Should I be investing much in equips before Empress?

Just a note that if you are capable of doing daily Azwan Hard mode runs during the Time bonus period, that nets you over 250 Emperor's coins equivalents. Craft yourself an Imperial weapon if you're that poor. FTR other modes will net you less Emperor's coins equivalents, but not extremely less to the point that you can't craft weapons. Similarly for the other equipment. That said, the set effects are pretty lacklustre...

Hadriel