Did I waste my red scrips?

[breakneckPace]

So with 3.2 out in full swing now we get to see new recipes in the tier IV books. Man was I shocked to see the requirements for some of the new items. For the most part I've been spending my red crafting scrips on getting the ilvl 180 MH tools. BUT for one class (WVR in this case) I've been getting all 180 gear for the left side. Sadly, ilvl 180 gear can't be melded, as I'm sure we all know. And I think my current Craftmanship is somewhere around 750-ish (i'm not positive without looking at it), a good 100 points shy of what it needs to be for new recipes.

My question is, was this a mistake? Did I waste a good chunk of red scrips (and a good amount of time in my life) for something that will never be able to get my stats high enough to craft the new stuff? Do I need to basically go back and craft all ilvl170 gear just so I have something I can make better? Should I have used the red crafting scrips towards getting the materiels to craft the 170 gear? I know, there's always pentamelding the RH gear still and maybe some HQ food, but to me I would think something with the higher ilvl (and arguably take long to get) should give you the better crafting advantage.

[Silverbane]

With no melds, the red scrip LH gear, L170 crafted RH+belt, and Soul of the Weaver gives 816 Craft, 755 Control. You need 850 craft and 820 Control. RH side emlds and Seafood Stew will get you there: for example, I quickly threw together this config on http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/SVX8 which gives 850 Craft, 826 Control, and 456 CP -- even though I forgot to meld the belt LOL.

What mainly hurts you is that you have a little less CP (12 I think?) than a full iL170 set can give. But you can still do 3-star. You can get the 12 CP back by repalcing the MH, legs and feet. The head, chest, and gloves are fine, is not as good as the pentamelded iL170 equivalents.

[breakneckPace]

thanks! That gives me some hope at least. I've still got a lot to learn about crafting! I just feel like it shouldn't be so easy for a iL170 to become more useful than a iL180 gear. I'll get over it though. haha

[FoxyAreku]

If you get 170 accessories you can reach 3 star requirements. It's actually easier with a 180 left side than otherwise, just for the love of god, DO NOT buy the 180 accessories or belt. They are garbage.

[breakneckPace]

... DO NOT buy the 180 accessories or belt. They are garbage.

from this point on I figure I'm just gonna try to craft the iL170 stuff. I think I might be geared well enough where I have a chance of making some of it HQ (I hope). but this is good to know! thanks for the tip