*points to a bag full of broken diamond shards* =(

[Ayrielle]

*posts up a note that reads:*

"Greetings. I come to your halls this night with the hopes that I might find an answer for a strange curse that seems to plague myself. Many of your months ago I passed my test of jewelry crafting with a score of 250. Since such a day, I have attempted to create jewelry involving velium bars to the approximate number of twenty over many many weeks.

Of those twenty, I have made a mess of both the metal and the gem no less than ten times, perhaps even more. When working with regular and blue diamonds and the velium metal, my rate of failure is far greater than two times my rate of success. Just moments ago I destroyed two diamonds while working with velium, although I count myself lucky, and he who I made this jewelry for, in my creation of two bracelets of blue diamonds. Had this situation followed what I have become used to, I would have failed on one of the blue diamonds as well for a common one piece of jewelry out of four attempts!

My teacher had informed myself after this test that when working with velium metals, if I should fail but one time of every ten that I would be considered as an equal to all who have come before me, and all who shall follow. It has also been taught to myself that using a gnomish gemsetter to assist with my work will offer minimal, if any, help to one of my skill. I was informed that it would help me to score but two points higher upon a test, but that both a score of 250 and a score of 252 would yeild the same results when working with all forms of Velium jewelry. Knowing such, I saw no reason to spend my coins, and do not use such a thing.

Was perhaps my teacher mistaken of such numbers, or I am simply not good enough to craft jewelry despite any test scores. I wish only proper guidance, so I may avoid aimlessly destroying the valuable gems of others who might seek my help. I also feel foolish when I warp metals and crack gems like an unschooled child with large ogre hands just moments after I have informed themselves that I am considered to be among the finest of my craft."

*A small face drawn at the end of the paragraph.*

*You see that the note is signed in a flourish of beautiful letters, that, after studing for a moment, can be read as 'Ayrielle'*

[Jhavon]

Your guidance is mostly accurate. The scores on your tests will only improve slightly, such that it would really seem minimal.. However, the trophy of your efforts offers it's own just rewards should you win one.

I personally feel that your test results have been rather unlucky, and it may serve you to remember that no matter how good one is at their craft, pushing the limits can often be as frustrating as they are rewarding.

[Anofalye]

*comfort*

Everone can flame me and say I am a lier if you want but...

Did you make sure you have a maxed DEXTERITY as well?

I know most peoples say it don`t change a thing, I STRONGLY feel it help a lot since I fail much more once upon a time with low dex then when I try to get a high dex.

From *feeling* I feel that first a skill check is made, then if failed a intel check and then if failed a dex check, if you succeed any, the item is created. Now this is only a feeling, I have no proof, but so far, each time someone have make sure to have high dexterity, his success rate improve a lot in most cases.

To get high dex, SoV(or VoG) + NDT(Or Boon(carefull of factions issues)) + a shamy buff(or bard) = maxed dexterity even if you usually find it hard to chew a gum while walking. :P

Maybe I am supersticious, maybe this is not real, but I really refuse to work jewelry for customers when I cannot reach my haste cap, and it seem to serve me well so far.

PS: Of course the skill is the most important (and tinkering/trophy), Intel and then Dex would matter.

PPS: On a side note, Dexterity don`t seem to help if trivial combines since it prolly don`t help remove minimal failure value, but I am not sure and get my dex buff anyway.

PPPS: A shamy usually love to received a tell from a chanter saying: wanna trade dex buff for c3?

PPPPS: Don`t argue with those that say DEX don`t help, let them do as they please, but you should keep asking for DEX buff nonetheless, this arguing will lead you nowhere and you can almost reach cap alone with buffs.

PPPPPS: On a logical side note, someone with skilled hands, dexterity, will miss cut much less even if "drawin" cut line does matters more, skill still matter, would you want your chirurgian to lack dexterity?

[Lothay]

Stats do not affect your rate of success, see http://mboards.eqtraders.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=31Stats and Tradeskills</a>. <i> The information we curretnly have shows that only your modified skill level determines your success rate. See http://mboards.eqtraders.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=39this FAQ</a> for information. </i>

Laurefin and Ishwar have done pretty extensive studies of this, and you can view their results on http://www.geocities.com/laurefinlon...ssgraphsc.htmlLaurefin's Site</a>.

While it is painful, even the greatest master will make mistakes. I cringe to think that I failed 8 attempts to make my trophy, and one night I ruined 8 Velium+Blue Diamond combines in a row.

All I can offer you is my comfort, and the knowledge that you are not alone.

[Anofalye]

*grin*

Like I said...

Don`t argue with others that say Dex don`t help! You will be overwhelm by a croud and it will lead nowhere...:P

Yet, did you see that shamy before I do some JC? :P

And yes, I would refuse to make any JC combine if dex is not capped, even if I will not argue over it with others. :P

I know I know, call me a witch-doctors... *giggles*

[Velurian]

Your teacher may have been unrealistically optimistic about the likelihood of success when working with the most difficult of metals and gems. If the progression of skill required to work with platinum and velium beyond the simpler gems continues in a similar fashion to gold, we might expect that it would require a skill of approximately 290. According to the general wisdom, attempting such a setting with a skill of only 250 should result in success somewhat more than 5 of every 8 attempts -- a considerable number, and greater than what you seem to be experiencing, but not within a stone's throw of 9 out of 10.

[Troodon]

Dex will help you skill up, but only if higher than your wis or int. Moot point if you're at 250 already as there's nowhere to go in skillups, hehe. Won't help you succesfully make combines in the least bit.

[Moraganth]

.. deffinately max out that dex.. also, move in a circle, counterclockwise, around the nearest dorf you see, and knock on his helm 3 times. It is also said, rubbing the bald head of a hooman cleric helps.... if you don't know one, i can lease you one of my guildies for a while. Also, dancing nekid around a bonfire at midnight, on a wenesday, does a lot for success rates... well... if you're female... AND if you tell me where that'll be held... unless you're troll or oger, then... um... i can lease you out one of my guildie troll sk's.

[Khama]

I dont know if this matters, but I seem to have significant MORE failures in the bazaar. But be all the noise and the difficulty in finding a quiet place to do my crafting.

( The RNG in the bazaar is terrible for me. I always make my jewelery in a less populated zone, like Nexus for example )

Find yourself a quiet corner to do your crafting, and your failures might decrease. How can anyone craft anything with all that shouting going on anyway?

[Bregalad]

Everyone chooses his own poison. Superstition says that when attempting a JC(or fletching) combine above your skill, higher DEX helps. If you are a 44+ enchanter, +100 dex is just 3 minutes away. (if you are 63+, you can pump your dex by 153 after a 1.5 min wait).

Also, every itty-bitty thing helps. Last I checked, gemsetters were around 100pp. I'd rather spend that and have the peace of mind of having done all I could, rather than keep wondering if I just annihilated 3kpp worth of stuff for want of a 100pp implement.

Again, if enchanter and in the right level range, consider investing AA into Jewelcraft Mastery. They say PoP combines make Velium look like cakewalk.

They also say RNG works in streaks. Some would do /random 1000 several times before a major combine, and wait till they get a couple high rolls in a row.

[Lupoman]

.. deffinately max out that dex.. also, move in a circle, counterclockwise, around the nearest dorf you see, and knock on his helm 3 times. It is also said, rubbing the bald head of a hooman cleric helps.... if you don't know one, i can lease you one of my guildies for a while. Also, dancing nekid around a bonfire at midnight, on a wenesday, does a lot for success rates... well... if you're female... AND if you tell me where that'll be held... unless you're troll or oger, then... um... i can lease you out one of my guildie troll sk's.

Tooo funny!! I also have rituals, buffing myself to max stats, have c3, goto bear form, usse paticular forges, swapping certain equipment etc etc, lol call it what ya will, but am jus superstitious