Star Wars Galaxies site feature explains new Weaponsmith core tech

The official site for Star Wars Galaxies has up a guide to the brand new Weaponsmith 'core crafting' system, coming soon in Game Update 5. Smiths can now essentially mix and match level, power, and look to any weapon – customers can custom-order a weapon to fit their power and personality. This is accomplished by crafting weapon cores, subcomponents that set the level of the weapon to be crafted. Cores range in level from 18 – 90, and the level of the weapon determines the item's stats. Each core has a level range of even levels. Basic cores create weapons level 18-40, standard cores are level 42-72, and advanced cores are 74-90.

Choosing what the weapon looks like is as easy as selecting an appearance from the wide array of skins available in the game. The only 'catch' is that certain weapons are restricted by class. The skin for the Indimidator blaster pistol, for example, is only usable by Officers. All weapons created by the 'smith require that the owner 'bio-link' (bind on equip, essentially) the item. There are a number of additional elements to the new system as well, allowing subcomponents that add elemental damage, stat boosts, range increases, and damage increases. The guide even details breaking down old weapons for use in the new system – your favorite old gun isn't obsolete, essentially. It's a really interesting new addition to the game's crafting mechanic, and well worth exploring.