Hey hey, and welcome to the boards.
Ok. The photon drops can be exchanged in the online quest. Galleon's shop. Go here for the guide. Although it seems the guide is down at the moment for some reason. Basically, the more p drops you offer to trade (they must be your inventory when you talk to Hopkins in the alley way), the better the item you get.
Enemy body parts can be converted in an offline quest. I think it is "Dr. Osto's Research". I will edit this when I find out what quest it is. If you see a FOnewman next to the Principal's warp (actually he is called Dr.Montague), talk to him with the body part in your inventory. Then just cancel the quest so you can do it again.
You combine Amplifies with certain barriers you can find. You can trade p drops for them in the online quest. Certain amplifiers need certain barriers. Like an amplifier of resta needs an assist barrier to be combined, an amplifier of red will need a red barrier.
Because most people use hand-me downs for new low level chars. Most people find rares on their main char that they can not use. So they create a class that can use them and give them the weapons. They also usually give high level mags so that they can use high level equipment. It makes it easier and quicker to level up new characters.
EDIT: HAHAHA. You beat me to it. When I was writing mine you must have replied. Oh well.

EDIT: Changed name of quest needed to convert weapons. Some say you have to complete them in a certain order but I don't think you do. If you see him next to the warp, he wears orange and a stupid hat like all FOnewman, just talk to him with a body part in your inventory.
Ok. The photon drops can be exchanged in the online quest. Galleon's shop. Go here for the guide. Although it seems the guide is down at the moment for some reason. Basically, the more p drops you offer to trade (they must be your inventory when you talk to Hopkins in the alley way), the better the item you get.
Enemy body parts can be converted in an offline quest. I think it is "Dr. Osto's Research". I will edit this when I find out what quest it is. If you see a FOnewman next to the Principal's warp (actually he is called Dr.Montague), talk to him with the body part in your inventory. Then just cancel the quest so you can do it again.
You combine Amplifies with certain barriers you can find. You can trade p drops for them in the online quest. Certain amplifiers need certain barriers. Like an amplifier of resta needs an assist barrier to be combined, an amplifier of red will need a red barrier.
Because most people use hand-me downs for new low level chars. Most people find rares on their main char that they can not use. So they create a class that can use them and give them the weapons. They also usually give high level mags so that they can use high level equipment. It makes it easier and quicker to level up new characters.
EDIT: HAHAHA. You beat me to it. When I was writing mine you must have replied. Oh well.

EDIT: Changed name of quest needed to convert weapons. Some say you have to complete them in a certain order but I don't think you do. If you see him next to the warp, he wears orange and a stupid hat like all FOnewman, just talk to him with a body part in your inventory.

