I definitely want to decrease crafting times.  The good news is that we may not need to by much.  So, let's say you are level 2 (where I am leaning toward starting).  You have 2 ranks in craft.  You have a +1 int modifier.  You have +3 for class skill.  You have +2 for masterwork tools (provided).  You have +4 for 2 assistants (the most you can have on a medium weapon...somewhat provided).<br/><br/>This gives you a +12 to craft at 2nd level...an amazing bonus.  Taking 10 gives you a 22.  Multiply that by a standard 15 DC and you have 330, enough to make 2 normal longswords in a 1 week period or 1.5 masterwork (+1) longswords per week with the rules above.  Obviously, bonuses will increase at a very slow rate from there (basically +1 per level), but I don't think we'll need to quicken the time by more than x5.  At higher levels, crafting will still take a while, but the products will be worth it.<br/><br/>Using the x5 and the modifiers above, let's look at masterwork full plate, the benchmark of crafting.  Without the x5, progress of 418 sp per week.  It would take 35 weeks for just NORMAL full plate, and about 52 weeks (a fucking YEAR) for +1 masterwork, which, to be fair, is more than a level 2 character should have.  With the x5, the time goes down to 7 weeks for normal and 11 weeks for masterwork.<br/><br/>How about crafting is increased by a factor of 5 AND characters receive a bonus of +1 to craft checks as they level (in addition to skill ranks)?  Does this sound like too much?