Shield specialization suggestion? Serious!
by Elizabeth Wachowski 
Dec 17th 2007 at 1:17PM
Sharkantos, a level 67 paladin from the Netherlands, wrote us with a question about blacksmithing specializations yesterday. "As you all know you can specialize in armorsmithing and weaponsmithing," he wrote. "Isn't it a bit odd that you can make epic chestpieces etc., but no shields? Shieldcrafting would be a 'normal' option, I guess...."
This brings up a subject that has always interested me. How come some professions have much better specialization options than others? There are three types of weaponsmithing with wonderful upgradable weapons, but all armorsmiths get is a semi-crappy breastplate that tries to do too much for too many specs. How come you can't craft a wonderful BOP tanking shield, or for that matter, some decent tank armor sets?
I figure that the best type of specialization is the sort that gives you little bonuses instead of forcing a chocie that will cut you out of half your recipes. That's why I love the alchemy specializations more than tailoring/engineering/leatherworking. But there are two specialization-less professions out there -- enchanting and jewelcrafting. These could easily accomodate "bonus" specializations like alchemy. Here are some ideas:
Enchanting
- Disenchanting spec: Givesa greater chance to get the most valuable materials from disenchanting. Alternatively, it could give you a chance to proc more of whichever shard/essence/dust comes from the disenchanting.
- Thriftiness spec: Gives you a percentage chance to get all the materials back from doing an enchant. Kind of like transmute spec, in that it'll proc lots of arguments in trade channel.
- Potency spec: Gives your enchants a percentage chance to be stronger than usual (for example, Major Healing could give you 90 plus healing to a weapon instead of 81.)
Jewelcrafting
- Prospecting spec: Gives you a greater chance to prospect rare gems, or alternatively, lets you prospect with only 4 ore instead of 5.
- Gemcutting spec: Like transmute spec, this can (rarely) proc to give you multiple amounts of whatever gem you're cutting, or it could give you a chance to cut slightly more powerful gems.
- Jewelry spec: Gives you access to much more powerful necklace and ring patterns. I know, I know, but the necklace and ring patterns kind of suck and there need to be better ones somehow.
What kind of specs would you like to see in your professions?
Filed under: Blacksmithing, Enchanting, Jewelcrafting, Making money
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Alex Ziebart Dec 17th 2007 1:25PM
I don't think things like a chance to proc a more powerful enchant/gem would work out so well, because essentially, people would just be farming their materials over and over until their gear recieves that proc. Thats pretty much what end-game is all about- maximizing your gear. And now it could take hundreds of shards, essences, dusts and primals to maximize *one* piece of gear.
In theory, good idea. In practice, it would be hellish for everyone.
Hotorihanzo Dec 17th 2007 1:26PM
Before they add any new specializations to professions, they should redesign the existing specializations. Alchemist specializations are by far the worst. I was transmute spec for close to 3 months and got less than 12 procs, so I went to elixir spec, and now, i am lucky to get an extra 5 elixirs when i make a stack of 20.
Adam Dec 17th 2007 2:03PM
I actually love love love Potion spec. Being a raid healer I make lots of pots and even though it doesn't proc all the time it procs enough to make it really useful. I usually get about 25-30 pots out of the mats for 20.
Freehugz Dec 17th 2007 11:49PM
lol, how many do you expect to get?!?!
Lenny Dec 17th 2007 1:27PM
I can't see how this could ever be implemented but it would be cool to introduce quest lines that give you patterns that craft items where you need two or more production professions to make something.
For example a caster weapon could require you forge some staff or dagger, then make a cloth handle wrap, and enchant it with the power needed to fuse the pieces together in a harmonious array of death and destruction. It could require all mats that are BoP which means you would need each profession at it's required level to make the part needed for the item. Yes, beat the oozling out of me for suggesting such an endeavor, but I think it would be fun for the non-raid player.
Chris Dec 17th 2007 1:38PM
5 procs out of 20 and you are complaining? That is a 25% return on mats. I would say that is pretty good. I have been elixir spec since it was available and the return rate hovers around 15-18%. It used to be higher but I think the 2.2 patch had an undocumented nerf to proc rates.
I do find it interesting that there are specializations for some crafting and not others but it comes down to money. Alchemy and Tailoring are really the only skills that the procs will not break the bank. Can you imagine a Swordsmith gathering all the mats for an epic sword and then getting two? The AH would go crazy with the prices.
Also, as far as enhancement to enchants, I would venture a guess that some of that will be addressed with Inscription stuff in the next expansion.
Bern Dec 17th 2007 1:44PM
The only professions I have had were also class-specific. For my priest, tailoring worked out great - great bop level 70 stuff that really made it worth having the occupation. For my hunter, dragonscale LW produced some nice items that made it worthwhile. Otherwise, specializations have been useless. My warrior has been both a weaponsmith and a armorsmith, and I still haven't seen a benefit - the bop weapons aren't better than others out there, and the chestpiece is a jack-of-all trades, master of none. Alchemy, as #2 said, doesn't proc nearly enough in any spec., and as you already said, there are no specs in jewelcrafting and enchanting to make your level 375 jc/chant any different from anyone elses.
I love professions, but they could all use a shot in the behind. Tons of recipes in outland, most of which don't matter at 360-375, and little point in profession crafted items from 10-60. Add more specs, add more professions, allow some combination work as #3 suggested - whatever is necessary to make them actually worthwhile.
Green Armadillo Dec 17th 2007 1:44PM
Alchemy subspecs were a very bad idea. In theory, the goal was not to limit access to recipes by spec, but in practice you might as well not bother to learn recipes outside your specialty because you're literally throwing away the chance for free money every time you make something you're not specialized for. It's kind of sad, because in general Blizzard is doing a lot better at making BoP benefits for crafters these days, but the alchemy specialties would need a complete redesign to undo the damage.
Crafting critical successes like the "potency spec" suggestion are even worse. Imagine gathering all the materials to have an epic item made, only to have the recipe's critical chance not proc and end up with a nigh worthless blue version. That's what LOTRO has right now (hint: the failed procs are very very cheap on the AH because people have to get rid of so many of them for every "good" weapon they can actually sell for a profit, so it's possible to get very good crafted gear for remarkably little money). Other games are even harsher - in FF XI your crafting attempt can actually fail, destroying materials that represent a significant portion of your character's net worth. As someone more eloquent than I put it, players should not be punished for making the attempt to improve their characters.
Charlie Taylor Dec 17th 2007 2:06PM
That's not quite how it works. So far as I understand it you can't get a worse item than the one your expecting, only something better. So you wouldn't end up with the situation that you describe and that LOTR has.
Xana Dec 17th 2007 1:58PM
I like professions as the are now. I'd like to see more items that improve the gear you already have that cant be used on other peoples gear (think along the lines of the ring enchants and the BOP gems). This should be available for every profession out there. ie sword smith that sharpens his own epic sword should get a bonus over someone who picks up that same sword and does nothing with it. Id also like to see more stackable buffs, leatherworking buffs not stacking with enchanting buffs kinda bothers me.
hisame Dec 17th 2007 1:59PM
I think one of the developers mentioned (earlier this year, but a few months after TBC came out) that they were going to move away from specialization in crafts.
The problem with specialization and crafts in general is they're not all equally good (sort of like priest racials, but that's a topic for another time).
Scoottie Dec 17th 2007 2:01PM
Only problem with your Disenchanting Spec is that what is more valuable .... a void crystal or a large prismatic shard? To me and my guild we have an over abundance of void crystals and never enough large prismatic shards. So if this spec would make a blue item give me a crystal rather then a shard I would be very unhappy. More of an shard or crystal or dust or essence would be better then value.
Chris Anthony Dec 17th 2007 4:37PM
Perhaps a spec that, instead of giving you the "most valuable" result, allowed you to choose what material you got? (Perhaps not; some of the result-mats are rare. Roll twice and choose, maybe.)
Charlie Taylor Dec 17th 2007 2:03PM
Leatherworking had some great stuff before the expac for the different specialization's, but BC only introduced a three piece Epic BOP for each specialization once you hit 375. While I know the primal set is pretty kickass, especially the chestpiece, it would be nice to see my specialization be more useful in the 300-375 range.
Slayblaze Dec 17th 2007 2:08PM
In addition to the Gnomish or Goblin Engineering specs, there should be Dwarven as well. It could be more mining and gem-related maybe like a crafted pickaxe with a bonus to proccing a gem or something like that. And just to even things out, how about Trollish spec resulting in some voodoo and hex related items (I've always wanted to hex someone into a frog - haven't you?)
Xtazey Dec 18th 2007 2:27AM
How does engineering, the steampunk of WoW fit into trolls?
Melf Dec 17th 2007 2:08PM
I'd just like to see craftable bows, crossbows, shields, fist weapons, etc.
Additionally, upgradeable leatherworking/tailoring along the lines of the blacksmithing stuff would be very cool.
fentar Dec 17th 2007 2:13PM
FORGET "shield specialization." Instead add shield crafting to armorsmithing people; after all a shield is a piece of armor - atleast it was the last time I checked. I mean this recipe I've got for the Jagged Obsidian Shield is cool and all, but really I'm never gonna make one...
The armorsmithing specialization really needs an overhaul. Shields would be an awesome way to beef it up - especially for healing gear of which there is practically nothing for the blacksmith (let alone armorsmithing). As a prot warrior I personally long for a day when I can make a specialized BoP chest similar to engineering goggles.
It's just a shame that Blizz can't take what works for the various professions and share it - a) the ability to craft items for specific specs/builds like goggles, b) tiered upgrades like Blacksmithing, c) set bonuses for 2 pieces like tailoring.
Mad Cow Dec 17th 2007 2:10PM
I'm a JC ... and I'd be all for a "Why the hell is everyone on this server a JC" proc or a "Discovery" proc where I don't have to spend 1000g on a GD recipe ...
JC = biggest waste of cash ... period.
hpavc Dec 17th 2007 2:18PM
crafted wands (beyond mundane) and staffs, etc ... dunno. Why not really likely its just more insane balance load for them to deal with.
They actually muted the specs pretty heavily, they all are powerful on the top end but the middle stuff got pretty muted. Its really the single allstar item that is grand.
If a 180dps wand with bonuses was craftable ... sure.