Profit for foragers

[Arkiegal42]

In my humble opinion, I think that the components necessary for alchemy should be made foragable so that the class/race that have this ability could have way to profit by it. The prices are too high from the vendors. Besides, isn't the game supposed to be for the people who play it, not the NPC's?

[Mafdet de Leone]

An Old Discussion...

....made time and time again.

one of the reasonings why many of the parts are so expensive and non-forage-able is that IF the full extent of alchemy was made readily available, you'd have a lot of "spell" type potions in the hands of non-spell casters. And, this is not what Verant wants. You'd have warriors solo-ing a lot more, and we'd slowly put shamans out of a job.

Why get a druid or ranger? I can use this DS potion
Why cleric? I have a 300hp heal potion & an AC potion
Why shaman? I can buff myself up with these potions.

Yes, I'm generalizing here.

>>Besides, isn't the game supposed to be for the people who play it, not the NPC's?<<

Yes, the game is for the players.
It's supposed to be a challenge.
It's supposed to be fun.
It's *not* supposed to be easy or have everything handed to us.
Nor is it supposed to make us a "profit."

PP is only one product of the game. There is a reason why it's called EverQuest -- do you know how many unsolved quests there are? LOL.

Plus, IF there was a lot of pp in the game (which there is BTW), there would be all and all out inflation (which there has been, too). The recent expansions are geared to cut down the amount of pp out there. Why would they introduce something else that would once again, increase the pp out there?

Besides, NOT all shaman races get forage. Iksar are the only ones, IIRC. The rest of us shamans would STILL have to buy the foraged stuff from rangers and druids. And, IF Verant ever decides to implement foragable items, you bet they are going to make it rare foragables.

Speaking of foraging and prices: Has ANYONE seen the price of Tea Leaves in the bazaar?? On Inny, it's going for 20-80 pp (av. 50) PER TEA LEAF! That's foraged, and the tea leaves aren't even rare..uncommon, but not rare. That's a jackup from 1-2 pp per several months ago, but then foragers discovered brewers were buying them up to make Q.A.T. Brewers do NOT do well buying stuff in the bazaar. And tailors with superb or flawless rockhopper hides (100-500 per pelt)? I know it's not foraged, but they are drops, and there are a LOT of them being sold for that price. Tailoring ain't cheap going bazaar prices, either. What makes you think alchemy supplies would be cheaper? LOL

So, instead of paying an NPC pp, we'd be paying players the same amount of pp. Great for some players, but we'd STILL be paying out of our pockets for the stuff. And would it be less expensive? Probably not. We'd just be paying different characters.

[Arkiegal42]

Mafdet de Leone
I thank you for your insight about alchemy prices. I have only been playing for a few months now and welcome anyones advice and comments. I had been reading some other players comments about sow potions and gate potions and then went to an alchemy merchant to see how much a gate potion would cost. Bout fell on the floor in amazement.
Anyways, sorry to be a griper and your view is very true actually. Just been getting flack from peeps when I try to sell my 10 shot sow potions for 100 plat. Guess I'll just keep them for my other characters and my friends. Shouldn't gripe at all with the shared bank slots available now.
Shamlyn Mcwolf on the Tribunal

[Mafdet de Leone]

Suggestiion

Since you've only been playing a few months, you might want to utilize the search feature on the boards.

Potentially many of the questions or comments you might have, have already been discussed on one form or the other. LOL. Believe me, many others have griped.

Gone are the days of 100pp for 10dose sow potions, but there are a few shamans who doggedly stick by their guns and sell for that price.

Yup, alchemy is expensive, but then again so is high end tailoring, smithing, and JC, etc.

I guess my own personal gripe is on those who expect the game handed to them, or pp to fall into their laps for tradeskilling.

I view alchemy as part of the shaman's character, and something which gives me a bit of spending money for things I want. Do I ever expect to get "rich" off of it? Nah....but I like alchemy as a tradeskill.

/soapbox

I know that this is a game, but even in RL, when you train or learn a new skill or knowledge, it costs money. Take a look at med students -- going to medical school and such. Then people "think" that once med students graduate, you start "rolling" in the money. LOL. Guess again.

These graduates (who are Doctors) are required to do medical internships for five years (IIRC -- think apprenticeship) before being certified by the medical board to become practicing doctors. Guess how much they make during those 5 years of being an intern??? Around 30K a year. LOL. As most of my doctor friends say....'It's slave labor wages.'

/end soapbox.

BTW, this isn't directed at you Arkiegal42. Just a rant of mine.

[Morani]

Here's something that I just don't understand. The bazaar is full of people who sell rather easy to find things for ridiculous prices because there are enough people out there who will PAY it. Yet, things like SoW and Gate potions don't sell well (if at all) at 100 plat for a 10 dose.

I do not have a shaman character and am likely to never play one, but I've got no problem shelling out 100 plat for 10 doses of insurance. The way I look at it, if I pay someone 20 plat for a port to get me somewhere convenient (like where I'm bound), then I'm MAKING money after I've used half that potion.

What I'd really like to see is a lesser seccor(sp?) potion so that if I get in serious trouble, I can port to the zone line (or at least near it), clear my agro withOUT a train, and head back.

[DarkSidhe]

Hmm. I disagree, having utility potions would not make any class less useful. Potion buffs, at least once you get past the mid 30s, are inferior to cast ones. Same for the 300 point heal; 2 or 3 fights and you've gone through a 10 dose potion.
As for the cost of alchemy, I think for the most part it's close to "right" at the lower end but needs some tweaks towards 200. I've had to rely on the old stand-by of sow potion sales to carry me through, but I make it. (For the record, 10-dose sows sell for about 80-95 pp on my server still.) MHO, the biggest problem with alchemy from the standpoint of being able to make it pay for itself is how unwanted many of the mid and high range potions are. Anyone actually sold a potion of cold or accuracy or any other 15/25 stat potions? Gave some to guildies, I don't know if they used them or sold 'em to a vendor cause they wanted that slot for loot.
The difference between high-end alchemy and high-end JC/smithing/tailoring/etc is the desirability of what can be made. My shaman can make fun potions to cast illusions (which wind up costing way more than they're worth, for the fun value...also considering we have several chanters who can project illusion in the guild, even less useful), or gate potions that are overly expensive (compared to the vial of velium vapors). My cleric/smith can make dark elven blue-diamond cultural, tae ew weapons and armor, black acrylia weapons, and so forth.