Anyone else finding Crafting confusing?

[Ysharros]

Originally Posted by Shinto

You will also find as you go on that some penalties affect both Progress and AP, and those are a nuisance.

Especially when the remedies are bugged and don't work. (Here's hoping for a fix ;-))

Vlawde, there have been a few issues with the tutorial not working right, though usually it's at the Assembly step. Relogging can often clear this - it did for me, and I ended up with 2 Improved needles somehow, without having even been *near* an assembly bench. Oh noes! I aer craftng itum dupr!

Crafting is confusing at first, just like diplomacy can be. Like diplomacy, the tutorial doesn't quite do it for some people in terms of helping them grasp the process; I get that, because I understand far more from doing than from reading a tutorial about doing (or even doing an example). Reading the text and practicing the basic moves somehow don't quite capture it for me - however, I don't see how they could really change that and, on the bright side for you, practice -- assuming you get to the stage where you can -- will make perfect.

Several people (myself included) have likened crafting to a game of Blackjack -- as you progress through the recipe you need to decide whether you have enough points to bump quality, whether you need to keep some in reserve for complications, or whether you can finish the bloody thing at all (depending on how badly things went). The harder the recipe is relative to your level and skills, the more pressing those decisions will be.

You seem to understand the basic concepts -- you might be bugged, or we may all have overlooked something stunningly obvious. Either way, once you actually start crafting stuff will begin to make more sense. That's not to say you'll enjoy it, not everyone does. Just as well - it's crowded enough around those stations already!

[Pel]

its not confusing once you get used to it, but for the first... 5 or 6 hours trying to learn the system, VERY CONFUSING, and really frustrating... after you get the hang its such an awsome and unique system, its well worth subjecting yourself too IMO

[dirtymeat80]

odd as it was, I was most confused about going from left to right LOL

I kept trying to use the icons in the middle, to the right, middle again - nothing worked. I was dead set on just skipping it till I found a tutorial....finally figured it out, and have been crafting pretty smoothly

[Fyrestrom]

Originally Posted by Vlawde

.... Those icons appear by themselves below the menu as I click them, but no action points are used and nothing happens.

Ahhhh, I see what the problem is. When you click on one of the stage buttons, another list of icons appears below the main one. These are the actual actions you can choose from. At your current level you only have one choice, later on you will get more. Just press the icon that pops below when you click one of the phase buttons. That should get you moving along.

[Vlawde]

That was the problem! You know, I didn't even notice those icons at first.

I like the fact that crafting and diplomacy are deep systems, but holy crap....the game does a terrible job of explaining them. I an doing a little crafting and diplomacy but don't have a clue what I am doing

[Fyrestrom]

When I first did crafting in beta I didn't notice those right away either, I clicked and said, "Now what?"

[Vork]

Originally Posted by Exum

(I also ignore all complications because I rarely loose item quality when I leave them alone, so they aren't worth wasting Action Pts.)

Won't you neglect to train certain skills that way? Skills that may become essential one day when you're making something valuable?

I'm a total newbie, level 4, so I'm asking, not warning.

[Fyrestrom]

Originally Posted by Vork

Won't you neglect to train certain skills that way? Skills that may become essential one day when you're making something valuable?

I'm a total newbie, level 4, so I'm asking, not warning.

Fixing comps at lower levels IS a good idea as it gets you an extra shot at raising one of your 3 skills (station, utility, tools). This is especially effective if the skill used to clear the comp is tools. They can take quite a bit of time to catch up to utilities at lower levels.

[Dalenu]

I didn't notice this observation in any of the above posts, so if I am repeating what someone else said... so sorry!

I was having a problem with the crafting station telling me I didn't have the proper tools even though I had purchased them all. I had three tool belts with three slots each (or is it four slots?) and they were all full. So I tried to put the 3 tools into the one belt that I thought I needed and made sure it had a green checkmark on it.

Well, things went well and all 3 tools that I had in the belt were used... then BANG! It asked for tool number 4. When complications come up, they can ask for tools that are not even required by the recipe!

I bugged it, reported it, and then noticed... at the bottom left corner of the crafting screen... unintrusive and unassuming in its humbleness... a button that said "Change Toolbelt". :confused:

That was the secret. For a number of action points, you can change to another belt to use the tools in it! Two little icons representing my two unused bags popped up.

Hope this helps.

[Fyrestrom]

Good point. The Toolbelt button is overlooked easily. I think because its a faded grey color it doesnt grab your attention. Maybe this button should have some sort of glow to it when it is available. It could also have the same kind of animation of a global cooldown when another action is in progress to draw more attention to itself.