Swordsman Archive

This is run down of crafting a new loot item - the Scythe Blade. A 2 handed swordsman weapon, the construction requires various loot items from the Geonosian Research Facility, each of which can change the stat outcome of a finished scythe. In this guide I'll quickly go over how to obtain the various required schematics, as well as their 'ingredients' (including the power cube loot that can be used to enhance Scythes) and how to make the most of the schematics using factories.

Remember, I'm not a crafter, and this is simply how I interpret the scythe crafting process. It seemed to work for me anyway, managed to build 5 scythes

Obtaining the Scythe Schematic

Getting the schematic for the scythe is a multi-mission quest from an NPC in Mos Entha. Located opposite the med centre down a long covered alleyway, a guy called Hedon will give you 3 missions and reward you with a Treasure Map.

The missions include killing a thug, killing a bounty hunter and then delivering a sacred scroll to a spider-monk-type-thing. The Treasure Map itself will lead you to the Krayt Graveyard where you will unearth a chest containing the scythe schematic, but also a ferocious Canyon Krayt Dragon guardian! Best bet is to take some friends along with you on the Treasure Hunt, and let them lure the Krayt away as you loot the chest and get out of there on a high speed swoop.

(By the way, Im interested in aquiring more scythe schematics, anyone who completes these sets of missions on FarStarand is looking to get rid of their schematic get in touch )

The Scythe Schematic Itself

So what do you need to make one of these slice-n-dicers? The schematic can be read by a Master Weaponsmith and will then be stored in his/her datapad ready for use. The schematic is a limited use schematic and can be used only twice before vanishing - even opening up the schematic in a crafting tool to check ingredients will 'waste' a use (so use your Datapad to browse).

The Scythe requires:

So using Steel and Aluminium with high shock resistance is A Good Idea(tm). I believe this maximises the experimentation points the weaponsmith can 'spend' during crafting (correct me if I'm wrong here )

As you can see the blade requires 2 Geonosian Sword Cores, loot from the new Research Facility. These Sword Cores drop from Crazed Geonosians (which can be found at the entrance to the dungeon, and also throughout its deeper levels).

The Sword Cores themselves vary in stats, from standard 25/25 -0.4 (min/max -speed) to yellow named versions with better damage and speed modifiers. They usually drop in batches with identical serials, which is excellent news to make the most out of your Scythe Blade Schematic.

Factory Running Scythes

Since the scythe schematic is limited to 2 uses it makes sense to turn as many uses as possible into Manufacturing Schematics and run a batch of scythes in a factory. Of course you dont have to do this, and can just get the weaponsmith of your choice to hand-craft your scythe with 2 Sword Cores. However you'll only get 2 scythes maximum this way out of 1 schematic.

To do a factory run you need as big a batch as possible of identical serial sword cores (as they are the limiting factor). For example, to create a run of 3 identical scythes in a factory, you will require a batch of 8 identical sword cores. 2 of these cores will produce the manufacturing schematic, and the remaining 6 identical cores will be placed into the factory ingredient hopper to produce the 3 blades.

Unfortunately, these looted sword cores dont tend to drop in convenient batches of 8, but more often in batches of 3-7. This means typically only a factory run of 2 scythes is viable (using a set of 6 cores). If you have an identical set of 4 cores, there's really no point in running a factory as you'll only be left with 1 scythe in the end (again 2 must go into making the Manufacture Schematic). Often some cores are 'left over' from a batch, and are waste (or conveniently stashed for some other weapon project).

Thats the basics of obtaining a scythe with minimum effort (well, minimum effort would be to simply hand craft them and make 2 from 1 schematic, but I prefer to try and maximise what I can get out of my rewards ). Looted cores can vary in quality and the better ones produce better scythes (with better damage and delay), however there is a way to produce even better Sword Cores, and even better scythes!

Geonosian Sword Core Schematic

The sword core schematic is another loot drop which can be obtained from the Crazed Geonosians. This allows a Master Weaponsmith to craft their own sword cores, which have the potential to better any simply looted cores.

The Sword Core Requires:

In the same way as the scythe it is best to find a source of Neutronium with excellent Unit Toughness to produce the best results. Also note that this schematic is limited to 5 uses, but each use MUST be a factory run use as the scythe blade schematic requires sword cores with identical serials.

As you can see from the ingredient list, there are 2 items there which may be unfamiliar. Both the Power Cube and Solidifying Paste are new loot drops which (you guessed it) drop off Crazed Geonosians in the new Facility. The Solidifying Pastes are optional components (which look funnily enough like half used toothpaste tubes) which can increase the damage of the crafted Sword Core. The power cubes are required components (that look like Droid Batteries) which come in a variety of colours, or types.

Power Cubes

White cubes are the most common drop, and there is nothing very special about them in any way. They add no bonuses or special enhancements to the finished sword core (and scythe) but if you have no other, they will have to do. Red power cubes will lower the HAM costs assigned to the crafted Sword Core (And scythe). Green power cubes increase integrity (condition), and Yellow power cubes increase minimum and maximum damage.

As allready noted, in order to use crafted sword cores in the scythe schematic, a factory run of at least 2 must be made. This is because the scythe blade requires 2 Identical sword cores. This means that at a bare minimum, if you want to use power cubes to enhance your scythe, you're going to need 3 identical serial power cubes. 1 for the manufacturing schematic, and 2 more to put into the factory ingredient hopper. Similiarly, if you're using solidifying agent to enhance your sword core you'll need 3 of those to make 2 sword cores, too.

Luckily, power cubes and solidifying agents drop in larger batches than just 3, and so greater numbers of sword cores can be run off in one go. For example, if you loot a batch of 7 white power cubes, you can turn these into a set of 6 identical sword cores (1 cube for schematic, 6 more to go into factory). This will allow you to have 3 pairs of sword cores to make 3 scythes.

Once you have crafted your sword cores they can replace the looted sword cores in the scythe crafting process as described above, producing a better scythe with different results depending on which cubes you used (lower HAM if you used red, more damage with yellow etc).

Hope that helps some people out, I know it can be quite confusing with all these schematics, cores, cubes and toothpastes. The same principles (such as factory running) can also by applied ot the new Geonosian DXR6-b Rifle by the way, which requires 2 power cubes straight into the schematic (so get a batch of 8 to run 3 rifles out of 1 schematic use, etc).

Your friendly Weaponsmith's Assistant,
Whit

PS I'm not a crafter. I might be speaking cobblers. Dont hurt me.

_Whit Anexus________
http://www.aartanridge.org.uk
FarStar - European Server
Unlocked Fri. 18th June 2004

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Gra'y Foxx - Colonel in the Rebel Alliance
Teräs Käsi Master [ Master Rifleman
Auzzie Packrats Loot vendor: -3836, 6159 Basinia, Naboo

Good info

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