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Check out Alpha Two Announcements here to see the latest news on Alpha Two.
Check out general Announcements here to see the latest news on Ashes of Creation & Intrepid Studios.
To get the quickest updates regarding Alpha Two, connect your Discord and Intrepid accounts here.
Crafting times
innairis
Member, Alpha One, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
The fact that there is 1 minute timers on processing is blatant disrespect of player times. to queue up 50 items you have to check back in an hour and you only get exp from when you pull the finished item.
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However, I think the basic buildings should have a larger queue size than 1. so I can queue up at least 2 different items. I'd also like for the batch quantity not to be this arbitrary 1/5/10/25/50.... I frequently have 7 items and that's 3 separate instances of queuing on a UI that's very much WIP (having to change the 'colour' every single time even though I only have green in my inventory....)
Just remember we have the worst benchs and worst armor atm once empty plots get built up thing should improve.
they do need a UI element tbh that tell u timers on all process and location of the node they are in too so u dont have to go checking up on it every time u hit town wondering if there finished or forget u have 50 timber in a different node just chilling for weeks
I second what you said here. The batch quantities don't really make any sense to me and just becomes a bit frustrating. Please please please change the UI so you don't have to select from a drop down list of the rarity of the item you want to add to the craft, just show us what we've got and let us select it.
I completely agree with the idea of having more flexible queue options for processing, allowing players to set variable batch sizes. However, I believe the current system could benefit from even deeper engagement to make crafting feel more immersive and rewarding.
Right now, the setup allows players to start crafting and then walk away, which breaks immersion and takes away from the active role I’d expect in a game as ambitious as Ashes of Creation. I think there’s great potential here to create a crafting journey that’s more hands-on, particularly in the early stages, and then evolves as players progress. Here’s how I envision a more interactive and rewarding system:
1. Node Crafting Stations:
In the early stages, crafting should require players to remain at their crafting stations, making the experience feel more invested and immersive. But as the node advances, there could be new options for automation and efficiency. For example, a growing node could enable the mayor to hire NPC helpers or specialists at crafting stations, who would assist with tasks, reduce crafting times, and allow for “off-station” crafting. This would let players start crafting and move on to other activities, as a reward for their investment and contribution to node development.
2. Homesteads:
Similarly, at personal homesteads, players could invest in specialized retainers or crafting assistants who could manage production at homestead stations. This would allow for a “progressive crafting” experience at home, with retainers continuing tasks while the player is away. Such a setup provides flexibility but feels immersive and well-earned, rather than being an automatic convenience.
3. Progression Paths for Faster Crafting:
To make crafting more dynamic and efficient, players should have access to a range of tools, such as upgraded node crafting stations, unique artifacts, guild buffs, and NPC helpers that may be hired as the node reaches higher levels or as players achieve specific milestones at their homesteads. These NPCs would support crafting activities, further enhancing productivity and efficiency. These options would allow players to specialize in their craft, feel more invested, and see meaningful progress based on their dedication and choices.
By requiring players to engage directly with their crafting stations initially, the system creates a sense of commitment and immersion, making the journey more rewarding. As players progress, they can unlock more convenience through hard work and investment, achieving a sophisticated and flexible system over time.
I like your ideas, I really do, but this would then need to be balanced as far as the time commitment goes. If I am going to be forced to stay at the crafting window and not go do other things then the crafting needs to be interactive AND the time needs to be reduced. There is no way I am gonna spend 2 hours farming copper nodes to come back to town and spend another hour converting them from ore to fragments. BUT, as you suggest you could eventually have npc's to do the processing once the node/freehold is advanced enough, for those I would keep the long times. Outsourcing takes time, but in the end you get a quality product in bulk quantities.
For me this would be an acceptable solution, otherwise I'm fine as it is now where I can start a long process and walk away. The current job size structure is the thing that really bothers me as we have such limited inventory and I dont often come back with even stacks divisible by 5. Moreover, why would the job sizes not match stack sizes in inventory? It is extremely frustrating to know that I can process 50 trees at a time but that will take two slots in my bag since max stack size is 43, and of course once I start the second stack then I want it to be full which means left overs have to go into my storage.
consider that upgrading to t2 just takes basic goods i dont think its that big of a deal
I see your point—it’s a delicate balance because processing times need to reward commitment without overwhelming players with excessive waiting. Particularly for processing tasks, it makes sense that they would require a fair amount of time, as the end products often carry substantial value. I understand that some may feel the current times are lengthy, but I believe there are plenty of ways to reduce crafting and processing times meaningfully over time.
Through artisan perks, specialized gear or clothing, workstation upgrades, node level upgrade, and hiring NPCs [If Added], for workstations at advanced nodes or homesteads, players can gradually reduce these times as they invest in their progression. Additionally, if introduced, artifacts, node perks, and even guild perks could contribute further to streamlining the process, offering players a range of options to enhance efficiency as they level up.
One aspect I’d like to see adjusted is the crafting time for items like tools—or really any item, for that matter. Currently, some items are crafted almost instantly, which feels a bit immersion-breaking. I’d prefer that crafting times be adjusted so that no item takes mere seconds to create; even a few minutes would add value to the process. Crafting should feel deliberate and meaningful rather than instant, preserving the weight and significance of each item crafted.
Agreed. There's zero reason why we shouldn't be able to start jobs of any size outside of some weird arbitrary design choice that does nothing but make processing and crafting unnecessarily tedious