-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   v.   Power Playing Strategies                      :PWPLS:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Random Item Strategies
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This game uses Random Item lists to determine not only what treasures you
    find in containers, but also in stores. If you don't like the item you got,
    what can you do?

    In Containers - Items in containers (such as Plasteel Cylinders) is
                    decided on randomly when you first enter the area. (Load
                    screen area) If you want to get a different item, you will
                    have to load to a save from before entering that area.

    In Shops - Save it before talking to the shopkeeper. Check what items they
               have. If they don't have what you are after, or you just
               want to see it again, reload and try again. Random items are
               decided when you TALK to them, not when you check their shop.

    Rewards - Save before getting the reward. If you get something that you
              don't want (for instance, on the Lightsaber drops), reload
              and try it again.

  Workbenches and Creating Items
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Perhaps the single best way to get items and improve the items you find,
    is by creating the upgradeables yourself. This is wholly dependent on
    skills, and the game uses every skill for this except Persuade. This gives
    you a good reason to have skills for the Exile, but you don't need it
    (although I'd still take Repair, as noted above). With Bao-Dur/T3 giving
    you the tech skills, Atton for Stealth and Kreia for Treat Injury you
    have all the skills covered. Every time you come across a workbench, get in
    the habit of checking out what items you can upgrade at that time, then
    go through the list of createable items to see what's good.

    A very good time to hit the workbench is right after creating your
    Lightsaber. In addition to the 3 crystals that can be outfitted on it, you
    can add Emitters, Lenses and Power Cells as well. So, get your Lightsaber,
    hit a workbench and make those 3 to place in it. It makes a huge
    difference.

  Use the Shields!
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    You will get a lot of Energy Shields (and their upgraded versions, such as
    Arkanian Energy Shield) in this game. Use them. Not only on your character,
    but have your companions use them as well, as they won't do that on their
    own. Typcially you want to match the Shield to the job, if taking on a
    group of blaster wielders, or Jedi, energy shields work well. If you see
    monsters or vibroblade wielders, Mandalorian Melee shields are the order.

    Bao-Dur will make infinite shields for you, so long as you don't have too
    many in your inventory. He stops doing this once he asks about your
    Lightsaber.

  Post-Dialog-Buffing: (from David Pidcock)
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    When you have a cut scene or dialog that you know is about to end in
    violence, if you're fast enough you can press  before the combat
    engine triggers. If you are in inventory and not in combat, then this means
    that you aren't bound by the turn-based system and can use any items you
    like (but not force powers). Stim up, and have everyone activate their
    shields.

  Breaking Down Shields at the Workbench
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    It seems that items which have a limited set of charges can be broken down
    to the same number of components, whether they're fully charged or not. So,
    you can have your cake and eat it too. Use that shield 4 out of 5 times, 
    break it down and use the components for another shield ! As long as 
    there's at least 1 use left, you can get the full number of components.
    (from David P.)

    At a skill of 20 Repair, your ability to break down items becomes 100%
    efficient, so you can use this idea to simply break down a Shield, then
    build it again to regain your charges. Not entirely necessary, and you
    can't do it for the better shields, but with this you can use Shields more
    freely.

  Energy Resistance ALL THE TIME
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Force Powers such as Energy Resistance and Force Barrier provide a damage
    reduction to a damage type, such as energy attacks. Better still, these
    powers last a very long time, can be used in armor, and aren't that
    expensive to use. You will have recovered your Force Power spent long
    before the effect wears off. So, simply keep turning it on whenever you see
    a battle coming. Better to be safe than dead.

  Force Power: Energy Resistance + Mandalorian Melee Shield
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    You can't use two different types of shields at the same time, so you can
    either be protected from energy attacks or physical attacks. However, you
    can stack force powers and shields. So, take the Force Power of Energy
    Resistance and use that, then use the Mandalorian Melee Shield and you
    are protected from just about every form of attack out there.

    This works the other way as well, using an Energy Shield + Force Barrier.
    You can also stack the same type as well, such as an Energy Shield and
    Energy Resistance.

  Extra Items: Sell Vs. Breakdown
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    There are two ways to deal with clutter in this game, sell them or break
    them down. Unless you see something you want to buy, you will want to
    break these items down. Breaking down items depends on the Repair skill of
    the main character, so if you have no skill in it, all your breakdowns will
    give you 1 component. With a high repair, you can sometimes get hundreds,
    or even thousands of components for breaking down an item.

      Note: Be careful when using the workbench, it doesn't prompt you if you
            are sure you want to break something down, and does it right away.
            It would not be fun to lose a great item because you accidentally
            select the wrong one.

    However, I would only break down items when I know that there is something
    good and needed that I can make and that I need the components. This way
    you can save your items and decide whether to sell or break them down
    later, depending on what you need.

  Demolitions as a Door/Container Opener (from Eric Stroeh)
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Just a tip for those who choose Jedi Guardian for their main class [and who 
    carry it on to Jedi Watchman/Sith Marauder]... If you're not going to 
    invest in the feat for Security, and don't want to keep switching to 
    another character for their security skills, invest in some points in
    Demolitions. Don't break down equipment that gives bonuses to that skill
    either, if you're just going to put one point into the skill. Having gone 
    through the game as both a Sith Assassin and a Jedi Watchman, I've found
    very little use for medpacs, so break them down and use their components to 
    make mines. Just make Minor Frag Mines as they only require a three for
    Demolitions. Plant the mines on the lock for locked containers. If you do
    this, you don't have to switch to a character with a decent Security skill,
    and most importantly, *you don't get broken items* the way you would if you
    bashed the container.

      Note: Don't use "Flash" mines, these only stun, and can't open locked
            doors/containers.