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. Pot lids are the only members only item of pottery in the Crafting skill. You learn how to make them as part of the quest One Small Favour.

Making pottery is done in two steps: forming the item from soft clay, and then firing it in a pottery oven. The first step yields half (or more) of the XP and is faster, so some players prefer to just make unfired items and then sell them; the alternative is to do both steps, making finished pot lids. Note that while there is a chance of breakage when firing pottery at lower levels, success is automatic when making unfinished items, another reason some prefer to stop after the first step (especially newer players.)

Note that the different level divisions are meant to approximate the impact of low Agility on the need for energy potions when doing this activity, without making things too complicated.

Location and Access

For 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. Lower-level players should also use energy potions, to save time that would otherwise be wasted resting due to expended run energy.

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 pot lid 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 pot lids to be made. Return to the bank and repeat.

Lower-level players will need to use energy potions, the number depending on their Agility level.