I am a returning player. I played to max level and did some end game stuff when the game first released. And I figured Id give it another try now.

I stared a new character, and as I understand it there is a pretty significant EXP boost going on . I am currently level 63 and in Chapter 3. And I have a problem with getting level appropriate gear from the quests I complete. So I had been doing Heroics to acquire gear. But when I hit level 61 I started getting the Locked Supply Crates instead.

https://swtor.jedipedia.net/en/itm/locked-supply-crate-smuggled-goods

The game has no explanation as to what they are other than in the item description. So I took to Google and figured out that I need to complete Chapter 9 to turn these in. And the equipment is mod-able but has no mods (if I understood that correctly).

I am not entirely sure that all of that is accurate, but it seems to be from my experience. So what do I do in mean time for level appropriate gear? I havent really done any flashpoints yet. Is that really my only option?

The purple locked crates come from certain FPs, but mostly from Completing heroic missions on planets. - There is a termainl in fleet to pick up heroics, or you can visit the planet itself.

The boxes serve little purpose other than for some cosmetic gear and leveling up alliance specialists which can unlock varying buffs and equipment to help complete star Fortress FP missions - although these can be easily solo-ed if you have a good knowledge of your class and spec and some level-appropriate gear.

You'll have to start KOTET to use the boxes - which (story-wise) comes after the Revan storyline which starts on Rishi - So if you're on chapter 3 ATM, you've got a fair way to go, story-wise. But I would recommend finishing your class story first, then Ilum, Makeb, Oricon, Rishi etc, since these follow on. - There is a guide somewhere about the exact chronology.

As for gear, some shells can be purchased on the GTN, as well as varying vendors. The mods, armourings, enhancements, hilts and barrels can be also bought for credits on fleet. There are vendors there that can supply parts for the shells so long as you meet the level requirement. I can't remember if they also sell relics, earpieces and implants, but these can often be found on the GTN at reasonable prices, since they drop frequently as loot, and some crafters supply them to sell as well.

Once you reach level 70, top-rated gear progression goes crazy complicated. - OTOH, low-ish rating stuff even easier to come by since it'll drop frequently from many mobs around the galaxy. - Which is more than adequate to start some of the latter parts of the story.

There is an option to turn on gear comparison somewhere. - I can't remember where away form the game, but basically you can easily compare an inventory item or reward to your current equipment level, and make an upgrade if it is an improvement. - But stay away from defence gear unless your role is a tank. - For more specialist advice on optimal stats, there are several detailed guides available - some here in the forums, and some elsewhere online.

hope that covers the basics without confusing it too much.

GL. Have fun.

I am not entirely sure that all of that is accurate, but it seems to be from my experience. So what do I do in mean time for level appropriate gear? I havent really done any flashpoints yet. Is that really my only option?

Chapter numbering in SWTOR is a bit fraught.

• The class story takes place in Chapters 1 to 3 plus the Prologue (starter world and some of the capital world) and a tiny Epilogue where you are sent to pick up the first Ilum mission.
  
• The Ilum missions take place between Chapter 3 and Chapter 4.
  
• Chapter 4 is the "Makeb" story introduced with Rise of the Hutt Cartel.
  
• The next story step is Oricon for the finale of the Dread Masters story line that runs in parallel starting with events on the Belsavis part of Chapter 3. Like the Ilum story, this isn't part of a chapter.
  
• Chapter 5 starts with the "Prelude to Revan" segment, which is also called "Forged Alliances". That is followed (still in Chapter 5) by the story arc "Shadow of Revan" on Rishi, another bit of Rishi, and Yavin IV.
  
• After Shadow of Revan, you go to Ziost for a short story (but still longer than Jedi Under Siege) called "Rise of the Emperor" which might or might not be part of Chapter 5.
  
• Then comes KotFE, "Knights of the Fallen Empire", which takes place over 16 chapters numbered from I to XVI (note Roman numerals).
  
• After KotFE is KotET, "Knights of the Eternal Throne", which takes place over 9 chapters which, confusingly, are also numbered in Roman numerals, but start from Chapter I again, thus I to IX.
  
• After KotET, there is a series of four short stories that merge together to be the "Traitor Arc". The identity of the traitor is highly spoilerish, so I won't mention it here. These aren't part of any chapter.
  
• After the Traitor Arc, there is the new story on Ossus, Jedi Under Siege which also is not part of a chapter.
  

The locked crates can be unlocked in the Alliance War Room instance on Odessen, which is available once you have finished Chapter IX (9) of KotFE. Be aware, though, that if you start KotFE, you will automatically mark unfinished parts of the class story and Revan stories (including Rise of the Emperor) as finished.

You also only need one character who is past Chapter IX of KotFE in order to be able to open the crates because they are bound to your legacy, not to the character who opened them.

But to get level appropriate gear:

* Buy empty gear shells from the Adaptive Gear Vendor in the Supplies section of the Fleet.

* Buy level appropriate armorings, mods, enhancements and either hilts or barrels from the Modifications vendors also in the Supplies section.

* That gets you up to rating 210 from the level 65 vendor. To go beyond that, you must be at least level 66, which allows you to use blue-220 and purple-228 gear (level 68 for purple-228 modification objects).

* At level 70 you start getting Command Crates which contain end-game gear.

Alternatively, don't fuss it too much. You'll get mission rewards that are appropriate for the "expected" level of the planets you are on, and you can pick up extra "post-65" gear from killed enemies.

You'll have to start KOTET to use the boxes

KOTFE* and finish chapter 9

However for gear you don't really need gear till you hit 70. Then you could purchase a full set of 230 from the fleet. But then again you'll need Command tokens which you won't get till your 70. My advice would be to just play the game and not stress about gear quite yet. You'll be doing enough of that soon lol

I would go with the advice from the two previous posters: don't sweat the gearing right now.

Chapter 3 of the Class story takes place on planets designed for levels 41 through 50. At level 63, you're already far above that. At 63 you should be getting at least some 190 Rating gear (level 61 required to use) from loot drops, which will be more than adequate, no need to buy "shells" & mod them up. Just check the loot drops you get from stuff, and if it's better than what you have, use it.

Bah, necroing an old thread, and almost answered as if it was a thread from today :-)

Still, the information is potentially useful for some players, so...

If you really want to gear up, run Black Talon/Esseles on story mode a few times. Each run will net you a blue item of level-appropriate gear from each Champion/boss (except for the Imperial Lieutenant during the boarding of Esseles, he drops nothing), so each run should give you 3 (maybe 4, not 100% sure) pieces, some of which may be duplicates.