...don't they kind of make the whole traditional idea of "crafting" obsolete?

Discuss. 

Probably.

I don't think traditional crafting is obsolete, it just has to be done differently. Replicators still need to be programed by someone, and then they need energy or replicator rations in order to make the items. With this I can look at replicators as being the next anvil and hammer. Crafting could stil be possible, just depends on how the dev wants to do it.

You wouldn't be able to replicate a whole ship for example. You could maybe replicate parts and replication may depend on rank, status and rations?

Common replicators still can't make complex items. The more complex the item is, more power it requires to replicate.

Thats why there were some mentions of Industry level replicators on TV series. Federation was going to give them to Cardassians after Klingon War for example (Deep Space Nine).

Also, some materials are still reqired to be mined and manifactured without replicators because its more easier (profitable) to do them the old way.

 Oops, didn't mean to post this in the Perpetual version forum. 

They need to replicate a game ..then they can build a replicator.

Bj

Originally posted by BlueJester

They need to replicate a game ..then they can build a replicator.

Bj

I think the whole point is no-one wants a replicated game.