Upgrading Equipment

[J0sh]

I'm curious if anyone knows the best way to get better equipment in this game. I previously played EQ and I know in that game the best stuff was either dropped by mobs or crafted by players with a very high crafting skill. However you never bought stuff from the stores in that game. So how does it work here? Does the best equipment get dropped by mobs or is it normal to just purchase weapons and armor from the various shops? And if you can craft some pretty good stuff what would be the best crafting skills to work on as a monk? Any help here would be much appreciated.

Sorata
11 monk of Bastok