Weaponsmith Archive

Hey all you newer WS. This might or might not be useful to you as I like to ramble. Below are what I've learned in the past months as being a WS and it would be useful for you.

* Master WS 10pts or 12pts have no different in terms of quality damage to the item you are crafting. So don't be discourage in this area if you can't afford the money for skill tapes. The only advantage for having the extra points is to use it when you hand craft enhanced items and the experimentation didn't go too well OR to use it in other mod such as condition, ham, or ranges.

* Before you craft, list out all the resources you have in a spreadsheet and add 3 extra columns. One to calculate 50% Con / 50% OQ, the other to calculate 66% CON / 33% OQ, and the last to calculate 50% SR and 50% HR. Add more columns if you need more. Use this grid to assist you in calculating the best set of resources you have when you craft. The different between a good WS and a best WS is how well and how often they use this method. If you have the right set of resources when crafting, all WS will have the exact same result in the weapon damage

* Look at other WS and get to know their product. If you understand what weapons are being sold out there, then you will know the market niche for it. For example, there isn't many WS willing to put Advance Scope in all their weapons. This is a market niche! Before, there was a reason not to put it as the HAM cost for it doesn't validate the improvement of it. However, with BUFF being a primary thing for all fighters, adding the Advance Scope in all your ranged weapons will give you that market niche. It improves the rate of attack. Most experiences fighters these days look at the "Ideal Range" modification. The higher you get yours, the better. Even if your damage is off by 2-5 points, but if your range mod is much higher, you got the advantage.

* Before I had started WS, there wasn't many WS focusing on sliced weapons. The only person who focus on it was Gnosis. With that, I had purchase tons of weapon from Siymon, Beer, Maya, Ciiirybeccaskyr, Edhina, Druidia, Kari, MBaco, and a few other master WS and slice everysingle one of them. People prefer to buy sliced weapons over unsliced ones. There NEVER enough of sliced weapons. If you focus in this arena, there is no different between a good WS vs a best WS. Slicing result varies and even though your base damage is lower, you might end up with a better slicing dice, thus making your weapon more valuable

* Add stocks to all ranged weapons. The stock are similar with scope in the case they add HAM. However they also have another disadvantage. They also add speed. If your plan is to sell sliced weapons, adding stock will be your key. That extra 30-40 damage it gives will be offset by a speed slice. So always use Advance Stock

* Keep an eye on www.swgcraft.com. Focus on the resource you need and always get plenty of it. You could always sell them off at higher CPU later on. Don't worry about going bankrupt buying resources. I've done that a few dozen times. You could always make up the lost later on.

* Location is important, but word of mouth is more important! Do a lot of custom orders. Give extra attention to custom orders. For example, when you do a custom order, give away powerups or follow up with that person to see if they are okay with using the weapon a few days later. They will ALWAYS refer people to you.

* Loot weapons: Never focus on making a new looted weapon when it first come out. The price on it is too crazy and not worth it. There always be hype on them and other WS trying to get it first, so the seller will hike up the price. If you have a solid product, you wouldn't have to worry about loot weapons. Wait a few weeks, then start selling those. I've done that with Sonic Geo Blaster and Scythe. In the beginning the schem on that baby was as high as 15 millions. But, now it is around 1.5 millions. So timing is the key!!

* Find dedicated Miners: Go out and seek people who have spare lots to be your dedicated miners. You could buy resources as low as 1.5cpu to 2cpu. They like to keep the relationship steady rather, it is a longer and safer relationship for both of you.

* Align yourself with other crafters. It is better to draw people to a location where you have multiple vendors, rather than one. Make a one stop shop. Mini-Mall type environment always work out great. Their client base will be useful to you and vice versa.

I hope that will help you guys out. For the time being while I still have my profession, if you want me to help you make SCHEM for any of the component, bring me the resources and I'll make it for you. I could use the extra points to bring up some of the secondary stat for you.

Other WS are welcome to chime in and provide input.

DK

retired WS

Updated 08/12/2004 - 1:56PM --> Forgot to add, it is all about how well you market the item, not how well you make the item.