Weaponsmith Archive

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Mo-Ti wrote:

Once I get back into playing SWG, I'm gonna be looking into picking up Weaponsmith. I have a few questions I was wondering if you guys could help me with.

1. What are some of the major differences between weapon crafting and armor crafting?

Armorsmiths have only two or three major items to sell: Composite Armor, Ubese Armor and PSGs. Some may have niche markets in other types of armor, but those are the big three. Weaponsmiths have dozens of weapons that can be sold, so there's more product variety.

Armorsmiths are highly dependent on hides, whereas WS can harvest everything they need out of the ground (no need to rely on scouts/rangers). However, the downside is that WS have to keep track of about 4 dozen different specific named resources, which becomes quite an inventory problem in the long run.

2. How much cash do you think I would need on hand to start up a good weaponsmith business?

If you're looking to jump right into WS, then you'll need several million credits to buy the best resources that have spawned on your server (if you can find any for sale at all). If you're looking to take your time with it, then you'll only need a couple hundred thousand to buy yourself a bunch of mineral, gas and chemical harvestors (preferably BER 10 mediums or BER 13 heavies).

3. Is the grind long/hard?

WS can be ground out in a few hours using Heavy Warhead Mechanisms, which require 180 Metal, 50 radioactives, 80 Skevon Reactive Gas, 40 Thoranium Steel, 10 Polymer and 10 Hydron-3 Inert Gas each. The Skevon, Hydron-3 and Thoranium Steel can be hard to find and expensive to buy.

An economically cheaper method is to grind projectile rifle barrels. This will take longer, but you can get buy with any type of cheap grinding steel (or harvest it yourself).

A third alternative is to simply sell weapons on the bazaar, hand-making everything. This approach will take the longest by far, but you might at least break even money wise. Unfortunately for most of your leveling your only market will be new players, and I'm too certain how big a market that is anymore.

My recommendation is that you do some normal crafting, just so you learn the ins-and-outs of the WS profession, and grind PRBs for the rest (maybe 90% grind, 10% crafting). Though it will take longer, you should spend the time building up your resource collection so that when you finally get Master, you're ready to open shop right away.

4. Will my uber armorsmith resources be of any use to me for weapons?

Yes, your good polysteel copper will likely be good for making guns. Also, any good aluminums, steels and irons you have will likely be good for making all manner of weapons.

5. Is the workload balancing two advanced crafting professions too hectic to enjoy both of them?

My primary toon is MWS, and I have an alt that is MAS. I never tried to run the AS alt as a commercial crafter, because trying to chase down the additional resources, doing all the factory runs, etc. just seemed like too much extra work for me (I'll probably drop AS on my alt eventually). I guess it just depends on how much you enjoy crafting, and how much spare time you have.

6. How muchdo weaponsmith exp tapes usually go for?

On Corbantis, +1 or +2 tapes go for about 500K a point. +3 or higher are going for about 2 million a point.

You do not need the experimentation tapes to be a good weaponsmith. A 10 point smith can max out damage and still have points to spare. You only really need the extra points if you plan on doing a lot of custom work with weapon loots (like Krayt tissues, Acklay powerhammers, etc.).

Unless you have tens of millions of credits already, you should focus on getting the best WS resources you can first. Then, once you have a good resource collection, you can start looking around for WS tapes.

7. Finally, is it worth it? How fun would you guys deem your profession?

I love being a WS. There's a wide degree of variability in terms of different types of weapons and in terms oflooted enhancements that help to add extra spice to being a WS.

Thanks in advance for all your help. Please feel free to give me any other info you might have. Thanks again!! 8)

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Message Edited by EdOWar on 09-14-2004 03:44 PM

If you do decide to embarkon the mission i wish you luck

Message Edited by Belly-Gonna on 09-15-2004 01:36 AM

1. What are some of the major differences between weapon crafting and armor crafting?

No major differences, as has already been stated. You just have more choices really!

2. How much cash do you think I would need on hand to start up a good weaponsmith business?

I spent 27 million credits to set me up with the best of the best for melee weapons. A good MWS on my server sold all of his resources (not including Irolunn Reactive Gas) for around 35 million credits.

3. Is the grind long/hard?

Took me 4 days of grinding barrels to hit master. This was playing 3-4 hours at a time.

4. Will my uber armorsmith resources be of any use to me for weapons?

As has been said above, yes some will be useful! Polysteel copper is one of the major ones that is compatible between the two professions.

5. Is the workload balancing two advanced crafting professions too hectic to enjoy both of them?

If you like crafting, then no. As a MWS focusing on Melee weapons, I do factory runs about once a month. I stock 200 of each of the common melee weapons at a time. Obviously, some sell out faster than others, so I may have to do additional runs on demand. The same proncipal goes for ranged weapons.

My shop partner is a MWS making only Composite (stun and all variants) and Wookiee Armour. She does less factory runs than me, but it takes her longer to be in a position to do a run of armour.

6. How muchdo weaponsmith exp tapes usually go for?

On Chimaera, +1's sell for 500k or there abouts, anything above that is either 1.5 or 2 mil per point depending on the stats of the tape. These prices seem consistent across most galaxies.

I'm only a 10pt MWS, and I hit the damage cap within 8 or 9 points, so there is no need to get those extra points. Damage and speed are linked, so the only thing you will be able to reduce is the HAM (by a couple of points) or increase the Range Mods (again by a couple of points)

7. Finally, is it worth it? How fun would you guys deem your profession?

It's worth it if you want to be a crafter. I've tried to give up the profession on 3 occasions, and on each time, when it came down to it I didn't want to leave! You won't make as much money as an Armoursmith (unless you stock high-end loot-made weapons), but you can form a friendlier partnership with your clients. You will be free to whip up a custom weapon in a few minutes and can customise them with stocks and scopes to make them look that bit better.

If you are in it for profit, i'd stay MAS, but for fun, i'd go MWS.

1. What are some of the major differences between weapon crafting and armor crafting?

There is attention to detail in both professions, but for weaponsmith the interchange of two resources can sometimes give you that small edge in stats that makes a difference. Lots and lots of experimenting and tweaking of components, with the occasional quantum leap of good luck

2. How much cash do you think I would need on hand to start up a good weaponsmith business?

3. Is the grind long/hard?

4. Will my uber armorsmith resources be of any use to me for weapons?

5. Is the workload balancing two advanced crafting professions too hectic to enjoy both of them?

6. How muchdo weaponsmith exp tapes usually go for?

The price levels already mentioned hold true for Tempest as well. In my opinion, they're not worth what they cost - rarely do I ever really need those extra points to make a significant difference...

7. Finally, is it worth it? How fun would you guys deem your profession?