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From BGWiki

There are instances when the energy flowing through Vana'diel becomes concentrated and changes into a crystalline form. Combined with an image made by the user, the energy of these crystals can be focused onto other ingredients, resulting in new products. This process is known as crystal synthesis. [[1]]

Contents 1 Synthesis / Crafting Theories 1.1 Elemental Effects on Compass Direction 1.2 Phases of The Moon 1.3 Elemental Effects on Days of The Week 1.4 So...When Do I Craft? 1.5 Equipment 1.6 Moghancements 1.7 Moglification 2 Debunked Theories 3 Related Links

Synthesis / Crafting Theories

Throughout the years since FFXI launched, players have come up with numerous ideas and theories on Crafting. A lot of them has been debunked, but a few stayed on to become legendary 'guides'. Though largely untestable due to the random factor in all synthesis, it can be said that no 'one' theory is better than the rest, although some appears to be more 'useful'. The following section will outline a number of the currently popular trends and ideas in Crafting.

Elemental Effects on Compass Direction

The biggest speculation regarding Crafting, whether in skilling up or success/failure rate, has to do with compass directions. Square Enix representatives have refused to either approve or debunk this theory, so many players have opted to adopt this style of Crafting 'just in case'. The theory states that each direction on the compass has an elemental property. Based on player studies into the Stellar Map found at Windurst Waters and the Prime Element Charts found by dataminers, a 'Crafting compass' was created and have continued to be referenced by a number of websites and player guides. The following are known points in the Compass Direction theory:

Compass Direction	Related Element	Affected Crystals
North	Dark	Dark Crystal Light Crystal
North East	Light	Light Crystal Dark Crystal
East	Ice	Ice Crystal Wind Crystal
South East	Wind	Wind Crystal Earth Crystal
South	Earth	Earth Crystal Lightning Crystal
South West	Lightning	Lightning Crystal Water Crystal
West	Water	Water Crystal Fire Crystal
North West	Fire	Fire Crystal Ice Crystal

The following is a table of which direction to face for the different crystals, for both HQ/Skill up and success rate:

Crystal	Enhances HQ/Skill Up Rate	Enhances Success Rate
Dark	North East	North
Light	North	North East
Ice	North West	East
Wind	East	South East
Earth	South East	South
Lightning	South	South West
Water	South West	West
Fire	West	North West

As stated previously, this theory has not been thoroughly tested except by a few who believes that one should Craft when, where and however you wish to Craft.

BGWiki welcomes contributions from any Crafters who have done extensive testing and would 
like to post their results and/or reasonings for or against this theory as an extension to 
this article.

Phases of The Moon

It is an accepted fact that the Moon Phase plays an important role in FFXI. It appears that this theory been proven by crafters over time that certain Moon Phases will affect the success, HQ and Skill Up rate when crafting.

There are only 2 Moon Phases that seem to have the most affect on crafting: Full Moon and New Moon.

• Full Moon: Positively affects skill ups and success rates
• New Moon: Positively affects HQ rates

Elemental Effects on Days of The Week

Another accepted fact in FFXI is that the Elemental Day of the week will affect crafting. Many crafters have conducted tests on this and came to the following conclusions:

• Crafting on the same elemental day as the crystal you are using will increase success and HQ rates but will decrease the chance skill ups. Example: Using Fire Crystal on Firesday
• Crafting on an opposing (stronger) elemental day from the crystal you are using will greatly increase your chance of HQ and skill up, but will also increase the chances of failure. Example: Using Light Crystal on Darksday or vice versa, using Ice Crystal on Firesday
• Crafting on an opposing (weaker) elemental day from the crystal you are using will somewhat increase your chance of success but will not affect the HQ, skill ups or failure rate.
• Crafting on Darksday with any crystal will generally increase the number of skill ups and success
• Crafting on Lightsday with any crystal will generally increase the chance of HQ as well as failure
• Crafting on a random elemental day with no particular connection to the crystal you are using will generate a mixed result and is thought to be 'neutral'.

So...When Do I Craft?

Because this is not a guide but merely a repository of known theories, it is safe to say that you can craft as you wish, choosing to use the theories or not. It is a popular practice among current Crafters to combine all 3 of the above theories when crafting. Refer to the Related Links section below for useful crafting calculators.

Equipment

With the arrival of the Guild Points system in April 2004, Crafters were introduced to Craft skill enhancing items. Although many speculated on whether or not the items effect success/fail rate, it became accepted by the community that the items merely add an 'actual' skill number thus raising your Crafting level.

Equipment Name	Related Craft	Guild Point Cost
Caduceus	Alchemy	70,000
Alchemist's Apron	Alchemy	100,000
Alchemist's Belt	Alchemy	10,000
Protective Spectacles	Bonecraft	70,000
Boneworker's Apron	Bonecraft	100,000
Boneworker's Belt	Bonecraft	10,000
Magnifying Spectacles	Clothcraft	70,000
Weaver's Apron	Clothcraft	100,000
Weaver's Belt	Clothcraft	10,000
Chef's Hat	Cooking	70,000
Culinarian's Apron	Cooking	100,000
Culinarian's Belt	Cooking	10,000
Shaded Spectacles	Goldsmithing	70,000
Goldsmith's Apron	Goldsmithing	100,000
Goldsmith's Belt	Goldsmithing	10,000
Tanner's Gloves	Leathercraft	70,000
Tanner's Apron	Leathercraft	100,000
Tanner's Belt	Leathercraft	10,000
Smithy's Mitts	Smithing	70,000
Blacksmith's Apron	Smithing	100,000
Blacksmith's Belt	Smithing	10,000
Carpenter's Gloves	Woodworking	70,000
Carpenter's Apron	Woodworking	100,000
Carpenter's Belt	Woodworking	10,000

The only other known Craft enhancement equipment is the Hocho, a Katana that drops from the NM Sozu Sarberry in The Temple of Uggalepih. The Hocho can also be bought from the Auction House under Weapons > Katana. Only a Ninja level 57 and above can wield the Hocho. It gives a +3 enhancement to Cooking, the only Craft in FFXI to reach 100+6 maximum levels.

Rings
Added in the June 2008 patch, the following rings can be purchased with Guild Points that remove the chance of inadvertent High Quality results that were dreaded when crafting ingredients for further recipes:

Furniture Name	Related Craft	Guild Point Cost
Alchemist's Ring	Alchemy	80,000
Bonecrafter's Ring	Bonecraft	80,000
Tailor's Ring	Clothcraft	80,000
Chef's Ring	Cooking	80,000
Goldsmith's Ring	Goldsmithing	80,000
Tanner's Ring	Leathercraft	80,000
Smith's Ring	Smithing	80,000
Carpenter's Ring	Woodworking	80,000

Moghancements

Guild Points also provides crafters with unique Furnishings that enhances their crafting skill by 1 level. The following is a list of Furnishings buyable with Guild Points:

Furniture Name	Related Craft	Guild Point Cost
Emeralda	Alchemy	150,000
Drogaroga's Fang	Bonecraft	150,000
Gilt Tapestry	Clothcraft	150,000
Cordon Bleu Set	Cooking	150,000
Fool's Gold	Goldsmithing	150,000
Golden Fleece	Leathercraft	150,000
Mastersmith Anvil	Smithing	150,000
Drawing Desk	Woodworking	150,000

Moglification

When the following items are placed in a Mog House with the above furnishings and the proper elements are dominant, the player will achieve the further bonus of Moglification for the craft, which supposedly reduces the chance of losing materials when for failed syntheses:

Furniture Name	Related Craft	Guild Point Cost
Alchemist's Sign	Alchemy	200,000
Boneworker's Sign	Bonecraft	200,000
Weaver's Sign	Clothcraft	200,000
Culinarian's Sign	Cooking	200,000
Goldsmith's Sign	Goldsmithing	200,000
Tanner's Sign	Leathercraft	200,000
Blacksmith's Sign	Smithing	200,000
Carpenter's Sign	Woodworking	200,000

There are also other Furnishings that are theorized to affect crafting. Please visit the Furnishings section for further details.

Debunked Theories

As a point of interest, the following are a few Crafting theories which have either been debunked or is no longer popular among the players:

• HQ Elemental Staves: It was temporarily wildly popular amongst Crafters to wield HQ Elemental Staves which corresponds to the crystal being used. For example: Wielding a Vulcan's Staff when Crafting using a Fire Crystal. Though there are still some recorded cases of Crafters using this theory, majority of players consider this to be a rumor.
• Weather Effects: For a short while, it is believed that weather effects will enhance the success or fail rate of synthesis. This theory appeared in the early life of FFXI and was never fully proven. It has since been debunked, as the original towns do not have weather effects. It was generally accepted that Square Enix would not put in a mechanism that would be detrimental to town usage. The actual records of tests and debunking of this theory has since been lost except for a few discussions here and there on player based forums.

Related Links

The following websites provide some tool or other that are beneficial to Crafters of all levels.

• lokyst's FFXI Crafting Timer: This little calculator will tell you when is best to Craft, what your chances for failure and success are and depending on which 'camp' of thought you follow on Crafting theories, it will also tell you which direction to face for your best chances.
• Crafting Recipes: May be one of the best and most interactive recipe database around. Make an account and it even offers an off game bazaar system.
• DiGIT: Daily Guild Item Tool. And easy one click page to find your daily Guild Point items. Their item listings links back to ffrecipe.com
• Timer and Clock: This website offers a widely used Vanadiel timer, guild schedules, airship schedules and moon phases. Very useful if you like planning your Crafting around certain Vanadiel Time.