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SWTOR Crew Skills 101: Basic Crafting Guide


Fyresygn

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Missions are like a deck of 'cards'. When you look at your missions, you get to see some of the 'cards' you've drawn.

 

When you get new missions through slicing (or just buying them), it adds a card to your mission deck.

 

Keep running missions; it'll get 'drawn' sooner or later.

 

ALSO; missions are seperated by levels (different decks in affect). Your unlocked mission 'cards' only show up in the level 'deck' it belongs to.

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  • 2 weeks later...
Missions are like a deck of 'cards'. When you look at your missions, you get to see some of the 'cards' you've drawn.

 

When you get new missions through slicing (or just buying them), it adds a card to your mission deck.

 

Keep running missions; it'll get 'drawn' sooner or later.

 

ALSO; missions are seperated by levels (different decks in affect). Your unlocked mission 'cards' only show up in the level 'deck' it belongs to.

 

Just looked true every page in this topic to get the answer to exactly this question.

 

My blue and purple missions I bought on market just dissapeared after I done it once, to some time later pop up again. I thought that maybe they had some kind of cooldown. But this "carddeck" thing explained everything. Cheers!

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Disclaimer: I put this information together for myself and decided it might be useful for others. I am certain that I didn’t get everything right, so please feel free to post corrections and I’ll happily update accordingly. Thanks!

 

 

Crafting Map: http://www.oldrepublic.net/258-crew-skills-map-force-non-force-classes-usage-dependencies.html

 

 

Overview

Crew Skills/crafting in SWTOR is different from and similar to crafting in other MMOs. You still need to level up your skills, and you still have production vs. gathering professions, but your character won’t be standing at a workbench or a forge in SWTOR. Here is a brief overview of how it works:

  • As you play the game, you gain companions (up to 5) and a starship that becomes your crew’s headquarters. In SWTOR, you send your crewmembers out on missions (to gather materials) or to have them produce goods for you.
  • In this respect, you are more of a manager who juggles multiple crewmembers’ work. This also allows you to keep doing other things, like questing or killing, while your crewmembers are out producing/gathering goods.
  • Beginning gathering missions typically take 3 or 6 minutes, while crafting a green-quality item usually takes about 1 minute. Higher quality items take more time to produce.
  • As you gain more favor/affection with individual crewmembers (based on the decisions you make in game or gifts you give them), they work faster for you, decreasing the time it takes them to gather or craft something.
  • Crewmembers have different bonuses to Crew Skills, so that one crewmember might have a +15 to Underworld Trading, or another might have +1 to Crit on a Slicing mission. For more information on specific bonuses for each companion, see this thread by ForceWelder: http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=3734

 

 

The Basics

After leaving your starter world around level 10, you will find yourself aboard a starship where you get to select your Advanced Class (hooray!). You will also pick up quests leading you to the Crew Skills trainers. Some things to know:

  • Go and talk to every skill trainer in the area, even if you don’t want to pick up that skill (just hit Cancel when they ask if you want to learn it). Each conversation you have gets you 450XP and an entry about that profession in your Codex. The Codex explains each profession in more detail and can be accessed from your Mission/quest window (triangle at the top of your screen) and the Codex tab at the bottom of that window.
  • You may learn 3 total skills per character. The only restriction is that you can only learn ONE production skill. But beyond that, you could take 3 gathering professions or mix/match them as you see fit (more on production/gathering combos below).
  • Once you have decided on your crew skills, click the diamond icon at the top of the screen and a new window will appear with a crewmember’s picture and three icons for your known professions. At this point, you can begin sending out your companion to gather materials. For example, if you have taken Underworld Trading, you can send your companion out on a mission to trade for rare metals or fabrics.
  • Each mission costs you some credits/$$ to fund and typically takes a few minutes. The longer missions have a better chance of bringing back a higher quality crafting material (i.e. a blue or purple quality item, instead of a green/white).
  • Some gathering skills also allow you to interact with items in the world to get materials. For example, Bioanalysis lets you analyze the corpses of various creatures you kill or plants you find on different planets. Archaeology allows you to scan crystal deposits found on planets and in cities.
  • Crafting an item can result in a critical success, which adds an “Augmentation” slot to the item. Augments are special enhancements gathered from the Slicing skill.

 

 

Reverse Engineering (RE)

This ability, learned with all production Crew Skills, allows you to break down item types you know how to create into their component parts (i.e. Synthweavers can RE some armor types, while Artificers can RE Light Sabers). This gives you back some of the materials you used to craft the item, but more importantly it gives you a chance to learn a recipe for a better-quality version of the item. In this way, you can progress from a green-quality item to a blue and eventually to a purple with enough Reverse Engineering attempts. For example, if you RE a green-level Medpac you might learn its blue-quality equivalent that heals for more and provides a HoT effect as well. Then, if you RE enough blue-quality Medpacs, you might learn the purple-quality version, which is an unlimited and re-useable Medpac item.

 

 

 

Gathering and Mission Skills

 

Archaeology

Through missions, this skill gathers Color Crystals, Power Crystals, and Artifact Fragments, materials used for creating Force-based weapons and armor. Color crystals are materials for Artifice, while Power Crystals and Artifact Fragments are used in both Artifice and Synthweaving. Archaeology also allows you to gather materials out and about in the world by scanning various geodes and crystal formations. These nodes are tracked on your mini-map.

 

 

Bioanalysis

Through missions, this skill gathers Biochemical Samples and Biochemical Compounds that are both used in Biochem. Bioanalysis also allows you to gather materials out and about in the world by scanning the corpses of defeated creatures or from plants on planets and in cities. These nodes (including creature corpses) are tracked on your mini-map.

 

 

Diplomacy

Through missions, this skill gathers Medical Supplies used in Biochem. Diplomacy also has the unique aspect of rewarding Dark Side and/or Light Side points as well, depending on the missions. For example, in the mission “A Cure For What Ails You,” you send your companion to negotiate for the release of an important cure, and you gain both Medical Supplies and Light Side points. In the mission, “Knows Too Much,” you send your companion to convince the Hutts to execute a captured thief to keep him quiet, gaining you some Medical Supplies and some Dark Side points.

 

 

Investigation

Through missions, this skill gathers Researched Compounds used in Armstech for making weapons. Investigation also sometimes produces a “schematic” (or recipe) for other professions, which may be sold at the auction house or traded. Finally, Investigation also uncovers completely new Missions themselves, which can provide rare materials for all professions, item enhancements/modifications, or rare gear. These Missions can be traded/sold like the above schematics.

 

 

Scavenging

Through missions, this skill gathers Scavenged Compounds and Scavenged Metals that are used to craft item enhancements, armor, or weapons. Scavenged Compounds and Metals are materials used in Cybertech, Armstech, and Armortech. Scavenging also allows you to gather materials out and about in the world by collecting scrap metals. These nodes are tracked on your mini-map.

 

 

Slicing

Through missions, this skill typically brings back more credits than it costs and is therefore a direct source of profits (i.e. you send out your companions to slice/crack a safe, or to acquire/steal rare computing equipment). It also produces lockboxes and cases, which can contain gear and items. It also is the only source of gaining Augments, which fit into the Augmentation slot in gear (slots that appear from a critical success when crafting gear). Lastly, Slicing sometimes allows for different paths to be taken in instances (i.e. slicing open a door…think lock-picking).

 

 

Treasure Hunting

Through missions, this skill gathers Gemstones used for creating items in Artifice (Force-based weapons). Similar to Slicing, it also has missions that bring back valuables that can be sold, and is a source of profit (i.e., you spend 100 credits to fund a mission, but get back 150 credits in return).

 

 

Underworld Trading

Through missions, this skill gathers Luxury Fabric and Underworld Metal used to create various gear and enhancements. Luxury Fabric is used in Synthweaving (Light Armor), while Underworld Metal is used in Synthweaving (Medium and Heavy Armor), Armortech, and Cybertech.

 

 

 

Crafting Skills

 

Armortech

This skill creates armor used by the Trooper/Bounty Hunter and Smuggler/Imperial Agent classes. It manufactures Medium and Heavy armor with stats suited to non-Force users (Aim, Cunning, Endurance, and secondary stats). As many beta testers will agree, if you skill up your crafting as your character gains levels, the crafted gear is far better than gear you receive from questing alone (and on-par with gear from instances). Granted, the profession does not produce anything but gear, however you will get a full set of epic/purple-quality gear (BoP) at max level.

 

Armortech relies on materials from:

Scavenging: Scavenged Compounds and Scavenged Metal

Underworld Trading: Underworld Metal

 

 

Armstech

This crew skill primarily creates weapons used by the Trooper/Bounty Hunter and Smuggler/Imperial Agent classes, although it also produces weapons useable by Jedi Knights and Consulars in the form of Vibrobaldes (with Strength stats) and Electrostaves (with Willpower stats). I’m not entirely certain why someone would use a Vibroblade over a Light Saber, but perhaps it is for flavor that is actually functional. It is also likely that these weapons are for companions who have STR as their main stat, but cannot wield a Light Saber, making this skill one that should have wide appeal. Armstech also creates Blaster Barrels that are used to upgrade/enhance weapons.

 

Armstech relies on materials from:

Scavenging: Scavenged Compounds and Scavenged Metals

Investigation: Researched Compounds

 

 

Artifice

This crew skill creates a variety of items, including Light Saber upgrades (Hilts) for both Jedi Knights/Sith Warriors and Jedi Consulars/Sith Inquisitors. Additionally, it also manufactures the Color Crystals used by all weapons that provide bonuses to Endurance and/or Critical Rating and changes the color of your weapon. Artifice also makes Enhancements that give stat bonuses (mainly Endurance and secondary stats) and can be used to upgrade either weapons or armor. Artifice also makes off-hand items for Force Users (Focus), as well as Troopers/BH (Generators and Shields). Finally, this skill also makes Relics that fill the Relic slot on your character screen.

 

Artifice relies on materials from:

Archaeology: Power Crystals, Color Crystals, and Artifact Fragments

Treasure Hunting: Gemstones

 

 

Biochem

This crew skill creates consumables that give stat bonuses or restore health, as well as Implants (equipped items). The consumable item types are: Stims (moderate primary stat bonuses for 60/120 minutes), Adrenals (large secondary stat bonuses for 15 seconds), Medpacs (restores health to you), and Med Units (restores health to you and your companion). Implants are items you can equip in the Implant slot on your character screen and give a combination of both Primary and Secondary stat bonuses.

 

Biochem relies on materials from:

Bioanalysis: Biochemical Samples and Biochemical Compounds

Diplomacy: Medical Supplies

 

 

Cybertech

This crew skill produces a variety of interesting items, including Armoring for all armor types (that give Primary stat bonuses), Mods for weapons/armor upgrades, Cores/Parts/Motors for Droid armor enhancements, and Armor/Weapon Upgrades for your ship. You can also make Transport Beacons that teleport group members, and bombs that do AoE damage along with stun, slow effect, DoT, movement speed reduction (epic versions of these bombs have unlimited uses). Also, this skill makes Earpieces—equipped items in the ear slot on your character screen that gives Primary stat bonuses. Lastly, this skill creates BoP mounts: Custom-Built Hoverbike, Custom-Built Speederbike, and Hotrigged Speederbike (epic mount).

 

Cybertech relies on materials from:

Scavenging: Scavenged Compounds and Scavenged Metals

Underworld Trading: Underworld Metal

 

 

Synthweaving

This crew skill creates armor for all Force users, including light, medium, and heavy types. As many beta testers will agree, if you skill up your crafting as your character gains levels, the crafted gear is far better than gear you receive from questing alone (and on-par with gear from instances). Granted, the profession does not produce anything but gear, however you will get a full set of epic/purple-quality gear (BoP) at max level.

 

Synthweaving relies on materials from:

Archaeology: Power Crystals

Underworld Trading: Underworld Metals and Luxury Fabrics

 

 

Heres a real guide,

step 1 if you have anything other than biochem reroll your trades.

Step 2 level biochem

 

At the moment if you have anything other than biochem your gimping your self.

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  • 4 weeks later...

A few questions tho:

 

-can u retrain the skills? Not irreversable like advanced class?

 

- I've herd that slicing gives u a lot of money, how much exactly?

I was thinking of taking archeology/ artifice/ and slicing as a moneymaking skill, should I take artifice/ archeology/ and treasure hunting instead?

 

 

Thanks in advance

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  • 2 weeks later...
I have stacks and stacks of crafting materials, but when I click on the crafting icon, it gives me all the things I could craft, but it won't actually let me craft anything. I'm lvl 23 and have not managed to get a single crew member to make anything. They can gather easily and they can do underworld trading with no problem, but I can't figure out the actually production part. I've spent over an hour going through pages and pages and pages of websites and searches and can't seem to find this one piece of info.
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  • 3 weeks later...
I have stacks and stacks of crafting materials, but when I click on the crafting icon, it gives me all the things I could craft, but it won't actually let me craft anything. I'm lvl 23 and have not managed to get a single crew member to make anything. They can gather easily and they can do underworld trading with no problem, but I can't figure out the actually production part. I've spent over an hour going through pages and pages and pages of websites and searches and can't seem to find this one piece of info.

 

You click on the thing you want then you click craft in the bottom right corner of the crafting pane. Thanks for the guide. I am 395 Investigation 365 Armstech and 300 Scavenging and my guild has already started placing orders!!

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Is the success of missions linked to the character/companion level?

 

I am lvl 29 and my crew skills are Slicing - 296, Treasure hunting - 260+, Underworld Trading 240+ and I get a lot of failed missions from all 3.

 

Also for Treasure Hunting I'm doing mostly lockbox missions since they are the shortest, is that ok for lvling or should I do gem missions? The usual lockbox I get is white and it rarely gives enough money to pay the mission.

Edited by Solozaur
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My blue and purple missions I bought on market just dissapeared after I done it once, to some time later pop up again. I thought that maybe they had some kind of cooldown. But this "carddeck" thing explained everything. Cheers!

 

No, they're gone: they're single-use. Think about how much you paid for it vs how much it yielded. If that mission was repeatable you would easily pay a million for it. ;) You can buy more missions and learn & run them.

 

-can u retrain the skills? Not irreversable like advanced class?

 

Yes. You can drop them and take new ones at any time, but you go right back to 0 every time. Meaning if you, level Artifice to 400 and drop it then pick it up again you'll be starting all over yet again.

 

I was thinking of taking archeology/ artifice/ and slicing as a moneymaking skill, should I take artifice/ archeology/ and treasure hunting instead?

 

Artifice isn't a huge moneymaker - I should know, as I'm 400 in it. What really sells from it are midlevel crystals for about 5k apiece to people leveling alts.

 

If you want to profiteer and not worry about eventually picking up a craft skill, take slicing and whatever 2 gathering/mission skills your crew is most effective at. See this thread for which combo that is for your class.

 

Is the success of missions linked to the character/companion level?

 

As far as I can tell it's just linked to the mission difficulty and your crew skill level in that area. When a mission is yellow or orange they'll fail more often than green and grey ones. Doesn't matter if you're a level 10 or 50 character. Affection doesn't seem to matter either, as I had Kira fail plenty through the course of leveling my crew skills and she's near max affection.

 

Also for Treasure Hunting I'm doing mostly lockbox missions since they are the shortest, is that ok for lvling or should I do gem missions? The usual lockbox I get is white and it rarely gives enough money to pay the mission.

 

Any mission that's not grey will help you level. The lockboxes aren't a bad way to go since, as you noted, you get partially refunded for the effort.

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