How to HQ

[Xylaa]

I've not been able to really get into synthesizing until recently, for lack of money. I've probably a long time before I can, but I was wondering how to make High Quality of items. I've looked at guild places online, and have yet to find how to. Can someone please help me?

[Icemage]

In order to produce HQ's on more than just blind luck you need:

(1) To have your skill at or above the skillup limit of the item you are attempting to craft. If the recipe is something you can still gain skill on (on any required skill), then your chances of HQ are abysmally low, even on darksday or "strong" days (see item 3 below).

(2) The more levels above in all required crafts you have (generally speaking), the better your chances of HQ. There are strong theories which state that HQ rates jump up to a better "tier" at around 30 levels above the skillcap, and again at 50 levels above the skillcap for a synth.

(3) Day of week seems to have some impact. Darksday always provides a slight chance to HQ, as does synthing on a day which is strong vs. the element of your crystal.

(4) Moon phase is rumored to affect HQ rates, but I've not seen any conclusive proof either way. The common wisdom states that new moon is good for HQ, and opinion seems divided on whether full moon is good for HQ.


Icemage

[Xylaa]

Thanks, but that tells me when I should attempt HQ. It doesn't actually tell how to do so. Do I double each item in the recipe? Or add a cluster to it? I can make the items, but I've no idea how to make HQ.

[Macht]

HQ are possible results when you do the synthesis. You do the synthesis just like you would normally, if you are lucky that normal synthesis will result in a HQ1, HQ2, or HQ3. Some items have no difference between HQ1, HQ2, and HQ3. There are also some that will only change if you succeed in getting a HQ2 or HQ3.

Probably the simpler way to explain it:

You synthesise an items and the possible results are Normal, HQ1, HQ2, and HQ3.

Example:

Grass Threads: 1 Wind Crystal used on 1 Yagudo Necklace.
Possible Results:
Normal 3 Grass Threads
HQ1 6 Grass Threads
HQ2 12 Grass Threads
HQ3 12 Grass Threads

The HQs are just a possibility just as Normal is.

[Xylaa]

Thank you so much. Sorry if I seemed like an annoying newbie. lol May I ask what clusters are for? I have a water cluster from when I fought a water elemental, but don't know how I may use it. Just curious. Thanks to whoever takes the time to answer my questions, especially Icemage and Macht.

[Icemage]

Take any cluster and Use it and it will transform into 12 crystals of the appropriate element. Your water cluster will turn into 12 water crystals, for instance.

There are a handful of synths that actually use entire clusters as an ingredient (on top of the normal crystal which triggers the synth), as well.


Icemage

[Xylaa]

Thank you so much for answering me questions. Can you answer one more for me? That's not my question though. lol How do you put signatures on stuff? Can I do so on the flute I just made?

[Icemage]

To sign an item, you need to replace the normal crystal with one purchased directly from the guild using Guild Points. There's not enough space here to go into the complexities of guild points and guild contracts, but suffice to say that once you have a craft levelled to at least Novice rank (level 28+) you can open a contract with the guild. As part of that contract, you can supply items to the guild (the item requested changes each real life day at midnight in Japan) to receive points, which you can then use to buy things like the special signature crystals.


Icemage

[Xylaa]

Cool, thanks a lot for answering my questions. I greatly appreciate it! ^^