Decent low end/ low cost gear?

[NegaStoat]

For the Stein of moggok - make an Agnostic DE Enchanter. Run it to Freeport. Do the Janam & Rebby note passing quest set 18 times. Your enchanter will be a bit into level 3. Confirm that you did the quest enough by being able to buy / sell to the merchants. Finish out to level 4 in freeport beating up the usual criminal bats / skeletons / beetles, etc.

At level 4, return to Neriak and pick up Gate, Invis, Illusions: Half Elf + Human, and your level 4 nuke + pet spells. Follow the Stein of Moggok quest as listed on the Wiki, with the following notes: Kiola Nut - buy with half elf illusion in OOT, gate home. Honey Jum - collect honey combs in Kithcor woods during the day, use half elf illusion with Kizzie Mintop. Koalindl Fish - explode fish in the pool in Qeynos. Be extra careful, use Hide (con enemies to check for indifferent/safety) to med up between tries on the edge. Erude Tonic - Use illusion Human and get it as per the quest.

Return to Freeport, use illusion Human to speak to the Barkeep, and enjoy not needing Alliance because you did the Janam & Rebby note passing for faction. Get the compendium, run to Oggok, give it to Clurg after hailing him and confirming he gives you the quest dialogue. Zero (0) faction work is needed for this, and Alliance is not needed.

Enjoy. Don't bother trying to sell them in EC - I probably ruined the market for them with posting this a second time. Just grab one for your main.

[Sniker]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. It's amazing how much of the game comes back after 10 years away, but there is even more to re-learn.