Difference between weapons with or w/o inscriptions?

WhiteAsIce

WhiteAsIce

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2008

R/

Is there a difference between inscribe-able weapons (NF & EN) and pre-inscribed weapons (P & F)? Just want to make sure so I don't use up my upgrades on weapons without more potential.

Axel Zinfandel

Axel Zinfandel

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2007

Northeastern Ohio

LaZy

P/W

Pre-Inscribed weapons are typically junk from a trading aspect, but I don't think they are much different otherwise.

Lawrence Chang

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2007

United States

[SOHE]

W/

Its weird actually. The players make this game based on rarity. The more rare an item is, the more value it has. However, Non Inscr items with 15^50 or +5 energy or any other max modifier items cost a lot less to people then lets say an item counterpart that is inscribable. Seems like they are breaking the trend in favor of flexibility.

_Nihilist_

_Nihilist_

Will Bull's Strike for $!

Join Date: Apr 2006

Isle of the Dead

My only guess is that with constantly shifting skill balances, plus the unknown as to whether someone is going to take a PvE character into PvP or not, people are willing to pay a premium price for weapons that they can customize to the builds that they are using.

Rarity has its place, but in the end, no matter how rare a weapon is, if it's not able to be wielded at it's fullest potential, the price is going to be lower.

Elder III

Elder III

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jan 2007

Ohio

I Will Never Join Your Guild (NTY)

R/

Inscriptable will always be worth more than non inscriptable.... if there are two identical weapons that is.

uzumaki

uzumaki

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

GW

Me/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Elder III
Inscriptable will always be worth more than non inscriptable.... if there are two identical weapons that is.
What? No. Not always. Excuse me.. non inscribable GoTH perf inherant mods getting bids between 200-300e on the high end forum wheareas inscribable versions are selling for 30/40k.. why? Rarity. Mostly value is based on demand or rarity.

imnotyourmother

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2008

in a house

The Knitters Guild

W/R

Non inscribable items are from Prophecies and before any of the other chapters were out.

imnotyourmother

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2008

in a house

The Knitters Guild

W/R

delete please computer froze

Quaker

Quaker

Hell's Protector

Join Date: Aug 2005

Canada

Brothers Disgruntled

Quote:
Originally Posted by WhiteAsIce
Is there a difference between inscribe-able weapons (NF & EN) and pre-inscribed weapons (P & F)? Just want to make sure so I don't use up my upgrades on weapons without more potential.
The difference between them is only in the presence or absence of an "inscription slot". As you may know, many weapons have two customizable "mods" - known as a prefix mod and a postscript mod. (Focus items, shields, & wands only have one mod - not counting inscriptions)
Prescript mods are things like "fiery", "zealous", "sundering", etc., - called "prescript" because the mod comes before the name of the weapon. For example, a Fiery Longbow. Prescript mods can be added/changed by using the appropriate mod - in the example, it would be a fiery bowstring.
(Check out a wiki for more info)
"Postscript" mods come after the name of the weapon and include the word "of". For example - a Longbow of Fortitude. Postscript mods can also be added/changed by using the appropriate mods.

Weapons that are "inscribable" have a second or third mod. These mods can be added/changed by using the appropriate "Inscription". For example - a "Strength and Honor" inscription which gives "Damage +x% while health is above 50%" (Abbreviated as x^50)
Non-inscribable weapons may have what is known as an "inherent mod" which would serve the same function as an inscription. For example, if a weapon says "Damage +15% while health is above 50%", it's the same as having a Strength & Honor inscription.

The main difference is that, if a weapon has a less than max inherent mod - for example 14^50, you can't change it. A weapon with a less than max inscription, however, can be upgraded.
Generally speaking, if you find a weapon with a useful (to you) max inscription, it's just as good as an equivalent inscribable weapon with a the same max inscription. In other words, a weapon with 15^50 is equally good whether it's inherent or an inscription.

DarkFlame

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Feb 2005

Ascalon

E/

"Pre-inscribed" weapons actually come with a few more possible options that can't be found on inscriptions. They are rare though. Functionality-wise, they work the same.

MirkoTeran

MirkoTeran

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2005

Slovenia

Scars Meadows [SMS]

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Elder III
Inscriptable will always be worth more than non inscriptable.... if there are two identical weapons that is.
More like the other way around.