Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsInscription to allow enchanters to sell on the AH
by Eliah Hecht 
Jul 20th 2008 at 2:00PM
Blizzard has been saying for a while that they're working on letting Enchanters ply their trade via the Auction House. When the Wrath beta launched, we didn't immediately see any way that this feature has been implemented. However, Elisalia, a beta-tester, wrote in to let us know that she'd figured it out. The link between Enchanters and the AH is going to be Inscription, and it looks like it will work as follows:- Inscriptors can create blank parchments, such as the Bleached Parchment seen in the picture. Each type of parchment works for one type of item to enchant -- armor, weapon, etc.
- Enchanters can cast enchantments on those parchments, to create, for instance, that Scroll of Enchant Cloak - Greater Defense. These scrolls can be listed on the AH, mailed, or traded like any other unbound item.
- The scrolls can be right-clicked by anyone to apply the enchantment to their own items.
Filed under: Enchanting, Wrath of the Lich King, Inscription
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 4)
Savant Jul 21st 2008 3:26PM
Be advised, when there was a Blue interview on this, they specifically said that there would be some enchants that would still have to be done in person, notably the 'highest level enchants'. (Things that might require void crystals now for example) So while simple enchants will be easier to obtain, the complex/expensive ones may still be restricted to 'in person' transactions. They said they did not intend to fully eliminate the need for enchanters to personally enchant items.
Ben Darlow Jul 22nd 2008 4:02AM
That sounds to me like a bad idea. The rare enchants are precisely the ones you'll want to avoid having to repeatedly ask for on the Trade channels; it's no different to saying you want to buy a rare item. Being able to look on the AH for said rare items is how you get around the difficulty in being online at the same time as the seller.
Fletch Jul 22nd 2008 5:48AM
I have to agree and would say it's pretty pointless giving this ability to enchanters only for the low level enchants. It is relatively easy to get low level enchants - it's the rarer ones where you have to stand around for days looking for someone to do it. If this is actually what is going to happen then I will be throwing enchanting down the drain and take up something that is going to be useful to me and my alts rather something that largely only benefits other people.
Juliah Jul 21st 2008 7:18PM
As an enchanter, I'm not crazy about this. Inscribers will be able to share their work out of the box, while enchanters have to depend on them to distribute theirs without a synchronous meeting? I think there will be plenty enough of a market for Inscription products without building in this dependency.
I don't like it.
Xecnamalain Jul 22nd 2008 8:09AM
I hate this Idea. This is going to kill my business by increasing my competition....
The fact that I am willing to spam "WTS Enchant Gloves-Major strength. 15 Gold, My mats." in shat all day means I am committed to this profession, now anyone short on cash will sell this @ 5 gold and kill me.
I will not sell chants below the minimum mat prices, they will.
Arclich@Anvilmar
Ben Darlow Jul 22nd 2008 8:41AM
But you represent the minority, considering the focus of this game. The game should never offer an unfair advantage to people who spend hours at a time logged in, sitting around in cities spamming trade, since only a minority of players are able to do that.
As for the scrolls being sold at a loss; that's unlikely to happen with in-demand enchants. Those used for levelling are likely to be sold at a loss (but then these tend to be given away for free anyway) but (for example) something like Mongoose (or equivalent) could easily command a decent markup, as it'll likely be in relatively high demand. Look at the market for cut epic gems, for instance: people are still prepared to pay a 100g+ premium for buying a pre-cut gem on my server, despite there being (cheaper) uncut gems and jewelcrafters readily available.
Xecnamalain Jul 22nd 2008 9:37AM
All valid points.
I only play 4 to 5 hours a day after work BTW.
Zali Jul 22nd 2008 1:53PM
All I know is my Enchanter will drop Tailoring and pick up Inscription.
Zoshk Aug 2nd 2008 11:54PM
same here
if only so i can easily enchant my alts
i don't see myself actually selling these scrolls on the AH though as i don't like farming mats for enchants (primals) and don't like to use all the money buying it
however if there is a sufficiently large profit to be made then we'll see
Zali Jul 22nd 2008 2:00PM
Also, I expect the blank parchment will be very cheap because it would have to be available to low level enchanters too. Or possibly there might be two classes of blank parchment, one that acts like lvl 35 armor for those enchants that can't be placed on lower level gear.
Egma Jul 30th 2008 1:32AM
"It could be that the parchments are like Pre BC armor reinforcements for leatherworking: a cheap, easy way to lvl up. The higher lvl enchants might need higher lvl parchments and so on. You know, nothing that is crazy expensive, but something to make a some quick silver off of."
Probably a low lvl one for Pre BC enchants, a "lvl 35" paper for BC enchants, and a "lvl 60" paper for post BC enchants (IE a paper for each "minimum enchant level", again divided between armor or weapon so I guess 6 total types of paper)
Thallant Oct 12th 2008 8:59PM
Blizzard going to lose some money from my perspective. I started up a 2nd account so I could enchant my own toons...now I can transfer my enchanter over and only upgrade a single account.
As for the bulk of the complaints...Blizzard has nerfed the game enough you can start a lvl 1 and be 60+ by the time the expansion comes out. You'll be in the same boat as everyone else starting inscription... the old way won't go away immediately. I started a druid herbalist for just this purpose...as herbs will be used by Inscriptionist to make ink- seems like a good match.
I feel sorry for all the alchemists that have to buy their herbs though and everyone else that currently buys potions, etc... that's going to be real pinch! As some herbs go up- so will the cost of potions/elixirs made with those herbs.
Think of the big picture...