Wand and Focus upgrades (suffixes)?

When I try to apply a "Wand Wrapping of Memory" to a blue collector wand from the Crystal Desert, it doesn't stick. Are there any special rules for using Wand Wrappings that I'm apparently running afoul of? The wand is a plain "Holy Rod" with HCT of Divine Favor spells.

I want to add a "Focus Core of Aptitude" to a blue collector "Divine Symbol" as well. It came from the Southern Shiverpeaks, but now I have to wonder if this would fail as well.

I've always thought that prefix-suffix upgrades could be added to any non-green items, so this failure really has me scratching my head... TIA...

You can only add those mods to items from Elona.

At first I thought this might be a matter of trying to apply an Inscription to a non-inscriptable item...but, this beats the hell out of me. Here's a guess though:

Maybe, it's because you are trying to upgrade a non-Nightfall Wand?

Hockster: Ouch. GuildWiki should add this limitation to their upgrade article. Or better yet, ArenaNet should fix this in a future update.

Kuldebar Valiturus: Yes, I can understand that new types of upgrades (like inscriptions and insignias) might be Factions-only, but the suffix upgrade is a mechanism used in all GW chapters. It's too bad that wand wrappings and focus cores were made exceptions to the general rule and limited to Nightfall only. Especially since some kinds of collector wands are unavailable in Nightfall (e.g. a Holy Rod with HCS of Divine Favor spells).

Thanks for the help, people! I appreciate it a lot!

-Pan

These mods can only be found IN Elona, therefore, can only be put on items FROM Elona. You'd think that people would realize this based on how mutually exclusive certain parts of each campaign are(i.e. skills, classes). You know they were introduced in Nightfall, you have never found one in factions or prophecies, so what makes you think you could add them to those items.

Wiki says:
http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Inscription <--kinda vague could be clearer
http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Wand_Wrapping <---Says it all
http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Shield_Handle <---says it all

Gotta look next time.

Wiki does explicitly say that focus cores and inscription can be added to focus items. Bad WIki...
http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Focus_Core

My only real sympathy in this regard is for people who purchased Nightfall first and then bought the other ones and were like "WTF mate?"

Worst case scenario find a NF item with same stats... not that hard to do...
insignias and inscriptions are Nightfall only, not Factions only. The suffix mechanism was used in the previous 2 chapters on all items EXCEPT for shields, wands, and focus items. They are only available in Nightfall because that is where they were added. Just like Sins and Rits are only available in Factions because that is where they were Added.

BTW Tohsedi in Marga Coast outside Nundu Bay can give u that exact wand your looking for, for 5 insect carapaces.
http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Tohsedi
better yet a collector in yahtendi valley can give u one that also has nrg +5 while enchanted....

Soul of the Scythe: Thanks for taking time to try to help! That said...

1. I repeat, "GuildWiki should add this limitation to their upgrade article," which is where most people would look first for quick reference. I'm glad relevant information exists elsewhere in GuildWiki, but it's often of little help if that information is omitted from the main articles.

2. I repeat, "...since some kinds of collector wands are unavailable in Nightfall (e.g. a Holy Rod with HCT of Divine Favor spells)." I've looked over GuildWiki's database on Elona collector items, and according to them no wand exists with that spec. My lead Elona character is at The Desolation; my impression is that no staff or wand thusfar has the HCT mod, but I could be mistaken.

3. My error about insignias and inscriptions being Factions...I meant Nightfall. Mind and spirit willing, but fingers weren't, and all that. But the main point I'm making about consistent use of types of mechanisms in the game is still valid IMO. Exceptions unnecessarily complicate things.

4. Tohsedi's wand does NOT offer "Halves casting time of Divine Favor spells (Chance: 20%)" which is what I want. My Holy Rod from the Crystal Desert is apparently singular in providing this mod, so far as I can see. That makes the inability to apply a Wand Wrapping to it disappointing.

5. I'm not looking for sympathy, only help.

FWIW:

In Kourna, collectors usually give wands with HSR and a damage bonus, foci with RPD -x and a Health bonus.
In Vabbi, collectors usually give wands with HSR and an Energy bonus, foci with HSR and a Health bonus.
In The Desolation, collectors usually give wands with HSR and a damage bonus, foci with RPD -5 (20%) and a Health bonus.
In The Realm of Torment, collectors usually give wands with HSR and a damage bonus, foci with RPD -2 (Enchanted) and a Health bonus (Enchanted); the end game collectors likewise don't offer wands or staves with HCT.

So if HCT is the mod you want, you'd have to look outside of Elona (wands and staves). Cantha does have staves which can receive a Adept staff head for some HCT, but I never got far enough in Cantha to reach the requisite collectors. Rylan Paval in the Crystal Desert has one, but getting Spiney Seeds is a major problem.

Comment:

No one is perfect, not me, not GuildWiki. While we all have a vested interest in helping GuildWiki get better, only the truly generous take time to help me, so I appreciate what help I got here.