I'm trying to figure out what the level cap is on crafting items. For example, what is the top level that a carpenter would get experience for making a weakened wood board? Is there a different level cap for personal use than work orders?
That's an interesting question Dee. I just tested a level 10 Outfitter alt making a jute cloth bolt (level 3 refining recipe) and I still received xp for it. That may not be the exact answer you are looking for but at least it gives you a start. Seven levels above the recipe and I am still received xp. No type of xp gain buffs were used in the test.
I'm thinking it must be level 11 when you can start the seek the trainer, but I think you still get experience if you are doing a work order but not personal item.
Work Order experience is based off the difficulty of the work order. If you are doing gray (Trivial) work orders you will not receive any experience. When I do work orders I work on the yellow (difficult) and white (moderate) ones. I try some red (very difficult) from time to time. Dark blue I recall is below the white, I'll do those if no yellow or white ones are available. Also I do the batch work orders first, then the sets, then the singles. The batch yield more xp as well.
To put in my 2c worth... I generally don't worry about xp on recipe items because I rely on quests and work orders to level and skill. Although it would be nice if someday some entrepreneurial dev decides to rewrite the recipe book portion of the crafting profession to include things like option sorts (difficulty, alphabetical, item type/style, etc.). (S)he may also leave in the coloured difficulty indicators as seen in the work order window.... but I digress... For experience it may be best to concentrate on work orders you _know_ you can complete. an incomplete process yields no exp and the work order itself only gives you minimal exp on completion. The big gain is in the combine itself. I generally do the dark blues and whites for grinding as well as skillups after leveling. If you have great gear and can reliably complete yellows, go for it. Otherwise stick to the less difficult items. The rewards for completing batches are always far superior to the sets or single items (to include sigils). I don't think the light blues contribute enough experience to warrant the time involved. I'll grind out trivial and light blue single items for rep boosting only.
Well I've found out that at level 11, you will not get experience for novice items made for personal use. At level 13, I can still get experience for doing a light blue work order. IMHO, it seems really whacked that you cannot get experience for making an item for personal use
Why should you get xp for making an item that is a tier below your level? The work orders con according to your level so of course you will get xp for light blue WOs, but you wont for grey because they are a tier below your level.
