Quote Originally Posted by Kaze3434 View Post
you will want to have your ps3 on hand to transfer gear sets and such.
No - you don't need to have PS3 at the time of migration ...

Simply use the "Transfer Character Data PS3 -> PS4" option in the launcher page on your PS3 before you'll get rid of it - this will upload locally stored data to server and once you'll get the PS4 and upgrade the game use the same button to retrieve the data at PS4. Just remember that you can transfer only 8 characters at one go so if you have more than that you'll not be able to transfer remaining one without having PS3. It will select 8 most recently played ones so you can "choose" by login to each of those briefly you want to transfer.