Crafting question

[Dave Fritz]

When I try to extract essences from Fire Mephit Corpses and from Demihuman skulls, I get a message that "critical information is missing" and my items are restored.

Anyone have any idea what's going on? I'm super new to crafting Alchemy. Do these items require a recipe? I was able to do the extraction with Bat Wings, although it failed on the chance of success.

[Fezzik]

I've never received that bit it's been a long time since I have tried. Next time I'm on Abi ill give it a whirl an see if I get any odd messages. I can't imagine why one would work an another wouldn't unless they had separate files or something.

[kuscotopia]

I was extracting essences yesterday and didn't notice this.

I just approached the alchemy station and activated the items targeting the bench.

Come to think of it, I was smelting mithril a few days ago and had a strange event occur similar to what you are describing. I activated the item on the forge and *poof* my mithril stack vanished only to reappear in my inventory. Sadly, I was in a hurry and didn't note any error messages.

[Fezzik]

Could be similar to the bandage problem?

[FoogooFish]

It's a random bug that happens every now again. I am not sure why.

Basically, the server reads the items as 'wrong' and gives new copies. They can then be crafted the same as usual.

[Dave Fritz]

Could be similar to the bandage problem?

Cotton Bandages have been working fine for me for a while.

[Memnoch1962]

Sometimes you have to leave the crafting area and re-enter it. I cant remember if mephit corpses are stackable, but sometimes if you have several of the same things and you have split them its better to put them all together and that pesky message will go away.

[Catastrophe]

Cotton Bandages have been working fine for me for a while.

Then you haven't experienced that bug. Other people have.

[Kitsunestume]

It's a random bug that happens every now again. I am not sure why.

Basically, the server reads the items as 'wrong' and gives new copies. They can then be crafted the same as usual.

If my experience serves, it is exactly this. Due to logging in and out, server resets, and other miscellania, the server corrupts data that the crafting system relies on to do what it needs to do. If it can't find it, it makes you an identical stack with corrected information. It seems to happen on occasion with just about any custom-scripted items, and in my observation affects only that you must click the new stack again once replaced.

(If I'm wrong, I'm sure Cornuto or another Dev will correct me)

[Dave Fritz]

Sometimes you have to leave the crafting area and re-enter it. I cant remember if mephit corpses are stackable, but sometimes if you have several of the same things and you have split them its better to put them all together and that pesky message will go away.

I did split both stacks before trying, but got the result described.

For a long time, cotton bandages wouldn't work for me, saying the stack was corrupt and would be replaced. Linen and silk worked OK. Now cotton works correctly, too.

[Snowmane]

I had this happen to me quite a bit with a stack of demi-human skulls - In the end I had to ask ask a DM to come and manually referee the conversion. I haven't had problems since then, but yeah I know its a problem.

[Dave Fritz]

workaround and second question

I got this to work today, but with an odd twist. I split the stacks, doing one at a time and found (accidentally) that it would work if I was outside the Crafting Area when I activated the item and then clicked on the bench. If I was inside the area to start, it didn't work; outside, it did.

Now I have a second question - is there a way to better your chance of extraction? For example, can you increase the chance from 40% as for, say, Bat Wings, to something better?

[Thief Of Navarre]

Isnt it based on your skills? stand next to a bard or better still become a bard.

[roguethree]

No, there is no way to improve your extraction rate past the stated rate on a given component. 40 percent is 40 percent, provided you meet the Craft: Alchemy DC. Other materials, like Frozen Giant Hearts, Dragon's Blood, Demon Blood, and Duergar Hearts, have higher extraction rates, and their products can be diluted down to lesser essences if the recipe calls for such.

[Thief Of Navarre]

Better materials have a better chance then? that makes sense. I assume they have a higher DC also.