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Does Daily Alchemy pay off?

Salvas_Aren
Salvas_Aren
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Considering that you have to hand in 3 plants each time you do the daily.
  • DeadlyRecluse
    DeadlyRecluse
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    You get more back, though. Plus survey chances.

    I haven't firmly tracked the value proposition, but I think the consensus is that it is worth it, maybe with skipping certain days if you don't want to re-up on those flowers.
    Thrice Empress, Forever Scrub
  • VaranisArano
    VaranisArano
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    Considering that you get 3 types of plants back, plus a chance for surveys (which you can cheese to get more of the plants you want)? I've always figured it was worth it now that they increased the variety of plants required. I haven't done a full cost-benefit analysis for it, but I suppose you could always skip days that asked for expensive materials if you wanted to.

    Back when it was 3 nirnroot all the time, that was annoying.
    Edited by VaranisArano on May 16, 2019 1:10PM
  • Asardes
    Asardes
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    Yes. You usually hand in cheap stuff like Nirnroot, mushrooms & Mudcrab Chitin and get back Corn Flower, Lady Smock, Columbine and other more expensive ones, even Mother of Pearl sometimes. Another advantage is that is easy to do it on multiple characters since you can craft many potions & poisons in bulk, and only pick them up from bank for each character. Also Alchemy is a skill that is quite easy to level and you level it anyway for Medicinal Use. From my experience the Alchemy Master Writs you get are the cheapest to craft, as low as 200 gold/voucher (considering prices on EU-PC but proportionally they should be the same.
    Beta tester since February 2014, played ESO-TU October 2015 - August 2022, currently on an extended break
    vMA (The Flawless Conqueror) | vVH (Spirit Slayer & of the Undying Song) | vDSA | vAA HM | vHRC HM | vSO HM | vMoL | vAS+1 | Emperor

    PC-EU CP 3000+
    41,000+ Achievement Points before High Isle
    Member of:
    Pact Veteran Trade: Exemplary
    Traders of the Covenant: God of Sales
    Tamriels Emporium: God of Sales
    Valinor Overflow: Trader
    The Traveling Merchant: Silver


    Characters:
    Asardes | 50 Nord Dragonknight | EP AR 50 | Master Crafter: all traits & recipes, all styles released before High Isle
    Alxaril Nelcarion | 50 High Elf Sorcerer | AD AR 20 |
    Dro'Bear Three-paws | 50 Khajiit Nightblade | AD AR 20 |
    Veronique Nicole | 50 Breton Templar | DC AR 20 |
    Sabina Flavia Cosades | 50 Imperial Warden | EP AR 20 |
    Ervesa Neloren | 50 Dark Elf Dragonknight | EP AR 20 |
    Fendar Khodwin | 50 Redguard Sorcerer | DC AR 20 |
    Surilanwe of Lillandril | 50 High Elf Nightblade | AD AR 20 |
    Joleen the Swift | 50 Redguard Templar | DC AR 20 |
    Draynor Telvanni | 50 Dark Elf Warden | EP AR 20 |
    Claudius Tharn | 50 Necromancer | DC AR 20 |
    Nazura-la the Bonedancer | 50 Necromancer | AD AR 20 |

    Tharkul gro-Shug | 50 Orc Dragonknight | DC AR 4 |
    Ushruka gra-Lhurgash | 50 Orc Sorcerer | AD AR 4 |
    Cienwen ferch Llywelyn | 50 Breton Nightblade | DC AR 4 |
    Plays-with-Sunray | 50 Argonian Templar | EP AR 4 |
    Milariel | 50 Wood Elf Warden | AD AR 4 |
    Scheei-Jul | 50 Necromancer | EP AR 4 |

    PC-NA CP 1800+
    30,000+ Achievement Points before High Isle
    Member of:
    Savage Blade: Majestic Machette


    Characters:
    Asardes the Exile | 50 Nord Dragonknight | EP AR 30 |
  • sevomd69
    sevomd69
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    Considering that you get 3 types of plants back, plus a chance for surveys (which you can cheese to get more of the plants you want)? I've always figured it was worth it now that they increased the variety of plants required. I haven't done a full cost-benefit analysis for it, but I suppose you could always skip days that asked for expensive materials if you wanted to.

    Back when it was 3 nirnroot all the time, that was annoying.

    How do u cheese a survey?
  • tmbrinks
    tmbrinks
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    Yes, not quite as profitable as the other crafts, but still worth it!

    Based on my calculations, with selling everything you get, as well as the cost of the materials based on PC/NA MM prices, doing the master writs, selling the items bought with vouchers, etc..

    Alchemy nets you 34.1k gold per month per character at maximum level

    Compared to the other crafts
    Enchanting - 57.1k
    Provisioning - 24.7k
    Woodworking - 42.9k
    Clothing - 77.5k
    Blacksmithing - 82.2k
    Jewelry - 89.1k

    These are all per month, per character

    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11dEEnHBccrDPo0yY4a5BattPjlivjdVrfiy9eO_gMTo/edit#gid=1067338994

    This the link to the spreadsheet where I've done my calculations. I haven't updated the MM prices in a month or so, so they might be slightly off... and MM is based on the guilds you're in, but I'm in 3 fairly large guilds in 3 different major cities.
    Edited by tmbrinks on May 16, 2019 1:18PM
    Tenacious Dreamer - Hurricane Herald - Godslayer - Dawnbringer - Gryphon Heart - Tick Tock Tormenter - Immortal Redeemer - Dro-m'Athra Destroyer
    The Unchained - Temporal Tempest - Curator's Champion - Fist of Tava - Invader's Bane - Land, Air, and Sea Supremacy - Zero Regrets - Battlespire's Best - Bastion Breaker - Ardent Bibliophile - Subterranean Smasher - Bane of Thorns - True Genius - In Defiance of Death - No Rest for the Wicked - Nature's Wrath - Undying Endurance - Relentless Raider - Depths Defier - Apex Predator - Pure Lunacy - Mountain God - Leave No Bone Unbroken - CoS/RoM/BF/FH Challenger
    60,005 achievement points
  • THEDKEXPERIENCE
    THEDKEXPERIENCE
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    I’ve had a master alchemist for 5 years. I wish I could sell my surveys because they take up way more bag space than I’d like. Still, it’s very profitable in a return on mats way. You won’t make much selling potions but you’ll save tens of thousands of gold in the long run.

    Just pre-make your potions. I only have to make an alchemy writ like once every year.
  • tmbrinks
    tmbrinks
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    sevomd69 wrote: »
    Considering that you get 3 types of plants back, plus a chance for surveys (which you can cheese to get more of the plants you want)? I've always figured it was worth it now that they increased the variety of plants required. I haven't done a full cost-benefit analysis for it, but I suppose you could always skip days that asked for expensive materials if you wanted to.

    Back when it was 3 nirnroot all the time, that was annoying.

    How do u cheese a survey?

    running away from the alchemy survey will "reset" it, as long as you have not interacted with any of the plants. Alchemy is the only one it works with because you can 'see' the different plants before interacting.
    Tenacious Dreamer - Hurricane Herald - Godslayer - Dawnbringer - Gryphon Heart - Tick Tock Tormenter - Immortal Redeemer - Dro-m'Athra Destroyer
    The Unchained - Temporal Tempest - Curator's Champion - Fist of Tava - Invader's Bane - Land, Air, and Sea Supremacy - Zero Regrets - Battlespire's Best - Bastion Breaker - Ardent Bibliophile - Subterranean Smasher - Bane of Thorns - True Genius - In Defiance of Death - No Rest for the Wicked - Nature's Wrath - Undying Endurance - Relentless Raider - Depths Defier - Apex Predator - Pure Lunacy - Mountain God - Leave No Bone Unbroken - CoS/RoM/BF/FH Challenger
    60,005 achievement points
  • sevomd69
    sevomd69
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    tmbrinks wrote: »
    sevomd69 wrote: »
    Considering that you get 3 types of plants back, plus a chance for surveys (which you can cheese to get more of the plants you want)? I've always figured it was worth it now that they increased the variety of plants required. I haven't done a full cost-benefit analysis for it, but I suppose you could always skip days that asked for expensive materials if you wanted to.

    Back when it was 3 nirnroot all the time, that was annoying.

    How do u cheese a survey?

    running away from the alchemy survey will "reset" it, as long as you have not interacted with any of the plants. Alchemy is the only one it works with because you can 'see' the different plants before interacting.
    Did not know that...You learn something new everyday in this game...

    Now makes me wanna do all those surveys that are just sitting in my bank...maybe...probably not...
    Edited by sevomd69 on May 16, 2019 1:22PM
  • Asardes
    Asardes
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    tmbrinks wrote: »
    sevomd69 wrote: »
    Considering that you get 3 types of plants back, plus a chance for surveys (which you can cheese to get more of the plants you want)? I've always figured it was worth it now that they increased the variety of plants required. I haven't done a full cost-benefit analysis for it, but I suppose you could always skip days that asked for expensive materials if you wanted to.

    Back when it was 3 nirnroot all the time, that was annoying.

    How do u cheese a survey?

    running away from the alchemy survey will "reset" it, as long as you have not interacted with any of the plants. Alchemy is the only one it works with because you can 'see' the different plants before interacting.

    AFAIK if you interacted with a survey node, that survey map is gone from your inventory, and resetting the map prematurely only means you will lose the ones you haven't picked up. Does Alchemy work differently than the other 5?
    Beta tester since February 2014, played ESO-TU October 2015 - August 2022, currently on an extended break
    vMA (The Flawless Conqueror) | vVH (Spirit Slayer & of the Undying Song) | vDSA | vAA HM | vHRC HM | vSO HM | vMoL | vAS+1 | Emperor

    PC-EU CP 3000+
    41,000+ Achievement Points before High Isle
    Member of:
    Pact Veteran Trade: Exemplary
    Traders of the Covenant: God of Sales
    Tamriels Emporium: God of Sales
    Valinor Overflow: Trader
    The Traveling Merchant: Silver


    Characters:
    Asardes | 50 Nord Dragonknight | EP AR 50 | Master Crafter: all traits & recipes, all styles released before High Isle
    Alxaril Nelcarion | 50 High Elf Sorcerer | AD AR 20 |
    Dro'Bear Three-paws | 50 Khajiit Nightblade | AD AR 20 |
    Veronique Nicole | 50 Breton Templar | DC AR 20 |
    Sabina Flavia Cosades | 50 Imperial Warden | EP AR 20 |
    Ervesa Neloren | 50 Dark Elf Dragonknight | EP AR 20 |
    Fendar Khodwin | 50 Redguard Sorcerer | DC AR 20 |
    Surilanwe of Lillandril | 50 High Elf Nightblade | AD AR 20 |
    Joleen the Swift | 50 Redguard Templar | DC AR 20 |
    Draynor Telvanni | 50 Dark Elf Warden | EP AR 20 |
    Claudius Tharn | 50 Necromancer | DC AR 20 |
    Nazura-la the Bonedancer | 50 Necromancer | AD AR 20 |

    Tharkul gro-Shug | 50 Orc Dragonknight | DC AR 4 |
    Ushruka gra-Lhurgash | 50 Orc Sorcerer | AD AR 4 |
    Cienwen ferch Llywelyn | 50 Breton Nightblade | DC AR 4 |
    Plays-with-Sunray | 50 Argonian Templar | EP AR 4 |
    Milariel | 50 Wood Elf Warden | AD AR 4 |
    Scheei-Jul | 50 Necromancer | EP AR 4 |

    PC-NA CP 1800+
    30,000+ Achievement Points before High Isle
    Member of:
    Savage Blade: Majestic Machette


    Characters:
    Asardes the Exile | 50 Nord Dragonknight | EP AR 30 |
  • vesselwiththepestle
    vesselwiththepestle
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    Asardes wrote: »
    AFAIK if you interacted with a survey node, that survey map is gone from your inventory, and resetting the map prematurely only means you will lose the ones you haven't picked up. Does Alchemy work differently than the other 5?
    That's the thing, you don't interact with them, if there are cheap plants! You go back and "reset" the node with maybe better plants. It's similar to savegame-scamming in single player games, where you reload a save game until you get the random loot you desire :).

    (Just to be clear, I've never done that, and honestly I wouldn't care to waste time on such.)
    Edited by vesselwiththepestle on May 16, 2019 1:48PM
    1000+ CP
    PC/EU Ravenwatch Daggerfall Covenant

    Give me my wings back!
  • tmbrinks
    tmbrinks
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    Asardes wrote: »
    tmbrinks wrote: »
    sevomd69 wrote: »
    Considering that you get 3 types of plants back, plus a chance for surveys (which you can cheese to get more of the plants you want)? I've always figured it was worth it now that they increased the variety of plants required. I haven't done a full cost-benefit analysis for it, but I suppose you could always skip days that asked for expensive materials if you wanted to.

    Back when it was 3 nirnroot all the time, that was annoying.

    How do u cheese a survey?

    running away from the alchemy survey will "reset" it, as long as you have not interacted with any of the plants. Alchemy is the only one it works with because you can 'see' the different plants before interacting.

    AFAIK if you interacted with a survey node, that survey map is gone from your inventory, and resetting the map prematurely only means you will lose the ones you haven't picked up. Does Alchemy work differently than the other 5?

    From what I understand (I just know of the process, I don't actually do it to test it) is that once you interact with one of the plants, you've "fixed" the survey, so the others will remain the same no matter how many times you run back and forth. But, if you haven't interacted with any of them it will reset.

    I do hundreds of surveys a month (I have 30 crafters on 2 accounts), and I don't bother with resetting the survey, not worth my time.
    Tenacious Dreamer - Hurricane Herald - Godslayer - Dawnbringer - Gryphon Heart - Tick Tock Tormenter - Immortal Redeemer - Dro-m'Athra Destroyer
    The Unchained - Temporal Tempest - Curator's Champion - Fist of Tava - Invader's Bane - Land, Air, and Sea Supremacy - Zero Regrets - Battlespire's Best - Bastion Breaker - Ardent Bibliophile - Subterranean Smasher - Bane of Thorns - True Genius - In Defiance of Death - No Rest for the Wicked - Nature's Wrath - Undying Endurance - Relentless Raider - Depths Defier - Apex Predator - Pure Lunacy - Mountain God - Leave No Bone Unbroken - CoS/RoM/BF/FH Challenger
    60,005 achievement points
  • AndyMac
    AndyMac
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    I have two toons that do low level alchemy writs which often require 3 cornflower. It's pretty annoying that low level alchemy writs need the most expensive plant - and a plant that I need a lot of for pots.

    Rightly or wrongly, I just abandon those writs. It may work out OK in the long run with coffers and surveys - but the short term hit means I don't do them.
    Andymac - Magicka DK - EP Grand Overlord - Flawless Conqueror
  • tmbrinks
    tmbrinks
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    AndyMac wrote: »
    I have two toons that do low level alchemy writs which often require 3 cornflower. It's pretty annoying that low level alchemy writs need the most expensive plant - and a plant that I need a lot of for pots.

    Rightly or wrongly, I just abandon those writs. It may work out OK in the long run with coffers and surveys - but the short term hit means I don't do them.

    I agree, that's annoying. The max level writs don't require cornflower at all :joy:
    Tenacious Dreamer - Hurricane Herald - Godslayer - Dawnbringer - Gryphon Heart - Tick Tock Tormenter - Immortal Redeemer - Dro-m'Athra Destroyer
    The Unchained - Temporal Tempest - Curator's Champion - Fist of Tava - Invader's Bane - Land, Air, and Sea Supremacy - Zero Regrets - Battlespire's Best - Bastion Breaker - Ardent Bibliophile - Subterranean Smasher - Bane of Thorns - True Genius - In Defiance of Death - No Rest for the Wicked - Nature's Wrath - Undying Endurance - Relentless Raider - Depths Defier - Apex Predator - Pure Lunacy - Mountain God - Leave No Bone Unbroken - CoS/RoM/BF/FH Challenger
    60,005 achievement points
  • Asardes
    Asardes
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    AndyMac wrote: »
    I have two toons that do low level alchemy writs which often require 3 cornflower. It's pretty annoying that low level alchemy writs need the most expensive plant - and a plant that I need a lot of for pots.

    Rightly or wrongly, I just abandon those writs. It may work out OK in the long run with coffers and surveys - but the short term hit means I don't do them.

    Yep, low level alchemy writs require expensive plants, unlike the high level ones. That's I prefer leveling alchemy on every character I make - it's fast, it takes 20 minutes max, with discovering all reagent properties in the process for more inspiration, and all achievements - those boost the latter master writ drop rate quite a lot once you hit top tier (Solvent Proficiency VIII).
    tmbrinks wrote: »
    I do hundreds of surveys a month (I have 30 crafters on 2 accounts), and I don't bother with resetting the survey, not worth my time.

    Same. I have a system where I do surveys for a day a month, usually takes 4-5 hours to pick up 4 zones or sub-zones - the full zones rotation takes 6 months. On average I have around 15-18 surveys at each location, and resetting them the normal way, after pickup. I don't have the time to "cheese" each of the 60-70 surveys for alchemy alone when time is so limited. I don't care if I pick up apparently "worthless" plants along the way since one thing that's worthless now may become better in the future if new alchemy ingredients are introduced or the properties on the existing ones are changed.
    Beta tester since February 2014, played ESO-TU October 2015 - August 2022, currently on an extended break
    vMA (The Flawless Conqueror) | vVH (Spirit Slayer & of the Undying Song) | vDSA | vAA HM | vHRC HM | vSO HM | vMoL | vAS+1 | Emperor

    PC-EU CP 3000+
    41,000+ Achievement Points before High Isle
    Member of:
    Pact Veteran Trade: Exemplary
    Traders of the Covenant: God of Sales
    Tamriels Emporium: God of Sales
    Valinor Overflow: Trader
    The Traveling Merchant: Silver


    Characters:
    Asardes | 50 Nord Dragonknight | EP AR 50 | Master Crafter: all traits & recipes, all styles released before High Isle
    Alxaril Nelcarion | 50 High Elf Sorcerer | AD AR 20 |
    Dro'Bear Three-paws | 50 Khajiit Nightblade | AD AR 20 |
    Veronique Nicole | 50 Breton Templar | DC AR 20 |
    Sabina Flavia Cosades | 50 Imperial Warden | EP AR 20 |
    Ervesa Neloren | 50 Dark Elf Dragonknight | EP AR 20 |
    Fendar Khodwin | 50 Redguard Sorcerer | DC AR 20 |
    Surilanwe of Lillandril | 50 High Elf Nightblade | AD AR 20 |
    Joleen the Swift | 50 Redguard Templar | DC AR 20 |
    Draynor Telvanni | 50 Dark Elf Warden | EP AR 20 |
    Claudius Tharn | 50 Necromancer | DC AR 20 |
    Nazura-la the Bonedancer | 50 Necromancer | AD AR 20 |

    Tharkul gro-Shug | 50 Orc Dragonknight | DC AR 4 |
    Ushruka gra-Lhurgash | 50 Orc Sorcerer | AD AR 4 |
    Cienwen ferch Llywelyn | 50 Breton Nightblade | DC AR 4 |
    Plays-with-Sunray | 50 Argonian Templar | EP AR 4 |
    Milariel | 50 Wood Elf Warden | AD AR 4 |
    Scheei-Jul | 50 Necromancer | EP AR 4 |

    PC-NA CP 1800+
    30,000+ Achievement Points before High Isle
    Member of:
    Savage Blade: Majestic Machette


    Characters:
    Asardes the Exile | 50 Nord Dragonknight | EP AR 30 |
  • AlnilamE
    AlnilamE
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    Asardes wrote: »
    tmbrinks wrote: »
    sevomd69 wrote: »
    Considering that you get 3 types of plants back, plus a chance for surveys (which you can cheese to get more of the plants you want)? I've always figured it was worth it now that they increased the variety of plants required. I haven't done a full cost-benefit analysis for it, but I suppose you could always skip days that asked for expensive materials if you wanted to.

    Back when it was 3 nirnroot all the time, that was annoying.

    How do u cheese a survey?

    running away from the alchemy survey will "reset" it, as long as you have not interacted with any of the plants. Alchemy is the only one it works with because you can 'see' the different plants before interacting.

    AFAIK if you interacted with a survey node, that survey map is gone from your inventory, and resetting the map prematurely only means you will lose the ones you haven't picked up. Does Alchemy work differently than the other 5?

    As others have said, you don't interact with them. You can tell what they are by looking at the plants.

    I don't bother either, but you can also log out and back in to reset the survey if you like.
    The Moot Councillor
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