cuttin trees and miningFollow

I've been mining for just over a month now, and I'd have to say... it's no longer worth it. When I started, almost no one else was mining, now all the mining spots are camped 24/7. You'll want atleast 1 stack of pickaxes when you go out, and those will run you 2.5k-3.5k for a stack. For most of the good spots, you'll need to be at least level 30 preferably 40 so you don't get aggro while running around (or be a whm with sneak). You also should get the clothing that improves your chances, and that'll run you about 40k. Without clothing, you'll get about 25% less. A friend of mine recently tried without the clothes, and he quit after two full days of mining (over 30 hours) and he had only made 8k. When I started, it was profitable even without the clothes... but since the noobs have lowered the prices dramatically, it's getting harder to make a profit. The funny thing was, all the ore would sell my morning... so there really wasn't a reason to undercut the market. To give you an idea of how much the prices have lowered, I'll list off the ore, what it used to sell for, and what it's price was at last night, and how frequently you get them...

Platinum....50k....10k....very rare (also doesn't spawn where I mine)
Gold....10k....9k....very rare
Darksteel....10k....5k....rare
Colored Stones (there are several kinds)....2-5k....1-2k....rare
Iron....800....400....common
Zinc....600....300....common
Silver....500....150....common
Copper....50....50....very common
Pebbles....Actually, I've never sold the pebbles....very common
Flint....Haven't sold these either....very common

Now, Darksteel is what I make most of my money on... and as you see, the price has dropped in half. To give you an idea of how often you get darksteel (at least from my expiriances)... without the clothing, you'll get one for every 2 stacks of pickaxes you go through. With the clothing, you'll get two for every 3 stacks of pickaxes you go through... With the way things are now, 3 stacks of pickaxes will take a full night to go through (I used to go through 3 stacks in about an hour or two). So, some math...

A month ago with clothing...
3 stacks of pickaxes would get you on average:
2 Darksteel....20k
+ 1 Colored stone....3k (average)
+ .75 Gold....7.5k
+ 5 Iron....4k
+ 6 Zinc....3.6k
-------------------------------------------
Total....38.1k
- 3 stack Pickaxes...7.5k
-------------------------------------------
Profit....30.6k
Not bad for a hour or two's work (15.3k-30.6k/hour)

A month ago without clothing...
3 stacks of pickaxes would get you on average:
1.5 Darksteel....15k
+ .75 Colored stone....2.25k (average)
+ .56 Gold....5.6k
+ 3.75 Iron....3k
+ 4.5 Zinc....2.7k
-------------------------------------------
Total....28.55k
- 3 stack Pickaxes...7.5k
-------------------------------------------
Profit....21.05k
Still not bad for a hour or two's work (10.525k-21.05k/hour)

Current prices with clothing...
3 stacks of pickaxes would get you on average:
2 Darksteel....10k
+ 1 Colored stone....1.5k (average)
+ .75 Gold....6.75k
+ 5 Iron....2k
+ 6 Zinc....1.8k
-------------------------------------------
Total....22.05k
- 3 stack Pickaxes...7.5k
-------------------------------------------
Profit....14.55k
Now, this is a full night... 5-6 hours (2.425-2.91k/hour)

Current prices without clothing...
3 stacks of pickaxes would get you on average:
1.5 Darksteel....7.5k
+ .75 Colored stone....1.125k (average)
+ .56 Gold....5.0625k
+ 3.75 Iron....1.5k
+ 4.5 Zinc....1.35k
-------------------------------------------
Total....16.5375k
- 3 stack Pickaxes...7.5k
-------------------------------------------
Profit....9.0375k
Again, this is a full night... 5-6 hours (1.50625k-1.8075k/hour)

As you can see, the amout of profit per hour went down 90% in one month... and the prices on stuff is still going lower. Maybe your server is better... look at the AH, and plug in the numbers things are selling at on your server. It also helps if mining isn't that popular on your server yet. Honestly now, it's just not worth the time it takes to mine the stuff. I can farm crawlers or gobs and make much more then that. I've been thinking about trying logging or harvesting... but I'm not sure if those will be any better then mining.

Anyways, that's my experiance with mining... and why I've quit it... maybe I'll try again in a month after everyone else on my server gives up on it as well ;)

don't fall into this misconception that it's not worth it anymore.. the reason price go down that much is not because too many camp, but because the people who camp are too much in a rush to sell their Ore and items and run the price down..but they do sell out fast and if you keep your price in the upper range, you will get it and the prices will go up again. But people like Guen I presume get discouraged by such a price drop and believe they have to drop their prices as well to be able to sell. Not true.. I have seen price of Iron ore go from 800 gils to 350, once the few eager or impatient people's ore were sold, the smithers HAD to buy back at high prices again and they do not care, they want to synth right there and then and not waste time in the mines fetching the ores themselves. Keep your head up you prices to the highest range and you will make gils I guarentee it