Professions in the World of Warcraft – An Introduction
Article by Michael Christensen
Professions in the World of Warcraft – An Introduction – Hobbies – Games
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One of the single most daunting questions of in the World of Warcraft is what Profession should I choose. Almost every player at one time or another has dabbled in these. From Herbalism to First Aid any character can surely find their niche. I will attempt to give a bit of perspective to you about the basics of what a profession is and what they can do for you.
Random-Noob: “I am a rogue, what profession should I choose?
My apologies, dear reader is this or had been you. The truth is this type of question is one that is asked repeatedly and all too often to the dismay of your fellow WoW inhabitants. The question of what professions to pursue is really a matter of personal choice rather than any perceived necessity. If you want to become a Warrior herbalist, than go for it. But hey if you still think you’d like to make an informed choice, let me tell you a bit on how they work.
How do Professions work?
Generally there are two types of professions in World of Warcraft, gathering skills and crafting professions. With gathering skills you will collect raw materials, typically to accompany your profession. Your crafting skills take those raw materials and combine them to make new items, potions, armor and weapons. Items created with the blacksmith skill require materials earned through someone’s hard work as miner. This could be you as well or you could just as easily purchase them from another player. These skill/profession pairs are potential money makers for you as well as the many benefits to be reaped from them.
How do players acquire new recipes?
Profession recipes are just like any recipe; combine the right ingredients to make your new item. You can get most of these from the same NPCs that teach the professions themselves. They are also found from World of Warcraft vendors and on slain enemies.
How are Professions in World of Warcraft different from those in other MMORPGs?
Blizzard has taken a new approach to crafting skills. Everything you create is actually useful and not just a way to gain levels in your profession. It isn’t just a secondary aspect of the game separate and alone within the game. Often a bit of adventuring is needed to obtain the necessary ingredients. And there can be a bit of danger in obtaining them. Another nice feature of the professions in WoW is that they’ve eliminated the failure rate. Every time you correctly follow the recipe, you will create an item. All the recipes are very specific about what you’ll need and what you’ll create. No guessing or costly experimenting needed.
Primary Professions:
Herbalism: Herbalist collect plants found throughout the world, with more powerful herbs requiring a higher skill level to find. Each type of herb has specific uses and places where it is found. For instance, grave moss must be sought in cemeteries, whereas Wintersbite grows in snowy areas.Alchemy: Alchemists use herbs gathered with the Herbalism skill to make potions that can aid all classes. There are buffing potions as well as mana or healing potions. Alchemists are great money makers that sell their wares to other character classes. Alchemists are a benefit to their friends and guildmates and are well- loved in WoW.Mining: Mining is used to extract ores, stones, and gems from mineral nodes found throughout the world. Generally, more of these nodes can be found in the dangerous underground than on the surface. In addition to gathering the raw materials, it’s up to the miners to smelt the ores taken from the ground into metal bars. These are the raw materials that artisans such as Blacksmiths and Engineers will transform into deadly weapons and wondrous objects.Blacksmithing: Blacksmiths take bars of metal from miners and work them into finely crafted arms and armor. There are many unique weapons and other armaments that cannot be found on any of the vendors or monsters in the game, but can only be created by blacksmiths.Engineering: Engineering is used to assemble metal and stones into parts needed to make explosives, guns, scopes, bullets, mechanical dragons, aquatic helmets, and more. More than any other Profession, engineering products requires several steps to be completed.Skinning: Tanners gather leather and hides by skinning animals. Leather and hides are used for leatherworking. Leather is also used for some blacksmithing, engineering, and tailoring recipes.Leatherworking: This skill allows players to work various leathers and pelts into leather armors as well as patches integral to the creation of higher-level, metallic armors and enhanced weapons.Tailoring: Tailors cut and weave various pieces of cloth into armor, bags, shirts, and other cloth items.
Enchanting: Enchanters use their magical formulae to grant both temporary and permanent augmentation to weapons, armor, and other equipment. Inscription:
Scribes are best at enhancing spells and enchantments. They can help Enchanters sell their items as tangible items in the Marketplace or other saleable items like Scroll of Strength.Jewelcrafting: Jewelcrafters learn the art of creating beautiful jewelry and trinkets from metals and rare gems.
Secondary Professions:
First Aid: Healers are able to use commonly found thing to aid their friends in need and after a few battle boo boos who couldn’t use a bandage or two.Fishing: Armed with their best fishing rods, fishermen explore the world of Azeroth looking for new and interesting places to cast their lines. In addition to the varied fish population, all manner of aquatic treasure awaits the fisherman with the skill and patience to reel it in.Cooking: From Beer-basted Boar Ribs to Giant Clam Scorcho, there is no recipe too obscure or odd to avoid notice by the chefs of Azeroth. Food is used in the game to heal players out of combat so that they can return to the fighting as quickly as possible.
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Or for a more detailed guide to leveling in World of Warcraft, check our the great tools at: Zygor Alliance & Horde World of Warcraft Leveling & Dailies Guides
About the Author
Michael is an avid games and lover of the MMORPG genre of games. He is the Site manager for GamerzPaths.com, your source for game tips, strategies, quest guides and walkthroughs.
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whereby the original author’s information and copyright must be included.
Michael Christensen
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