Thought I'd share a routine I've gotten into that has proven to be fairly lucrative (in money, training, and contribution points) with minimal time invested on my part.
This was what I did yesterday off and on while mostly afk -- and made progress in gathering, processing, fishing, cooking, farming, training, trade, strength, breath, and contribution points.
1. Pick two trading posts located near safe fishing spots and connect them by investing contribution points. One should be close to a reesidence where you can do the cooking. I chose Velia and the Moretti Plantation (south of Heidel). The latter because there is a little bend of the river right next to the Eastern Gateway which seems to always have abundant fishing (for now). I did need to grab the Northern Cienaga node since that was the "origin" for the fish.
2. Establish a farm with 4 slots somewhere on your route -- make sure it has the right humidity and temperature for your crop. I created a wheat farm but I assume all farms generate the same "extra" materials which can be handed in for contribution points. Pick something which has a useful cooking recipe with only that one farming ingredient plus vendor materials.
3. Carry around empty bottles with you.
The routine is as follows:
1. Afk fish until your pole breaks or you run out of inventory. (fill water bottles when you are full on energy -- this levels gathering, gets you water for your farm, and avoids wasting excess energy). Heat the water to make distilled water -- leveling processing.
2. Run or ride your horse (alternate to work on breath and training respectively) to your farm if it needs attention/water/harvesting. When you harvest, make sure you use the breed option until you have enough seeds to replant. Use your distilled water to water it if necessary.
3. Run or ride your horse to the far trading post and trade your fish.
4. If you have harvested stuff from your farm, cook it (if you are at the "cooking" end of your route). I was making beer, so this is also when I fed and checked up on my workers.
5. Afk fish at the second location.
6. Repeat -- but occasionally, instead of running or riding your horse, pick up a heavy trade bundle from the trading post and walk to the other trading post in order to work on your strength. Only do this if there are no bandits on the route between the two trading posts.
7. When cooking or farming, you'll occasionally get items which can be handed in 5-at-a-time for various things (including contribution exp -- though I haven't handed any of those in yet so don't know how much you get). This was the only non-quest way I've seen to get contribution points.
Anyway, hopefully at least one thing here was new to someone. Feel free to share other multitasking routines you have.
Fitz
