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A Fishing Pole ~ Some early crafting thoughts from a noob.
JeepEscape
Member UncommonPosts: 64
I'm about level 18 in the game currently, and I've mostly been doing quests to make some cash and get to know the game. I've done a little farming now, so I wanted to help people understand it a little better, from my early perspective. Others who have played the game longer are welcome to chime in or correct me.
One thing I really want to do is spend time near and on the water in this game. I figured the first thing I could do is get a fishing pole and start doing some fishing on land, and from my starter rowboat. ArcheAge also has an Aqua-farming system too, where you can farm fish, coral and other things if you want... very cool.
So you want a fishing pole? Time to start up a farm and learn to craft. Why? Because this game doesn't hand you anything, really. If there's a quest which awards a fishing pole, which wouldn't surprise me, I haven't seen it yet, but I wanted to get into crafting anyway. I asked people in my huge guild, and they said it needed to be crafted (or purchased for more money than I have)
The basic entry-level fishing pole requires several components, which need to be crafted. Buying materials on the AH early in the game isn't really viable because of the expense. I think this is a good thing, because it will nudge people into crafting. I'm actually still in the process of farming/gathering and crafting what I need to make my pole, but so far I had to grow some Bamboo and Cotton, just to build the pole frame. Be aware, there are no trees out there just growing in the world for you to chop down. You need to grow your own, or steal them from someone else, risking in-game prosecution and prison. If you are into that kind of thing, that's going to be something you enjoy. I'm currently working on growing some wood for the "wooden reel", and then I have some other components to put together. Later on in the game, I'll have stores of some of these materials, but right now, early on, I have nothing.
Crafting isn't as complex as Star Wars Galaxies from the perspective of having dynamic resources with ever-changing stats, but AA crafting is deep from the perspective of needing more materials and components to put things together early on in the game. Let's face it, in most games, you walk up to an NPC and buy a fishing pole for next to nothing, or you craft one, and it takes just a couple components and one crafting session to do it. AA makes you earn that fishing pole, and the end result is much more satisfaction for having made your own.
Some people may not enjoy this level of crafting in a game. I love crafting, and the act of gathering resources and farming makes you get out and explore the world. In ArcheAge, you don't simple leave the lower level areas, when you are done, and never return. You will be bouncing all over the game world the entire time you play this game, as resources can be localized, and some items grow better in their home region. I can see having multiple farms of my own, scattered around the map, later in the game.
This is a crafter's game, although once communities start to emerge, I'm sure guilds will have people who are dedicated more towards combat, while others fill support roles such as crafting. PvP is what this game is ultimately about, but I don't think it will be all that difficult to *mostly* stay out of PvP and support your guild, as long as there is a system where you are supplied with some of the materials you need that have to be gathered in PvP zones.
Please feel free to add more or correct my comments if you know something I don't. I'm just barely learning this game, and a lot of it is still a mystery. In most MMORPG's, you have a fairly good understanding of how the game is going to play by the time you are level 20. In this game, getting to level 20 is a challenge, and you haven't learned a damned thing yet. 
Comments
The fishing rod takes quite a lot of work to make and gather everything for it, if working on your own.
If doing it all on your own, there are 3 big things you'll need to get out of the way:
1. Scarecrow Farm. This is the bigger version of the starter garden, rewarded from your 4th Trade Run quest from the Blue Salt Brotherhood. You'll need this to place the Farmer's Workstation and have ample growing room.
2. Farmer's Workstation. You'll need this for multiple things, but most importantly to create seed bundles that give bait worms when harvested. You'll also create Combined Feed and Livestock Supplement here, needed to raise a Sheep to harvest wool to create fishing line. The recipe to create this workstation CONSUMES your initial Scarecrow Garden. That is why you need the Scarecrow Farm to then place it on.
3. Aqua Farm. If gathering all the materials on your own, you'll need to grow your own Green Coral at an Aqua Farm, as it is used in the recipe to make a potion to create the Farmer's Workstation. Won't need this if you get your 9 Green Coral by other means.
I do actually have an oldish quest for a fishing pole, but I am sure it is only to craft the frikin thing for myself! lol
I only skimmed it, because fishing is on my list but not yet, but I think I still have obtain (grow) the bamboo and whatnot.
*edit* I should have read 777's post before replying!