Master Crafters & Writs - Problem Statement

nagarjunna

Crafting Writs

The crafting writs present a challenge, an opportunity and a complete waste of time and resources all at once. In attempting to balance the writs across all levels ZOS has not succeeded in so doing. This problem statement addresses particularly the problems facing a Master Crafter (Level 50) in executing a writ and offers some possible solutions.

Observed Behaviour

A Crafter registers their profession as normal and picks up a writ. They then execute the writ and receive a reward. At low (non master crafter) levels the inspiration and rewards amply recompenses for the time and the cost of materials, which is considerable in some crafting specialties.

If a crafter is a Master Crafter then the inspiration is a complete waste of time as they are already maximum level. The material reward is minimal compared to the material cost(s) of executing the writ.

In short there is no incentive for a Master Crafter to execute a writ for most of the crafting professions.

Expected Behaviour
A Master Crafter should have good reason to execute a writ just like anyone else.

Rewards

This section deals with the current level of rewards.

Inspiration: receiving inspiration serves no purpose for the Master Crafter. They are already maximum level - any addition UNDER THE CURRENT SYSTEM is useless.
Experience: Welcome across the board and fairly balanced.
Materials: Essentially useless, except for the maps that are occasionally given out, however see below.

Maps
Enchantment Maps: My Master enchanter routinely holds 200 of each Essence; in excess of 75 of each level 9 potency; and as much Kuta and Rekura as I can farm from locations or receive from my hirelings typically around 50 Kuta and 100 Rekuta). Given this, then the map is pretty much valueless to me, since I am most likely to pick up Ta or a lower order aspect than the ones I really need.
Woodworking Maps: MY Master woodworker routinely holds 200 nightwood. As such therefore the amount of wood I receive from a map is effectively useless. I won't mention the lesser material as I don't use it.
Clothing Maps: My Master Clothier routinely holds 200 Voidcloth. As such therefore the amount of voidbloom I receive from a map is effectively useless. I won't mention the lesser material as I don't use it.
Blacksmith Maps: My Master Blacksmith routinely holds 200 Voidstone ingots. As such therefore the amount of voidstone I receive from a map is effectively useless. I won't mention the lesser material as I don't use it. The recent nerf to the number of Nirncruxes I might pick up from a map just underscores the lack of perceived value in the maps
Alchemy Maps: I am not in a position to comment on this as I am only level 40.
Provisioning rewards: Provisioning Writs give ample materials and recipes. This is the only writ which gives a good and fair return for the time and effort spent in doing them, however see Possible Solutions below for an adjustment.

Possible Solutions
My comments here only pertain to possible solutions for Master Crafters. They are presented here as ideas only.

Experience: Leave the current experience reward as it is. See inspiration for a possible increase to this.
Inspiration: Convert this to a lesser amount of experience and assign that to the Master Crafter in recognition of attaining level 50.
Materials: Leave the current Materials rewards as they are.
Recipes: Allow the chance to pick up any recipe from any faction - a master provisioner should have a wide range of recipes.

Maps

Adjust the maps so that if and only if a Master Crafter picks them up not only do they pick up standard materials (lesser or greater) but they also have a chance of picking up something extra:

1. A small amount of tempers (purple/yellow)
2. Give away books that allows the re-purposing of a trait that has been used in ANY piece of armour. So for example I might want to change a robe with the Sturdy trait to the Impenetrable trait - provided I have researched both book traits and have the relevant material on hand. The books must be researched and the books should be bound on pickup.
3. Give away books that allows the extraction of a glyph that has been used in ANY piece of armour. The extraction does not return the material only the Glyph itself. The books must be researched and the books should be bound on pickup.
4. Hand out research items in the profession concerned. Careful checking required here as handing out a previously researched item would be valueless
5. Instead of nirncurxes, hand out white nirn-honed items

There are probably other rewards that could be done, do feel free to suggest them!

Ourorboros

Your post is well intentioned and well written, but did you search the forum before writing it? The issue has already been brought up in a number of threads, and ZOS has already stated they are aware of the issue and are working on adjusting the rewards for master crafters.