What to do?

[Novamaru30]

New player here more or less getting all prepared for the expansion. Since i am preparing for the expansion, I don't want to waste Gold or time grinding currency for gear. I more or less just want to complete the story. Does the story mode require any specific gear ilvl? I was planning to rock my Story mode gear until the expansion. Or will it be worth to invest in the ilvl110 gear on the market or use soldiery for ilvl100 stuff ?

Thanks

[PArcher]

Thanks to the increased cap on poetics, it's a decent assumption that having at least i120 going into the expansion will be a good idea. Failing that, getting yourself as geared as possible is your next best bet.

Edit: at minimum, you need to be i90. Stress minimum. It is a bad idea to try to stay as low as possible, as you are forcing others to carry you through story fights and you'll be at a disadvantage in the overworld

[Naria]

In order to complete "Steps of Faith", the last group mission for ARR and have access to Heavensward zones and content you will have to be a minimum of i90. I wouldn't bother buying 110 gear, just grind gear from CT/Tomes.

[sciondar]

I'd suggest using a combo of allied seals and soldiery tomes to get all ilvl 100 gear and maybe run the crystal tower raids a couple of times to try and get a sand or oil of time to upgrade the pieces to ilvl 110 to get through the story. It will make things easier for you the earlier you can get those pieces. The other nice part of doing the crystal tower series gives you a chance to get an unidentified tome which is used to help buy a weapon.

[Chihaya]

Though you only need i90 to complete current story mode, devs have said that the current gear won't be immediately useless on expansion.
And just in case they make new story stuff to have i100+ requirement - gear yourself up a little.

[Ashkendor]

Don't buy i110 gear on the market. Upgrade your soldiery stuff as you can, and use your poetics as well.

[Gyson]

New player here more or less getting all prepared for the expansion. Since i am preparing for the expansion, I don't want to waste Gold or time grinding currency for gear. I more or less just want to complete the story. Does the story mode require any specific gear ilvl? I was planning to rock my Story mode gear until the expansion. Or will it be worth to invest in the ilvl110 gear on the market or use soldiery for ilvl100 stuff ?

Thanks

For newer players, I just want to say this: When you started playing this game (whenever that was) there was all this content ahead of you. Just because an expansion is coming out soon doesn't mean you must experience it with everyone else on day one. If you started playing this game after the expansion was released, would you have put any thought into the expansion at all? I suspect you probably wouldn't think anything of it.. it would just be "more gameplay" ahead of you (much like the current gameplay you feel compelled to race through in order to be ready for the expansion).

In a way I envy the people that start this game after the expansion is released. They'll reach 50 and just continue on leveling to 51, no XP lost while doing things on combat, gathering, or crafting classes, no overly crowded hubs/zones with the rush that will happen at Heavensward's launch. 100% of the effort they put into the game during the first 50 levels will go towards advancing their character through the game world rather than all this focus on raising the ilevel of their gear.

[Novamaru30]

Okay Thanks guys. I think l already have close to 600 soldiery, I'll start with the ilvl100 gear and go from there.

[Welsper59]

You're going to definitely want to upgrade stuff along the way. Dungeons will require you to have a higher ilvl, which means you'll need better gear. At the very least, aim for the i100 stuff and do ST for the tomestone to trade in for the i100 weathered weapon (along with the needed 1300 soldiery). Do Hunts if they're up for more means to i100 gear and upgrade items. There's more than enough time to do all of this. Invest in the i110 upgrade gear if you want (just run ST for the upgrade items), but you'll seriously want to be of at least SOME help to your group as you get through the necessary 4/8man content... you may even enjoy yourself going through the 24man stuff. You don't have to be decked out or anything, but the fact you have to reach an ilvl minimum anyway means that you might as well aim for what is essentially being handed out (weathered i100 gear).