Crafting Faire report: fun, plus some changes for next week

Thanks to all that attended our first Crafting Faire.   We had a blast, and I got overwhelming feedback that the format of the event -- nodes, skill points, waypoints, POIs, ranger pets and convenient veterans and champions -- was quite attractive to most folks. 

We also came across a few things that could be better.  I also got some fantastic suggestions on how to improve these, which I'll share in this post.  (I'll update the event on the calendar to reflect these changes.)

1. Gathering Zerg first.  Getting everyone into the same overflow zone is hard work, and forming up first in Divinity's Reach almost doubled that work.  Starting next week, we'll form up in the target zone instead at 9am, and move the Crafting Faire to 11am.  This will also allow folks who need to bow out for real life to get some gathering in earlier.

    

2. More Gathering Zergs per week.  This format was a hit, and folks were hoping for more events like this per week.  I can't personally commit to more often than Saturday mornings, so I'm looking for volunteers to lead Gathering Zergs on other days.

    

3. Broader level ranges.  For the Saturday event, I plan to hit EVERY zone in the game at least once, starting with the lowest level ones and working my way up.  But many crafters are looking for higher level mats, of course, and would like to farm higher level zones.  It's my hope that the other gathering events will target a variety of zones to provide more choice.

    

4. Crafting Faire moves to Lion's Arch. Divinity's Reach is not familiar to folks who don't play human characters. Lion's Arch has exceptional crafting resources and it's centrally located for all races.

    

5. Crafting Faire includes crafting Q&A.  The Crafting Faire hour (immediately following the gathering zerg) will include crafting Q&A where members who are new crafting can get help in RaidCall.  This is in addition to the original purpose: to hook up with crafters and get your items crafted.

    

One other issue that's still prominent on my radar:  smaller "zergs" are probably more efficient at collecting crafting mats.  I'm going to hold off changing the format of the Saturday morning event, however, because I don't want to trade away inclusiveness and fun for more efficient resource gathering.  Instead, I hope that more events per week will provide folks with a range of choices so they can attend the ones they like best.

As always, we're open to more suggestions.  If you are available to lead a gathering event, please feel free to add it to the calendar and promote it!

thanks!
~Shmi

I'd be happy to help run a gathering zerg. Will try to catch you in-game or on RaidCall to discuss timing :)

I have already given you feedback in Raid Call. However once again I think you did a great job. I really enjoyed the gathering zerg. i can't remember were some of the chests though were.. lol

Chests, let's see if I remember. One in the bandit cave on the N-center part of the map. One in a tent in the centaur camp in the SE. One in middle terrace of harpies in Altar Brooke Vale, leading up to the Ettin goo skill point. Fourth one... ummmm. How's 3/4? :)

» Edited on: 2012-09-02 15:21:08

I thought the event was a huge hit. I was the first time I'd seen some of those areas. It really didn't matter about hitting every single node, I enjoyed the skill points and events just as much.

LOL Thanks Lakshmi. I think the 4th was the troll cave with the warning along the lines of "You must be very scary to enter"

I couldn't be there... real life got in the way. Perhaps in a month or two I'll be able to attend... I'd really like to. Glad to know you had fun. That's what it's all about, isn't it? See you in Tyria!

I'll be there. Loved how last week went and everyone had fun zerging Queensdale with some ADD thrown in as we did some events and skill points in the mix. =) No enemy nor node could escape us. May be semi-afk during part of the crafting faire and Q&A part due to that being when my hubby will be home from work. He is my priority after all even if he claims I have more to say on Raidcall then to him. Hehe. My life isn't all that exciting and unfortunately can sum up my day in two or three sentences, sometimes one! Believe that one? ;) As a side note, for T2 fine mats, I found a decent drop out of the Skritt in northern Lornar's Pass in the mine. Upper 20's, about 28ish area. Oddly the most things I got were the small scales.

Really love this. Can't wait for next time. Will definitely look into leading one of these once my rank gets high enough. Possibly maybe do other events but focused on other things (jumping puzzles, achievements, pet gathering, etc) for those that miss those during crafting faires or otherwise. I'm still feeling my way around the world, but I'm sure there's lots of these activities where a large group of people could benefit.

I was unaware that the server times were in PST, but when I found out that, I realized I didn't get out of work until 1pm my time. So, I plan to be in the next one. I will be on early. I'll log into Raid Call, and I will be looking forward to getting some more insight on crafting. Only question I have is. Do we run around to all the zones or use waypoints? Because I don't have alot of zones unlocked. Only the places the Story mode has made me go. Actually other question I have. IS there any pre-requisite work that needs to be done, prior to attending this event?

@Zoey -- I'm specifically focused on crafting but there are PVE events on the calendar. Certainly we can use more, and everyone is welcome to lead. Ask an elder if you want help getting started in leading events (getting them on the calendar, and into the website for participation.) @Pepsi -- So far we're starting in zone that are adjacent to a city that can be reach via a Lion's Arch portal. We talk folks through the right portals and paths to reach us in RaidCall at the start of the event. Regarding preparation, you can come as you are! Starting next week we will move to a level 15+ zone. You can still come even as a brand new character, but you'll get a lot more out of the event if you are closer to level 15.

Cool Cool. I'll be there... 9am sharp...