By that question i mean is it better ( this become more relevent toward the end of of the game ) to invest your ( in game ) hard earned cash into the picy schematic to craft your own weapons and armor or into the already made ( but atrociously expensive ) top tier weapons and armors sold in shop ? 66.131.185.131 (talk) 12:38, December 12, 2014 (UTC) Sorry i got disconnected befor i sign up but only became aware of it after DragonInquisitor (talk) 12:42, December 12, 2014 (UTC)
For the majority of the game I gave my companions the ready made armor, then before the finale I worked on making some tier four bits for the ones I planned to take into battle with me. Tier 4 materials with the best schematics make awesome armor, and weapons, but occasionally you can get better bits from the shops. I would say it is really important if you're playing on nightmare or hard, not so much if you're on casual or normal. 
13:34, December 12, 2014 (UTC)
I'm playing on Nightmare, so it's necessary to craft. The bought armors are better in many cases, but crafted armor is something you can specify to a certain purpose. Like my "Spirit Defender" armor for Blackwall that had 20% spirit resistance and 8% heal bonus. But then I found the Grey Warden armor and he wears that now (found item). But crafting is good when you first get a new character. Also, buying the arms and legs of armor can be used to craft into other pieces of armor.
As for weapons, the found weapons are usually the best, but some you can modify in crafting to have better blades or grips. For swords, I find that the found items are better, but rare. So crafting is good for modifying that.
But I think the shield is where crafting has really shined for me. I found a Grey Warden shield schematic, and I used it to create an incredible shield for Blackwall. His guard maxes out when he uses it, and it has massive defense. It's on par with one of the rare found shields that Cass uses.
Bottem line is, crafting is better than the normal bought items, but not the high-end items. But, even the high-end items can be modified through crafting. So... do both? Believe it! (talk) 15:12, December 12, 2014 (UTC)
Crafting is better because controlling the materials you can optimize stats, effects, defenses and others. No matter what you focus in you can make it better with crafting. But given that farming T3 schematics can be tiresome than it depends on your commitment to the perfection of your equipment. Wanna enjoy the game? Just use drops and equips from stores. Want to make it perfect? Craft. Raoniluna (talk) 16:39, December 12, 2014 (UTC)
Both seeing as the best armour scematics have to be bought in the Hissing Wastes. Unless you play a Dwarf warrior, then the legion of the dead armour can be found in one of the dwarven vaults in the Hissing Wastes --92.23.177.28 (talk) 20:21, December 26, 2014 (UTC)
Also... FADE-TOUCHED crafting mats!!! You can make insane stuff with them. Guard on hit and Hidden Blades on hit just as a couple of examples. A rouge with both blades and armor crafted with 5 hit Hidden Blades gives 30% chance... and if you're an Assassin, there is also the skill itself. How did the Iron Bull put it? Ah! MAYHAM! --PSBlasius (talk) 20:53, December 26, 2014 (UTC)