Proposal: HQ components/synthesis

[Kyreth]

I put this up initially on FFXIClopedia, to positive response- figured I'd bounce it off the BG crafting community and see what you think of the proposal.

-delicious copypasta cooking from here-

One of the most frustrating HQ results for any crafter is forming an item of some kind that's used for synthesizing a more complex one- like oak cudgels for a Warp cudgel- and getting an HQ result that produces an item incapable of being used to make it in the first place.

Also, there is nothing that drives me up the wall more than HQing something that literally has identical results to the original- namely ingots, cloth/threads, etc.

Rather than ending up with what is essentially a waste of materials/useless HQ's, could we:

1) Allow HQ versions of a synthesis component to be used in making new items as an alternative to the NQ version (so an Oak Cudgel +1 could be used to make a Warp Cudgel).

2) If HQ components are used, they would slightly improve the chances of HQing the new item and slightly reduce the chances of critical (component loss) failures. Each HQ item used could add +1% HQ, -1% critical failure.

3) Allow for HQ versions of basic materials (ingots, threads, etc.) when synthesized- so if I made a bronze ingot, it could either be a regular bronze ingot or a "fine bronze ingot", which could then be used in another item as shown in 2), above.

This would allow for many HQ synths to go out of the system in useful ways, rather than being NPC'ed by an annoyed crafter as a waste, plus give HQ's meaningful results on many current recipes.

-end serving of copypasta-

[Frodorn]

Its a nice Idea for items like Warp Clubs, and Reraise Hairpins...

I'm with with its annoying as hell to HQ a hairpin and not be able to turn it into a RR pin.

The idea of Allow for HQ versions of basic materials, and HQ Materials increasing the HQ Rate would not be a good thing. In FFXI Gear is always being created and rarely being destroyed. This drive the price down. The only thing that make HQ worth anything is that they are more Rare so the market isn't completely saturated in most cases. Making HQ easier to make will just lower the price of them and at some point make them harder to sell.

If you want to HQ Materials, having it increase the Quantity of the material would be a much better result in the long run for the crafter then having it increase HQ rates. Many Materials already have an HQ that rises the quantity.

[solsovly]

This idea has been around since as long as I can remember. Don't think you will find anyone that will object to this.

[Thistle]

1) Allow HQ versions of a synthesis component to be used in making new items as an alternative to the NQ version (so an Oak Cudgel +1 could be used to make a Warp Cudgel).

I've been wanting that for years.

[Prep]

ya this would be really nice

[Kyreth]

Its a nice Idea for items like Warp Clubs, and Reraise Hairpins...

I'm with with its annoying as hell to HQ a hairpin and not be able to turn it into a RR pin.

The idea of Allow for HQ versions of basic materials, and HQ Materials increasing the HQ Rate would not be a good thing. In FFXI Gear is always being created and rarely being destroyed. This drive the price down. The only thing that make HQ worth anything is that they are more Rare so the market isn't completely saturated in most cases. Making HQ easier to make will just lower the price of them and at some point make them harder to sell.

On the other hand, the ability to improve HQ rates is itself derived from other HQ's, and the increase is minimal. The utter maximum one could possibly get would be an 8% increase- +1% of HQ per item, assuming all items could be HQ materials.

Say I wanted Mahatma Slops. To get the best possible odds, I'd need to HQ:

A rainbow thread (78 cap, impossible to T31)
2x Silk Cloth HQ's (53 cap, barely able to T51 with 104 skill)
2x Velvet Cloth HQ's (51 or 45 cap- you can reasonably T31 this, even T51 this)
Ram Leather (36 leather, not too hard to HQ).

All of these, HQ materials would give you a 6% bonus to your current odds of HQing the slops. Good luck on getting that best possible odds for your synth, it probably took a small mountain of other synths just to get HQ's on all the materials you're using for this one, single piece of work.

Of course, everyone and their mother's going to be fighting over those HQ materials now....you guessed it, because they're rare. And not only rare, but rare AND consumable AND always useful for when you're trying to create that HQ masterpiece.

You can't desynth them from items. You can't get them as farming drops. And because they're HQ results, you will never see them in large amounts for high-end crafting.

Drop-only materials in a synth can't be HQ materials. Nor can some items that are already HQ's- like gemstones. The impact will be minimal on the number of HQ items produced- though it'll help a small bit. And we crafters being OCD nutters as it is, those HQ's will sell like mad.

If you want to HQ Materials, having it increase the Quantity of the material would be a much better result in the long run for the crafter then having it increase HQ rates. Many Materials already have an HQ that rises the quantity.

This would be a horrible option. It'd neatly cut off the main money supply lower-level crafters get as-is...making ingots/cloths/threads, as high-level crafters would simply mass-produce entire stacks of cloth/ingots/thread. See sushibots and the like- we'd end up with RMT destroying the mid-range market for all crafts.

[Seyrr]

It is so damn annoying to be a top-tier chef who has to ask other people to cook his ingredients.

Want a plate of spaghetti carbonara? Of course you do. Delicious pasta with a rich creamy sauce, fresh grated cheese, and bits of crisp bacon (in this case, buffalo jerky) crumbled throughout? Deeeelicious. But if I go and HQ the bacon, oh, that just won't do. It's TOO GOOD to be used in carbonara. You may simply set it down and stare at it sometimes (until you get impatient and just turn it in for consolation GP.) You don't even want to ask about what happens if I make cheese too well.

And for people who like Tavnazian Tacos, wouldn't you just love to step it up a bit by taking a Leremieu Salad, the pinnacle of seafood salads, and portioning it into perfectly prepared Tortillas Bueno? A seafood taco made from the finest, freshest ingredients available. If that sounds appealing to you, you're destined to burn in hell, because such creations are an abomination unto the Goddess.

I could go on like this for a while (and I have before, ask my linkshell.) I think it's ridiculous that I have to worry about the fact that I may be too good at cooking to make a particular dish. It'd be nice if using top-shelf ingredients gave me even a slightly improved chance of HQ, but I'd be happy if I could use them either way.

As a side note, why does Goldsmithing get special treatment? I'm looking at you, rings and earrings. If you can do it, I don't see how SE can claim other crafts can't.

[Kyreth]

It is so damn annoying to be a top-tier chef who has to ask other people to cook his ingredients.

It was a Cooking master who inspired the original idea for this, cause making Tacos when you keep HQing the salads is an exercise in utter frustration. Better components should be useful components, not a result to tear one's hair out at the roots.

[Acesmcnugget]

2x Silk Cloth HQ's (53 cap, barely able to T31 with 104 skill)
2x Velvet Cloth HQ's (51 or 45 cap- you can reasonably T31 this, even T51 this)

Pretty sure you mean T51 for both of these. Other than that, I agree with everything you said. Would ultimately destroy a system that is already fucked, making crafting even more of a nightmare.

[Kyreth]

2x Silk Cloth HQ's (53 cap, barely able to T31 with 104 skill)
2x Velvet Cloth HQ's (51 or 45 cap- you can reasonably T31 this, even T51 this)

Pretty sure you mean T51 for both of these. Other than that, I agree with everything you said. Would ultimately destroy a system that is already fucked, making crafting even more of a nightmare.

Fixed. I'll drop this into the suggestion section, though please, more feedback is good feedback.

[Bovineaddiction]

And for people who like Tavnazian Tacos, wouldn't you just love to step it up a bit by taking a Leremieu Salad, the pinnacle of seafood salads, and portioning it into perfectly prepared Tortillas Bueno? A seafood taco made from the finest, freshest ingredients available. If that sounds appealing to you, you're destined to burn in hell, because such creations are an abomination unto the Goddess.

Lol, this made my day.

I'm sending a copy/paste of the suggestion at the top of this page through SE's customer feedback form.

[ikariffxi]

I like idea 1, 2 and 3 are unnecessary though.

And if idea 1 is implemented, all the people who bought (somewhat cheap) Peace Cape+1s can rejoice!

[Kyreth]

I like idea 1, 2 and 3 are unnecessary though.

And if idea 1 is implemented, all the people who bought (somewhat cheap) Peace Cape+1s can rejoice!

#2 and #3 are there to give folks better demand for all HQ synths, regardless of whether it's an HQ of a component item used to make something else, or an HQ on a component, period. Like it or not, we have a market that circulates money better on it's rarer items than it's common ones, and on it's consumable items more than it's "permament" ones.

Adding in encouragements to usefully consume +1 items otherwise vendored in frustration and an entirely new market for HQ materials for synthesis use for all crafts was my intended purpose.

Admit it. You'd love to see your HQ's on a bunch of ore or thread be worth something more than a pretty animation.