Runes of Magic US / AU

Yes....they seem to believe that by now EVERYONE can run at least gch......

As for gear...the level 55 HoDL/ZS gear is probably your best option :/

Well, higher level gear for the same Phirius Shells cost is a total win IMO.

My suggestion: Go get any random gear and stat it with the blue lvl 75 stats coming out of Crystalia. They're 300k and under on Artemis and equivalent to the lvl 70 purple stats (Glorious/Hero). Save your Phirius Shells for pulling stats (not items) for Wings, or something you'll have for a really long time (HoS ring/earring perhaps).

For a weapon you might invest in something a bit nicer -- probably a hand-me-down from some higher level person who found better.

One thing about this game compared to other games: You don't need good gear items. You can do fine in almost all zones with real trash items. Just use all the other avenues of character enhancement: statting, runes, pets, housekeeper buffs & items, guild castle buffs, etc. etc.

Quoted from "markzilla;573878"

I had no idea of the stats on blue gear. (That could add and old element of fun; farming for blue gear and dirty stating that. Haven't done that since lvl 30+)

What about the blue armor quest packs you get at level 50, 55, 60 and 65?
Then from Redhills onwards, there are armor sets to be collected as quest rewards within each zone.
These sets are pretty good for plain ol' questing - especially if you dirty stat with Green XIV's from Chrysalia.