Player crafted armor sets are generally restricted by armor wearing type (cloth, leater, chain, plate) and geared towards beginning players. Old world class-specific quested armor usually represents a significant upgrade, and will perhaps be best in slot until planar armor. Similarly, planar armor sets from either the Plane of Fear or the Plane of Hate will likely be best in slot until they can be replaced either by quest items from the Plane of Sky or god/dragon loot.

Kunark class armor (available only to some classes) will, again, be a significant upgrade. The progression of Velious armor sets is generally PoG, Thurg, Kael, Skyshrine, PoM. The three main faction cities have quested armor sets for all classes, while Growth and Mischief sets are available only to some classes.

This page also lists all crafted and dropped weapons that occur in sets.

This is an approximate armor progression break-down, but at the right-end (Velious armor) the "progression" is less clear cut. For instance, for some classes/slots Kael armor is superior to Skyshrine armor, and again for certain classes/slot either of those sets are superior to the equivalent Plane of Mischief armor.