2nd Profession

I'm going to start a 2nd "production" Profession soon. Ages ago, I took up Skinning and Leatherworking. Then dropped it around 90 skill when I realized at level 20 my created items were always lagging behind my level. Once you can reliably make an item, its benefits are negligible or a downgrade to your current equipment. Armor kits were handy, but I used a number of materials like potions more often. Upon reaching level 25, I switched over to Alchemy / Herbalism. Those have served me well for years. Now I have three other high level characters with Herbalism / Inscription, Herbalism / Mining, and Blacksmithing / Mining.



I am seriously flush with materials. So much that, I m considering dropping Herbalism. Plus, the extra two gem slots could bring another +40 AGI to my character. That's hawt. Alot of Characters are Enchanter/Jewlers or Blacksmith / Engineers. A number of Endgame tanks also have double profs. ( +39 Sta gems and +30 Sta Enchants can add up quickly).

In the Catalcysm expansion, the Re-forging skill allows Blacksmiths to redo the stats on mail and plate gear. That has untold benefits in the future. +40 Agi +20 Spirit Bracers? Not a problem. Just re-forge those babies into +40 AGI +20 Sta or +45 AGI +10Sta +5 Int bracers. Stat molding and crit/hit shifting. That kind of control over gear is just wicked powerful. Where do I sign up??

The Good? I get two gem slots to place in my equipment. One in my Gloves and one for my Bracers. Also, the first 100 points of Blacksmithing goes by ridiculously fast. I'm also sitting on a metric ton of Copper, Tin, Silver, Gold, Fel Iron, Adamantite, Khorium, Cobalt, and Saronite. Lastly, I can afford to burn a couple thousand gold maxxing out my skills.

The Bad? Blacksmithing to 400 is a much longer trek. Mithril is always scarce and Thorium is a downright pain in the ass to find. The sheer bulk of materials could sell for several thousand gold pieces on the Auction House. If I need to two-box materials for mid-level zones, I'll have to bring my son's Paladin along to mine it.



The Ugly? I get some Blacksmith only recipies... which are mostly plate and some low level weapons and mail items. Getting to 450 is meh. Nothing at the top end of the skill is worth upgrading a Hunter. Re-forging is only rumored to be in the expansion and the expansion is still months to a year away. Also, not having Herbalism is going to dink up my Alchemy.


Herbalism is a natural pair to Alchemy. Now, dropping that for Blacksmithing robs me of a self-sustaining Potion/Elixir habit. The Northrend Flask rocks tho. It makes up for alot. Can't say enough nice things about the Eternal flasks in this expansion as well. The amount healed is paltry, use it in combat at your own peril. The amount of mana returned is also horribly small. The 1 minute cooldown outside of combat is just awesome.

I also lose out on a 1500 point emergency heal over time from Max level Herbalism. That may cut back on my effectiveness, being dead. Hopefully, I can put out that much MORE DPS to counteract that handicap. The heal is in addition to any Healthstone and Potion.