Crafting is a critical component in many popular video games: Minecraft, ARK Survival Evolved, The Elder Scrolls Online, and Valheim. Initially, crafting may seem complex because of the many different recipes, items, and materials that can be made from crafting; however, this article will provide you with a basic list of the recipes you will need to know in order to be successful at these games.
I will cover the most important recipes for the beginning of the game, and explain how they will be useful to you beyond just being random things you can craft. In writing this article I have taken into consideration the average player’s perspective as reflected in their reviews and comments on sites like Reddit, along with what video game companies like Sony Interactive Entertainment and Xbox Game Studios have provided in terms of factual information about the games themselves, rather than merely making assumptions or guesswork about Crafting.
By the end of this article you will have an understanding of Crafting and why it is such an important aspect of these games overall. Video game crafting systems allow players to convert a material into other items for use within the game world. For example, in many open-world games such as Minecraft, ARK Survival Evolved, The Elder Scrolls Online, and Valheim, crafting is a means to take everyday types of items (wood, metal, etc.) and turn them into new items (weapons, armor, etc.).
All of this information will be based on comments from gamers on various forums and gamer feedback. You’ll also be able to see how what you’re crafting is impacted by the comments made by gamers as well as the major gaming companies like Sony Interactive Entertainment and Xbox Game Studios – thus allowing you to better understand your experience as a new player to the video game community in an easy-to-understand manner with very little confusion or frustration.
Through crafting, players will gain new insights into the various aspects of the game world, giving them an opportunity to look at the game in a new light. For instance, you will be able to understand what materials you need, what you can do with them, and what you can craft, so you will be planning better, like collecting wood because you will be planning to build or collect ores because you will be planning to have better weapons.
When you understand how raw materials can be transformed, you will not find the early stages of a game as random or chaotic, so you will not be wasting a lot of time doing things you do not think will help you move forward in the game.
Basic Components of Crafting
Generally, a crafting system will have core structures that allow players to gather, combine, and create items. Understanding these simple concepts will help a new player anticipate their crafting needs.
How Recipes Are Learned
Most games will have a character learn recipes through leveling up, exploring, purchasing recipe books, and completing quests. These systems ensure that crafting knowledge progresses alongside character development.
Core Tools New Players Should Prioritize
- Basic weapon, such as a club or sword
- Torch or light source
- Backpack or Small Storage
- Basic Shelter Component
- Cooking Station
Essential Early Resources
- Wood – often a common ingredient in many recipes
- Stone – often a common ingredient in early workstation and tool recipes
- Fibers/Cloth – often a common ingredient in early consumable and equipment recipes
- Food – often a common ingredient for health and stamina replenishment
Games such as Valheim and Conan Exiles emphasize these resources, as they are available in early game areas and are required for almost every recipe. Gathering these resources ensures a smooth transition to later crafting attempts.
Starter Recipes and Their Importance
These starter recipes play a crucial role in the game by improving the player’s defense and offense, and improving the player’s resource management. Wood/plant fibers, Stone/metal, Food, and Light sources are essential crafting foundations.
Starter Food Recipes and Their Importance
Cooked food recipes tend to offer greater health or stamina restoration than raw ingredients. In some cases, such as in titles like Valheim and The Forest, food recipes offer bonuses to survival time and combat effectiveness.
Common food recipes for early stages of a game tend to require the following ingredients:
- Raw meat or fish
- Wood or fuel source
- Basic cooking device
Consistent crafting of food recipes ensures a stable game experience without constant interruptions to gather food for survival.
Basic Shelter and Armor Crafting
Basic shelter recipes tend to require wooden walls, roofs, and doors. These offer a character some protection from the elements and hostile mobs. In titles like Rust, a small wooden shelter is essential for early game survival.
Basic armor recipes tend to require cloth or leather components. These ingredients are often common in early stages of a game and offer a character a small bonus to survival time.
Resource Gathering Strategies for Early Efficiency
Resource gathering strategies are important for early game success and are related to crafting recipes. New players tend to waste time gathering resources they do not currently need. Communities of experienced players, both on Steam and official game forums, often recommend gathering versatile resources first.
Prioritizing High-Value Materials
Some resources are more valuable in the long run, even if the player is early into the game. For example, ores, rare plants, or animal hides can provide different crafting routes. Collecting these resources as soon as possible can save the player from backtracking later.
- Wood and stones for crafting tools and buildings
- Fibers or clothes for crafting armor and consumables
- Basic metals for crafting advanced tools
Inventory and Storage Management
Inventory space is often limited and can greatly impact the player’s resource gathering strategies. In the game Stardew Valley, early game storage chests are important resources to craft.
Effective inventory management is important to ensure that the player is able to gather resources efficiently. Separating resources based on type can also help the player gather resources more efficiently.
Upgrading Recipes and Tools for Steady Progression
Unlocking Advanced Workstations
Workstations are often progression gates. Crafting these workstations often requires combined resources gathered across several early sessions.
- Refined metals
- Processed wood or stone
- Special components, which can be obtained through quests
Building these stations greatly increases the possibilities of crafting.
Using Marketplace and Community Trading Systems
Typically, new players will notice that certain simple crafting items will always be in demand, as they help other new players. There are certain starter items that will always be in demand, regardless of their use as a player.
- Entry-level weapons
- Basic armor sets
- Crafting materials in bulk
- Consumable food items
Understanding recurring demand patterns can provide a clear understanding of why some recipes are becoming more popular in online communities.
Common Crafting Mistakes and Optimization
Overcrafting and Resource Waste
Players may skip this information and waste resources on the crafting process. Crafting multiple items wastes resources in the early game.
It’s also beneficial for players to focus on multipurpose recipes. Items that are good for all three aspects, whether it’s combat, survival, and gathering, are more valuable. Players avoid wasting resources on repetitive craft cycles, which are used for more valuable upgrades.
Ignoring Progression Systems
Starter crafting systems should be optimized by matching the game’s leveling system. Reviewing the progression systems helps the player understand the game better and makes it easier to move into the game’s mid-content sections.
Conclusion
Crafting systems are the core of progression systems in most successful games, including survival sandbox games and massive multiplayer games. The starter recipes are the first form of progression, as they allow the gamer to craft food, shelter, upgrade equipment, and protect themselves.
Understanding the different materials, workstations, and market systems helps the gamer comprehend the progression system of the game. Understanding the economic systems, avoiding mistakes in crafting, and optimizing the equipment are all important steps in creating a well-rounded progression system for the gamer.
By focusing on the essential starter recipes and understanding the crafting system, the gamer can better comprehend the progression system of the game and navigate the different environments of the game.