Post 50 Crafting Gear - Request for advice

[topcat]

I've just started Heavensward and my crafters are wearing the L50 gear that I used to produce HQ about 90%. Most of my crafters are 52 (due to GC Crafting) but I still found it difficult to craft a L52 item as the quality and progress were so high.
What gear is recommended - most guides seem to refer to pre-Heavensward days?
I use no materia yet - should I?

[FoxyAreku]

Just craft a set of level 52 left side and you should be fine.

[Jpec07]

The progression goes Blue Scrip Gear -> Crafted 170 + Crafted HQ 150 -> Red Scrip Gear -> (over)Melded Crafted HQ 170 Gear.

It's kinda strange, and really convoluted, but that's how you get to a point where you can craft the Heavensward Master Book Recipes.

Oh, and you need to talk to the guy in Foundation to become a specialist.

[Darker_Midnight]

Don't worry about materia too much, although I did add some really low grade (1s and 2s) craftsmanship to my 51 (Archaeoskin/Raptorskin) gear to boost my synthesis by a few points so I saved 1 step to complete a craft. Always plan for about 3 crafts to HQ at this stage, although if you omnicraft, careful synthesis II, byregot's blessing and steady hand II will save you a ton of pain.

[AriKitae]

If your right hand side and belt were fully melded don't bother replacing them until you get to 60. Left hand side and tools should probably be replaced as you level, depending on how you are leveling. Please know that there are some Leves that are really easy EXP (Ishgardian Muffins, anyone?) so be sure to take advantage of them until Blue scrip leveling is open to you. Oh, and don't forget to do your class quests like I did for some classes.

[FoxyAreku]

The progression goes Blue Scrip Gear -> Crafted 170 + Crafted HQ 150 -> Red Scrip Gear -> (over)Melded Crafted HQ 170 Gear.

I've never heard of this progression before.

Blue scrip gear is horrible and only good for glamour, you should go straight to a crafted white set (easy to craft with level 55ish gear), and then go straight to a crafted 170 set from there, with a red scrip main hand (if you can afford it, because it takes 3 weeks).

All there is to it tbh. It's even easier if you have friends or FC mates who can help you make the stuff, then you don't even have to meld the white set.

[Eul]

Try get the Lucis until you level 55 and buy those Artisan gear at MB that cheaps now because retainer give HQ Artisan sometimes.

[FoxyAreku]

Try get the Lucis until you level 55 and buy those Artisan gear at MB that cheaps now because retainer give HQ Artisan sometimes.

Lucis is a huge waste of time, for anything but glamour. You could put that time towards just leveling faster :P.

[Eul]

Lucis is a huge waste of time, for anything but glamour. You could put that time towards just leveling faster :P.

Isn't that good to prevent making another tool? The stat will be same with level 55 tool if I remember correctly

[FoxyAreku]

Isn't that good to prevent making another tool? The stat will be same with level 55 tool if I remember correctly

Nah. It takes multiple turn ins and a decent amount of gil to do lucis even after its nerfs, you'll spend less time and probably less gil just outright buying multiple tools.