The yield is the same. The difference is based on companion affection and whether or not they crit. Swijr

Eh, not really a fan of this. There has to be $ sinks in the game that simply get rid of money or it's a crafted run economy. This is part of that solution. Banks, Cargo bays, legacy are the other routes. Swijr

Crafted is BIS...just the mods in them aren't crafted. Orange Augmented gear is BIS for end gamers. What are you referring to? Swijr

The way the game is designed, you pretty much need to have a PVE and PVP set of gear. They're not overly effective in the opposite environments (especially PVP to do PVE...not good). Swijr

Nope, all the blue and purple mats for augments are from slicing. The core mats are for that class. Swijr

If your companion is coming back empty handed...you need to up their affection. Swijr

I too have an abundance of ultrachrome (700 or so units?) and I'm constantly looking for something to make with them. I just recently started crafting more tech blades and weapons just to start using my hoard of mats. I hope we get more stuff to craft with them. No one wants end game things I can craft unfortunately Swijr.

*edit - sorry, I was thinking of the teir 5 mission. The below post is spot on. Swijr

Why are you buying mats? Your crew should be out running missions for the mats all the time. I think the real issue here is the the recruit gear hurts the "casual" crafter. Unfortunately, this game requires more luck or dedication to sit at the top. You HAVE to run your crew raw getting resources. You HAVE to get missions to get purple mats and you certainly HAVE to waste a ton of credits and mats to RE items to have the most popular ones. HOWEVER, the payoff is well worth it. I speak from experience. Swijr

I'm almost there.... 400 in armstech, scavenging, investigation, biochem, bioanalysis, diplomacy, slicing Leveling up: Cybertech, Underworld trading (x 2) and another slicer It's too easy to level up and get there. Swijr

Those go from 10 to 12k on Canderous Ordo, but yes, should have 4 companions out on lock boxes and tech parts. Easy money. Swijr

What kills me is how ALL the crying crafters are REALLY missing the boat. At lvl 44 I was looking to twink my Shadow last night and there was NOTHING to be had in terms of mods, ehancements, armoring or ear pieces. There were great DPS and Tank implants on the GTN...oh wait, I made those, but that was it. Stop whining about 50 and make your money from 20 to 48 like EVERY other crafter is doing. Swijr

To add more detail to this, pre 1.2, we could crit any weapon for an augment slot. We even had orange options at lvl 50 that needed biometric crystals. Post 1.2, as you noted, there are 2 options and once you get one, it's good until end game. (This I'm not a fan of as a crafter.) However, it's PROBABLY cheaper to just buy a new crafted weapon every few levels compared to getting the mods for an orange weapon. Orange is great for endgame....pricey to get and maintain early on. Swijr

In SWG, our PVP group ran around in all black composite armor with red helms. It was our group, other players knew it was our group and that added to the fun. That's what I want dyes for. Before they even see our names....they'll see our colors. Swijr

Find a niche market. There are many of them. Follow the forums and the players on your server. I'm a techblade crafter myself and even with the introduction of modable blades, I still sell QUITE a few of them and make plenty of money to fund my toons. Swijr

If there's a % listed on the item when you look at it, then yes. Swijr

Consumables are only really purchased at cap which you're right, sucks. Instead of reducing mat costs, they should just increase product output. So instead of making 1 at a time, it's 2 and if you crit, it's 4. This is ONLY good for sub 50 though, at 50 the non biochems are going through stims and adrenals like it's no body's business. Swijr

I sell a TON of purple implants for great money. Augmented go for even more. Swijr

No. You can however trade in the empty shell of BM gear so you can put those mods in companion gear or other items... Swijr

To quote a song... Ultrachrome! huh-yeah What is it good for? Absolutely nothing Uh-huh it's only decent for crafted companion weapons and orange lvl 50 weapons. Even then..you can just make the the lvl 20 orange stuff and save on mats.. Swijr

Slicing, bioanalysis and underworld trading Biggest money maker out there.... Swijr

But they don't have augment slots...crafters do. I now have Veracity type blades for EVERY avail techblade from 20 to 48 and augmented orange lvl 20 and 50 blades. Canderous Ordo as always Swijr

Agreed. This feature is in every MMO I've played recently. SWG required the item to be crafted that color and LOTRO has dyes and dye wash. This feature is needed as another time sink IMO. Swijr

Why is this even an issue? You have a "General Chat" right? Let me help you out. 1MLFG - Want to join a premade for lvl 50 pvp. I'm a lvl 50 "insert class here". Now, just copy and paste that, add your class info and put that in general chat on your fleet when you're ready to fight. Fixed. /Thread Swijr

Due to the lack of quality mods/enhancements/armor is why I still sell so many techblades. Cheaper and easier to just get something with the stats already in it. Swijr