I don't want to start another debate about updating the crafting system. I just have some questions about the way things work on Uthgard versus the live crafting system pre v1.87 (or "easy mode" )

If memory serves, there was no chance of failure on items which con grey to the crafter. On Uthgard, I routinely fail on items which con grey to me by 50 points or more.

On the live system, an 99% quality item could be overcharged 5.5 points using 4 gems of quality 99%, 99%, 98%, 98% (without the worry of it blowing up in your face). On Uthgard, it's possible for your 99% item to explode using all 99% quality gems (it has happened to me plenty of times).

Is this really the way the crafting system worked pre 1.80? I was crafting during 1.7x and don't recall this. Was there another update between the classic system and "easy mode" that I don't know about? I don't remember crafting being quite this difficult.

Again, I'm not trying to lobby for changes, I'm just confused.

I've done a little research into this.

It seems that linings replaced the leather armor component required for scale armor in patch 1.74.
Unique dyes were introduced in 1.69. So it's safe to say Uthgard uses tradeskill rules which fall between 1.69 and 1.74, not 1.80. Correct? Which patch of crafting is Uthgard attempting to emulate?