How difficult is it to get level 80 exotic gear?
We can theorise an estimate playtimes needed to get a full set of gear.
Dungeon Tokens
Each dungeon has its own unique tokens. Going the dungeon route path, it will cost you:
2-Hander = 390 tokens
1-Hander (main hand) = 300 tokens
1-Hander (off hand) = 210 tokens
Head = 270 tokens
Shoulder = 240 tokens
Chest = 390 tokens
Glove = 270 tokens
Leg = 360 tokens
Feet = 270 tokens
Total (6-Piece (Full) Set) = 1800 tokens
Total (2-H + Full Set) = 2190 tokens
Total (Main + Off Hand + Full Set) = 2310 tokens
Ascalonian level 60 exotic armour is slightly cheaper than this with a full 6-piece gear set costing 1200 tokens.
Dungeon tokens are obtained by completing explorable mode runs of each dungeon. Each dungeon on average nets 41 tokens for each completed explorable mode run: 20 tokens for the main boss and 7 for each of the three mini bosses. It is possible to obtain more than 41 per run as mobs occasionally drop tokens.
If we want a full set of level 80 exotic gear we would need to run:
1800/41 = 43.9
= 44 Dungeon runs
For a 2 handed weapon we would need to run:
390/41 = 9.5
= 10 runs
For a main and off hand we would need to run:
510/41
= 12.4
= 13 runs
A person who wants a full set of exotics and a main and off hand from the same dungeon vendor would need to do 57 dungeon runs.
The dungeon tokens needed per weapon are from beta and thus may change but it gives you an idea of how hard exotics will to get from dungeons.
Of the known exotic dungeon sets, the first two (Ascalonian and Noble's) are not L80, they provide the following 3 attributes:
Ascalonian (L60): Power (main) / Toughness / Vitality
Noble (L70): Precision (main) / Power / Condition Damage
Nightmare: Condition Damage (main) / Precision / Toughness
Sorrow's Furnace: Condition Damage (main) / Power/ Vitality
Flame Legion: Power (main) / Precision / Crit Damage
WvW
This is for level 60 exotic gear only - couldn't find the level 80 vendor sorry. For those wondering, badges of honours are rewards dropped by opposing players, mobs and from keep sieges. They may often be concealed in loot bags.
Head = 260 Badges of Honour
Shoulder = 229 Badges of Honour
Chest = 312 Badges of Honour
Glove = 188 Badges of Honour
Leg = 292 Badges of Honour
Feet = 208 Badges of Honour
Total (6-Piece (Full) Set) = 1489 Badges of Honour
How hard is it to get badges of honour?
From a typical 1hr hectic WvW play the average player will get 10-20 badges depending on luck and remembering to loot corpses too!
Being optimistic, at 20 badges/hour that means:
1489/20 = 74.45
= 75 hours
That's 75 hours for a level 60 exotic gear set (not 80 remember).
Crafting
When I initially made this thread I stated at this time we had no evidence to say what exact role crafting plays in making exotics. Nirgal though kindly pointed me in the direction of a few hidden pages in GW2DB.
I'll link one inscription and one insignia.
Valkyrie Ancient Inscription -
http://www.gw2db.com...ed:created-from
Valkyrie Gossamer Insignia -
http://www.gw2db.com...amer-insignia-s
As you can see the limiting factor seems to be globs of ectoplasm (nostalgia for many GW1 players). The rest of the general recipe for crafting exotic weapons and armour follow the same standard recipe seen earlier in game:
1x Insignia/ Inscription
1x Inner Lining/ Weapon Hilt
1x Outer Lining/ Weapon Blade
Tier 6 materials will be needed but assuming globs of ectoplasm are available at an appropriate rate they appear much more available to the player base.