I'm quite sure this was not the case before. You'd merely not see your item in that box if it was currently equipped. So, when was this implemented? I reckon at the same time as the gunner update, but I'm not 100% sure.
New stealth implemented crafting tooltip aspect when crafting? "Item must be unequipped."
it has been there for a while now, you only see it now because gunner update.
So your saying that when you crafted your VERY FIRST 3 star back in ye old times you never knew?
That message prompt has been around for at least a few months now.
To clarify, I'm not questioning whether you've had to unequip your item. I'm questioning how long it has been stated explicitly in that box and you've been shown this as opposed to just an empty item box as if you don't have the item at all.
I reckon Thunder is correct, I have probably not crafted in a while. I have no memory of any patch notes of this, though. It's kind of sad to see OOO implement small tweaks like this without telling the users. I enjoy seeing them improve upon the game even in the small ways like this. It tells me that they really do care about improving what's already there. When they don't tell us, I just don't notice and get the feeling that they just don't really care.
There has been no change, the alchemy machine warned you that your item had to be unequipped in the same way before the Gunner update, so that's not new, sorry.
If I recall, this was stealth patched in the second Tortodrone event.
I often upgrade and craft my gear but prior to the event I never received the tooltip. Though I could be wrong, either way, earliest I've seen.
I suppose that might be it. I can't remember it from then, though. I made a Tortofist but perhaps I just failed to notice it.
You had to have them unequipped before too.