More information on crafting in Final Fantasy XIV

Final Fantasy XIV's crafting system is rich with detail, requiring a fair bit of knowledge from players in order to successfully craft items. Not everything is explained in the game from the start, however, giving players the chance to experiment and learn what works best for themselves. There was a prior developer dispatch regarding the crafting system, but the team at Square-Enix has just released a new FAQ detailing some of the more subtle variants of crafting. While it's not full of formulae to let players make the optimal crafting build, it certainly does shed a great deal of light on the previous unknowns for the system.

Most players had noticed sparks produced from their synthesis on more than one occasion, but up until now it wasn't clear what the sparks represented. Apparently, the aetherial sparks (as they are referred to in the dispatch) come from straining the materials, either by trying to work too fast or attempting to craft something outside of your skill range. The FAQ also covers elemental destabilization and the effects of various craft-related attributes, such as Control helping to avoid both destabilization and sparking. Final Fantasy XIV's burgeoning crafter population should take a look at the news, as it might mean the difference between a fresh suit of armor and a fresh set of botched crafts.

Reader Comments (13)

That's nice.

They write basic info that the majority of people have figured out on their own already without SE's help.

Hey SE, how about addressing the horrible item/gear decay rate? Or the conjurer SP problem that make more than one conjurer in a party bad because they all are spamming heals, so only the first heals that land get exp while the others don't?

What other game can you go out and fight mobs for a few hours and break your weapon down to nothing in no time flat, then get charged over 100k to fix it?

ROFL. Sorry what?

I regularly have 3-5 conjs in my party and they all get solid SP. Learn to play perhaps instead of just healbotting?

100k for an item repair? Ever thought of leveling the craft, asking friends to do it or going to a crafting guild and asking someone there? That won't even cost you 5k.

Sadly, I have nothing of value to add to this conversation. I don't play FFXIV, although I would like to try it.

I found it important, however, to ask:

Tomi? Tomi...Undergallows?

-Birk

Actually, you can get almost anything fully repaired for less than 5k (in my limited experience)

The option to get a partial repair from an NPC is for those players who are in a rush to get back into the action or who really can't find a crafter to sort out the repair. But there are so many crafter's in the game there's always someone around who can do it for a fair tip.
I agree that gear damage is to high though.

They may have some issues with their game mechanics and interface, but the screenshot above is outstanding. If that is in-game, that is just off the hook crazy good.

'Fraid not; that's from the cinematic series with the rather nice looking human guy, not the in-game engine.

The screen shot above is from the cinematic. The in-game graphics are very good though.

I'm trying to get into this game, but my patience is wearing thin (for many of the reasons previously mentioned in other articles here on Massively.com). I'm not sure what SE was thinking, but I find myself logging into other MMOs even after I sit down with the intent to log into this one. I'm trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. I hope the game improves.

Sean,

It won't "improve". They made it clear already. The fundamental things about the game will stay as they are, they'll just add tweaks to make it more user-friendly and streamlined. If you don't like what the game has to offer right now, you probably never will.

Just find some friends who are actually enjoying their time. The community is very nice in this game. Playing it solo would make even me quit after a week.

I love that SE made crafting a major part of XIV, but I have to say the crafting mini-game is disappointing... vanguards crafting is much better imo, XIV is basically spamming "standard" over and over and over, HQ's are totally random, but still somehow I'm hooked... ugggh.

Crafting in FFXIV feels like having a second job, oh wait! that is only until you realize... one crafting skill isn't enough, ideally you will want 2 or 3 skills.

I disagree, to me crafting was the most appealing part. Having been a longterm FFXI player, I missed the incredibly shallow crafting in most other MMOs since then. EVE's wasn't bad in system, but had a barrier to entry that made it nigh on impossible for new players to get into.

XIV, while not as good as XI's crafting yet I feel, really brought me back to why some days I could happily just sit in town all day crafting while talking to folks on my craft linkshell.

The whole job comparison for MMOs in any form is a bit dated since ALL MMOs no matter what you do in them can be considered a second job depending on opinion.

I have been working in the MMO playing department for 10 years now and FFXIV felt like the most boring, tedious and uninspiring "second job" I have ever had. The crafting within FFXIV is painful, I disliked it more than I disliked Aion's crafting.

More information on crafting in Final Fantasy XIV

Reader Comments (13)

Posted: Oct 29th 2010 6:59PM real65rcncom said

Posted: Oct 29th 2010 7:27PM Ephe said

Posted: Oct 29th 2010 10:47PM Birk said

Posted: Nov 2nd 2010 4:40PM JoolaPrime said

Posted: Oct 29th 2010 7:10PM Anatidae said

Posted: Oct 29th 2010 7:16PM Minofan said

Posted: Oct 29th 2010 7:21PM Sean D said

Posted: Oct 29th 2010 7:34PM Ephe said

Posted: Oct 30th 2010 12:39AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 30th 2010 2:32AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 30th 2010 4:34AM Addfwyn said

Posted: Oct 30th 2010 5:21AM hami83 said

Posted: Oct 30th 2010 12:00PM Ryukan said

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