A: Yes. If you forge equipment with better stats, you should use this as the base equipment as it is stronger. Then use the previous Equipment as a fusion material. The Equipment experience will be inherited, but you need to consume additional crystals to upgrade. For example; you have just forged a 100 rated magic wand, and you already have a level 3 (0/3) magic wand at 80 rating. You should use the 100 rated as the new base, and then fuse the level 3 equipment on top of it. You will be able to upgrade to the 100 rated magic wand up to level 3 again, by consuming the crystals, and the new magic wand will be level 3 (1/3) and 100 rating.