Item Requirement questions...

Hi, I just started Guild Wars 2 days ago... so you can label me as an ultra-noob that doesn't know anything about the market... etc.

I am very confused with the Req. of the item (usually on the weapons). Can anyone explain to me what Req is?

1. What is Req? What does it do to your stats? For example an item says (+4 energy '7 illusion req') what does that mean? What if you don't have 7 illusion points?

2. What does it do to your price? I've gained some items that people gave me (I don't know why.. they just gave it to me because I asked them noob questions such as 'Where is the storage' and questions as such...) and I got some items that I want to price check. So what does Req do to the item price?

Thanks very much in advance. I've been searching for an hour... but no avail.

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Requirement

Requirement affects the stat that it directly follows in the description, and the effect is severely reduced if it's not met. Effects with no listed requirement on items are not affected by attribute points.

Lower requirement items are considered more valuable by players, if they also provide the maximum effect.

FYI concerning selling of items/weapons.

If they are not max then you will not be able to sell them, generally speaking.
Check out wiki for max stats on each weapon.
The most popular Req for weapons is 9 though some can be found with a Req of 8, these are rare and often worth a good deal of gold.

Having more attribute points then the weapon requires does not improve the weapon, however it does increase your damage with skills in that requirement. Having less then the requirement for a weapon generaly drops it by 50%.

So an off-hand with +12 energy and Req 9 Illusion will give you 6 energy if you have less then 9 Illusion attribute points.