[neighbortaru]

early on, I made a little list for myself of what to get when. It might be a little outdated, but should still work.

BODY

Level 7: Leather Vest - Def: 7
Level 10: Scale Mail - Def: 11
Level 17: Lizard Jerkin - Def: 15
Level 18: Garrison Tunica - Def: 15 DEX: 1 CHR: 1
Level 19: Priest's Robe - Def: 14 MND: 1 Vs. Dark: 2
Level 21: Beetle Harness - Def: 17
Level 27: Steam Scale Mail - Def: 23 Vs. Fire: 3 Vs. Water: 3 Vs. Wind: 3
Level 30: Centurion's Scale Mail - Def: 23 VIT: 1
Level 33: Useful RSE Bodies:
Galka - Def: 18 MP: 32 INT: 1 CHR: 1
Elvaan - Def: 18 HP: 24 MP: 4 DEX: 1 INT: 1
TaruTaru - Def: 18 HP: 36 STR: 1 VIT: 2 MND: 1
Level 37: Iron Scale Mail - Def: 28
Level 38: Mage's Robe - Def: 25 MP: 3 INT: 1
Level 40: Combat Caster's Cloak - Def: 32 STR: 2 INT: 2 MND: -2
Level 40: Royal Squire's Robe - Def: 26 MP: 10
Level 45: Brigandine Armor - Def: 32 HP: 10 DEX: 2 VIT: 2

HANDS

Level 7: Leather Gloves - Def: 2
Level 10: Royal Footman's Gloves - Def: 3 Attack: 3
Level 10: Legionnaire's Mittens - Def: 3 Attack: 3
Level 11: Zealot's Mitts - Def: 3 MP: 5 INT: -2 MND: 3
Level 14: Battle Gloves - Def: 4 Evasion: 3 Accuracy: 3
Level 20: Garrison Gloves - Def: 4 VIT: 1 INT: 1
Level 27: Useful RSE Hands:
Hume - Def: 6 HP: 12 MP: 4 STR: 3 DEX: 3 VIT: -1 AGI: -1
Galka - Def: 6 MP: 32 INT: 2
Elvaan - Def: 6 MP: 24 DEX: 2 INT: 1
Mithra - Def: 6 MP: 16 VIT: 4 MND: 2
TaruTaru - Def: 6 HP: 12 STR: 3
Level 27: Devotee's Mitts - Def: 5 MP: 8 INT: -4 MND: 5
Level 36: New Moon Armlets - Def: 8 MP: 8
Level 40: Combat Caster's Mitts - Def: 8 Attack: 5
Level 45: Engineer's Gloves - Def: 10 VIT: 1 INT: 1

LEGS

Level 7: Leather Trousers - Def: 5
Level 10: Scale Cuisses - Def: 7
Level 15: Windurstian Slops - Def: 4 MP: 4
Level 20: Mage's Slacks - Def: 11 INT: 1
Level 31: Useful RSE legs:
Hume - Def: 12 MP: 32 STR: -1 MND: 3 CHR: 1
Galka - Def: 12 MP: 20 AGI: 2 INT: 1 CHR: 2
Elvaan - Def: 12 HP: 12 MP: 12 DEX: 2 AGI: 2
Mithra - Def: 12 MP: 32 VIT: 1 MND: 1
TaruTaru - Def: 12 HP: 21 STR: 1 VIT: 2 MND: 2
Level 48: Magic Cuisses - Def: 26 INT: 3 MND: 3

FEET

Level 7: Leather Highboots - Def: 2
Level 10: Royal Footman's Boots - Def: 3 Vs. Fire: 3 Vs. Ice: 3
Level 10: Scale Greaves - Def: 3
Level 13: Light Soleas - Def: 4 Evasion: 3
Level 15: Bastokan Leggings - Def: 3 HP: 2 MP: 2 Vs. Earth: 3 Vs. Wind: 3
Level 18: Garrison Boots - Def: 4 INT: 1 MND: 1
Level 20: Mage's Sandals - Def: 5 MP: 3 AGI: 1
Level 29: Useful RSE feet:
Hume - Def: 5 HP: 4 MP: 12 DEX: -1 AGI: 3 INT: 3 MND: -1
Galka - Def: 5 MP: 12 AGI: 3 INT: 2
Elvaan - Def: 5 MP: 20 AGI: 3 INT: 2
TaruTaru - Def: 5 HP: 20 STR: 2

HEAD

Level 1: Bronze Cap - Def: 2
Level 6: Traveler's Hat - Def: 3 MND: 1
Level 10: Brass Hairpin - HP: -4 MP: 10
Level 10: Legionnaire's Cap - Def: 5 INT: 1
Level 12: Sage's Circlet - Def: 6 INT: 1
Level 19: Garrison Sallet - Def: 5 MND: 1 CHR: 1
Level 20: Silver Hairpin - HP: -6 MP: 15
Level 24: Emperor Hairpin - HP: -15 DEX: 3 AGI: 3 Evasion: 10
Level 40: Electrum Hairpin - HP: -10 MP: 25

NECK

Level 7: Justice Badge - Def: 1 MND: 3 (swap)
Level 20: Black Silk Neckerchief - Def: 2 INT: 1 Vs. Dark: 3 (swap)
Level 21: Spike Necklace - STR: 3 DEX: 3 MND: -6 (melee)
Level 26: Holy Phial - Def: 3 MP: 9 MND: 3
Level 38: Spirit Torque - MP: 10 Evasion: 5
Level 48: Promise Badge - Def: 3 HP: 10 MND: 5

WAIST

Level 1: Blood Stone - HP: 5
Level 7: Leather Belt - Def 1
Level 8: Heko Obi +1 -Def: 2 Spell Interruption Rate: -8%
Level 14: Friar's Rope - Def: 2 MP: 5 MND: 1 Vs. Dark: 2 Vs. Light: 2 (swap)
Level 28: Shaman's Belt - Def: 2 MP: 5 INT: 1 (swap)
Level 30: Mercenary Captain's Belt - Def: 3 DEX: 1 VIT: 1 AGI: 1 INT: 1 MND: 1 CHR: 1
Level 32: Hojutsu Belt - Def: 2 MP: 10
Level 39: Oracle's Belt - Def: 3 MP: 7 MND: 1
Level 40: Druid's Rope - Def: 3 INT: 1 MND: 1 CHR: 1 Spell Interruption Rate: -10%

EARRINGS

Level 10: Onyx/Energy Earring - MP: 2 Vs. Dark: 2
Level 30: Wizard's Earring - Latent Effect: Elemental Magic Skill: 5
Level 30: Magician's Earring - Latent Effect: MP: 30
Level 30: Morion Earring - MP: 4 INT: 1
Level 31: Black Earring - MP: 4 Vs. Dark: 4
Level 40: Enhancing Earring - HP: 5 MP: 5
Level 47: Moldavite Earring - Magic Attack Bonus: 5

RINGS

Level 1: Nation rings can be useful
Level 1: Ascetic's Ring - MND: 1
Level 1: Hermit's Ring - INT: 1
Level 10: Eremite's Ring - INT: 2
Level 10: Saintly Ring - MND: 2
Level 14: Onyx Ring - MP: 2 Vs. Dark: 3
Level 30: Archer's Ring - Accuracy: 2 Ranged Accuracy: 2
Level 36: Black Ring - MP: 4 Vs. Dark: 5
Level 36: Solace Ring - MND: 3 Vs. Water: 6
Level 36: Wisdom Ring - INT: 3 Vs. Ice: 6
Level 40: Electrum Ring - HP: -20 MP: 20

Weapons, shields and other stuff, get what you can afford for your level. Meleeing is not your primary focus.