Quote Originally Posted by Sollux View Post
I really can't say as I took a year and a half break (So most of ARR).
Even without taking a break it's hard to guess what they're going to do. While the weekly lock does parallel the Tomestone system, there are some differences, too. The main one is that you can't currently buy a full set of i180 gear with Red Scrips, and I think that difference is a small hint toward their future plans.

This leaves them room to add i180 accessories without cycling in new Scrip gear, which would then be necessary to craft 3-stars in 3.2. If they go this route, it's likely in my mind that fully melded i170 gear won't need any upgrades to get to 3-stars--or very few upgrades, relative to the i180 sets.

That would, to some degree, mirror how the progression worked in ARR. We didn't have a full set of i55 gear originally, and they only introduced new crafting gear a few pieces at a time (a new tool and headpiece in 2.2, and a few new accessories, and then left side "omni" gear in 2.4).

But it's really hard to say. They could do a gear reset on crafters and gatherers every major raid patch just as they do with the combat classes, though I think in the long run that would heavily devalue the pentameld option.

I really wish we had more information.