I also went a little bit adventurous and skilled up on Diamond Shields! :D
Granted, the cap is higher than Elemental Beads (Beads cap at 87, while the shield caps at 90). Prices have changed drastically since then, but at the time, the materials cost 900k to put together.
900k for a skillup synth is a lot, I know, but if memory serves me correctly, in relative terms, 900k was just the price of two elemental ores. However, the price of Diamond Shields were a whopping 2m, on an NQ! Each successful synth, regardless of whether I actually skillup up or not, net me around 900k, which is certainly a very welcome break from the mass gil {/toss} of the 70s!
In any case, I reached GS84, although the problem was that I had lost my notes, so other than looking up my Craft Skills under my profile, I didn't actually know how close I was to 85.
Fortunately, Celestria was here to save the day. ^^ Of course, from my records, I now know that I took my four-month break from FFXI with my Goldsmithing at 84.4, but just keep in mind that I didn't actually know this when I came back. ^^
One thing to note is that before I left, I must've cleared out my Mog House a little. Taking out several Wicker Boxes, I had downgraded my overwhelming Wind energy down to powerful wind energy.
Starting Goldsmithing skill: 84.4
Skillup synth: Elemental Beads (various- cap 87)
Imagery Support: Advanced Imagery
Equipment of note: Auster's Staff, Goldsmithing Apron, Shaded Spectacles
Direction: South-East
Location: Bastok Goldsmithing Guild
Moghancement: Powerful Wind
Moon phase: Earthsday, Waxing Gibbous (88%)
84.4(+5)
17:31 Success.
17:44 Success, +0.1!
84.5(+5)
17:57 Success.
18:10 Failed- lost the (Wind) Ore.
18:25 Success, +0.1!
84.6(+5)
18:38 Success.
18:51 Success.
19:05 Success.
19:32 Success.
19:43 Success.
20:04 Failed- lost the (Dark) Ore, +0.1!
84.7(+5)
20:19 Success, +0.1!
A couple days later, we continued with a second batch of twelve beads:
Starting Goldsmithing skill: 84.8
Skillup synth: Elemental Beads (various- cap 87)
Imagery Support: Advanced Imagery
Equipment of note: Auster's Staff, Goldsmithing Apron, Shaded Spectacles
Direction: South-East
Location: Al Zahbi Goldsmithing Guild
Moghancement: Powerful Wind
Moon phase: Lightsday, First Quarter Moon (52%)
84.8(+5)
18:22 Success
18:35 Success, +0.1!
84.9(+5)
18:49 Success.
19:01 Success, +0.1!
GS85! Now I know what skill level I'm at for sure! >_<
85.0(+5)
19:28 Success.
19:42 Success.
19:55 Success.
20:07 Success.
20:31 Success.
20:45 Success.
20:58 Success.
21:11 Success, +0.1!
So I end here knowing that I am at 85.1. ^^
