Not sure how long I've been at the alex stage, maybe 3 weeks give or take. Got my shield done. Have about 5 alex now 50 more to go for the sword. I am by no means a hardcore player, only get maybe 2 hours a day to play. Between FATES, Soldiery and Seals it really doesn't seem that bad. If you do the dailies you'll get more than enough tomes to get a map. Then the expert roulette, which I can't do because I haven't even unlocked it yet. Had to take a break from the MSQ, I'm at Keeper of the Lake now, but it was a rough go. I'll farm a few FATES here and there if I get a drop, cool, if not, on to the next. Tomes I'll build up from, hunts,treasure maps, beast quests, HM primals (bonus). Hunts for seals.

In the little amount that I play each day I'll get atleast 2 a day. So figure another few weeks or so and should be done. Figure its just an added bonus to stuff I would be doing anyways, so it doesn't seem much of a grind.