For gear - one of the newer patches (1.19a I think - check the patch notes on the forums) gives a list of locations for NPCs in the wards that sell lower level gear for probably cheaper than one's being put up on retainers. Good idea to check those to see if there's some regular gear to grab.

Otherwise something you can do that I'm not sure anyone suggested - while you can't add materia (SOME) to these pieces (the plundered items) - take a look outside of Limsa to the south-east of the level 1 aetheryt camp for Shposhae. Stuff there is level 19-22 or so and drops keys, which in turn you can use to pop open a chest. They do also drop leather gear and what not too from the chests.

http://www.bluegartr.com/threads/107...5-Dungeon-1.19 <-- maps and item drops. The mobs there also drop items that I've been throwing up in my bazaar to sell and they sell "okay", just take a look to see what they're going for on your server.



First quest for GC requires level 22 I think.