Are there any tricks for masterwork?

Is this that "40% chance of masterwork" stuff? I had it work a few times, but not often (though Essence of Perfection has 100% chance, but I think there's only one in the game).

I'm not sure what determines whether you'll be successful, but in my experience saving and reloading doesn't work.

I usually just went for the fade-touched stuff instead. I found that more fun.

The masterwork success chance is rolled as soon as you loot the masterwork component, NOT when you do the actual crafting.

For example, when you loot a 20% chance of masterwork component, that 20% chance is rolled right away and stored with the component. Therefore, saving before a crafting attempt and reloading after a masterwork failure will not help you.

What you can do is this: save before you craft. Craft an easy, cheap item with one of your masterwork components. If you do not get a masterwork, the masterwork component failed its roll when you looted it and will never give you a masterwork result. Save again. You have now removed a useless masterwork component from your inventory. If you do get a masterwork, the masterwork item succeeded its roll when you looted it and will always give you a masterwork item. Reload, and craft the item you want using this component.

This just means that all three failed the roll.