Crafting & Server Community

[Felfaadaern Darkterror]

This wee quest to introduce the new crafting system, back in Dragonflight, makes explicit Blizz's intention of using crafting to encourage us to develop more friendships on our servers. They made it so craft orders only work within our server group, and incentivize us to develop relationships with our crafters so we can send them personal orders as repeat business. For me, it worked. I liked the idea, and developed a short list of crafters I go to for everything. I also tip well, so they look forward to hearing from me and usually get to my order right away. A couple have even joined me for other game activities.



Still, I see forum posts wishing craft orders were more anonymous and automated. People want top results without having to actually interact with other players. Is that because we're a bunch of introverts who don't really value community (even when we claim we do)? Or did players just not make the connection, not see this as an opportunity for more connection. Not expecting one definitive answer here; just interested in your thoughts.

[kranur]

So people are introverts now for not wanting to have to interact with others for every single thing? It's 2024, playing in a shared world is no longer a novelty.

[KOUNTERPARTS]

People want to reach their destination in the shortest amount of time possible. The quickest way between 2 points is a straight line. Eliminating any sort of middleman-like meddling for a quicker outcome.

Not really a hard concept to understand.

WoW still is very large with much content that allows you (and sometimes, forces you) to interact with people.

Let's not plant this social flag around crafting. Personally, I don't agree using the points of being "social" and "fostering friendships" on a "server's community" as arguments for this.

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I also tip well, so they look forward to hearing from me and usually get to my order right away. A couple have even joined me for other game activities.

There's nothing wrong with this, and people should generally aspire to this kind of etiquette/behavior in-game. But it should not be the standard, nor forced upon.

[Felfaadaern Darkterror]

So people are introverts now for not wanting to have to interact with others for every single thing? It's 2024, playing in a shared world is no longer a novelty.

For some it is. Part of the appeal of Classic was that time when you needed to interact with others because no LFD or LFR.
But retail happened for a reason. Blizz changed things over the years to give us more convenience. As they did so, they reduced incentives to connect with others. Why talk to people when you don't need to?

[Zardas]

Personnaly, I don't get any enjoyement out of crafting, it's just a means to get to the real meat of the game. So, I'd rather have it being have simple and straight-forwward as possible. It's not even about it being social or not, it's just about it being way too convoluted and cumbersome.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

So people are introverts now for not wanting to have to interact with others for every single thing? It's 2024, playing in a shared world is no longer a novelty.

> objective is to buy items made by other players
> doesn't want to have to interact with the players who made said item

[Felfaadaern Darkterror]

Personnaly, I don't get any enjoyement out of crafting, it's just a means to get to the real meat of the game. So, I'd rather have it being have simple and straight-forwward as possible. It's not even about it being social or not, it's just about it being way too convoluted and cumbersome.

So for you, would it be better if crafting was just removed from the game?
I mean, for many xpacs in the past, it may as well have been removed.
Most crafted gear was irrelevant, and crafting was more of a flavor thing like fishing.
Now, at least, crafting and professions are relevant for end game.

[Elanore Maroth]

I send a request out in trade chat the other day and I got met with 2 automated messages telling me to send a request to an alt named “X” and one message stating “4k fee send now”. Doesn’t feel like it worked out the way they expected.

[Kyux]

I like that crafting orders exist and that professions encourage social interaction. But omg professions are too complicated. I have yet to do a single crafting order because I can't understand the UI (and have no major incentive to spend time to figure it out. I have no idea what profession stats do, or where I can find them. I think Blizz needs to wind it back a little bit and make it clearer. Otherwise I like the direction.

Alch/herb for context.

[Zardas]

So for you, would it be better if crafting was just removed from the game?
I mean, for many xpacs in the past, it may as well have been removed.
Most crafted gear was irrelevant, and crafting was more of a flavor thing like fishing.
Now, at least, crafting and professions are relevant for end game.

Yeah, I wouldn't mind if it was entirely removed. And, unfortunately, I'm a collector so whever the crafted stuff is up to date for endgame is irrelevant for me, I craft stuff mostly for tmog purpose.
And I'd argue that crafting and profession being relevant for endgame make said endgame harder to get into.

[Felfaadaern Darkterror]

Yeah, I wouldn't mind if it was entirely removed. And, unfortunately, I'm a collector so whever the crafted stuff is up to date for endgame is irrelevant for me, I craft stuff mostly for tmog purpose.
And I'd argue that crafting and profession being relevant for endgame make said endgame harder to get into.

Actually, for those of us looking for upgrades, it provides a parallel track that is less RNG.
We can still raid and M+ and hope we get lucky in vault, but if we have bad luck we can save tokens to craft something.
One track for fun of lucky drops, one track for incremental advancement through persistence and hard work.
It balances.

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I like that crafting orders exist and that professions encourage social interaction. But omg professions are too complicated. I have yet to do a single crafting order because I can't understand the UI (and have no major incentive to spend time to figure it out. I have no idea what profession stats do, or where I can find them. I think Blizz needs to wind it back a little bit and make it clearer. Otherwise I like the direction.

Alch/herb for context.

Wowhead has guides for everything.

How to Create a Profession Work Order using Crafting Order Stations

So does YouTube.

[SinR]

Ah yes, the SOCIAL INTERACTION of talking in Trade Channel.

[Felfaadaern Darkterror]

Ah yes, the SOCIAL INTERACTION of talking in Trade Channel.

Some of that, but also the social interaction of adding new people to friends list and interacting with them on a semi-regular basis over several years.

[Ereb]

Some of that, but also the social interaction of adding new people to friends list and interacting with them on a semi-regular basis over several years.

If you need crafting to make friends on an online game, the problem isn't with crafting

[Taen]

Is that because we're a bunch of introverts who don't really value community (even when we claim we do)?

Yes, this is the correct answer.