Well, the title of my post says it all. I just want to know, do I have to do crafting in this game to have a viable character (in the event that I need to team up)? I hate crafting in games. I always have. It is boring and annoying. I just like killing stuff. Can I make enough money just finding stuff and throwing it on the auction house? Also, is the stuff I find on mobs just as good as crafting stuff? In other words, do I have to craft? Thanks.

No. You'll get more than plenty of loot from mobs and missions. And if by any small chance there is like one crafted item that is better than what you have, check your local market terminal and you'll find it there.

I have only gotten to level 25 for my highest alt. So my opinion may change when I level him. However for now, I find that though crafting can get you some incrementally higher bonuses early, the drops I have been gettting have been sufficient for me to PvE without difficulty (melee build, STR/CON superstat, invulnerabiliy passive).

I don't PvP (except to test out powers in the Powerhouse). I would guess that PvPers tweak out (read that as min\max) their builds to get the optimal stats loaded.

Looking at what each branch can craft, it seems as if you can get most of your needs from one type (arms for STR and CON) though depending on what other stats you want to support, you may need to look at other branches. In most cases though, the drops were enough to load up the secondary enhancements slots effectively.

I tried loading INT to see how it affected my energy needs (it was pretty good). So, I had my alt with science craft some things. I found that though the energy costs dropped enough for even the small increases my enhancements did to merit going this route, having more energy out the door to root or stun mobs was better for my play style (thus loaded up REC).

Anyway at higher crafting levels, you can start customizing the bonuses you put on your enhancments which may be even a bigger benefit. But I haven't really gotten into testing that out yet.

In any case, the short of it is that I haven't found a need to craft though I can see the benefit. But it is a drag. :D

Crafting is really pretty simple so far as I've experienced it in Champions Online. For the most part, you get nearly all of your experience (points/levels/whatever) by breaking down drops (and previously crafted items). It's really no hassle at all, especially if you're leveling a couple of characters (i.e. one for each branch?). Just send the drops in the mail to yourself (@MyNameHere) and any of your characters can pick it up and break it down. Generally the matts sell for more on the Auction House than most low rarity drops do as well (not Blue+).

Long post, shortened. Just break stuff up as you collect the drops. Even if you don't use a single crafted item that you make yourself, you'll make more cash (resources) and your crafting level will increase as you level without any real work.

Bean.

Regarding customizability:
Customizing your equipment is good for getting just what you need but, depending on your desired stats, you might have a way to go before you can get what you're after. All the enhancements (stats and other special things) need to be purchased from the trainer in addition to the customizable blueprints, and these come gradually as you level your crafting skill. So, even at level 34, I still rely more on drops and mission rewards than I do on crafting. You should be fine if you stick to missions and pick gear that works for you.

Also true. Unless you're saving for a respec, you shouldn't really need the money from selling everything, so you can just set aside the gear from your origin to break it down and gradually level your crafting skill. Just make sure you visit the bank or have enough inventory space for the resulting components.

Crafting is worth it , in my opinion, for the simple reason that you can create buffs and heals that really do save you @$$ from time to time. No need to get hardcore about it if you don't want to but it's a cheap way to give yourself a bit of an advantage. The way loot drops now you will never be short of items to break down for mats or to sell for resources.

First of all, thanks for the replies. I appreciate the input. I'll just break stuff and sell it. I just despise crafting in games and it is definitely a deal breaker if I have to do it. Thanks again.

Probably as stated above crafting is not required at all. The only time it is required is in the crisis in canada or probably a small mission in the desert. After that I haven't seen any quest what so ever that states you need to gather components to craft an item.

To me this is good because the quest in the beginning is fairly simple and you craft one item. After that you don't have to touch crafting again unless you want to. Sadly some MMOs think it necessary to force players to craft to complete quests which is a pain.

Thank god, cuz I am not a super-gamer and never really understood everything behind crafting anyway, lol. All i have been doing with it is creating stuff within my focuses, and then adding to my slots. Lord knows if it's even helping. I am guessing not much, cuz I have one character that I spaced doing any crafting for (except the cold shield in the Canada/Rakshasa scenario) and he's been advancing just fine.