New player level 50 crafting questions

[Velisra]

I've been leveling all of the DoL and DoH classes to 50, and now that I'm almost to 50 with all of them, I'm confused about what I should do to move into HW crafting content.

I've read that you can just go to Ishgard with current gear (not all AF crafting gear, but some HQ level 50 pieces, and not melded) and move ahead. I've also read that it's difficult to make the level 51 items at level 50, and leveling to 51 or 52 with the level 50 1 and 2 star items is a good idea. However, it seems fairly difficult to make even twinthread with my current gear--I can do NQ but no way HQ--so I really have no idea which is better/easier.

Should I try to get HQ AF crafting gear and meld it to go the level 50 1 and 2 star route, or just go on to HW crafting content?

/confused

[Roth_Trailfinder]

You should get the level 50 MH tool from the class quest. Beyond that, its up to you.

You may not be able to HQ them, but things like Twinthread and Darksteel Nuggets, and Rose Gold Nuggets, are your targets to grind out through 50 to 51 on. Once you hit 51, consider the crafted level 51 set (left side gear; the right side jewelry is going to range from 52 to 55). The penalty for being below recipe level is fairly severe in Heavensward, so try not to level too high before being able to make any refined materials.

I'm not saying I remember the numbers exactly, but I went from something like 70 Progress on a CS2 at level 50 to 190 Progress on a CS2 on that same recipe, at level 51, without any gear changes. Just removing that penalty more than doubled the Progress I was getting.

[Velisra]

Awesome, thank you so much for the reply.

I did just have another thing happen that was great for my WVR class as well--The GC turn in today was for a Patrician's Coatee and it was a starred item, so the xp granted was a lot more than usual. I made one HQ to turn in and got about 415k XP, which was HALF of the xp required to get to 51! I'll be watching for those starred turn ins at the GC as I level these DoH classes to 51 for sure. I did complete the level 50 quests as well and have the MH tool--I'm really enjoying the stories in the class quests so I definitely won't skip them!

TY again sir!

[Roth_Trailfinder]

GC hand ins are worth 12.5% of your level's exp. HQ it, and you get double the reward, or 25% of the level.

Starred GC hand ins are worth double, or 25% of your level's exp. HQ it, and you get double the reward, for 50% of the level!

They are a worthwhile thing to look for, but the stars can be quite random.

[Velisra]

Oh I hadn't noticed that there was actually a formula there, and the xp wasn't just some semi-randomish calculation! Good to know, and ty!

[elfolampo]

If you are leveling, consider doing the Ixal quests, or at least the turn-ins, and the related challenges in the challenge log. Leves are good as well, but once you hit 50 all non-HW leves give worthless experience.

As for the gear, the top level 50 gear is more or less equivalent to level 53-55 gear in HW. but it should be much easier to get the HW stuff, and move on from there, as you can get stuff much more easily than the turn-ins for gear that is, ultimately, outdated. Be sure to pick up the master books eventually, however.

[Velisra]

If you are leveling, consider doing the Ixal quests, or at least the turn-ins, and the related challenges in the challenge log. Leves are good as well, but once you hit 50 all non-HW leves give worthless experience.

As for the gear, the top level 50 gear is more or less equivalent to level 53-55 gear in HW. but it should be much easier to get the HW stuff, and move on from there, as you can get stuff much more easily than the turn-ins for gear that is, ultimately, outdated. Be sure to pick up the master books eventually, however.

Yep, I have been doing those, especially when there are just not that many different recipes to make for some of the classes at certain levels. I'll definitely be getting the master books at some point as well. Thanks!

[Velisra]

So, I'm back with more questions.

I now have BTN and MIN at 51, and all DoH classes except ALC and CUL at 50-51. The struggle at this point is that my gathering gear isn't that great (since I don't have all the end-game gear from ARR) and to make any new HW gathering gear, I have to be able to gather Coerthan Tea Leaves at a reliable rate so that I can level LTW. It seems to be a punishing "chicken and egg" problem here. It's very, very slow gathering tea leaves in present gear, yet to make other gear I have to have mounds of tea leaves.

The gear on the MB is hideously expensive. It's not that I can't afford it, but this should NOT be the only way to get started in HW gathering/crafting content. The gear is apparently not sold by a vendor, and there is no other catch up mechanism that I've seen.

Any advice from those who have "been there, done that"? There is one vendor in Ishgard that sells the tea leaves at 1400+g each, but is this really how this goes for newer players who weren't around to get the end-game gathering/crafting gear in ARR, or am I missing something?

[Roth_Trailfinder]

Do Leves to level crafting classes, as well as the GC hand ins and, if you feel up to it, the Ixali quests. I am not sure how good they'll be, exp-wise, for any class 50 or higher though.

Remember, if you are not doing Leves, then any class that is UNDER 51 you want to use 1 star ARR recipes to level, not level 51 HW recipes. If your LTW is 50, make Hippogriff Leather. If it is 51, then start on your Archaeoskin recipes. As for needing "mounds of leaves" don't forget about your Blessed Harvest II skill, if buying them off of the vendor is not a feasible option.

[Velisra]

LTW is 51, but the problem is that getting the tea leaves in current gear is ridiculously slow. I'm able to get four leaves per node is all, and I don't have enough GP to even use Blessed Harvest (because current gear is not great). I need tea leaves to make better gear, but need better gear to get tea leaves at a reasonable rate.

And it's not that buying them from the vendor isn't an option--I've made plenty of Gil and even managed to have plenty left over after I was finally able to buy a small plot and a house just a couple of days ago--it's that it seems like there should be a better option than gathering eight leaves per hour or paying for them from a vendor, and I mean a better option for getting the gear, not necessarily getting the leaves.

I guess I'll just keep picking up my eight leaves per hour, and eventually be able to make a couple of pieces of new gathering gear, which will get the ball rolling.