I can tell you from personal experience that when it comes to crafting in Vanguard, you should prepare for some disappointment. I will say that crafting has come a long way since day one, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s very grindy and not very rewarding. I’ve been crafting since game launch and only just now reached level 50 as an Armorsmith with my bard Gaellespie. I also have a level 37 Carpenter and a level 26 Tailor. By my standards, I’m certainly not a newb. So what’s so unfair? The most out of whack to me would be the unfairness of the current Sigil drop rates. Secondly, the fact that crafted gear does not out perform quested items. Lastly is the huge grind you are faced with when you consider the levels, faction and Sigils.
Since I haven’t been a high level crafter until recently, I will have to go from memory. As I recall the original system for the rare, high level recipes was from adventuring drops. These recipes were tradeable. This system was considered unfair because players didn’t have to do any work to get recipes, just dish out some dough. Additionally, players that did not prefer to adventure, didn’t have the opportunity to get their own recipes. Consequently, we were presented with the Sigil system and the previous system was abolished. Originally, Sigils were tradeable between players. Once again, this was deemed to be unfair. I would guess that the reasoning would be that it was too easy to get Sigils. So that takes us to the current system in which Sigils are no longer tradeable. For those who do not know, Sigils can only be gotten from doing grade “A” batches. Every time a player turns in a Tier 4 + grade “A” batch, they have a “chance” to get a silver Sigil. Well, I’m sorry, but not only is that not good enough, it’s also even more unfair than any of the other previous systems. In my circumstance, I have gotten a grand total of 9 silver sigils and my character is on the verge of getting level 50. I would call that the dirty end of the stick. That’s pretty rotten, but I have a feeling that there are plenty of other players have been just as unlucky as myself. If I wanted to rely on “lady luck” I would visit a casino instead of playing Vanguard.
So what should be done? Firstly, don’t go changing the system again. People really get fed up when every time they turn around, the rules have totally changed… again. What I suggest is that in addition to the current system, players should be given an alternative opportunity to gain their recipes. How about offering a separate quest for each rare, high level recipe? But we don’t want it to be too easy do we? Therefore, require the players to reach a certain amount of faction, let’s just say 7,500, before they get access to the quests. Still too easy? Fine, then only allow certain recipes to be available from one of the three factions.
My second concern was the fact that crafted gear does not noticeably outperform crafted gear. And why shouldn’t it? We’ve worked our asses off spending hours upon hours grinding just so that we can get the opportunity to create an item that probably won’t sell at any appropriate price. And why would anyone pay more for gear, when they are able to quest an entire set of gear within a few sessions? Take the bounty hunter quest for instance. Most adventurers are able do complete all the quests in this series alone, with the exception of the last two missions. I know that the last time I did this quest it took me one evening. For the last two fights, I had two friends help me finish it out and the whole thing was over within two hours. I do think that these types of quests are fun and great for the game. My opinion is that crafted gear should always be a cut above quested gear. Top end raid gear should be greatest of all.
My last concern was the fact that crafting is extremely grindy and has no guarantees that all the hard work will pay off. Call me sick, but I don’t mind crafting being grindy. I don’t want just any player to be able to grind to level 50. However, if they put in the hard work to get there and do all the factioning, they should be rewarded. There needs to be a level playing field here and there just isn’t. Worse than that, if your fortune is poor, crafting can become a very bitter experience.
