Been doing my own thing

[Ninster]

...and I guess it's about high time I found out how to make my crafting progression easier, if possible.

I have 8 classes in their 20s, with gatherers in the 30s, and I'm kind of wondering to compromise my obsessive-compulsiveness with the least headache.

Essentially, I've been doing each class by 5 level brackets, and trying to check off both the recipes and the leves for completion (yeah, I know, expensive on leve allowances, but I don't spend enough time to actually make a dent in my reserves), and gathering when I can. This has been fairly simple but then I've hit a bit of a roadblock:

Dungeon drops

I started crafting late in the game, so of course I'm kicking myself now for every time I've passed on the tattered/blackened/dented gear in the later low-level dungeons, and I'm also wondering just how I'm going to make some of the furniture. Is any of this available on the MB? Would it be worth the price? Assuming the I opt to delve directly into the dungeons and hope the RNG likes me, what's the proper etiquette regarding the craft drop chests? I know gear follows standard loot rules, but I'm more wondering about if the party does a quick run and skips chests.

Finally, is it possible to HQ anything around my current level reliably at this stage, or will I need some of the level 37 crossclass skills for that? If so, what's the best I could do at this point?

[Estellios]

You will be able to HQ but it would probably require some if not all of the mats to be HQ themselves to get anywhere near 100% chance. Byregot's Blessing (50 Carpenter) and Hasty Hand + Steady Hand II (37 Culinarian for the latter) are incredibly important skills for anyone looking to HQ items so I would beeline for those immediately if at all possible. If you keep your gear up to date you can probably consistently HQ most at-level items once you've learned those skills.

Regarding dungeon gear, most people I have run with in DF just pass on dented/worn/worm-eaten stuff so Need it if you can. If the group skips any chests with materials in them just go back and get the chest after everyone leaves. If they wanted the item in the chest they will do the same or just go to it during the run.

[Spawnie]

its better to level some to 50 first so u have the more useful level 50 cross class skills available to aid in leveling ur other classes for basic recipes i found steady hand 2 + hasty touch (not sure if right name) and finish with byregots blessing can more or less HQ most basic recipes comes in handy for leve quest turn ins which means faster leveling :P

[Lebenoshl]

Why didn't you just look up the mats on the marketboard?

[Shadygrove]

....
Dungeon drops

Is any of this available on the MB? Would it be worth the price? Assuming the I opt to delve directly into the dungeons and hope the RNG likes me, what's the proper etiquette regarding the craft drop chests? I know gear follows standard loot rules, but I'm more wondering about if the party does a quick run and skips chests.

Yes, usually, lately it seems anyone who can Need on a piece in those dungeons does.

Finally, is it possible to HQ anything around my current level reliably at this stage, or will I need some of the level 37 crossclass skills for that? If so, what's the best I could do at this point?

Yes, you can reliably HQ at that level mostly because your gathering will provide HQ materials.