Guild Wars 2

I am getting somewhat frustrated, because it seems that hardened leather is either expensive to buy, or else it is getting harder to find them in drops.

I finally have a character whose crafting level is high enough to craft 400+ skill items, but am stuck, due to not finding enough hardened leather.

Am I missing something? Help!

With the Specialization Collections, I have have noticed that one of the ‘items’ required to complete the sets is the requirement to complete one of the maps in Heart of Maguuma as the ‘basic’ class, i.e., as a Guardian, and not as a Dragonhunter.

Does this mean that if a person converts their basic class to one of the newer classes, that person will not be able to acquire this component?

Would I have to start a new toon and keep it ‘pure’ all the way through the game, then complete the map, to receive the [Basic Cache]?

I have played Rangers before, and I know how to tame pets, and also where they should be on almost all the maps.

The problem is that I started a Ranger, but cannot find any juvenile pets in Queensdale (except for the eagle).

I started another Ranger (thinking it might have been a glitch in first build), but problem persisted.

I logged off for night (turned computer off). Logged in next night, only to be faced with same issue.

I am flummoxed. I have never had this problem before (been playing 3+ years now).

Any ideas? Suggestions?