Guild Wars 2

First, let’s compare 4 types of players:
A – doesn’t craft nor gather
B – gathers
C – crafts
D – gathers and crafts

A can accumulate a good deal of wealth, and can then purchase gear from other players.
B can arguably accumulate even more wealth, and is more likely to be able to fund crafting on his own.
C will need to use his wealth to fund his own crafting, and will probably have the most problems down the road.
D is somewhat balanced, but probably spends enough time crafting and gathering such that he will not accumulate alot of wealth, compared to A or B.

This means to be a successful crafter, you usually need a decent amount of gathering too.
To be a successful non-crafter, you should still gather to fund any equipment you might need later, rather than buying the ingredients yourself.

So, the type players that are really worth comparing are B and D.
B is always effective no matter what.
D is only effective in the MMO scene if there is enough B around.

Considering the time you invest in crafting, wich is likely to use up most if not all of what you gather, what you get from crafting should be more than just the material worth of the items you craft:
The time you spent NOT acquiring wealth also needs to be compensated.
Crafting itself needs to be worthwhile, considering the alternatives.

If you can easily obtain gear through other means, wich are for the most part simpler and less demanding, then what is the purpose of Crafting?
Why should I go out of my way to Craft, when I can just do dungeons, WvWvW and anything that awards Karma, and obtain all I need?
Likewise, why would others bother spending money on my Craft, if they can obtain the same or better?

Crafting should be able to provide the best gear in the game, but require materials that are obtained through activities that require player skill and dedication.

Crafting Disciplines produce food, potions and gear.
But where do all the nobles, soldiers and restaurants get their best food?
The answer: You.

1 – Periodically, NPCs would approach Crafting Discipline Masters in search of help.
These would be Crafting Dynamic Events, and would be available for all players, of all levels, of certain crafting disciplines.

1.1 – Garrison outfitters would request either full sets of armor or weaponry.
1.2 – Nobles might request jewelry or elixirs.
1.3 – Restaurant Owners would ask you to cook at the restaurant, or there might be a cooking contest somewhere.

2 – These CDEs would function similarly to normal delivery Dynamic Events – once the necessary items are handed, there is a period of time during wich they accept more, and then the event is finished.

3 – The purpose of these CDEs would be more than merely fun and variety.
3.1 – They would reward you with a hefty amount of gold, including a base reward and if the NPC doesn’t provide you with the materials, you’d also be given the total gold value of the materials required, based on the Trader NPC values for the materials, suggested below.
3.1.1 – This total would be modified by the Quality and Level of the items you Crafted.
3.2 – In addition, there might be a chance to obtain rare recipes from exceptionally grateful employers.

Just like in GW1, there should be Rune Trader, Gem Trader, Metal Trader, Cooking Trader, etc.

4 – These NPCs would buy materials for a price, and sell them for at least twice that amount.
4.1 – The more of a material an NPC Trader has, the cheaper it is, but the less they pay for it as well.
4.2 – Likewise, the less they have, the more they pay, and the higher they sell.

5 – Materials that are sold at the BLTC below the price NPC Traders buy for, are automatically bought by the NPC Traders.
5.1 – Materials that are sold at the BLTC above the price NPC Traders sell for, will likely not sell anyway.
5.2 – Furthermore, the Armor and Weapon Merchants are also given the intelligence to automatically buy any equipment that is sold below their prices.
5.3 – So, despite being independent from the BLTC, they establish a natural floor and a ceiling for the materials and items.

Combined with the Crafting Dynamic Events, I think the economy would become alot sturdier, and allow GW2 to feel more like a world.