Quote Originally Posted by armandojc3 View Post
Experts in crafting: Do you guys recommend any particular city hub or similar where the stores offer the most usable items to level?.
The three main starting city states all sell the same stuff for early levels on a few things. Some things you'll have to buy of the marketboard or gather through Botanist, Miner or Fisher (depending on what your leveling for a crafter). I always suggest to keep on you what you are planning to craft, and keep others on your retainer. Also as someone mentioned, hire a 2nd retainer, you get two free retainers to start with, which is freaking awesome.

Once you get to a certain level (and place in the story) of course other materials are available in other big cities you visit. There may be some bought at off site spots outside of the cities near aetherytes, but it's also pretty easy to just google what you're looking for and who sells it and where they are at.

https://ffxiv.gamerescape.com/wiki/Main_Page
I use the Gamer Escape site to find everything I'm looking for that I can't recall or remember where to get it.

But I do really REALLY suggest leveling AT LEAST miner and botanist with crafters, it'll make it so much easier to just grab the mats yourself.