» Wed Mar 30, 2011 3:28 am
If the item is a high enough condition, above the little notch in the condition bar, it is currently suffering no penalties whatsoever. This is like at 50% for armour and 80%(?) for weapons. You can still bring the item up to 100%.. but it just helps keep the weapon in good order (i.e. "maintain"). If the bar is below the notch, it is in disrepair and is suffering penalties and a a chance to malfunction, and so you need to "repair" it. The effect is exactly the same, though: raise the condition of the item. It's just letting you know quickly which ones are in disrepair and which items are not (but can still be made sturdier).