Surveying only for Gathering Masters

Kubitz2

Surveying and Surveyor maps

Accessibility: I like the idea of surveying, but I think it should be an additional layer of depth for specialised gatherers. The basic gathering should be as accessible as possible. Get a tool, start gathering and you're good. Having a whole extra system, added on low proficiencies(low skill levels) would just harm this accessibility. Why have a surveying tool and have to level it up, if you are a crafter and just want to help your processor friend to gather some ressources?

Maps: Now, the first thing that comes to my mind, when I hear surveying, is maps and cartography. The problem with having surveying only at high proficiency levels, is that you lock out non artisans from the features of surveying. Like hidden ressources, node visibility on the (mini-)map and the kind of ressource that node contains. But...what if you could just use a consumable map, that was crafted by a surveyor? It could function like a simple surveyor pylon for a limited time, without the need of bothering yourself with the whole surveying system.

Also: - maps of rare professions would be more valuable, like fishing maps, if there are only a few professional fishermen
- you could tie it to other master professions. Like scribing, for mapping paper/ink.
- you could tie it to the node system, by having different map sizes(one region/ZoI of a node/ZoI of a parent Node)
- incentivizes interaction, because you might have to ask someone to craft some maps of a specific region
- there can be lesser versions of general maps from NPCs but they should be inferior
- surveyor tools woud still function far better than any map


We have almost no information on how surveying will work and what it will do. Here are some links to informations and definitions of terms:
Surveying: https://ashesofcreation.wiki/Surveying
Artisan/profession/master: https://ashesofcreation.wiki/Artisan_classeshttps://ashesofcreation.wiki/Artisan_classes
In short: You can master one artisan class(gathering/processing/crafting). You can master two professions inside the gathering class(fishing/herbalism/hunting/lumerjacking/mining)