Insider Trader: Woodworking in the expansion continued
IntegrationTo really integrate, Woodworking would need to use other materials, and other professions would want to use wood.
Woodworking could utilize Skinning, which would fill another hole in WoW. Herbs are used by two professions, Mining by three, and Skinning by one! But hides could be stretched over framework to create portable lawn chairs, rolled into strong strings for bows, used to hang carvings, construct bags/boxes, cover or line items, and more.
Scribe inks could be used to make paints (by either Scribes or Woodworkers, or even transmuted by Alchemists) that could decorate or imbue objects.
Wood could be used in wand creation in place of vendor woods for Enchanters and enchanted to make special woods used in crafting. Pulp, as a by-product of Milling, could be used in the creation of better papers by Scribes. Engineers would certainly have plenty of uses for wood, and Tailors and Leatherworkers could probably find a use as well.
Sap, as a by-product of Logging, could be used as an adhesive, flavoring in Cooking, mixed into certain inks, or go into potions, elixirs and flasks. Dust, as another possible by-product, could be sold to Enchanters. Roots could be dug up and used in Cooking.
Alchemy oils could be used as finishing coats on many items. Metals could be used for hinges, uncut gems for decoration, disenchantment materials could be fused into things, and much more. Pick anything that isn't used enough, or end-game materials that need to become more scarce, and use your imagination.
Engineers could create a new gadget that combine the Logging axe and shovel, as well.
Whether this balance would be achieved by modifying reagents from older recipes, or creating new ones (likely both), it could be done.
Nethaera also mentioned that art concepts are important when adding a new profession. I think that Native art elements, as well as Troll-esque art, rune-like images, Pioneer styles and "primitive" elements would be quite welcome.
The story behind it all, and the next expansion
So who would bring this craft to the masses? Why, the Venture Company of course! Well, ex-Venture Company. In the next expansion, if Goblins do indeed become playable, we can expect that the (likely Horde) Goblins will have their own story, and of course, the neutral Goblins wouldn't be left out of this development. Some Venture Company members could have defected and found a home within neutral boundaries.
Eager to prove/redeem themselves, and make a little coin of course, they will pass along their most valuable skill; that of gathering, transforming and creating with, wood. Trainers could show up in Ratchet, making them accessible to young Trolls, Orcs and Tauren, in Booty Bay to be more accessible to some Alliance, and later, in other neutral Goblin towns.
In addition, in towns that contain a Goblin or two, an ex-Venture Co. member could be tagging along, able to reach out to small Horde and Alliance outposts, selling their know-how while the Goblin sells wares. This could even be an opportunity for a new Goblin faction that would grant reputation, although you might think that it is they who really owe us a reputation grind!
Later, in the sanctuaries of Shattrath and Dalaran (perhaps in the sewer), neutral ex-Venture Co. would be free to set up shop in peace. Not all of these NPCs would need to be Goblin, as there are plenty of other races in the Company, but the new playable Goblins could indeed get a profession-related racial.
CM Drysc has also hinted that we haven't seen the last of the Venture Trading Company, making all of this seem even more plausible.
As a point of interest, in Wrath, several Tailoring patterns were added for Lumberjack and Workman shirts. Could this have been a hint of things to come, or merely a questionable fashion choice?







Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
AMS Jul 25th 2009 6:05PM
How about none? Just focus on the ones we have now if there's another expansion.
heath Jul 25th 2009 7:53PM
alls i can say is 'Barf". the last thing the next xpac needs is woodworking. its just more of the same...just BSing with a different shell. The beauty of jewelcrafting is that it was a bit different. it added a new dimension. woodworking definately would not. the next prof needs to be fresh and new.
Daniel Jul 25th 2009 8:37PM
Why even go that far. I'm seriously disappointed. We keep being told by Wow.com that the next patch is going to drop any day now and the oP makes a post about something months or even a year in the futures. That's sickening. It's not that the topic is a bad one, but the timing could not have been worse. This is the time to talk about what's going to happen or not happen or what changes are still left to consider...and there have been changes since the last article...about the upcoming patch. Seriously, this is an irresponsible topic to be posting right now. The suggestion that there is nothing left to say about patch 3.2 is insulting.
kabshiel Jul 25th 2009 9:07PM
I really don't think we need another profession. Hell, I thought Inscription was overkill.
Derick Jul 25th 2009 9:33PM
@Daniel
1. Why would you be insulted? Are you part of the dev team?
2. People should stop complaining that Wow.com or Joystiq.com or any blog is posting articles they dont want to read. You are not being force-fed this blog. For many this is an interesting discussion.
3. The patch is coming! But.... that's not the only topic out there. The site would become very bland and boring if they only ever wrote about the next patch. I'm sure there will be an article poring over the new latest tiny details of the changes on the PTRs.
4. By the looks of this article though, I think Amanda has been working on it for a while. It has links to other similar articles, and it contains a bunch of ideas for the speculative woodwroking professions (Except it's use in player housing :D )
5. Also, and finally, it was something to post while she writes up another one. These posts don't write themselves, they take some time.
Gothia Jul 26th 2009 2:57AM
Lets try to be more realistic in the future. Another gathering profession is not needed because they can make more use out of the ones already in game. Several professions use mining and herbalism, but only one profession uses skinning. It is an abundant resource that blizzard could use to make an alternative profession instead of reinventing the wheel.
Calybos Jul 26th 2009 9:26AM
Good point, Gothia. Maybe Skinning could procure other items useful for existing professions--such as teeth, eyes, and hearts, perhaps to use in Enchanting. "Eye of newt, wing of bat" and so forth.
Bashkar Jul 28th 2009 9:36AM
Along with what Gothia noted: the existing 'new' professions have had their resources supplied by already-existent gathering professions.
The problem with introducing something like Woodworking is that it would require an overhaul of all zones to have lumber-nodes.
Besides, they won't just introduce another crafting profession for the sake of adding one. They'll add one to coincide with a new character-mechanic (Gems -> Glyphs -> ?)
Keyra Jul 26th 2009 5:33PM
@ Daniel:
You said, "We keep being told by Wow.com that the next patch is going to drop any day now and the oP makes a post about something months or even a year in the futures."
The PATCH will be dropping any day now. The next EXPANSION is what this article is about.
Expansion: The Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Lich King, etc.
Patch: 3.0.2, 3.1.0, etc.
Patch content: nerfs, additions, changes, artwork, etc.
Expansion content: new lands, new quests, new races, new professions, etc.
Hopefully this clears things up.
Greg Jul 25th 2009 6:13PM
How about wooden armor?
I mean, many druid sets look like they are made of wood any way.
Also, could being a lumberjack/carpenter add bonuses to the possible player housing?
Otome Jul 25th 2009 6:15PM
Sounds interesting. Certainly has the room to be complicated, but in all honesty WoW could use a profession that isn't as simple as the rest.
TheChao Jul 25th 2009 6:17PM
The one reason why woodworking wont be a profession:
"WTS Morning Wood PST"
Derick Jul 25th 2009 9:23PM
How is that in any way worse than whats already in game?
Isn't your trade chat already filled with "Anal [Hemorrhage] lol!!!"?
Serje Jul 25th 2009 6:23PM
Nobody? okay...
://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zey8567bcg
Serje Jul 25th 2009 6:27PM
Wow I fail, disregard this
Otome Jul 25th 2009 8:46PM
That's the theme for the 3.2 lumberjack Rogues.
We'll even have corsets.
That makes me want woodworking more actually..
Finalfront Jul 25th 2009 6:23PM
Also, I think that scabards and OH weapons could be a possibility. But honestly I'd prefer no new profession, possibly intigrate this into anouther one(s) because we already have enough as it is.
Sephirah Jul 25th 2009 6:24PM
By the description, it would be too similar to engineering: maybe funny, but pretty useless compared to other professions.
thedarkewar Jul 25th 2009 6:27PM
Nice idea, but If it was added I have the feeling that if something like this was added it would be tacked on a bit as having a higher cost as the levels progressed and knowing Blizzard the important creations would cost a fortune.
However this does sound like something that would be included if player housing got released ((always hopeful about that!)) but what about things that only effect the user such as a err enchanted version of a wooden handle I guess?
heh unlikely but still would be a nice feature.
And I doubt that the lumberjack shirts are holding any hints most likely just a flavour style item.
RetPallyJil Jul 25th 2009 6:31PM
So, you're suggesting that a new profession get a vehicle design before smithing does? Nice.
C'mon, Blizzard: At least give us roller skates.