Of course, less than an hour into playing the DLC, I just happen to get a Legendary Engram that just happens to turn into my signature attire... Okay Bungie, we'll go with that...

• New Exotic gear starts at Light Level 30 (With higher Defense rating out-the-box), and you don't have to level it all the way before one piece of non-raid pre-DLC gear gets you to 30 (I tested this with my Crucible helmet that's at 27 Light, which is no longer available with Shaxx, but he sells helmets with 33 Light, which means people shouldn't have a hard time getting past 30 now).
  
  -Pro-tip: Buy Leg armor from either Vanguard or Shaxx. It's better than the previous Raid gear, and only costs 75 Marks.
  
  
• I maxed it out fairly quickly, doing the daily bounties and Eris' bounties, along with two "VANGUARD ROC" strikes and the Daily story. Hopefully Xur-upgraded armor levels faster than this, but even if it doesn't, it takes less than two hours to max your gear again either way. Dunno about weapons, though.
  
  
• The stats were slightly lower than my existing chest, so the percentages for buffs are probably not going to change any time soon.
  

I've still been hoping for one of those. I have 473 hours played between two warlocks and have yet to get this piece of gear. Congrats on that and thanks for the info!

Of course, less than an hour into playing the DLC, I just happen to get a Legendary Engram that just happens to turn into my signature attire... Okay Bungie, we'll go with that...

• New Exotic gear starts at Light Level 30 (With higher Defense rating out-the-box), and you don't have to level it all the way before one piece of non-raid pre-DLC gear gets you to 30 (I tested this with my Crucible helmet that's at 27 Light, which is no longer available with Shaxx, but he sells helmets with 33 Light, which means people shouldn't have a hard time getting past 30 now).
  
  -Pro-tip: Buy Leg armor from either Vanguard or Shaxx. It's better than the previous Raid gear, and only costs 75 Marks.
  
  
• I maxed it out fairly quickly, doing the daily bounties and Eris' bounties, along with two "VANGUARD ROC" strikes and the Daily story. Hopefully Xur-upgraded armor levels faster than this, but even if it doesn't, it takes less than two hours to max your gear again either way. Dunno about weapons, though.
  
  
• The stats were slightly lower than my existing chest, so the percentages for buffs are probably not going to change any time soon.
  

Personally, I'm glad for all the things I haven't yet acquired. Now when I get them, they'll be better.

Personally, I'm glad for all the things I haven't yet acquired. Now when I get them, they'll be better.

Indeed. I was jealous at first of SpeedRacer's Gjallarhorn, but after getting one in the nightfall this morning, I think I got the better deal given it's got DLC stats and I don't have to re-level it (until house of wolves anyway).

you said the crucible helmet goes to 33 and i can see your exotic chest goes to 36. is it possible to get to 32 without Crota gear?

Personally, I'm glad for all the things I haven't yet acquired. Now when I get them, they'll be better.

Indeed. I was jealous at first of SpeedRacer's Gjallarhorn, but after getting one in the nightfall this morning, I think I got the better deal given it's got DLC stats and I don't have to re-level it (until house of wolves anyway).

I just got a Hard Light. I'm gonna go hunting for Defender Titans now...

you said the crucible helmet goes to 33 and i can see your exotic chest goes to 36. is it possible to get to 32 without Crota gear?

You need 22 additional light to go from 30 to 32. So no, you need 36 light on all armor slots. Level 31 is an additional 11 light from 30, so you can reach 31 with an exotic and two new non raid armors, or 4 new non raid armors.

you said the crucible helmet goes to 33 and i can see your exotic chest goes to 36. is it possible to get to 32 without Crota gear?

All Legendary gear now has 33 light, so I assume 31 is what you can hit if you only have Vanguard/Crucible gear, as I'm at 30.5 with just 6 extra light, and you can have 12 extra light from Legendaries with the new cap...