Check the Casing Lines Under the Magnifying Glass
Keep the Plasma Cartridge Appraisal Guide Nearby
Keep the magnifying glass and the Plasma Cartridge Appraisal Guide available while you inspect. The guide supplies the calculation rules; the catalog's 150-credit original price is not the appraisal formula. Follow the individual fields instead of pricing from the cartridge's overall appearance.
Record the visible wear category rather than assigning your own remaining-life percentage. Keep notes for wear, structural damage, reinforcement, plasma grade and manufacturer eligibility separately. That makes it easier to revisit a doubtful detail before submitting an estimate.
Inspect and Appraise a Plasma Cartridge in Order

Inspect the glass for cracks or shattering. Record this damage separately from the casing's wear tier so its adjustment is included.Playing this video connects to YouTube.

Inspect the hardware for exposed screws and a reinforcement cage. These features have separate adjustments and can appear alongside the wear tier.Playing this video connects to YouTube.

Identify the plasma colour to select its grade adjustment. Blue is Standard, red or carmine is High-Grade, and other colours are Low-Grade.Playing this video connects to YouTube.
- Match the logo and seal to the manufacturer's branch in the guide. Add its bonus only when the plasma colour and all required casing conditions match.
- Calculate the appraisal from the 100-credit base, including every applicable adjustment, then apply the 30-credit minimum at the end. The result is the appraisal value rather than a guaranteed negotiated selling price.

Submit your calculated estimate to complete the appraisal. The resulting slip shows your estimate, the true value and the fees collected.Playing this video connects to YouTube.
Distinguish Light Wear From Damage and Low-Grade Plasma

Light Wear can be easy to mistake for no wear. In the close-up comparison, the unworn casing has a small straight line near the central reflection, while the Light Wear example lacks that line. Watch the casing-line comparison and use that detail alongside the overall line pattern when making a close call.Playing this video connects to YouTube.
| Visible feature | Appraisal adjustment |
|---|---|
| No wear: straight, parallel casing lines. | Apply no wear deduction. |
| Light Wear: fuzzy casing lines. | Subtract 15 credits for Light Wear. |
| Heavy Wear: missing material, deep scratches, dings or holes in the caps. | Subtract 30 credits for Heavy Wear. |
| Cracked glass, including visible shattering. | Subtract 50 credits for Cracked. |
| Exposed Screws: visible uncovered screws. | Subtract 10 credits for Exposed Screws. |
| Reinforced: a reinforcement cage around the cartridge. | Add 20 credits for Reinforced. |
| Standard plasma: blue colouring. | Apply no plasma-colour adjustment. |
| High-Grade plasma: red or carmine colouring. | Add 50 credits for High-Grade plasma. |
| Low-Grade plasma: other colours, including green or grey. | Subtract 50 credits for Low-Grade plasma. |
Check the Manufacturer Seal Against Its Full Requirements
Read the logo and seal to identify the maker, then test its full rule. The manufacturer name alone does not earn its bonus. The logo and serial help identify the complete record, but neither adds a separate credit modifier.
| Manufacturer | Requirements and bonus |
|---|---|
| Wild’s Rides, marked WLD. | Its plain seal with a multicoloured border and Standard or Low-Grade plasma qualify. Any cartridge condition is allowed. Add 20 credits. |
| ZhongHua Shipbuilding, marked ZHS. | Its seal and Standard plasma qualify only with no wear, cracks or exposed screws. Reinforced still qualifies. Add 40 credits. |
| Republic Naval Requisition, marked RNR. | Its seal and Standard plasma qualify when the cartridge has no cracks. Add 40 credits. |
| Ignition Lab, marked IGN. | Its seal and High-Grade plasma qualify only with no cartridge condition at all, including no reinforcement. Add 80 credits. |
Use a failed manufacturer check to leave that bonus out of your valuation. Avoid treating Heavy Wear, Low-Grade plasma or a missing bonus as proof of a counterfeit. Keep any accusation separate from the condition and grade calculation.
Calculate the Final Value Before Submitting
A Standard-colour RNR cartridge with cracks and reinforcement is worth 100 − 50 + 20 = 70 credits. The crack prevents the RNR bonus from applying. Leave that bonus out even though the colour and seal match.
An Ignition Lab cartridge with High-Grade plasma and no cartridge conditions is worth 100 base + 50 High-Grade + 80 manufacturer bonus = 230 credits. This total is already above the 30-credit minimum. Check the grade and casing together before adding the manufacturer bonus.
Use the Appraisal When Deciding What to Pay
Use the finished appraisal value as a reference when deciding what you are willing to pay. Suppliers can overstate an item's value, and a bad purchase leaves you absorbing the loss. Keep room for a margin when negotiating instead of treating the appraisal as a guaranteed selling price.
Read the general appraisal guide for inspection checks on other goods.
These values describe the demo appraisal rules. The full release is scheduled for October 28, 2026, with an interface overhaul announced for launch. Use the demo inspection view when following these comparisons.