| Ever since I was a young Mage, advancing in my | | | | Enchanters have been given a great boost with the |
| early levels in Stormwind, I was taught the value of | | | | addition of Vellums crafted by Scribes with |
| crafting. To this day my professions have been an | | | | Inscription. Vellums can be freely sold and traded |
| integral way of life in Azeroth and have helped me | | | | allowing Enchanters to transfer their Enchants, giving |
| greatly advance my levels and made me a ton of | | | | them the freedom to fully ply their trade. |
| gold to boot. | | | | Engineering has always been a creative, if not |
| With the coming expansion of Wrath of the Lich | | | | expensive profession. With the expansion, Engineers |
| King, this hasn't changed, except there are now | | | | now have the ability to 'Tinker'. Tinkering works in |
| hundreds of new recipes and even new perks and | | | | much the same way as enchants, but only works on |
| special abilities now associated with the professions. | | | | the Engineers own gear. Any piece of gear can hold |
| Just to recap, the number of professions that you | | | | either an Enchant or a Tinker, but not both. |
| can learn hasn't changed: you can only learn two | | | | With Herbalism comes the new ability of 'Lifeblood'. |
| Primary professions (Herbalism, Inscription, Mining, | | | | This is a healing ability, absorbed from the ground and |
| Blacksmithing, Alchemy, Enchanting, Engineering, | | | | can be used every few minutes. This makes |
| Jewelcrafting, Leatherworking, Skinning and Tailoring) | | | | herbalism great for the magical classes that have a |
| at any one time and any or all of the Secondary | | | | relatively low armor value and need to heal quickly. |
| professions (Fishing, Cooking and First Aid). | | | | Jewelcrafters gain the ability of 'Gem Perfection' |
| The big new profession that everyone is trying out is | | | | which allows them the chance to cut Northrend gems |
| Inscription. I've written at length on Inscription in my | | | | into perfect gems, giving them additional stats to |
| Journal, so I will only say that it's a great money | | | | whatever effect the gems might have. |
| earner - if you know how to use it. The Glyphs, | | | | The cold air of Northrend has also placed |
| Scrolls, Vellums, Cards and Tomes made from | | | | Leatherworkers in great demand, especially those |
| Inscription are in great demand in the Auction House, | | | | who have learnt to craft 'Fur Linings'. These only |
| although I dare say things will settle down once the | | | | work on the bracers of the leather working in much |
| market stabilizes. | | | | the same way as enchants, but only one effect can |
| Alchemy has always been favored by the Mage class | | | | be present at a time. |
| and is invaluable for crafting potions and elixirs. | | | | Miners have always been a hardy bunch, and all that |
| Northrend's new, high-end herbs and recipes making | | | | pick wielding has earned them the ability of |
| Alchemists popular fellows to have in your Guide of | | | | 'Toughness' which increases their maximum health. |
| Raid group. Alchemy has now been tweaked with | | | | The higher their skill level the greater their toughness. |
| the addition of the passive skill of 'Mixology'. This | | | | Skinning has never been for the squeamish, but the |
| makes any potion made by the Alchemist more | | | | great anatomical knowledge that this profession |
| effective and longer lasting - at least to the | | | | affords adds to the critical strike rating. This can be a |
| Alchemist. A great way to boost your stats. | | | | great boost to your stats |
| Blacksmiths have always been able to craft | | | | Finally, Tailors have gained the ability of cloth |
| spectacular gear, but now they can create extra | | | | scavenging, increasing their ability to loot cloth from |
| gem sockets. New recipes and metals found in | | | | humanoids. |
| Northrend allows the Blacksmith to reach the level of | | | | Check out my Journal and Blog for more hints and |
| a Grandmaster and to create truly epic gear. | | | | tips on what's new in WOTLK. |