I've been running some interesting data analytics projects on FFXIV. I am an extreme gil maker and that dates back to 2.0 by having the maximum number of retainers and I crank out crafter scrips in mass. There are so many questions I have always thought I had the answer to: - How Many Retainers of each type is ideal - What Purple or Orange recipe to target - What to sell once scrips are secured My configuration is all max stats - 3 Botanist - 2 Miner - 3 Hunter - 1 Fisher My home base is Aether, and I have been running some python code to answer this question definitively. I loaded all of the market data into Redis from Universalis of all Scrip and venture items. I scraped all of the wiki sites to regenerate all of the recipes into a data store. Orange was exactly what i thought it would be: Rarefied Tacos de Carne Asada (CUL Lv100) | 337117 net gil/hr 25.00 crafts/hr | 3600 scrip/hr | 360000 gross gil/hr | 22883 buy cost/hr | 62.3% retainer material coverage Scrip value: 100.00 gil/scrip via manual override Retainers: botany: 1 x Dark Rye (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) botany: 1 x White Pepper (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) botany: 1 x Yyasulani Garlic (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) fishing: 1 x Water Crystal via Megapiranha desynth (62.50 each/hr, profile.supplemental_supply_sources.desynthesis_conversion) hunting: 3 x Rroneek Chuck (15 each/hr, profile.combat_i730_plus) mining: 2 x Fire Crystal (120 each/hr, profile.supplemental_supply_sources.direct_venture) Market board compensation: Dark Rye: buy 50.00/hr x 200 = 10000/hr (retainer deficit) Water Crystal: buy 137.50/hr x 50 = 6875/hr (crystals) Fire Crystal: buy 93.33/hr x 55 = 5133/hr (crystals) Rroneek Chuck: buy 5.00/hr x 175 = 875/hr (retainer deficit) Rate driver: Yyasulani Garlic exactly consumed at 50.00/hr Purple was interesting.... Purple winner: Rarefied Stuffed Peppers (CUL Lv99) | 321108 net gil/hr 16.67 crafts/hr | 3300 scrip/hr | 330000 gross gil/hr | 8892 buy cost/hr | 79.9% retainer material coverage Scrip value: 100.00 gil/scrip via manual override Retainers: botany: 1 x Bell Pepper (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) botany: 1 x Turali Corn (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) botany: 1 x Ut'ohmu Tomato (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) fishing: 1 x Water Crystal via Megapiranha desynth (62.50 each/hr, profile.supplemental_supply_sources.desynthesis_conversion) hunting: 3 x Alpaca Fillet (15 each/hr, profile.combat_i730_plus) mining: 2 x Fire Crystal (120 each/hr, profile.supplemental_supply_sources.direct_venture) Market board compensation: Water Crystal: buy 70.83/hr x 50 = 3542/hr (crystals) Dragon Pepper: buy 11.11/hr x 200 = 2222/hr (not assigned / not venture-sourced) Ut'ohmu Tomato: buy 5.56/hr x 299 = 1661/hr (retainer deficit) Fire Crystal: buy 26.67/hr x 55 = 1467/hr (crystals) Rate driver: Bell Pepper exactly consumed at 50.00/hr Purple #2: Rarefied Gargantuaskin Trousers (LTW Lv99) | 259785 net gil/hr 15.00 crafts/hr | 2970 scrip/hr | 297000 gross gil/hr | 37215 buy cost/hr | 65.5% retainer material coverage Scrip value: 100.00 gil/scrip via manual override Retainers: botany: 1 x Acacia Bark (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) botany: 2 x Levinsilk (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) fishing: 1 idle/external hunting: 3 x Gargantua Hide (15 each/hr, profile.combat_i730_plus) mining: 1 x Fire Crystal (120 each/hr, profile.supplemental_supply_sources.direct_venture) mining: 1 x Magnesia Powder (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) Market board compensation: Earth Crystal: buy 360.00/hr x 42 = 15120/hr (crystals) Ra'Kaznar Ore: buy 75.00/hr x 115 = 8625/hr (not assigned / not venture-sourced) Wind Crystal: buy 120.00/hr x 71 = 8520/hr (crystals) Gargantua Hide: buy 75.00/hr x 34 = 2550/hr (retainer deficit) Lightning Crystal: buy 120.00/hr x 20 = 2400/hr (crystals) Rate driver: Fire Crystal exactly consumed at 120.00/hr Purple #3: Rarefied Draught (ALC Lv89) | 252975 net gil/hr 25.00 crafts/hr | 2700 scrip/hr | 270000 gross gil/hr | 17025 buy cost/hr | 62.8% retainer material coverage Scrip value: 100.00 gil/scrip via manual override Retainers: botany: 3 x Light Gerbera (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) fishing: 1 x Water Crystal via Megapiranha desynth (62.50 each/hr, profile.supplemental_supply_sources.desynthesis_conversion) hunting: 3 x Berkanan Sap (15 each/hr, profile.combat_i730_plus) mining: 2 x Ambrosial Water (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) Market board compensation: Water Crystal: buy 137.50/hr x 50 = 6875/hr (crystals) Berkanan Sap: buy 30.00/hr x 205 = 6150/hr (retainer deficit) Lightning Crystal: buy 200.00/hr x 20 = 4000/hr (crystals) Rate driver: Ambrosial Water exactly consumed at 100.00/hr Purple #4: Rarefied Thunderyards Silk Gloves (WVR Lv99) | 249355 net gil/hr 15.00 crafts/hr | 2970 scrip/hr | 297000 gross gil/hr | 47645 buy cost/hr | 67.8% retainer material coverage Scrip value: 100.00 gil/scrip via manual override Retainers: botany: 1 x Acacia Bark (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) botany: 2 x Levinsilk (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) fishing: 1 idle/external hunting: 3 x Gargantua Hide (15 each/hr, profile.combat_i730_plus) mining: 1 x Fire Crystal (120 each/hr, profile.supplemental_supply_sources.direct_venture) mining: 1 x Magnesia Powder (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) Market board compensation: Levinsilk: buy 50.00/hr x 355 = 17750/hr (retainer deficit) Ra'Kaznar Ore: buy 75.00/hr x 115 = 8625/hr (not assigned / not venture-sourced) Wind Crystal: buy 120.00/hr x 71 = 8520/hr (crystals) Lightning Crystal: buy 360.00/hr x 20 = 7200/hr (crystals) Earth Crystal: buy 120.00/hr x 42 = 5040/hr (crystals) Gargantua Hide: buy 15.00/hr x 34 = 510/hr (retainer deficit) Rate driver: Fire Crystal exactly consumed at 120.00/hr Purple #5: Rarefied Banana Ponzecake (CUL Lv93) | 231331 net gil/hr 16.67 crafts/hr | 2367 scrip/hr | 236667 gross gil/hr | 5336 buy cost/hr | 82.9% retainer material coverage Scrip value: 100.00 gil/scrip via manual override Retainers: botany: 1 x Royal Maple Sap (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) botany: 1 x Upland Wheat (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) botany: 1 x Wild Ja Tiika Bananas (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) fishing: 1 x Water Crystal via Megapiranha desynth (62.50 each/hr, profile.supplemental_supply_sources.desynthesis_conversion) hunting: 3 x Egg of Elpis (15 each/hr, profile.combat_i730_plus) mining: 2 x Fire Crystal (120 each/hr, profile.supplemental_supply_sources.direct_venture) Market board compensation: Water Crystal: buy 54.17/hr x 50 = 2708/hr (crystals) Royal Maple Sap: buy 16.67/hr x 88 = 1467/hr (retainer deficit) Fire Crystal: buy 21.11/hr x 55 = 1161/hr (crystals) Rate driver: Wild Ja Tiika Bananas exactly consumed at 50.00/hr The fact that my go to lv97 alch recipe Tisane was pretty eye opening. I just have been doing that mindlessly because it has no sub crafts that I have been gimping my gil making ability. This however prompted me to do an alternate way to calculate this with a "Lazy mode" based on coverage metrics. This was the result: Purple winner: Rarefied Gemdraught of Vitality (ALC Lv99) | 695403 net gil/hr 22.50 crafts/hr | 4455 scrip/hr | 712978 gross gil/hr | 17575 buy cost/hr | 100.0% retainer material coverage Total retainer support incl. crystals: 42.5% | Subcrafts: 1 | Active retainers: 9 Scrip value: 160.04 gil/scrip via Carbon Fiber Retainers: botany: 3 x Windsbalm Bay Leaf (40 each/hr, profile.item_quantity_overrides) fishing: 1 x Water Crystal via Megapiranha desynth (62.50 each/hr, profile.supplemental_supply_sources.desynthesis_conversion) hunting: 3 x Tumbleclaw Weeds (15 each/hr, profile.combat_i730_plus) mining: 2 x Yak T'el Spring Water (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) Market board compensation: Water Crystal: buy 297.50/hr x 50 = 14875/hr (crystals) Lightning Crystal: buy 180.00/hr x 14 = 2520/hr (crystals) Axe Beak Wing: buy 90.00/hr x 2 = 180/hr (not assigned / not venture-sourced) Rate driver: Tumbleclaw Weeds exactly consumed at 45.00/hr Purple #2: Rarefied Cunning Craftsman's Tisane (ALC Lv97) | 305242 net gil/hr 11.25 crafts/hr | 1924 scrip/hr | 307877 gross gil/hr | 2635 buy cost/hr | 100.0% retainer material coverage Total retainer support incl. crystals: 86.4% | Subcrafts: 0 | Active retainers: 9 Scrip value: 160.04 gil/scrip via Carbon Fiber Retainers: botany: 3 x Pearl Grass (40 each/hr, profile.item_quantity_overrides) fishing: 1 x Water Crystal via Megapiranha desynth (62.50 each/hr, profile.supplemental_supply_sources.desynthesis_conversion) hunting: 3 x Tumbleclaw Weeds (15 each/hr, profile.combat_i730_plus) mining: 2 x Yak T'el Spring Water (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) Market board compensation: Water Crystal: buy 27.50/hr x 50 = 1375/hr (crystals) Lightning Crystal: buy 90.00/hr x 14 = 1260/hr (crystals) Rate driver: Tumbleclaw Weeds exactly consumed at 45.00/hr Purple #3: Rarefied Sykon Bavarois (CUL Lv90) | 295899 net gil/hr 16.67 crafts/hr | 1900 scrip/hr | 304076 gross gil/hr | 8177 buy cost/hr | 100.0% retainer material coverage Total retainer support incl. crystals: 70.4% | Subcrafts: 2 | Active retainers: 9 Scrip value: 160.04 gil/scrip via Carbon Fiber Retainers: botany: 2 x Palm Syrup (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) botany: 1 x Sykon (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) fishing: 1 x Brass Loach (12 each/hr, venture.quantity_tiers) hunting: 1 x Bat Wing (15 each/hr, profile.combat_i730_plus) hunting: 2 x Ovibos Milk (15 each/hr, profile.combat_i730_plus) mining: 2 x Fire Crystal (120 each/hr, profile.supplemental_supply_sources.direct_venture) Market board compensation: Water Crystal: buy 133.33/hr x 50 = 6667/hr (crystals) Fire Crystal: buy 26.67/hr x 48 = 1280/hr (crystals) Fire Shard: buy 3.33/hr x 69 = 230/hr (crystals) Rate driver: Palm Syrup exactly consumed at 100.00/hr Purple #4: Rarefied Banana Ponzecake (CUL Lv93) | 282821 net gil/hr 12.50 crafts/hr | 1775 scrip/hr | 284071 gross gil/hr | 1250 buy cost/hr | 100.0% retainer material coverage Total retainer support incl. crystals: 93.8% | Subcrafts: 2 | Active retainers: 9 Scrip value: 160.04 gil/scrip via Carbon Fiber Retainers: botany: 1 x Royal Maple Sap (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) botany: 1 x Upland Wheat (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) botany: 1 x Wild Ja Tiika Bananas (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) fishing: 1 x Water Crystal via Megapiranha desynth (62.50 each/hr, profile.supplemental_supply_sources.desynthesis_conversion) hunting: 3 x Egg of Elpis (15 each/hr, profile.combat_i730_plus) mining: 2 x Fire Crystal (120 each/hr, profile.supplemental_supply_sources.direct_venture) Market board compensation: Water Crystal: buy 25.00/hr x 50 = 1250/hr (crystals) Rate driver: Royal Maple Sap exactly consumed at 50.00/hr Purple #5: Rarefied Draught (ALC Lv89) | 254710 net gil/hr 15.00 crafts/hr | 1620 scrip/hr | 259265 gross gil/hr | 4555 buy cost/hr | 100.0% retainer material coverage Total retainer support incl. crystals: 78.7% | Subcrafts: 0 | Active retainers: 9 Scrip value: 160.04 gil/scrip via Carbon Fiber Retainers: botany: 3 x Light Gerbera (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) fishing: 1 x Water Crystal via Megapiranha desynth (62.50 each/hr, profile.supplemental_supply_sources.desynthesis_conversion) hunting: 3 x Berkanan Sap (15 each/hr, profile.combat_i730_plus) mining: 2 x Ambrosial Water (50 each/hr, profile.dol_profile_5820_perception) Market board compensation: Water Crystal: buy 57.50/hr x 50 = 2875/hr (crystals) Lightning Crystal: buy 120.00/hr x 14 = 1680/hr (crystals) Rate driver: Berkanan Sap exactly consumed at 45.00/hr

Dear Algorithm: I want to get connected with all of the people who are super excited to play Final Fantasy Resonance

This shiny alpha tepig made me miserable and I quit playing Pokemon legends z-a for a few months out of frustration but I got it done this morning and I'm really happy

My Star fox medal uploads resume today since I have a day off and I can sort through all of this. If you're looking for the fastest dude with an over the top personality on camera I am not your guy If you want to support a hard working husband and father who spews nothing but facts and knowledge then look no further. Last week I put up every level from a 1675 hit normal run, check it out

How I made the ultimate bathroom TV for sports viewing in my man cave It's getting a ton of use during the FIFA world cup and will continue to get a ton of use during NFL & College football #gamingsetup #mancave #sports #fifa #nfl

My sources tell me a similar announcement from Xbox ending physical media is coming. I am not sure on the timeline.

I think that there are more pissed off people than Sony expected, but I still question if it's enough to make them reverse course. I broke all of this down yesterday, but in the 2025 Q4 earnings report it stated that 85% of units sold were digital. Key word units, not revenue. It's possible that there are a ton of $10-20 "units" sold that count just like a $70 AAA physical "Unit" would count. Also of the titles that were part of the 15% physical, what we do not know is the percent of those specific titles being physical vs digital. To me, I would anticipate those ratios to be far closer to the 2:1 or 1:1 range but still expecting a physical sales minority. That gets your statistical estimate of "Physical Enthusiasts" Sony has made a very calculated decision that even if 10-20% of PlayStation players dump the platform outright, they will still on paper make more money as a result of this change. They knew a lot of people would be pissed and they had to have run these numbers that we only have a few hints at to arrive at this conclusion. Based on the outrage from a very vocal percentage of players, I do anticipate the PlayStation headcount to drop by 10-20%. Is there enough pissed off people to go over 20? That's the billion dollar question. When you start getting past 20%, the fiscal thesis of this move starts turning red. The rationale of not having the factory overhead to make the discs, not having to pay retail a cut, not losing future sales to a used game market start to show cracks. Now the biggest and very valid consumer side problem is the concept of "ownership" and affordability. I could do a whole separate wall of text on this point of view and I will. Me personally? I only plan on playing two PS5 games this fiscal year: Final Fantasy Resonance and Grand Theft Auto VI. If FFR has a physical release I'll gladly go to GameStop and buy it. Its a ritual I have enjoyed for decades. For GTA6, I have zero interest in buying the box with a download code. I am just doing the digital version and I'm not going to let that ruin a (hopefully) good time playing a game I've been looking forward to for over a decade. In 2027 I am fully locked in to Final Fantasy VII Revelation and Kingdom Hearts IV on PlayStation. Again, hopefully physical. By mid 2027 we should have some more clarity on the overall industry and PlayStation in regards to this issue. Once there are more facts I will then decide my course of action as a consumer who has been one of all 3 platforms' best customer for 3 decades. - Gatabud, MBA

Sony's announcement about their intentions to cease physical game releases has certainly struck a nerve. Look at these two people on top of the Empire State Building (Parody Post)

Is this announcement from Sony enough for you to throw in the towel on PlayStation or are you just going to roll with it?

This is going to be interesting. There's a very loud segment of gamers that is furious with this, but most sales data points to an overwhelming majority of game sales are already digital to begin with. Are they prepared to cease buying all games out of principle? I'm old school and love buying physical. I personally try to buy from GameStop to keep them in business when I can. Naturally I have very mixed feelings about full digital, but from a business perspective I understand the rationale of stopping the physical releases. From a parental perspective it's honestly been exhausting keeping track of dozens of small switch cartridges and helping my very young children switch PS5 discs no way im letting them scratch one up. It's made me lazy in recent years and sometimes I'll just buy digital for them just to avoid this. If we're going full digital I think one welcomed change would be ditching the time zone midnight release and just do a global release all at midnight UTC for new titles. At the end of the day, I personally don't feel strongly enough about this issue to let it get in the way of myself enjoying games. I don't love that this is happening, but I don't think there's a meaningful enough amount of us old school gamers that can make them rethink this decision. Proving me wrong would make me happy though.