General Crafting Tips by Ctownwoody

Guide of Crafting Secrets By Ctownwoody of Asura TheSons (Of Valkrum) Linkshell Version 1.0

This guide was lovingly- sarcastically-created to answer a lot of people’s questions and to provide a greater depth of understanding to the science of crafting. The reason I refer to crafting as the “Sweet Science” is that it is a science, albeit one that you can almost personalize and to which you can add your own flourishes. What I have put here is based on my own experiences, readings, and experimentations, as well as observations. While I can’t call the results themselves ‘scientific’ because they were not rigorously tested against hypotheses, I did try and assemble what I know works, or, lacking the ability to attempt, was told works. Most of this is based on my own observations, and any resemblances to people you know, especially on Asura...well, just assume it’s intentional.

A word on organization. I've grouped the tips below by their primary area using a super-secret formula. There are secondary areas that they also fall under. Read them all, highlight your favorites and feel free to use the Discussion tab to, well, discuss them.

The Crafters’ Mindset
If you plan to take crafting seriously (or you haven’t sold your third Kraken Club), here are some tips about how to think.
 * 1) Crafting is about earning skill ‘’’&’’’ earning gil. Every synth can be plotted on a grid according to the potential to earn gil and the potential to earn skill. A smart crafter learns how to maximize the sum of both; a dumb crafter drastically sacrifices one for the other.
 * 2) Never hesitate to ask for advice; never hesitate to respond to inquiries for advice. It’s good for the game overall and good for your ego.
 * 3) Your first instinct when you need or want something should be, “Can I make it myself for cheaper?” Your second instinct should be, “If not, can I craft the ingredients to save gil?”
 * 4) While your friend list and linkshells may call them junk or worthless garbage, you should call them ‘potential profit’ and ‘opportunity.’
 * 5) Learn Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #111: Treat people in your debt like family: exploit them utterly. Treat your friends and linkshell members like family.
 * 6) Never lie, never cheat, never steal, and never change the terms of a bargain mid-trade. A reputation for honesty and satisfied customers lead to repeat and improved business opportunities.
 * 7) Manage your books. You don’t need a GAAP-certified ledger, but try to ensure that your sales exceed your purchases.
 * 8) Never underestimate how monumentally boring crafting can be. For example, try crafting 2000 boltheads then crafting them into bolts. Learn the scope and scale in your projects to save your sanity.
 * 9) As you advance, increasingly resist the urge to craft whenever. Save up ingredients and plan ahead for big sessions at peak moments. It’s the difference between getting .5 from 12 synths at level 95+ and getting .1 from 24 synths at the same level.
 * 10) Take pride in your crafting, but as a crafter, you have no pride. Begging, pleading, and other similar [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-abasement displays are never beyond your capacity.

The Math & Science Side of the Game
This section is about being analytical about a computer game. Go figure, huh?

Common Mistakes
This section either houses things that people do that are totally boneheaded, or just a list of my biggest pet peeves. Discuss.

The Auction House Super/System
All props to Texas Dolly, this section is about about how to play the Auction House power-games like you are a Master of the Universe (follow the link; it's not what you first thought).

Other Crafters
Friend or Foe? RAFO!

Other People
These are whom PT Barnum and HL Mencken often talked about...

Earning Gil
Not a lot because there aren't a lot of secrets here that haven't been discussed above.

Guilds
Since they aren't located in Jeuno or Whitegate, these suck but are part of the game.

The Psychological Side
Just a few points missed from above.