[Saito]

I've seen a number of crafting systems including mining but personally I think mining is one of the most boring things EVER. I do like the way this is done in lineage 2 where a class has the ability to get more/different items from a monster.

You will also have to make a good balance between those who get those resources and those who make items from them. For example if one can excel in both finding/mining items and making them you basically have a walking gold mine.

Of course finding a good balance between getting materials and the amount needed is hard... You can make things easier for players that solo a lot but that would mean a good clan can create items extremely fast but if you try to make it hard for the clans to push out high quality equipment at a decent rate you will make things very hard for people that solo.

What might be a good idea is add items/parts/materials that only drop from mobs that are supposed to be hunted by people that solo so those people will be able to get different looking equipment with different bonuses then those that party a lot.

Personally I prefer a hard crafting system, something you really have to put some effort in making things. But of course that comes with a problem the harder to craft anything the more lucrative ebay'ing will be so maybe a way to personalize items but not making it so bad you can't get ever sell them.