The stats:

- 2 Kins

- 4 or 5 lowbie items crafted

- 5-10 uberest gear pieces made

- 25+ players

- 35+ toons

- almost 20 tool sets

- all of the above critted

- multiple crafts progressed significantly

- few dozen Supreme Crafting Journals used

- 50ish Mithril Flakes consumed

- 150g+ in mats and coin never to be stored again

- 6 ½ hours of straight crafting

- 1 most extravagant showing of the Council of Eriador

A couple months ago I looked at a couple of my toons and realized that one in particular was very under geared, some of the items being 15 levels low! I dropped a blatant cry for help and within the hour I had a full set of gear, armour, jewellery, weapons and class item. All critted, all stylin’ and all kin made.

Now whenever someone has asked for the odd item I have observed it to be provided for no cost save the possible mats the recipient might need to gain to complete the item. I have heard it mentioned and often wondered what a “craft fair” would look like. Well, now I know.

Having a huge pile of mats stockpiling and the money in the kin vault starting to pile up we decided to host a craft fair and make any craftable item that anyone in the kin could ask for.  And as it turns out, we were able to do so.

I can easily call this the single most extravagant showing of the kin.

We had one of our alliance Kins join us, Valo Varjosta, and had a significant amount of exchange in materials, gear and good times between the two kins. All items being of only the highest quality. Go crit or go home!

Within CoE, a flurry activity took place. Mats being posted and bought on the Kin AH, transfers of scrolls and crit items between alts, players progressing their crafts, multiple crafting centres being used, levels of toons and crafting boundaries being ignored.

Within the crafting halls, like little elves in the shoemakers shop, set to work, crafting item after item for everyone within typing distance. Meanwhile I was in the AH, buying mats and transferring items to all of the crafters and delegating requests. They pumped out so many items so quickly that it was a full time job just keeping everyone supplied with the right recipes and crit items.

The stats give only half the story, as we shared the time in vent and got each other through the manic dash to use up the stockpile of materials and pour it out on the kin. This event gave the leadership an excuse to show the kin just how much we appreciate what they have done for us. It was only at this time that we could do something this large, with the amount of money that was required to ensure we could help out as many people as possible.

It was tense as it started, people were reluctant to indicate a possible need they might have. Then the requests started pouring in and it was a floodgate being released. Linwe was dual crafting, Az crafted half the shire with historian’s tools and renamed all woodsman’s tools as Azinthir’s Bane. Latte crafted some of the prettiest pink bracelets you ever saw and Lionsgate mined all the Mithril left in Moria. Many, many more members helped out, many more wanted to.

Crit percentages were at an all time high, with a seemingly 80% critted, easy to believe. We were riding high and nothing could bring us down.

The quote of the day came from the leader of our friends Valo Varjosts, Kraft.

I’ll endeavour to get it from him as I wont do it justice now. Something about “Mithril flakes cereal with twice as much Shire” gives you a hint of how long we chuckled from his quip.

This crafting Fair opened my eyes to exactly how cool an event like this can be, not just a party with pipe weed and a sip from the Keg of Doom while the minstrel of the night plays “Through the fire and Flames” on the lute by the fireplace.

I would place this event on par with starting the kin 2 years ago. At the time that Mal, Linwe and I decided that growing a kin based on what we thought would make a the game more fun, we had the feeling of great anxiety. Rofl! But as we brought people in, we saw that loads of players wanted the same things that we did in the game and in our community of players and CoE developed into a kin that stepped out for each other and stepped up for each other. Never did an equipment need go uncrafted for and the readiness to help a fellow member through content for xp, gear, class items or fun was there.

But this event is the single most extravagant expression of our kins generosity and I look forward to all the more to come. This will be an event we will put on whenever possible and to whatever extent our resources will allow us.

I always knew I was a part of a great kin, but confirmation at this level only comes so often and it has really set a high standard that is now a part of the history and established foundation of the kin we share.

Good times in the normally eye bleeding adventure of crafting. Thanks CoE and friends.

As I see it, this is a great place to find out the people that want to build a community.  Nobody that is just “wandering” through is going to care about hitting Smilingbandits wall with a tag.  It will be those that like to hang out, want to hang out or think that we definately should.  Even if we find that we never do, well, we will always have the time you left your tag of greatness on my wall.

:)SB

I had once started a post, “Community, some assembly required.” At the time I had indicated that the Devs had not given enough structure to help those wanting to develope a community atmosphere.  My thought at the time was that they had even created certain things that took away from community development. xD

Now though, I look at this and see lots of possibilities that may open up and look forward to its development.

Not sure if you monitor the notes written here but,

Thanks Turbine, I genuinely appreciate the attention in this area of the game. It is a good deal!

:)SB