Analysis, Discussion and Tips for Success

General Discussion

Pottery is a branch of the Crafting skill most often used by lower-level players; most of it is also available to free players. Pie dishes are the second lowest level items you can make using this part of the skill.

Making pottery is done in two steps: forming the item, and then firing it in a pottery oven. The first step yields half (or more) of the XP and is faster, so some players might prefer to just make unfired pie dishes and sell them. The alternative, described here, is to make unfired items and then fire them in the oven immediately. This gives more XP, though at a slower rate. However, it is often more cost-effective, since you get more XP per soft clay consumed.

There is a chance of an unfired item breaking when put into the oven. The failure rate is low, however, even at very low levels, and seems to disappear completely by level 20. It is also tied to your absolute Crafting level and not how many levels above the minimum you are for a specific item.

Note that because of the extra time required to fire the items made, run energy is not an issue for this activity even for non-members.

I should also point out that demand for pie dishes is very high right now, but their price is hard-limited on the Grand Exchange. I recommend not selling these, but rather using them with pastry dough to make pie shells.

Location and Access

For non-members and lower-level players, I believe the best place to make pottery is Draynor Village; it's only 20 seconds each way from the bank to the pottery wheel and kiln.

Higher-level members who have completed the Legends Quest should use the Crafting Guild, accessing it using skills necklaces, and banking at Castle Wars.

Required and Recommended Equipment

Members who are using the Crafting Guild will need a brown apron and skills necklaces.

Required and Recommended Supplies

You need soft clay to craft. You can buy it, make it from hard clay that you mine in various places, or mine it already soft using bracelets of clay.

Familiar Suggestions

There's no advantage to using a beast of burden here because of the hassle that would be involved in swapping processed and input items. Instead, summon a foraging familiar to earn extra money for you while you work -- I prefer the magpie, given the high value of rings and gems today, which you can either sell or use to further your Crafting training!

There isn't a really worthwhile forager below Summoning level 47, so I wouldn't bother with a familiar at lower levels.

Technique and Tips

If crafting at Draynor Village, just take out 28 soft clay at the bank and run north to the potter's wheel. If using the Crafting Guild, right-click your skills necklace, choose the Crafting Guild and then enter.

Use one soft clay on the wheel, then right-click the pie dish in the chat box and choose "Make X". Enter any number over 28 (I usually just type "88" or "99" since it is quicker to do that than enter "28") and wait for the dishes to be made. Now click the pottery oven and repeat the "Make X" process to fire all of your items. Return to the bank and repeat.