conditions vs. "I remember HQing this once. I was probably below the cap."

Which is why a crafter should always take down synth data for self reference at least ~ But I think there is at least one person here who thinks that it is a waste of time...