Comlink: January 12th 2007

Some folks have been following along with my questions and comments about the Trader expertise. A little of this information may not be new to you. Most of this information about the Trader Expertise has not been discussed, though. So, in today's Comlink, I will give you information on the expertise charts for the four trader professions (Domestics, Munitions, Structures, and Engineers).

What is the Expertise System?

As with previous Expertise comlinks, I'll explain the goals of the Expertise system and how it works. The overall goal of the system is to offer new and exciting choices for players to make about the development of their characters. These choices offer players the chance to further customize their characters, creating more diversity between characters of the same profession, and giving players an additional goal while leveling.

At level 10, a player earns five Expertise points and then earns 1 point every two levels up to a maximum of forty-five points at level 90. Once a player reaches level 10, they can activate the Expertise interface (it will appear on the Main Menu) and begin allocating their points over the two trees available to their profession.

Allocating Expertise points will do one of two things for a character. They will either modify an existing ability, such as increasing damage done, or they will unlock new abilities or a series of abilities.

Players can allocate the points they have earned and even experiment with different choices through the interface without permanently committing to the changes. Once they're satisfied with their allocation, they can finalize their decision by clicking the "Accept" button. Once accepted, these choices can only be undone for a fee through a re-spec (re-specialization option) from the appropriate NPC.

Notes:

• The Expertise tree graphics below are concept pieces used to construct the trees, and not representative of actual in-game art.

• Specific numbers mentioned in the tree summaries are apt to change as we iterate and test the data over the weeks leading up to the scheduled update.

Trader Expertise: Specialization

Click image to zoom in

Notes:

• The socket bonus applies to sub-professions that can make weapons, armor, and clothing. If a sub-profession cannot make one of those three (such as a Droid Engineer), then the expertise point grants your character a schematic or group of schematics.

• The item upgrade allows for more sockets in an attachment. If your sub-profession cannot make armor, weapons, or clothing, then a schematic or group of schematics are granted.

• The layout works as follows:

• Profession #1 for Domestics would be Chef
  
  • Thus Profession #1 Dexterity would be called “Chef Dexterity” and its bonuses would apply to that sub-profession.
    
• Profession #2 for Domestics would be Tailor
  
• Thus Profession #2 Dexterity would be called “Tailor Dexterity” and its bonuses would apply to that sub-profession.

 

Click image to zoom in

HanseSOE