TS casting order, power, and such

[khanthemighty]

<p>I am not new to the game, by far, but since I have hung up my raiding spurs (temporarily), I have thrown myself into crafting.  I have read every link and FAQ regarding crafting techniques, and I wonder if this material is out of date, or is what's in these guides really what every one does?</p><p> The reason I say this is that I have 6 adventure toons (70, 55, 45, 36, 26, 17) and each of them is a T3 TS-er or higher.  I have used the same crafting technique with all of them, and I have to say that I have never run into the problems that I read some others complain about.</p><p>For instance:  Power</p><p><b>Ashrams</b> post about "Provisioners cant do top rush orders" talks about running out of time and power on rush orders.  Several replies tell him to drop his gear so that power regen increases for a lower power pool, and % based TS arts draw less.  Does this happen a lot?  I never use more than 10 - 20% of my power during a combine EVER, and most of the time, my regen brings it to full before the next combine.</p><p><b>Naomipdx's </b>"Power to the Pristine" and <b>Calthine's </b>"Pristine - How to get..."  also both talk about power loss.  What gives?</p><p>Here's what I do:</p><p><u>I only use four buttons for crafting:</u></p><p>1) -x% chance of success, +x durability   <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_seasoning.jpg" border="0">      <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_nimble.jpg" border="0">                </p><p>2) -x durability, +x progress                     <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_constantheat.jpg" border="0">      <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_stitching.jpg" border="0"></p><p>3) +x durability                                         <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_awareness.jpg" border="0">      <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_knots.jpg" border="0">    </p><p>4) +x progress                                         <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_awareness.jpg" border="0">      <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_knots.jpg" border="0">     (...and so on)</p><p>Now, if I remember correctly, TS <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_seasoning.jpg" border="0"> usually renews T2,T4, and T6, and TS <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_constantheat.jpg" border="0"> renews T1, T3, and T5.  TS arts <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_awareness.jpg" border="0"> usually alternately renew every tier.  These are the only four icons I have on my toolbar when I craft, and I swap them out ONLY when I get an upgrade for that specific TS art.  Arts 1 and 2 do not cost any power, and arts 3 and 4 cost generally 10 - 15% of my power bar.</p><p><u>Technique:</u></p><p>I always start with <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_seasoning.jpg" border="0">, whether it is a new recipe, or one that I have made many of times.  This art is the least likely to produce a negative effect, and costs no power.  Plus, if you are wearing the TS vest and TS boosting charms ( two of the same do not stack, but wearing one from two different tiers stacks their % increases), the negative effects from this art is negligable (no more than 1-2% less chance for success).  Usually, the amount of decreased durability in <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_constantheat.jpg" border="0"> is less than the addition of durability in <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_seasoning.jpg" border="0">, so casting these together usually (back to back) results in a progress boost with a small gain to durability, or no loss in durability at all.  I have noticed that the crafting event does what ever is on the art in the order you cast them, so if you cast <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_seasoning.jpg" border="0"> before <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_constantheat.jpg" border="0">, you may get a loss in durability (albeit small).  </p><p>At the beginning of each progress level, I mainly focus on durability, and towards the end of a progress level, I focus on boosting progress.  Arts 3 and 4 have no negative effects built into them, but they cost power, and they have a greater tendancy of causing negative effects and failures than the others. I like to couple these arts with Arts 1 or 2, either when an event pops up, or to double the power of that art.  Usually pairing art 1 and 4 will give you a big boost in progress and durability, usually good for moving from bar to bar.  Also, it almost always procs a prompt for art 2, which when paired with art 1, triples the durability and progress boosting effect.  Pairing arts 1 and 3 have a similar effect (more so for durability), but the benefit is that it allows you the opportunity to use more progress buffs in succession for a while.</p><p><u>Usually, for the first bar, my casting order looks something like this:</u></p><p>1) art <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_seasoning.jpg" border="0"> <i>(10%)</i></p><p>2) arts <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_seasoning.jpg" border="0"> and <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_constantheat.jpg" border="0"> <i>(25%)</i></p><p>3) art <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_seasoning.jpg" border="0"> <i>(30%)</i></p><p>4) arts <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_seasoning.jpg" border="0"> and <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_constantheat.jpg" border="0"> <i>(50%)</i></p><p>5) arts <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_seasoning.jpg" border="0"> and <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_constantheat.jpg" border="0"> <i>(65%)</i></p><p>6) art <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_seasoning.jpg" border="0"> <i>(70%)</i></p><p>7) arts <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_seasoning.jpg" border="0"> and <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_awareness.jpg" border="0"> (prog) - <i>(100% + 10% into the next bar)</i></p><p> <u>Bar 2:</u></p><p>1) arts <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_seasoning.jpg" border="0"> and <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_constantheat.jpg" border="0"> <i>(45%)</i></p><p>2) arts <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_seasoning.jpg" border="0"> and <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_awareness.jpg" border="0"> (dur) - <i>(70%)</i></p><p>3) arts <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_seasoning.jpg" border="0"> and <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_constantheat.jpg" border="0"> <i>(90%)</i></p><p>4) arts <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_seasoning.jpg" border="0"> and <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_constantheat.jpg" border="0"> <i>(100% + 20% into the next bar)</i></p><p><u>Bar 3:</u></p><p>1) art <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_seasoning.jpg" border="0"> <i>(45%)</i></p><p>2) arts <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_seasoning.jpg" border="0"> and <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_constantheat.jpg" border="0"> <i>(80%)</i></p><p>3) arts <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_seasoning.jpg" border="0"> and <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_awareness.jpg" border="0">(prog) - <i>(100% + 10% into the next level)</i></p><p><u>Bar 4:</u></p><p>1) art <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_seasoning.jpg" border="0"> and <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_constantheat.jpg" border="0"> <i>(20%)</i></p><p>2) art <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_seasoning.jpg" border="0"> <i>(30%)</i></p><p>3) arts <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_seasoning.jpg" border="0"> and <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_awareness.jpg" border="0"> (dur) - <i>(50%)</i></p><p>4) arts <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_seasoning.jpg" border="0"> and <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_constantheat.jpg" border="0"> <i>(80%)</i></p><p>5) arts <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_seasoning.jpg" border="0"> and <img src="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/images/articles/r_constantheat.jpg" border="0"> <i>(finish)</i></p><p>Now sometimes this casting order changes if events pop up, and sometimes the RNG can make you focus more on durability, but 90% or more of the time, this casting order helps me reach pristine and I rarely ever use power to get there.   I do use Naomipdx's suggestion to follow the crafting rhythm, and cast these at the beginning of the pauses between progress updates.  From what I've read, this technique is different from what the FAQ's suggest, and I wonder what others do... </p>

[StormCinder]

<p>You appear to craft almost identically to the way I craft, hence you are doing everything absolutely correctly. LOL</p><p>Granted, I kinda got lost part of the way through the explanation, but I got the gist of it.</p><p>Explaining "how to craft efficiently" in words is like trying to explain how to ride a bicycle in words.  </p><p>SC</p>

[khanthemighty]

<p>Yeah, at first I wanted to find the icon pictures and say, "press this, then this, then that," but I couldn't find them, and the one site I thought I could was blocked from work... It would have been easier to follow with pictures... LOL</p>

[StormCinder]

<p>Somone needs to come out with a video tutorial for crafting.  Watching someone craft would make learning it sooo  much easier.  Maybe I should fire up my FRAPS this weekend and see how difficult it would be.</p><p>SC</p>

[khanthemighty]

I tried to do this once, and the problem is that unles you blow up your toolbar to the maximum size, you can't see enough.  Then again, I'm no expert at FRAPS too...

[khanthemighty]

<p>Yeah! Icon Pics FTW!</p>

[Calthine]

According to Domino at Fan Faire, with Kunark all our "how to use your Arts" guides will become obsolete as she revamps the system so the arts actually upgrade themselves and we will only have 6 arts at any time (Yes, T1 will be addressed).

[Jesdyr]

<cite>Calthine wrote:</cite><blockquote>According to Domino at Fan Faire, with Kunark all our "how to use your Arts" guides will become obsolete as she revamps the system so the arts actually upgrade themselves and we will only have 6 arts at any time (Yes, T1 will be addressed). </blockquote> NOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooo I really dont like this .. it takes away from the system only to make thing easier to understand for people who are not willing to actually read and think about what they are doing. I have perfected the crafts I have based not only on the craft but also the main Adv class of the character. My Sage/Coercer has so much regen that spamming top power using skills every tick can be done for an entire rush order. My Gaurdian/Carpenter cannot do this and has to take a low power use method that startes off with 2-3 ticks with no power use skills then uses "light" power using buffs for the rest of the combine.... Now I will not has this option and it will slow me down.

[LaurnaRose Fauldorn]

<p>Honestly, I just reacently started "getting into" tradeskilling, and my main toons are 41 carp, 41 ww, and 38 alchy.  Ive played with my husband's 32 provi some as well, and though my methods may not be the "elite" way of crafting, here is what works for me.</p><p>All 6 skills available from the two highest sets available.  IE 3 dur procs and 3 prog procs.  </p><p>I have macros set up for all my crafters to completely requipt into a "TS" gear scenerio.  I currently have all of them set up for different outfits, but eventually will find every item that does not need to be attuned (im close) so that I can store one outfit in shared bank (essentially requiring 2 complete sets for good and evil toons) and be done with it.  One button changes my character from battle gear to TS 0 stat gear.  I was hoping I could simply use a robe or something and a macro to unequipt my battle gear, but the new macro system is not set up to unequipt and I couldnt figure out any type commands for unequipting items.  The way i have it set up though there is no moving stuff around.  It simply swaps what you are wearing into the spots where what you are putting on are in your bank.  </p><p>Okay, now to the crafting.  I start off using all progress until durability is down to approx 1/2 forth bar (prog is usually starting to fill up 3rd bar by this time unless I come across some serious critical losses).  Unless an encounter happens about, I always go (-success +prog :: -dur +prog :: +prog).  If an encounter occurs that needs to be dealt with, I always go left to right.  For instance if the encounter requires you to use the +prog skill, I then use the -success then the -dur skill following it.  </p><p>When the durability gets down to about 1/2 of the first bar, I start using my durability skills.  Usually only one durability skill needs to be used to correct the loss in durability.  I generally at this point use (-suc +prog :: - prog +dur :: +prog).  If the bar gets down to 1/4 durability, I use (-suc +dur :: -prog +dur :: +prog).  Rarely do I have to resort to using all three durability skills.  </p><p>Generally it takes me 10 counters or less to complete an item.  With use of drink/totems I've never had an issue running out of mana unless my totems/drink crash on me mid encounter.  Even then all I do is drop the +prog off the end of my counters for a few ticks and I'm fine.  </p>

[Tokam]

<cite>Calthine wrote:</cite><blockquote>According to Domino at Fan Faire, with Kunark all our "how to use your Arts" guides will become obsolete as she revamps the system so the arts actually upgrade themselves and we will only have 6 arts at any time (Yes, T1 will be addressed). </blockquote>eq2 easymode!

[Calris]

Dunno what to think about the change in particular. However, I do know that bashing something just because it makes the game easier is...well, elitist and snobby.

[Calthine]

Domino's point was that the current Art's scheme, doesn't make a lot of sense, although it may have at launch.  Your arts aren't necessarily upgrades to each other, you've got a billion of them to dig through, it's confusing to newbs, and has caused no end of guides as we attempt to explain an overly complex system to each other.  Oh, yeah, and the current Arts "progression" is really a total mess. Not to mention (and I will, since it actually came up in the Into the Future panel) that it will give some benefit to being a higher level - faster, better arts available to us should actually make it faster to make lower tier stuff.  Like many people have always thought it should.

[Deson]

<cite>Calthine wrote:</cite><blockquote>Domino's point was that the current Art's scheme, doesn't make a lot of sense, although it may have at launch.  Your arts aren't necessarily upgrades to each other, you've got a billion of them to dig through, it's confusing to newbs, and has caused no end of guides as we attempt to explain an overly complex system to each other.  Oh, yeah, and the current Arts "progression" is really a total mess. Not to mention (and I will, since it actually came up in the Into the Future panel) that it will give some benefit to being a higher level - faster, better arts available to us should actually make it faster to make lower tier stuff.  Like many people have always thought it should. </blockquote>But not too fast I hope. That's one aspect that I feel is good right now. Since grey tiers don't ,mean the same to us as they do to adventurers, some semblance of balance must be kept across them. While it shouldn't cause you worry to craft greys, it shouldn't become too convenient to compete with lower tier players. This is another change I'll have to be wary on; hasn't exactly been a comforting week for me in regards to the game.

[Haliken]

<p>Maybe I'm just crazy, then. I mash all three progress at the beginning for each cycle until durability drops down to about 40% on pristine (which occurs before the item's finished as long as I get two or more failures on the item). Once the durability's down that low, then if the item's close to being finished and I'm given something to counter, I just do so with all progress again or switch to durability to raise back up to 60'ish% on pristine.</p><p>At lower tradeskill levels (depending on the tradeskill), I may make 60% the baseline. For instance, if all three durability reaction arts add up to 25 durability, it's +15 on success, -25 on failure, so it's riskier. For others, like Carpenter (where the progress for durability buff's values are reversed), all three add together to 50 durability. At level 30, they add up to 90.</p><p>As for the rest, I just let myself run out of power regularly and keep the lowest level power-to-progress buff readily available in case I need to counter something important and don't have the power for the others.</p><p>Doing this, I usually complete tradeskill writs (with all 6 I have) in under 7 minutes, usually only taking 5 1/2 minutes on better runs of luck (where I barely need to work durability back up).</p>

[Oakleafe]

I found the opening post a bit confusing as it seems to suggest that you don't get all 3 arts updating at or around every 10 levels. Anyway, I think one of the big things missing from the detailed explanation is that when you get to each higher tier the percentage power loss increases.  For example, my level 70 woodworker & level 70 provisioner lose about a 5th of their total power every time the "3rd art" of the top tiers are used. To mitigate many crafters keep level 30 (for example) crafting arts on their tool bar, so that they have access to low power drain arts if they need it (and is also why many of us are against the suggested idea of arts auto-updating). Anyway, I just wanted to let the OP know that at levels higher than T3 things are a little different power drain-wise.