Crafting Research : what is next ?

Gyudan · July 2014

Hi,

I just joined the forum to express my concern regarding the future of crafting.

The math:
- Researching 1 item fully (8 traits) with level 3 in research requires 64*0.8 = 51 days. Starting from the official launch day (04/04/14), that leads to 25/05/14, around when Arena sets started to appear in /zone chat.
- Researching an entire profession (14 items for clothing/blacksmithing, with 3 ongoing researches at any given time) requires 51*14/3 = 238 days. That's 28/11/14, plenty of time, sure.
- Now, researching an entire profession with 3 different characters (each researching 6 different items in it) requires 51*6/3 = 102 days. That's 15/07/14, 3 days ago.

I am one of those people using multiple characters for research, currently able to craft 75% of all items in 8 traits sets. I'm sure many others are ahead of me, but still, I'll be completely done in a few weeks and will have nothing left worthwhile to do to improve crafting on my characters.

So here's my question for you @ZOS_AmeliaR and other staff members.
What is left for crafters to learn once every single item is fully researched ? What's next ?
Did you envision a way that sets crafters apart from each other or will everyone just be able to craft everything, as it is already the case now, only 4 months after launch ?

Maybe a 2nd tier of research, to upgrade each trait separately and available only when an item is completed (8 traits) could be a first answer.
With a ridiculously high timer (2x or 4x what the 8th trait took, then double or quadruple at each research) and a relatively small trait bonus (+10% or +20% compared to the basic one, meaning for example that +3% critical dmg (precise trait) would become +3.3% or +3.6%), I think it would provide a decent solution for crafters to continue progressing.

Thanks for reading.

- Gyudan

phreatophile · July 2014

I like the concept, but 102 - 153 days research time is far to long.

It could increase (compound) at 10% - 20%.

And fractional percentage increases are pointless. 3% increase to 4%

LonePirate · July 2014

During the QuakeCon presentation, there was mention of a new crafting trait coming with the next Craglorn update. While it may not be what you're expecting, it is a start.

Gyudan · July 2014

That would be so nice if it was squeezed into update 3 :')

Food4Thought · July 2014

LonePirate wrote: »

During the QuakeCon presentation, there was mention of a new crafting trait coming with the next Craglorn update. While it may not be what you're expecting, it is a start.

Odds are they will just open the door for one of the traits already in game but not researchable - either intricate or ornate.

Food4Thought · July 2014

To the OP ...

I don't think we are ready to do "Tier 2" crafting yet. Seems to me that would make the crafted gear OP compared to the other sets in game.

If you need something more with crafting, slap yourself on the back, call yourself a master crafter and trait trainer, and see what kind of business you can generate.

As for myself I felt that your crafting should be all on one character and not spread across multiple. For me, I still have some 80 traits to go before I am completely done researching all traits on that character.

To me, because your playstyle allowed you to take shortcuts with researching, you want the Devs to come up with a system that will allow you to continue to research on and on for basically forever.

I think you need to accept two truths. One, that eventually you have to accept that all things do come to an end. Your need to constantly research is no exception. Two, EVE might be a better game for you. I swear to God the research in that game never ends. You will die of old age before you research everything.

Gyudan · July 2014

Food4Thought wrote: »

To the OP ...

I don't think we are ready to do "Tier 2" crafting yet. Seems to me that would make the crafted gear OP compared to the other sets in game.

If you need something more with crafting, slap yourself on the back, call yourself a master crafter and trait trainer, and see what kind of business you can generate.

As for myself I felt that your crafting should be all on one character and not spread across multiple. For me, I still have some 80 traits to go before I am completely done researching all traits on that character.

To me, because your playstyle allowed you to take shortcuts with researching, you want the Devs to come up with a system that will allow you to continue to research on and on for basically forever.

I think you need to accept two truths. One, that eventually you have to accept that all things do come to an end. Your need to constantly research is no exception. Two, EVE might be a better game for you. I swear to God the research in that game never ends. You will die of old age before you research everything.

I'm pretty sure that all serious wood crafters have now finished researching most of the items and aren't using their 3 research slots, so even people who didn't take "shortcuts" are also affected by this issue and will be affected even more at the end of november when clothing and blacksmithing researchs end.
In any case, I believe a system that doesn't allow progress isn't designed to last long, as people will eventually get tired of always crafting the same stuff and selling it at ever decreasing prices.

Food4Thought wrote: »

LonePirate wrote: »

During the QuakeCon presentation, there was mention of a new crafting trait coming with the next Craglorn update. While it may not be what you're expecting, it is a start.

Odds are they will just open the door for one of the traits already in game but not researchable - either intricate or ornate.

Crafting Ornate gear would actually be quite a decent way to make gold out of all the refined materials available.

Iluvrien · July 2014

Gyudan wrote: »

In any case, I believe a system that doesn't allow progress isn't designed to last long, as people will eventually get tired of always crafting the same stuff and selling it at ever decreasing prices.

It does allow progress. What would you consider the trait research, and skill-tree increases you have been investing in so far?

What it doesn't allow is infinite or unlimited progress, i.e. there will always be an end point. What end point would you be happy with?

I have little doubt that with new levels and new areas being made available in the future we will see further additions to crafting. Some of those might even be traits. However, and as you have said, you will have maxed out the crafting professions in the first 4 months after the game has been released. In my opinion that is a little early to be preempting ZOS and their plans by talking about getting bored with things as they are.

Revel in being a craft-master for a while... you've probably earned it!

Slurg · July 2014

I've been researching since prerelease and still have two months to go before I have all of everything researched- only 1 more month with wood though.

But I'm a casual player who is almost never at my computer when one item finishes and it's time to start the next. So there are gaps. My experience is probably more like that of the typical player who they've geared the research timeline for.

I think people who have made the effort in scheduling to be already finished researching are ahead of the game and should be celebrating their mastery. There's nothing wrong with being finished with something! At least for now. I suspect in the future we'll get more traits and more crafting stations.

The rest of us may be knocking at your door in the near future looking for one or two hard to find items for research.

Gyudan · December 2014

Gravedigger here.

All researchs completed for 9 traits now and I even have half of them overlapping over 2 characters. Nothing left to do in crafting. Nobody wants to buy crafted gear anyway.

I told you this would happen.

Slurg · December 2014

Of course there's something to do:

Wait for the tenth trait of course!

You're on EU server aren't you? I'm always seeing people request crafted set gear in NA. Different server populations want different things?

Also it seems with the timing of the ninth trait and the research times they are pacing introduction of new traits to players who are researching everything on one character, which I can appreciate. Sadly it does leave players who research on multiple characters waiting a bit but if they didn't do it this way they'd be leaving a lot of people way behind.

LonePirate · December 2014

I could be way off base here but I think there will be some crafting changes coming with the Imperial City. We know a new racial style is coming with it; but I think we could see more. I think there is a very high chance we'll see a new crafting set station or two. I also think there is a chance we could see a tenth trait or even new armor or weapon types.

If any crafters are seeking customers, I would recommend checking with your alliance mates in Cyrodiil. They usually have a need for crafted sets and they tend to have fewer researched traits than the PVE only players. If new 8/9/10 trait crafted sets arrive that are actually PVP specific and players actually want them, then crafters will be in high demand.

Pyatra · December 2014

LonePirate wrote: »

I could be way off base here but I think there will be some crafting changes coming with the Imperial City. We know a new racial style is coming with it; but I think we could see more. I think there is a very high chance we'll see a new crafting set station or two. I also think there is a chance we could see a tenth trait or even new armor or weapon types.

If any crafters are seeking customers, I would recommend checking with your alliance mates in Cyrodiil. They usually have a need for crafted sets and they tend to have fewer researched traits than the PVE only players. If new 8/9/10 trait crafted sets arrive that are actually PVP specific and players actually want them, then crafters will be in high demand.

I would agree, if the next sets of 8/9 (too soon for a 10) would be PVP specific sets then crafters will start rolling in it. But needs to be more than 1 set and no generalist mess like the other 8-trait sets.