Crafting System in FiveM

Crafting system adds a new dimension to gameplay. Players must find raw materials, process them, and assemble them into finished products.

Design Principles

1. Several steps — raw → processed → final product
2. Risk/Reward — The rarer it is, the more you can get.
3. Skill Progression — The more you do, the faster/more you get.
4. Location-based — crafting must be done in a specific location.

Config Recipes

Config.Recipes = {
    ['pistol'] = {
        label = 'Handgun',
        requiredJob = nil, -- anyone can do it.
        requiredItems = {
            { item = 'steel', amount = 3 },
            { item = 'rubber', amount = 1 },
            { item = 'spring', amount = 2 }
        },
        result = { item = 'weapon_pistol', amount = 1 },
        time = 10000, -- 10 seconds
        successRate = 80, -- 80% chance of success
        xp = 50
    },
    ['lockpick'] = {
        label = 'Password',
        requiredJob = nil,
        requiredItems = {
            { item = 'plastic', amount = 2 },
            { item = 'steel', amount = 1 }
        },
        result = { item = 'lockpick', amount = 3 },
        time = 5000,
        successRate = 95,
        xp = 20
    },
    ['meth'] = {
        label = 'amphetamine',
        requiredJob = nil,
        requiredItems = {
            { item = 'chemicals', amount = 5 },
            { item = 'acetone', amount = 3 }
        },
        result = { item = 'meth', amount = 2 },
        time = 30000,
        successRate = 70,
        xp = 100,
        requiredLocation = 'meth_lab' -- Must be done at the lab only.
    }
}

Config.Locations = {
    meth_lab = vector3(-1089.7, -1600.2, 4.4),
    workshop = vector3(616.7, 2759.7, 42.1),
    kitchen = vector3(-75.0, -820.0, 326.0)
}

Server Logic

-- server.lua
ESX.RegisterServerCallback('crafting:craft', function(source, cb, recipe)
    local xPlayer = ESX.GetPlayerFromId(source)
    local recipeData = Config.Recipes[recipe]
    
    if not recipeData then cb(false, 'Recipe is not valid') return end
    
    -- Check items
    for _, required in ipairs(recipeData.requiredItems) do
        local item = xPlayer.getInventoryItem(required.item)
        if item.count < required.amount then
            cb(false, 'Missing: ' .. required.item)
            return
        end
    end
    
    -- Delete materials
    for _, required in ipairs(recipeData.requiredItems) do
        xPlayer.removeInventoryItem(required.item, required.amount)
    end
    
    -- Calculate success
    local roll = math.random(1, 100)
    if roll > recipeData.successRate then
        cb(false, 'crafting_fail') -- failed, materials are gone.
        return
    end
    
    -- gives results
    xPlayer.addInventoryItem(recipeData.result.item, recipeData.result.amount)
    
    -- Save XP
    local currentXP = xPlayer.getMeta('crafting_xp') or 0
    xPlayer.setMeta('crafting_xp', currentXP + recipeData.xp)
    
    cb(true, recipeData.result)
end)

Client — Progress + UI

-- client.lua
local function StartCrafting(recipe)
    local recipeData = Config.Recipes[recipe]
    
    -- Progress bar while crafting
    exports['M2.Progress']:Progress({
        name = 'crafting_' .. recipe,
        duration = recipeData.time,
        label = 'Crafting: ' .. recipeData.label,
        canCancel = true,
        disable = { move = true, car = true, combat = true },
        anim = {
            dict = 'anim@amb@backstage@hub@short_0@male@',
            clip = 'idle_a'
        }
    }, function(cancelled)
if canceled then
            exports['M2.Notify']:Notify('warning', 'Cancel crafting', 2000)
            return
        end
        
        ESX.TriggerServerCallback('crafting:craft', function(success, data)
            if success then
                exports['M2.Notify']:Notify('success',
                    'Success! received '.. data.item, 4000)
            else
                if data == 'crafting_fail' then
                    exports['M2.Notify']:Notify('error',
                        'Fail! lost materials', 4000)
                else
                    exports['M2.Notify']:Notify('error', data, 3000)
                end
            end
        end, recipe)
    end)
end

Skill Progression

-- Server: Calculate crafting speed bonus from XP.
local function GetCraftingBonus(identifier)
    local xp = MySQL.scalar.await(
        'SELECT crafting_xp FROM character_meta WHERE identifier = ?',
        { identifier }
    ) or 0
    
    -- Every 500 XP = 5% time reduction
    local bonus = math.floor(xp / 500) * 0.05
    return math.min(bonus, 0.5) -- up to 50% bonus
end

Summary

A good crafting system has balanced recipes, clear risk/reward, and a progression that makes players feel like they're getting better as they play. Start with simple recipes and gradually increase in complexity.