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Alrighty, folks! Welcome to the first of my bonus updates on the Disciples of the Hand and Land. Today we’ll be starting on the ARR questline for Carpenter, simply because it’s at the top of the in-game list.
Carpenter (CRP) is a Gridania-based crafter who uses saws and claw hammers as their tools. CRP likely has the least number of crafting recipes due to a relative lack of end products to produce; although they still manage to cover things like spinning wheels, fishing rods, canes/bows/lances for the three Gridanian starting classes, and the occasional shield or set of wooden accessories. Processed lumber is needed in a bunch of other crafting recipes though, particularly weapons and tools which require it for their handles.
To begin with, we’ll just go ahead and step into the guild, and go through the usual wordy spiel from the receptionist.
Greetings, adventurer, and welcome to the Carpenters' Guild. We are the artisans who take wood and grant it new form and purpose as the archer's bow, the lancer's spear, and the novice's shield. If carpentry holds any appeal, you should consider joining our guild. Might you be interested in learning the ways of woodworking?
*nods*
Wonderful, wonderful! Now, before we proceed, I think it only right that I acquaint you with our guild's storied past. Since the founding of Gridania, we have built our homes and crafted our weapons from the trees of the Twelveswood. As our nation grew and prospered, the woodworker's repertoire expanded to encompass a greater variety of articles, and carpentry developed into an art. At first, there was no association of carpenters; each individual worked and sold his services independently. However, the advent of watermills meant that more efficient construction methods were needed, along with formalized maintenance regimes, all of which necessitated organization. The Carpenters' Guild was founded to oversee the operation of watermills and promote cooperation between woodworkers.
Now, I must mention at this point that we owe much and more of our prosperity to the Greatloam Growery. Thanks to the hardworking botanists, we are blessed with the finest lumber in all Eorzea. This confluence of ideal circumstances allows us to provide all manner of goods and services to the people of Gridania. ...My apologies, that was rather longer than I intended. Still, I trust you have gained a greater understanding of our guild. We expect our members to drink deep of the collected wisdom that the guild has amassed over the course of its history─to actively seek an understanding of wood and the techniques required to work it, rather than simply waiting to be taught. We expect, in short, nothing less than total commitment to the craft. If you wish to start down this path, speak to me once more. I shall explain to you the enrollment process.
Sweet Jesus, these people love to talk. Let’s get on with the actual show...
Would you like to learn more about the enrollment process? Wonderful! ...I should mention at this point that Timbermaster Beatin assesses all would-be apprentices personally, so you will need to obtain his approval before you begin. Timbermaster Beatin can be a harsh and unforgiving man, but if you love the craft and have the will to learn, you could ask for no better tutor. He is, quite simply, the finest carpenter in Gridania. Of course, it will take you some time, and no small amount of effort, to comprehend the full extent of his teachings, but you may rest assured that he will not lead you astray. That said...when you meet him, I would advise you to choose your words carefully and...um...resist the urge to run away.
As you may remember, the guild itself is run by Beatin, who has an obsession with lumber that borders on the perverse. More than once his dialogue might make you wonder if he needs a few minutes alone with the length of wood you just handed in. And because it's Gridania, a theme of early Carpenter quests will be respecting nature and making the most of its bounty.
...Another green adventurer come to play with saws? Well then, I suggest you first speak with the─ Oh, you've met with Corgg, have you? That is well, but know that the decision to initiate you into the guild rests with me. Tell me true, adventurer: have you a mind to devote yourself to the art of carpentry?
Sure, why not.
The look on your face bespeaks determination...or mayhap trapped wind. Still...you look strong enough to hold a saw, and if your resolve is indeed genuine... I give you leave to remain─for the time being. However, you are useless to me in your current state. You are as a seedling─some potential, perhaps, but no more like to thrive than perish. Experience is what you require, girl, and I shall give you the means to acquire it. Take this saw. It is old, yes, but sharp as needs be. Now, prove to me that you are not completely incompetent by taking up your new tool. Once you have done so, present yourself to me for inspection.
And so the usual ‘equip main hand item, get dressed in level 1 gear’ would now occur here… except that Orokin is making use of the game’s handy New Game + feature to replay this storyline, so I don’t have to worry about that.
Instead we can simply talk to Beatin again as a CRP to get things moving along.
Good. You have proven that you know how to grip a saw. But do not mistake it for a mere tool, for it is a part of you─of your arm. And can you put down part of your arm? No. Mark me, then: if you do put it down, and worse, lose the bloody thing, I shall use mine own saw to demonstrate to you the pain of losing a limb. Ah, but I jest. One-armed carpenters are scarcely half as useful, in my experience.
In any case, merely holding a saw does not make you a carpenter, whatever some might think. You must become one with it, and learn to feel with it as you work the wood. To wit, you must first know the wood. Demonstrate your knowledge by bringing me a length of maple lumber. Maple lumber is made from maple logs, just so. Our man Ferreol, by the entrance, will furnish you with such logs for a nominal price. Of course, any fool knows that fresh-cut logs are laden with water. To guard against decay, we use wind shards to hasten the natural drying process. Do not forget to do the same.
To synthesize a length of maple lumber for Timbermaster Beatin, select Logs from the main menu, followed by Crafting Log.
Welcome to baby’s first crafting quest. Bren showed a little of how this works way back in the earliest bonus updates, but let me give a quick rundown as a refresher.
We’ll just go over here to the handy-dandy supplier and get the logs we need…
...and open up our Crafting Log. (Keyboard shortcut is N by default.)
The fundamentals of crafting is that an item has three major values: Durability, Progress and Quality. If you get Progress filled before Durability runs out, you successfully make the item. The Quality bar affects how likely the resulting item is to be ‘High Quality’, which typically makes it better in some way. Gear has better stats, potions heal more, etc.
Beatin has only asked us for a normal quality piece of lumber (and at level 1 you have no abilities that affect Quality anyway), so we just make the Maple Lumber and go back to him.
As I mentioned before, Ferreol has maple logs in his stock, as well as many other materials you may require. Or, if you are ready, show me what you have brought.
… Yes...I feel it. The wood tells all. There were no careless cuts. Saw and carpenter moved as one, as if dancing. Do you see this grain, how it flows softly, like syrup? Durable yet pliant, suitable for weapons and armor both─this, child, is maple. Trace the grain with your fingertips and memorize the lines. Consider every characteristic when choosing your materials. That is what it means to know the wood.
The maple lumber you have brought me is...acceptable. You have passed the first test. Yet for all it has grown, your knowledge is still lacking. You must needs learn more─a true carpenter knows the qualities and uses of every tree in the forest. When you know the lines of the maple better than those upon your own hand, return to me. I shall have another test for you. Until then, child.
At this point, novice carpenters would be best served by going to the supplier in the lobby and buying whatever they need to start making each thing in their crafting log once. You get a sizeable experience bonus each time you complete a recipe for the first time, and the supplier should be able to cover almost all the materials up to level 20 or so.
Crafters and gatherers in ARR do the same ‘quest every 5th level’ thing combat classes get, so next is the level 5 quest.
It is plain from your bearing that you and your saw have begun to move as one, as true partners. Good. You are ready for the second test. You must be the wood. Before, you brought me maple lumber to demonstrate your knowledge of wood. This time you will demonstrate your ability to create with it. I bid you craft me three maple shields.
For this you will require maple lumber and bronze rivets. As you would expect, our guild supplier, Ferreol, has no shortage of that which you require. Should you desire a more economical solution, however, you might consider a more traditional method of acquisition. Many materials essential to our craft are harvested by our steadfast allies, the botanists of the Greatloam Growery. Were you to befriend one of their number, you might be able to come to a mutually beneficial arrangement. Or, if you would rather not be beholden to another, you could even try your hand at botany. Now go, and do not disappoint me.
Gathering your own materials is definitely the more economical option in terms of gil, but time is money, so Orokin continues to just visit the supplier for now.
*Some sawing later*
What's this? Have you already bent the wood to your will?
You...are no workaday carpenter. That much is plain. Well done, child. Your shields are most satisfactory. The pattern of the grain, the lingering scent of maple... Your choice of materials is excellent, and the construction above criticism. Few carpenters can claim such skill.
The Elezen once favored shields of wood, do you know this? Today, it is not so. They, like your adventurer brethren, are wont to choose the surety of the armorer's metal. But a shield of wood provides ample protection for a lower price. It is readily made and readily replaced if broken. And while not quite so sturdy, it may yet serve to spare a man his doom just as readily as any shield of metal. To imbue shield and spear with your strength, to pour your life into the wood that others might preserve their own… This is what it means to be the wood. Such responsibility is not to be taken lightly, child.
The non-combat classes are an excellent source of extra insight into Eorzea and its people. We’ll often be getting little tidbits of lore like this while getting our work appraised.
You have passed the second test, and in so doing have earned this amateur's claw hammer. Though a saw will suffice for many tasks, a carpenter who wields blade and hammer both can perform his trade with greater ease. If you wish to improve as a carpenter, it is essential that you learn to use the two tools in combination. Continue to refine your skills, and return to me when you are ready to take the next step.
Certain gear grants bonuses to your craftsmanship, control, and CP values. A higher craftsmanship rating hastens the progress of synthesis; greater control increases the chance of creating high-quality items; and additional CP improves your crafting stamina. Outfitting yourself with an eye to your current objective will increase the efficiency of your crafting endeavors.
To rephrase that system message: Craftsmanship improves the amount of Progress your crafting actions generate, while Control does the same for Quality. Your maximum CP (Crafting Points?) effectively determines how many actions you can perform in one craft; almost all of them cost CP to use. This means that CP tends to be the most important of the three stats, though you can’t neglect any of them too much.
Moving right along, because we have a lot of 
to cover yet.
I see by the wearing of your sawblade that you have not neglected your carpentry since last we spoke. Very good. You will soon be ready for your third and final test. In the meantime, the guild has need of your services. You are familiar with ash wood? Ah, but of course you are. I bid you craft me ash lumber. A simple task, you say? Then you shan't have trouble crafting me twelve lengths.
This is no jest. We used our last few mere moments ago. So you see, this assignment is motivated purely by practical concerns. I would ordinarily handle such a trifling task myself, of course, but I am feeling unwell─and I do believe you would benefit from the practice. Now go, and do not disappoint me.
The early crafter quests typically do this at level 10, asking you to make a large quantity of something.
There is however this handy button in the bottom right of the crafting log, right next to ‘Synthesise’. When you need a lot of something and don’t care about its quality, ‘Quick Synthesis’ allows you to queue up a bunch of crafts to be churned without further input. This used to be somewhat unreliable, but now so long as you’re at the craft’s level and aren’t massively out-of-date with your gear, it should have a 100% success rate. It even sometimes spits out HQ things.
Quests like this want all the items in one stack though, so I have to use the ‘Lower Quality’ feature to make these couple of pieces stack with the rest. Normal quality won’t stack with high quality!
Ah, have you brought the ash lumber?
Such a prodigious quantity! Thank you, child. You have done your guild a great service. Ash lumber is renowned for its unparalleled flexibility. This quality makes it ideal for use in bows and myriad other weapons. By the same token, ash lumber is easily worked and thus ideal for learning the basics of our craft. Such a versatile material is understandably popular, and so we always have need of more.
*Beatin stumbles slightly while speaking.*
It may─nnngh─also interest you to know that ash possesses certain medicinal properties. Tea brewed from its bark eases various complaints. Complaints such as that with which I am presently afflicted. Suffice to say, I am pleased to see that your lumber is dusted with a sufficiency of bark fragments! But let us return to the subject of carpentry. You have proven yourself more than capable of working without my guidance. If you wish to market your crafts to others, speak with Gontrant in the Carline Canopy. He has an abundance of guildleves waiting to be fulfilled. *stumbles again* Continue to─ahem, refine...your skills, and return to me when you are ready to take the next step.
Seems the timbermaster is a little bit poorly, but we can clear that right up by taking his next quest.
Well met, Orokin. Your training as a carpenter is almost complete. Indeed, I had a splendid final test prepared for you. Alas, the plight of one of our guild's newer members demands my attention. The boy's name is Mera Pamera, and he is an adventurer like you─though one of rather less promise. Something troubles the lad, yet he is loath to speak of personal matters with me─though I am the very soul of understanding, as you know… Mayhap you would fare better? I sense that he may be more inclined to speak with a fellow adventurer. Now go, Orokin, and do not disappoint me.
Well, time to go help out another struggling newcomer to the guild.
The Lalafell in question is moping over in the corner of the lobby.
Gods strike me down for a fool! I'll never be able to finish in time! Please! You must help me! You can make ash shortbows and feathered harpoons, can't you!? You see, I went and forgot that I had agreed to craft two weapons for the Archers' and Lancers' Guilds for delivery no later than, well...today.
But today I am also obligated to complete an order of one hundred lengths of oak lumber! The point being that I can't possibly do both! And Timbermaster Beatin is a veritable terror when his wrath is on him! If I dare neglect either duty, he surely will not spare me his saw! So...while I labor over this lumber, might you consent to craft the goods for the guilds?
Sure, us adventurers need to stick together in times like these.
Thank you! ...Oh, and when you've finished them, I'd appreciate it if you could deliver the weapons to the relevant guildmasters. Godsspeed!
The goods needed for these two crafts are still all in the supplier’s offerings, but this is the last time that’ll be true for Carpenter quests. So Orokin bangs those out and heads out on a delivery run…
Welcome, adventurer. To what do we owe the pleasure?
Special delivery!
Is this the ash shortbow we ordered? Thank you for delivering it. One of our Miqo'te recruits has been struggling, lest you wonder. Talented though she is, the longbow we furnished her with does not suit a Miqo'te's shorter arms and slighter frame. But I daresay this shortbow─with its lighter draw weight and more modest span─should help her reach her true potential. Indeed, shortbows not unlike this were favored by her ancestors. And some things never change. It is clear to me that a great deal of care went into this shortbow's construction. I will see that our recruit spares no effort in making the most of this boon.
Well, that checks out. Another nice detail.
Well met, adventurer. You do not seem to be here for training...
You’ve got mail, kupo!
Ah, the feathered harpoon! My thanks for the delivery. Had we not received it in time, I was considering using a fisherman's harpoon instead. You seem surprised. I take it you are not aware that the harpoons we use in battle were born of the humble fisherman's tool? Aye, when Hyuran fishers migrated inland from the coasts, they adapted the tools of their trade for use in the hunting of game. The resulting harpoon proved a fearsome weapon indeed, and so the lancers of old took it for their own. Hard to believe, is it not? I must say, this harpoon is a particularly impressive piece of craftsmanship. My compliments to the carpenter.
And another! Time to head back to the guild and see how Mera fared.
How kind of you to assist Mera Pamera with the orders. The guildmasters spoke highly of your craftsmanship as well. This is very good.
Do not attempt to mislead me. I know full well it was your work. Needless to say, it was necessary to punish the Lalafell. Ah...I seem to spend more time sawing apprentices than wood of late. ...I jest, of course. A saw is wasted on an apprentice. The stink of blood lingers, making it hard to focus on work. This, I know.
I’m not going to ask how you know that.
I will admit, I was not ignorant of Mera Pamera's situation. In fact, I recognized an opportunity to test your character. You aided your fellow carpenter with no prospect of reward, delivering finely crafted goods when merely serviceable ones would have sufficed. And you claimed no credit. I am proud of you, Orokin. There is no doubt in my mind that your talents will serve the nation of Gridania well, and save many lives.
Just as they will bring about many deaths. This is the responsibility of all who make weapons. But a choice between the deaths of our people and the deaths of our enemies is no choice at all.
A grim but undeniable fact.
You have passed the third and final test. Congratulations, Orokin. By your actions you have demonstrated your understanding of what it means to know the wood, be the wood, and to love the wood. You possess the knowledge, skill, and compassion necessary to master carpentry. By overcoming these trials, you have proven that you are no longer a novice. The sapling is well on its way to becoming a tree. You are now a true carpenter of the Oak Atrium.
Know, though, that however refined your skills may be, there will always be more to learn. Represent us well on your travels, Orokin, and return to us often. You shall always be welcome.
We have Beatin’s blessing to escape tutorial land… almost. Truth be told, we have two more quests before the crafting quests take their kid gloves off.
Ah, Orokin. My thoughts have turned to you lately. I trust you have honed your skills further since last we met? In that case, I have a request. Mayhap you have made iron lances before for your customers. However, you have not made them for me. As you doubtless know, my standards differ from those of others.
An iron lance's design is one of elegance and simplicity, and I would see you demonstrate your understanding of those qualities through your work. This I ask of all my charges. The iron lance is a marriage of elm, iron, and leather. As you are doubtless aware, the requisite elm lumber and circles of leather are readily available within the city. Iron ingots, however, are much rarer, as they are forged by the smiths of Limsa Lominsa. Procuring them will prove far more problematic.
You must steel yourself for a long and arduous journey, Orokin. The wilderness is infested with unspeakable horrors, and the roads are watched by bandit hordes. Ah, but I jest. While such arduous, character-building trials may have been possible once upon a time, they are, alas, simply unfeasible now. You need only browse the market boards or enlist the aid of a blacksmithing associate to obtain the iron you require. Oh, and there is but one more thing you must needs do.
I would have you attach a single materia to the lance you craft. Any type will suffice. I find it hard to believe that an experienced adventurer like yourself could be unfamiliar with the substance, but on the off chance that you are, I suggest you seek out that goblin fellow in central Thanalan. There is no one more knowledgeable on the subject, or so I have heard. When you are in possession of all the necessary materials, I bid you craft me a single materia-enhanced iron lance.
So, here we have two extra wrinkles in our work. We can no longer get everything we need straight from the guild, and we also need to prove we know about materia.
So you might be thinking that I’m going to go out and gather up some elm logs, craft my own lumber, etc. But no, I’m going to start taking advantage of a few little things as we continue.
In this particular case, I know that inside the residential districts, there are material suppliers with some offerings you won’t find sold elsewhere. This, plus a trip to the generic material supplier NPC I’ve placed in my player housing, gets me everything I need… except the materia.
Getting most types of materia in ranks 1-3 is a slight pain, and only a rank 1 will fit in the lance Orokin has made. So I briefly drop out of the NG+ mode to grab an old piece of CP+1 materia from one of my retainers, jam that in and head on back.
Is your lance ready? I am eager to see what you have wrought.
...You do not disappoint, Orokin. Your lance exceeds my expectations. These formidable weapons were originally intended for use by the Ishgardian cavalry, and were designed with the aim of maximizing their bearers' effectiveness on the field of battle. By utilizing the speed of his mount, a lance-wielding knight could easily deliver a devastating blow that would cripple, if not outright kill. But this mode of attack placed significant strain on both the rider and his weapon. Should the latter fail, the knight would be left defenseless.
Needless to say, the iron lance proved to be anything but prone to failure, eventually prompting Gridania's Wood Wailers to adopt it as their own. The differences between the modern Gridanian weapon and the Ishgardian original are not so substantial, amounting to little more than a smaller vamplate. Our lancers do not require the same protection as a mounted knight, you see. Fascinating, is it not─the history our weapons carry, how they change and evolve to meet different demands… Truly, all things possess potential for growth─weapons and armor, forests and cities...and aspiring carpenters.
Remember this too, Orokin… The iron lance is a marvelous weapon not because it does not bend at the moment of impact, but because it does not break. To bend yet not break; to endure, and persevere, and finally triumph... When I gaze upon this lance, I am reminded of the singular importance of resolve─a quality I saw in you when first you joined us, and that will serve you well in the future. Whatever troubles you may face, remain resolute as an iron lance, and you will succeed.
I’m sure there’s some martial arts training about bending but not breaking… Ah well, continuing on!
... <sigh> Oh, Orokin. You look well. If you have come in search of work, I fear I have nothing to offer. Though...if you have no other pressing responsibilities, you might consider spending some time with the younglings in the Acorn Orchard. The workshop has demanded my full attention of late, and I have been unable to see to them myself. ...That will be all, Orokin.
Seems that our timbermaster is feeling out of sorts at the moment. Best see if one of the kids at the playground out back has any insight.
Beatin's down in the dumps, is he? No wonder he hasn't visited in ages. I've seen him like this before. I'll bet it's because he can't think of anything new to make. He's no fun when he's like this. I prefer it when he's waving his saw around and threatening to tie his useless new apprentices to Figaga's Gift and─ Wait, I know! You're a pretty good carpenter, right? Then you can make high-quality walnut lumber! You know how he's always saying stuff like, “You must KNOW the wood,” and all that? Well, I bet if we gave him some really good wood, it'd cheer him up in no time! I know it sounds a bit strange, but then he is a bit strange, isn't he? And we have to try something! I miss the mean old Beatin!
Increasing an item's quality during synthesis improves the chance that the resulting product will be of a higher grade (HQ). Moreover, using HQ materials during synthesis provides a bonus to initial quality, further increasing the probability of producing an HQ item.
I’m sure we’ve all felt this sense of ennui at some time or another. So let’s get Beatin excited about some new wood to work with, shall we?
This is where the gathering side of things finally comes into play; hitting B on PC brings up the Gathering Log, a list of all the things Orokin can gather and where it can be found. Clicking on a listed location will open the map to that area; the circle showing exactly where in that area the item may be found was only added in patch 5.5, and it’s a godsend.
We’ll get more into the particulars of gathering when we come to the Disciples of the Land in their own updates, but basically Orokin heads to a glowy point just outside Quarrymill in the South Shroud, and hacks what she needs out of the trees there.
As the most recent system message mentioned, having HQ materials to work with provides an initial increase to a craft’s Quality, making it all that much easier to fill the bar and guarantee a HQ result. Getting good materials to work with can help overcome gear deficits you might be suffering, but only so much.
Right, back to Beatin!
...Leave me be, Orokin. I must focus. What is this malaise which plagues me? I thought myself resolute as an iron lance, and yet… ...Hm?
Yes...I feel it. I feel it! This high-quality walnut lumber, it is your handiwork, is it not? Dense, durable, and expertly finished. There is no doubting your skill, Orokin. Walnut furniture was once quite popular in Ul'dah...mayhap we could revive that tradition... Or, better yet, produce a sturdier base for a new vamplate design… The possibilities are endless! Thanks to you, Orokin, it seems I am now paralyzed with indecision.
How you have grown, and in so short a time. You remind me of a dear friend, another soul possessed of great passion. Though we walked different paths, we pushed each other to give nothing less than our utmost. He even helped me through those times when inspiration failed me. I see much of him in you─and so I know I can hold you to the same high standards. Return to your work, Orokin...and do not disappoint me.
And that brings us to halfway through the Carpenter questline. I’ll level with you folks; the first half of the ARR DoL questlines are often a batch of loose one-offs like these have been. For 30-50 though, we’ll have an actual through-line for the quests!
Next time: We might just meet Beatin's old friend.