But see also the crafting system in FFXIV, and try to explain it with less effort and complication.
GW2: So ye, for "this equipment" you have to get these 4 items which require which you get X by killing mobs or salvaging equipment. But this other Mat, require 3 of this item, which require X items to create it, oh. But you also need another one of X item, which you can acquire from X NPC but you need X currency for it which you obtain through events and another NPC at X map which you need laurels. Oh, and the recipe, almost forgot it, you need to find these 4 items to combine them and discover the recipe, But dont forget that for this you have to salvage Runes, which you aren doing X. Oh, I almost forgot, you have to do fractals to earn X thing to then by X thing. Oh, some mats are a pain to grind so if you have X of this item, you can drop them together with these other 4 items to create a small chunk of those items. Then you craft each piece, and combine them. But there are also these nodes which some of them are daily timed, and you need those items to refine them into "this", so you have to be there everyday to dont mess up, dont forget your daily login, you gonna need some of those laurels aswell. Then you can combine them and craft (X insignia) which you mix with the other equipments and grats! theres 1 Ascended!. (Pretty sure I even messed up somewhere due to how many stuff there are)
FFXIV: See, each equipment require X items, which you can earn killing X mob at X location and gathering X items and X location, Some of them are timed so you have this wonderful clock which tells you when they are up. There are this tokens which you earn trading items with an NPC and with them you buy the special materials. If you have X profession its better cause you can create the refined item by yourself. Then when you craft you have something called Quality and Progress, Touches increase quality, synthesis the progress. Just get the mats, pop skills until you reach 100% before durability runs out. If you dont reach it, you only need some equipment which you can buy from a merchant.
I have no idea how many things I missed on the GW2 part because there are so many damn things that you have to do for a single ascended. And dont make me start with the legendaries and all the damn gifts.