Smithing, Chain or Straight to Plate?

[foarge]

I'm currently finishing up banded, then I'll do needles until 122.
(added question, will the cultural items be really difficult to attain for the cultural needles on a fresh server? )

I'll then do Cultural needles until 133ish. After that I am kinda inbetween going for ornate chain or straight to plate. Leather padding is very cheap currently (2 -4p each) so I dont think chain will be that much cheaper than doing plate, and plate is sure to sell pretty good on a new server. I also dont really want to have to deal with a merchant running out of ore, since it might be a pain to restock them at lvl 2.

My question is given these circumstances, am I wrong to think that i'll be better off going straight to fine plate?

*edit* I just saw a LoY recepie that may helm bridge the gap a bit too, (elm handled shears trivial 142) looks to cost about 3-4pp per combine, only problem is getting to gunthak may be a challenge, does anyone know if the shear molds are sold anywhere else?

[Zeralenn]

If the padding is that cheap, I'd go from cultural needles to fine plate directly.

Don't know how many people can afford fine plate yet ....

...Zera

[Mahlig]

Money is plentiful, if you hunt the right things. In Butcherblock alone, the following can be found:

Green Goblin Head (4pp)
Vial of Green Goblin Blood (4pp)
Pristine Skunk Claw (4pp)

These are uncommon drops, but far from rare. Often, goblins will drop BOTH the blood and head. Aqua Goblins items had their sellback prices nerfed...errr...adjusted, but not the regular goblins. There goes my money making tip.

[Sanna]

!!!!!

*Suddenly wonders if the 'adjustment' came because VI knew they were opening a new server soon, and wanted to make really-real noobs go elsewhere for plat?*

If so... they ARE unkind. ~_~.

[Hibashira]

I'd say definitely stick with chain for a while. Plate is not exactly cheap. And to skill up that much, you'll blow through, say, 20-30 stacks of paddings?

[Cavel]

OK so the question I have is what type of cash flow do you have? If Money is no object then go Plate, you will fail more times then you succeed. If you want to try to keep money tight then go chain you will secceed more.

[Samoht]

Money is plentiful, if you hunt the right things. In Butcherblock alone, the following can be found:

Green Goblin Head (4pp)
Vial of Green Goblin Blood (4pp)
Pristine Skunk Claw (4pp)

That was nerfed a few months back.

[kiztent]

Money is plentiful, if you hunt the right things. In Butcherblock alone, the following can be found:

Green Goblin Head (4pp)
Vial of Green Goblin Blood (4pp)
Pristine Skunk Claw (4pp)

That was nerfed a few months back.

Actually, my understanding is that it wasn't. The drops in question are not the commons from the aquagoblins - which were nerfed - but uncommons from a limited number of static spawns - which weren't nerfed. However, raising the difficulty of getting good items the discouraged the bottom feeders who moved on to other things.

[Mahlig]

It was not nerfed as this is currently happening on the new Stromm server (as well as on Bristlebane and Stormhammer). The Aqua Goblins drops sell back prices were, but not the other goblins. And it is not just the static spawns as there are several camps of them in BB too.

[eqsanctum]

It was not nerfed as this is currently happening on the new Stromm server (as well as on Bristlebane and Stormhammer). The Aqua Goblins drops sell back prices were, but not the other goblins. And it is not just the static spawns as there are several camps of them in BB too.

*nods* same on cazic thule

[Monodon]

chain or plate

In answer to the original post...

What I did was make silver ornate chain until I hit three ring combines. At this point it slows down a bit because you have to make more trips for ore to get the same number of combines and the combines get more expensive. You can get to 124 on silver ornate without doing 3 ring combines. The reason for skipping the other metals is that if you switch to electrum you will only get to 128 on two ring combines and the cost of the metals increases rapidly. I also found that switching to plate wasn't that big of a jump. When you make the switch go to FP gorgets. They trivial at 168. I realize that the jump is a large one, but I did it this way and found that it only cost me 400 pp to get from 124 to 188 after selling stuff back. After the gorgets move ot the next trivial. To keep the cost down do your own padding. I farmed lions in the karanas, and silks in several zones. I do have one spot, but I forge which zone atm and will post it later. What I did was make up 200 sets of padding and then went to town on the skillups. Of course you can always buy your padding in the bazaar, but I'm too chep for that.

Just my 2 cp

[Frerin the Smith]

On an economy like Stromm there is no reason to "skill up" on items that have solid market value. I would go straight to plate, as I have done, and just keep your ornate chain info available in case you get a request for it.

Sell as you skill, that is they key, even now, on Stromm. It might change in a week or so, but you are the spear tip of the smiths and there is no reason (or cash I might add) to do mass production items that will end up on a vendor. Stay ahead of the curve and skill and profits will fall into place. Try to powerlevel at the wrong time and your cash base will sink and you will slip into the normal arc of trade skill progression and will have to contend with undercutters and guilds trying to power up crafter alts.

That's just my opinion.


Keplar
133 smith
Stromm Server

[scarbrowed]

The LoY shears are a strange option. They require a mold that costs about 74pp, but the completed shears sell back for almost as much. If you can afford the up front costs, they might be useful. I think the net loss was only 2-3 pp per shear.

[Aandaie]

The problem is that plate smiths on stromm appear to be pricing a bit high for minor items.

Or maybe they are selling a lot of 9 ac bracers for 75 plat, I can't really see it though. 75 plat is still not exactly pennies there. If the bracer is that much I can't see anyone affording the bp, at only a few ac more than a banded bp.

[Frerin the Smith]

They have been selling, have sold 10 pieces so far and have had several people ask if I would have more in the future as they save up, including an order for legs for 200pp.

I will not make Breastplates though as the Netherbian Chitin is too easy to get and is better than a FP Breastplate. Will likely quit making the belt and helm as straw spun belts and skull shaped barbutes start reaching the market.

Right now, however, there are few if any options for better armor and those who are at the top, in their 30's already, have a hefty bankroll and nothing to spend it on. They need good armor, I provide it. They may complain a bit about price, but they pop the plat in the trade window as fast as you please when I get done with their order.