Guild Wars 2

Is getting lv400 crafting worth the effort? because right now I’m at 225 armorsmithing and 150 weapon smithing but the equip bonuses feel lackluster and really low level.

from everything I have read, no. At the end you can buy legendaries/exotic cheaper than you could crafting them with the mats (which you could have also sold).

Im only at 100 in my crafting, so this is just based off the threads here and there that I read.

For a first character I wouldn`t put crafting as the best thing to do. But for making gear for your other characters you really can`t beat it if you take the time to farm the materials you need.

No.

It’s just better to learn how to play the TP and create exotics from the Mystic Forge.

crafting for your weapon to use?? no, but if legendary are what you need to achieve go ahead

Since I am leveling all crafting and have 1 at 400 1 at 386 the rest is ranged from 200+ to 300. I definatly say no it is not really worth it due to the absurd low drop rates of fine crafting mats needed. However for myself it is another part of the game I enjoy, even that can be frustrating at times but I like being self sufficent.

Crafting is not worth the time unless you want to level up characters by doing it, or are pursuing a legendary weapon, in which you only need 2 specific crafts at level 400.

You’re better off just buying items on the trading post to gear up.

I believe its a different experience for everyone.

Yesterday I leveled my tailoring from 125 to 400 and crafted carrion exotics for my main. Total spent 6.5g – Cost of the exotic set from the TP about 8.5g.

I did, of course, have part of the mats for leveling, I would say about 70% of the leather/fiber scraps and 30% of fine mats and zero of the T6 mats + 12 ectos. Whatever I was missing I bought of the TP.

I could have sold all mats, buy the set and prob have leftover money (1-2 g) but now I have a max craft and an exotic set, so I think its worth, if you do it right. I did not follow any of the guides though as those seem to be maximized to cost as little as possible and not to help you make as much of your money back as possible.

I did it for the title, and I enjoy making my own gear even when it is not always the most cost-effective option. Worth it for me, but maybe not for everyone.

Cancer.9065:

I believe its a different experience for everyone.

Yesterday I leveled my tailoring from 125 to 400 and crafted carrion exotics for my main. Total spent 6.5g – Cost of the exotic set from the TP about 8.5g.

I did, of course, have part of the mats for leveling, I would say about 70% of the leather/fiber scraps and 30% of fine mats and zero of the T6 mats + 12 ectos. Whatever I was missing I bought of the TP.

I could have sold all mats, buy the set and prob have leftover money (1-2 g) but now I have a max craft and an exotic set, so I think its worth, if you do it right. I did not follow any of the guides though as those seem to be maximized to cost as little as possible and not to help you make as much of your money back as possible.

With tailor that doesn’t surprise me. I used a guide for huntsman which has very few sale-able items as you go along (compared to leatherworker which let me put about 25% on the TP vs vendor) and found a lot of times I could buy insignia for about half the price of making them and as long as I was willing to take 30 min to farm extra wood/ore I could vendor the “cheapest route” items back for about 80% of what I spent.

When all the guns are going to the vendor you make the cheapest one.

The guides aren’t all that because the prices of materials change a lot too. Elder Wood and Mithril cost about the same, so Pistols ended up being as cheap or cheaper than the Bows called for by the guide.

I leveled my tailoring to 400 and found it was definitely worth it. Most of the mats used to level were ones I gathered myself as I leveled – mostly with my main, some mats with my alts. So it didn’t cost me much at all except for the last 50 crafting levels or so where I got impatient and bought a bunch of stuff of the TP, but even that was fairly cheap.

I crafted a full set of rare the same day I hit 80 and am working on an exotic set currently very casually (not in any rush). I actually have more money now than I have ever had previously because the small cost I incurred getting impatient and buying a few of the mats was not much compared to how much I earned out PvEing for a night.

Anyone that wanted to do it faster could probably have a set of exotics the same day they hit 80 and if you want to grind the mats, it’s not really hard to do and would be quicker and cheaper than any other set.

I haven’t had the problems leveling up skills that others tend to report, but I also do it differently…

Combining Weaponsmithing + Armorsmithing means you need to double-dip almost all your materials. Of course you will run into shortages this way. Combine Cooking + Weaponsmith, and there is no cross-competition for resources.

My guardian is an armorsmith/jeweler. Yes, I needed to work to get the ore for two metal-heavy professions, but I knew this before I chose the path.
My warrior is a weaponsmith/cook.
My elementalist is a tailor/artificer.
My ranger is a huntsman/leatherworker.

The overlap on these combinations, with the exception of my guardian, is fairly minimal and you can progress the crafts as you level. Yes, the elementalist and ranger have fine crafting material shortages, but at this point I can bankroll those easily with the surplus materials each acquires.

Is it worth it in the end? If I place no value on my time, then no, it isn’t. However, since I do value my time, then playing the TP cycles to minimize cost and maximize profit while I sell materials and buy finished products is more expensive than simply crafting what I use myself. I encounter the raw materials while playing, and I turn them into items I use quite efficiently. Surplus materials are sold for a profit or turned into ectos. While leveling, the experience boost from crafting is a large time-saver too. Working on cooking has caused significant inventory complications for all my characters, but I also have enough buffs on-hand to last a long time.

The main advantage to having the crafting skill is that you can produce the item you want, when you want it. You call the stats lackluster, but what they are is level-appropriate—crafted gear has the same stats as dropped gear of an equivalent level. If it is weaker, thats because you’re making items beneath where you should be.

florence.1674:

No.

It’s just better to learn how to play the TP and create exotics from the Mystic Forge.

This hits on something that has been bothering me. I crafted weaponsmithing to 400 and am working on leather working and huntsman on two different characters, and as frustrating as it can be to get fine mats, orichalcum and ancient wood, I don’t regret it. I’m not normally a crafter but I enjoyed it here.

What has really frustrated me though is that for all the work put into crafting weaponsmithy, all my creations look largely like either cobbled together crap or base items. Almost all the really cool looking weapons comes from the Mystic Forge and very rarely do things need something from a craft. Every time I see a new recipe of some really cool looking item (probably a greatsword no less) it’s from the Mystic Forge, and it feels like another slap in the face.

Why wasn’t some of that given to the crafts? Why is my 400 weaponsmith skill largely useless compared to being able to afford and/or grind for mats for a Mystic Forge recipe, or sheer luck from tossing somethings in to get something else out?

I’m not interested in crafting legendaries right now. My main is a thief, and the MLP bow, weird and kind of creepy pistol, the dagger and sword don’t interest me in the slightest. Bolt was of interest to me for awhile, but in all honesty I prefer the shape of my ceremonial saber. I don’t have any other options right now.

So besides crafting ingredients for legendaries and lackluster appearing (yes, my opinion) but stat equivalent gear, what did I do it all for? Where is the crafter reward? I want my warm and fuzzy feeling over creating something I can be really proud of.

Some of these forge recipes should be injected into the crafting disciplines and at a variety of skill levels. Even if it was just the skin and the item was of white quality, at least it would be something to be proud of.

@ Ravrohan

i definitely agree, except i am very interested in crafting legendaries. i’m a sucker for those animations.

i think the absolute best incentive i could think of for crafting is a discount on armor repairs. it would apply per level, per profession, regardless of which professions you had raised.

alternatively, and harder to balance, each prof could give its own buffs. for real though, i think lowering armor repairs for higher crafting levels would be awesome.

i also think that we should have FAR more skin choices for crafted armor; and along with that, i’d be much happier if max crafting allowed you to substitute some sort of material for the function of transmute.

all of these seem like simple ways to buff crafting without breaking the economy. any ideas?

@ Ravrohan more recipes for skins in crafting would be nice. Not sure how many skins can be crafted atm but remember that not all recipes are sold by the craft smiths some recipes you get from karma vendor. My necro uses the Goldskull kris http://www.gw2db.com/recipes/10740-godskull-kris (just the skin)

I have found crafting very rewarding since I like to make my own stuff- it was really hard in the lower lvls but as my character progressed it became easier because I could sell unneeded mats and buy off the TP to fill in the gaps.
I have made some money from crafting- specifically jewelry and tailoring, so it is all good.
I would love to see more crafted skins because they are very limited compared to the mystic forge.
I have been hunting skin recipes since beta and I have found exactly 2- one of which is missing the head and shoulders (devout).
I think creating more crafted specific skins would be wonderful- it would also go a long way toward making crafting more profitable

Leveling a craft really isn’t the problem, I’ve leveled multiple crafts myself. The problem is once you hit cap you aren’t really going to make any money off of that craft. I’m doing it solely for the 10 levels you get per craft, 10 skill points per craft and each costs between 5-10 gold to level, exception being cooking which is only ~1 gold.

somewhat no. mainly (incase you havent read) its the lack of vanilla or some other cooking mat that hampers players progress. however if you have the time and patience and karma i’d say go for it. at first it sucked for me but i seem to enjoy. plus some of the “end game” food players buy for some what decent money. not every one that plays guild wars 2 is after O-berry bars.

On Crafting: i say, go for it.

Yes, it is not worth it -moneywise-, but it is fun and gives a sense of accomplishment you cannot have simply playing the TP and using the Mystic Forge.

It is so easy to max craft, that i really cannot understand why people in my guild wonders why “i have crafted my armor myself” instead of “selling all materials and buying it from the TP”. It is not all about money, my friends. It is the act of creation

And… I could be the one SELLING you your armor.

Fabsm.5897:

On Crafting: i say, go for it.

Yes, it is not worth it -moneywise-, but it is fun and gives a sense of accomplishment you cannot have simply playing the TP and using the Mystic Forge.

It is so easy to max craft, that i really cannot understand why people in my guild wonders why “i have crafted my armor myself” instead of “selling all materials and buying it from the TP”. It is not all about money, my friends. It is the act of creation

And… I could be the one SELLING you your armor.

Best reason for crafting I think.