Artisan Archive

Sorry if this has already been hashed out, but I'm a little slow...

I just read a report on the home page that suggested that there are new artisan mission terminals. The obvious questions are:

1. Are they in place and, if so, how are they different from the old Artisal mission terminals?

2. If they are in addition to the old Artisan mission terminals, then were are they?

And here's my burning question.....

Artisan mission terminals have two choices: surveying missions and crafting missions.

The crafting missions are crap because they take longer than the surveying missions AND, when you figure all the aspects of doing the missions do not pay as much.

I've noticed that the surveying missions come in three flavors: Metal, Gas and Ore. The higher the pay, the greater the percent concentration (...a good policy). What annoys me to no end is that I've never seen an ore concentration greater than 66%, and those are extremely rare.

Now, the "BURNING QUESTION" preceeded by a short observation...The surveying missions pay as much as 900 for concenrtations of 69% or 70%. Metal is metal is metal, and so on. NOW, ... every once in a while, I'll see surveying missions that pay upwards of 3500!!! These are highly specific surveying missions, and are (of course) more difficult. They may ask for Mytra Copper or a specific type of amorphous gemstone. BUT I only see these missions maybe once per month. After I take one of these misions, II'll go back the same artisan mission terminal to find only the lower paying run-of-the-mill generic metal-gas-ore missions.

WHY????? WHY aren't these higher paying missions available all the time???

I am a Master Artisan working feverishly on Master Architect (and getting close). I also have Marksman 4-2-1-3 as well as some scouting and medic skills. Might one's skill level have someting to do with it?

Thanks for any comments or answers to my questions.

Ee'an in Kettamore