It has been confirmed that the pre-cursor weapons don’t have a specific recipe (https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/crafting/Could-a-dev-please-confirm-if-this-is-a-genuine-dev-reply-regarding-exotic-precursors).
Now, we already have the RNG aspect with the Mystic Clovers (in which the failed attempts aren’t entirely useless, since they produce T6 mats anyway which can be used for Gifts of Might / Magic / Gold Income / Future Crafting), so why not have a specific recipe that allows us to create the precursor based on our skill of the weapon in question (so, for example, the Greatsword with Twilight / Sunrise)? Make it so we have a goal we can aim towards, while still making it a challenge.
[Ideas placed in Spoiler Tag to save room]
1. Make use of the Weapon Master achievements.
http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Weapon_Master
These weapons are Legendary, and so should only be wield-able by those who have ‘mastered’ it’s use. Reaching Max Rank in this will award you Gift of [Weapon] Mastery.
So, for example you’re aiming for Twilight. Reaching Max Rank in Greatsword Master will award you the Gift of Greatsword Mastery.
Alternatively, reaching Max Rank sends you a letter in which a Legendary [Weapon] Master has heard of you ect ect and wishes to face against you. In this fight, you only have access to that weapon and your Heal skill. After beating him, then you get the Gift of [Weapon] Mastery.
2. Make use of Achievements in General
http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Achievement
Why not have reaching Tier 3 of the creature slayer Achievements award Gift of The Slayer, to show you can combat any foe?
Or completing every dungeon awards Gift of The Dungeoneer (work with me here)?
Maybe completing a certain amount of events (i.e. Emergency Response) awards Gift of the Savior?
Why not have 4 different Gifts from achievements that combine to form Gift of The Pinnacle (these names are exactly why I’m not paid the big bucks)?
3. ‘To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom’
Why not have a fight with your Doppelganger (ala GW1 Ascension) that awards a Gift of Self Mastery?
The Doppelganger has the exact same skills, weapons, traits equipped as you, bit is a bit higher stat wise (he works out more) in order to pose as a challenge.
4. Crafting the Base
Why not have a plain old, non-statted ‘weapon’ (aka item) that makes use of crafting? I’m personally a big fan of Recipe discovery, so why not have a recipe that makes a ‘Blank Slate’ weapon?
For example, for Twilight, it requires an Eventide Inscription (which is Discovered), 1 Orichalcum Greatsword Blade, 1 Orichalcum Greatsword Hilt and 1 Copper Plated Dowel*, in turn, this creates a “Dull Dusky Greatsword”.
*Copper, in traditional magick circles, is a good conductor of energy associated with magick and the arcane. There is reason in my madness.
Once you got all the parts, you then chuck them all into the Mystic Forge to create an Account-Bound Precursor weapon.
Alternatively, there’s a Step 5, in which you have to imbibe it with Dragon Blood (aka stick the business end into it a few times)/ bathe it in a font of power hidden in the world (maybe make it a treasure hunt!) to ‘power it up’ to create the pre-cursor weapon.
So there you have it. Just a few things floating around in my head. Feel free to critique, but if you are, please give a good reason why
Time is a river.
The door is ajar.