I just...don't care anymore.

[Sollux]

Every gatherer worth their salt knows that future proofing is always worth it.

Unfortunately, this is difficult to find (At least on my server). Most Gatherers I've dealt with believe their i180 sets will carry them through any new Gathering in 3.1, and they might be right. It's difficult to find a serious Gatherer who actually thinks with the long term in mind and is willing to take a pay cut now for a possible profit later or a discount/free 2-Star craft.

[Alahra]

Unfortunately, this is difficult to find (At least on my server). Most Gatherers I've dealt with believe their i180 sets will carry them through any new Gathering in 3.1, and they might be right.

If I had to guess, the 180 sets will work through 3.1, yes. Then progression will "reset" in 3.2, and they'll need a new set of scrip gear to get the rarest stuff again. The same will likely be true for crafters. A fully-pentamelded i170 crafter will probably need fewer upgrades come 3.2 to get to the new (presumably) 3-star stuff. However, if they continue to gate materials the way they've done so far, being ahead on crafting, at the least, probably won't hold too much value.

[Sollux]

A fully-pentamelded i170 crafter will probably need fewer upgrades come 3.2 to get to the new (presumably) 3-star stuff. However, if they continue to gate materials the way they've done so far, being ahead on crafting, at the least, probably won't hold too much value.

It may not hold much value when 3.2 hits (Which is likely at MINIMUM 4 months away) but its value will lie in the time leading up to 3.2 and how smart the Crafter is in making gil during that time. Material gating has been strict from the start with most Gatherers choosing to get their i180 sets first rather than spend their Scrips on Favors, however now that we're 2 months in and most are completing their sets there have been more mats popping up on the boards at cheaper prices than before, and I wouldn't be surprised if this trend repeats for 3.2. As far as getting materials directly after release, if the Crafter has invested in the i170 sets and was smart with making gil in the previous months I can see them having a MUCH easier time both obtaining the materials for the new recipes as well as crafting them.

[Lastelli]

If I had to guess, the 180 sets will work through 3.1, yes. Then progression will "reset" in 3.2, and they'll need a new set of scrip gear to get the rarest stuff again. The same will likely be true for crafters. A fully-pentamelded i170 crafter will probably need fewer upgrades come 3.2 to get to the new (presumably) 3-star stuff. However, if they continue to gate materials the way they've done so far, being ahead on crafting, at the least, probably won't hold too much value.

I don't really think that will be the case. Maybe I'm just too optimistic, but I think that the reason why they designed such a complicated system to obtain the best gear for crafting and gathering is because they intend to make it last until the end of 3.x. This system can't be compared to how gear updates have been scheduled in ARR. Maybe in 3.4 they'll introduce a universal crafting/gathering set, but I really doubt that 170 and 180 gear will be replaced soon.

[Alahra]

but I really doubt that 170 and 180 gear will be replaced soon.

They *could* go that route, I suppose. The original crafter AF lasted almost all the way through ARR (and Artisan's was never necessary for 4-stars). If that's the case, we may see main hand/off-hand tool upgrades and possibly accessory upgrades over time, but the main gear will last far longer.

That will heavily devalue the DoHs that focus on making left-side gear, though, over time. They'll have to add new things for everyone to craft, and for WVR and LTW especially, that's normally going to be gear. Since DoW/DoM gear is no longer meaningful, the only place left for them would be DoH/DoL gear at present.