What do I once once I begin an Elite/Hybrid Profession?
After you have gone from level one to level four in your novice profession, you have an option to go in an elite profession (or hybrid if you meet the multi-profession pre-requisites). The amount of time you spent to get to your level 4 rank is the same amount of time it will take to get you Novice Elite Profession.
Many ask if it is worth the time and effort to become an Elite Profession. I would respond that it is absolutely necessary. A Master Novice Brawler is still weaker than a Novice Swordsman. A Novice Pistoleer is stronger than a Master Novice Marksman. The amount of damage you can deal and take increases dramaticly once you reach an Elite Career.
I wish the same can be said about any of the crafting careers. A Novice Architect is going to build furniture and houses, not harvestors. The reason is due to experimentation points and crafting ability. Without reaching a Master Elite Crafting Profession, you will always make inferior products. Master Tailor can still make clothing, and Master Merchant can still have a cool vendor. Your options are severely limited, even if you have great materials, in Architect, Armorsmith, Chef, and Weaponsmith.
The same logic holds with Master Doctor. A Master Doctor is desired for their ability to temporarily increase you physical attributes. A Master Doctor can raise them all 1700 to 2300 points for about 3 hours. Usually, you are charged between 10 to 20k for this service. On the more inhabited planets, a combat character can do 8 to 20 missions at 4,000 credits a piece. It is usually worth the investment. On outer worlds, the rewards can be easily 6,000 credits and up. The reward is equal to the strength of the encounter. Do not increase the missions too greatly (or reward for those missions) or you will most likely be killed. Once you are killed, your buffs disappear.
It should almost be mentioned that a larger group can take stronger challenges. 50,000 credit missions (and higher) can be found with a large enough group.
Upon reaching this level of ability, your expenses will increase. The best weapons and armor are required, buff or food effects to accomplish your best performance, constant healing, and resources to build items. There are two trains of thought concerning this method.
1) Keep upgrading equipment as you improve your character
2) Save your money until you have the skill to use the best items there are
Both ideas work, but I tend to use both. I use method one during the novice, to Elite stage. Once I have my Elite profession, I use my wealth to make more money and save until I have mastered the profession. There is nothing worse than saving for the best armor, and watch it destroyed in a week because you were killed so often (10% degrade every time you die, 5% if you insure your items at a Clone Center).
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