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?
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Reader Comments (Page 3 of 6)
Dulock Jul 25th 2009 7:25PM
This is already something along those lines in the class Runemaster. Its a cool idea and was originally one of the things Blizzard was considering before ultimately deciding on the death night as the hero class. if you want to read more about it you can go to
http://www.wowwiki.com/Runemaster
Not to say that tattoos wouldn't be different, i think that it would be to close to this and ultimately be shot down.
jeanericuser Jul 25th 2009 7:16PM
Possible wow professions:
Necromancer
info: A dark arts vendor that makes items out of evil things for dark purposes
example items: voodoo doll, item curses, special curse spells, dark resurrection spells, necronomicons for summoning aid of enemies you killed recently
Astrologer
info: Uses the movements of the heavenly bodies above to do create non terrestrial events
example items: special scopes, reality bending spells, unique aoe spells and enchantments, unique crystal items, mystic incense devices
Drunkard
info: A special potion maker specializing in strange potions
example items: bottle weapons, molotov cocktails, Neverending drink mugs, drunkness spells, party spells, potion and elixer fountains, intoxicating drinks
Geneticist
info: A unique doctor that can adjust a players base stats at the cost of other stats
example items: gene splicing potions, cybernetic enhancements, transconfiguration potions, disfigurement potions, player cosmetic surgery
devilsei Jul 25th 2009 7:29PM
"Drunkard
info: A special potion maker specializing in strange potions
example items: bottle weapons, molotov cocktails, Neverending drink mugs, drunkness spells, party spells, potion and elixer fountains, intoxicating drinks"
Yeah... there's already something just like this. Pandaren Brewmaster. Ya know? Chen's Empty Keg and all that...?
The rest sound like classes, not professions. Cept for the last one. Too far tech for WoW, waaaay too much. And why the hell would blizzard make a "profession" that can do plastic surgery when they already have that service, which actually makes them money.
Tobert Jul 25th 2009 7:45PM
I have a new one.
-Taxadurmy-
Cind of like your necromancy, but with a focus on using up all those lethers. Thay yould be trinkets, idels, or totems, (maby not librems,) noncombat pets, and you can even make some of thim consumable IE it summons up the spiret of the amanel too... buff you, attack some one, heal some one, or even fight along side you.
I think skinning needs some love any way.
sprout_daddy Jul 25th 2009 8:14PM
wtb spell checking
jeanericuser Jul 26th 2009 8:31AM
"Yeah... there's already something just like this. Pandaren Brewmaster. Ya know? Chen's Empty Keg and all that...?"
Those are recipes and titles you moron. They have nothing to do with this. All you are doing is grasping at straws cause you have nothing to contribute.
"The rest sound like classes, not professions. Cept for the last one. Too far tech for WoW, waaaay too much. And why the hell would blizzard make a "profession" that can do plastic surgery when they already have that service, which actually makes them money."
Hahahaha Are you kidding me? We have teleporters, rocket ships, and technologies in that game that make something like genetics seem silly. As for what a geneticist would be is more like, consider them the advanced next step to what most medics in game are not, surgeons. Besides there is one untapped talent that nothing in game allows players to modify, your base stats which you have accumulated since lvl 1 and not the addon on stats from gear, talents, or anything else. As for astrologer, have you been smoking some weed again? Do you think an astrologer is someone who as a class alone goes out and does heroic missions? No its a side profession that gives unique skills and benefits to those who study it which if im not mistaken is what most professions do. Same with the necromancer since technicly the necromancer is more like a unique witch doctor that offers things that most other classes by honor code will not create such as a voodoo doll. Who wouldnt like a vendor of truly illicit goods?
devilsei Jul 26th 2009 2:55PM
Jean jean jean... though you don't deserve it, I'm going to really help clarify some stuff for you. Its obviously you haven't played anything even remotely related to Warcraft besides WoW.
Pandaren Brewmaster isn't a title. Its a hero unit that appears in Warcraft 3. Pandaren the race, and brewmasters being what many were. Chen is one of the three greats, and "Chen's Empty Keg" is a quest, not a recipe. You can't make any alcoholic beverage in the game (besides cooking and its +fishing booze). If anything, anything "consumable" wise falls directly into cooking and alchemy, so they wouldn't create a professions solely for booze, when there's two it could fit in.
And pleeeease. Besides the shoddy "works when it wants" teleportation devices, what is there that is so advance that would hint that gnomes or goblins have any idea how genetics work? A rocket? Yeah the Chinese invented black powder rockets loooong ago, bit of a history lesson there for ya. Guns? Once again, chinese. The only thing I think could even grasp it would be something of the Old god's creations, but genetic manipulation is far from WoW's territory.
Another thing, is your idea of "professions" is a class. Adding a bunch of AoE and resurrection spells, curses, and the like are class abilities, not professions. You "CRAFT" things for professions, not cast magic missile. Warlocks curse, healers revive, many AoE, and Death Knights bring back the corpses of the slain to attack their enemies. As for the Base Stats, Blizzard would never allow us to modify them. It would lead to rogues trading their base int for agility/strength and the like, same with mages and strength/agility/stam->int/spirit.
Please, for the love of god, actually know a little about the game and lore, before you post. There's a good reason people have downvoted yours and only your posts. What I provided was a bit of criticism, very much on the topic.
Now, if this was Warcraft 3, and you were talking about a new map, your ideas would be just fine, but professions in WoW are either "crafting" or "Gathering", and work with one another, along with creating items of use or equipment, that while useful, aren't overpowered. They also are made to fit classes. A paladin wouldn't be a necromancer or drunkard, or astrologist or geneticist, nor would many classes for at least two of those.
Moonkinmaniac Jul 25th 2009 7:19PM
Woodworking might be cool. Maybe they could make special target dummies that can fight back and aide in combat like engineers make those cool dragons. I'm for anything that would possibly add more mini pets. Gelvon's idea is awesome too! I'd love to get tattoo chants. :D
Exiton Jul 25th 2009 7:30PM
There are some zones almost devoid or trees that may make this difficult. Think of tanaris, the salt flats, hellfire penn. There would have to be significant changes in scenery or stumps added everywhere. Still i wish it where true.
Kadamon Jul 25th 2009 7:40PM
I doubt this'll happen unless it's tied into Skinning in someway. They're not going to create two professions like that and just have them mutually exclusive to the other (Did I get that right?)
First we got JCing which was attatched to Mining, then we got Inscriptions which was attached to Herbing, next'll be something attatched to Skinning, what it could be, I honestly have no idea though...but I doubt we'll become lumberjacks.
ashraith Jul 25th 2009 7:52PM
I thought a producing profession based on skinning as the complementing gathering profession would be the next choice given that mining feeds three and herbalism two professions. But I admittedly come up short with another profession which makes sense in the game and mainly uses leather.
Sean Jul 25th 2009 8:19PM
How about no new profession at all? Take the time and resources that would be spent there, and develop more zones to explore. More Epic questlines.
Aaron Jul 25th 2009 8:29PM
We don't need another profession, we have enough already :
schm0 Jul 25th 2009 8:34PM
[rant]
Two sets of Halloween masks and everyone is talking about goblins and worgen like it's going to be. Is there anyone at WoW.com that isn't ga-ga for this idea? I'm certainly not.
[/rant]
Ranting aside, woodworking would be an interesting addition to the game, but I'm not sure a gathering and crafting profession is what is on Blizzard's plate. As some other commenters have pointed out, the last two professions expanded on the existing professions by adding a modification profession, similar to Enchanting. I think the next expansion will continue with this trend. What it will be, I don't know.
But she did bring up an interesting idea, should woodworking be the way to go:
"Woodworkers could create special statues for in combat, much as Jewelcrafters can, with similar or novel effects. "
Shaman totems, anyone?
Yada Jul 25th 2009 8:37PM
I'd love to give you a "rah rah" for all the work you've put in, but I see one obvious and glaring flaw in almost everything you've proposed: It's all in the game already. A lot of what you have mentioned is already covered by engineering, jewelcrafting, inscription, and even blacksmithing and leatherworking. What's left is simple "fun" stuff and even that has its overlaps. If you ever want to convince Blizzard to implement a new profession, you better find a way to make it much more than simply a new way to do old tricks.
relmatos Jul 25th 2009 8:39PM
I really like this idea. The only problem is blizzard puting up trees all over the world.
RetPallyJil Jul 25th 2009 8:41PM
That you, Lord John?
edward Jul 25th 2009 8:43PM
Maybe WWs can make bows, wands, staves, maybe even idols or totems (another professions that deals with rocks and stones could do this too right).
Also, what about toys, like that rocking spectral tiger toy or wooden boats u can throw in the water.
Or mounts, a personal kayak or sampan that you can use in the water so you don't have to swim, engineers could make a motor then you could make a motor boat even.
Ability to mend walls or gates like those in WG / SoTA.
artifex Jul 25th 2009 8:49PM
I doubt you'd use inscription inks to make paints. Probably just pigments, but that would add competition for feeder materials, some of which are already also used by herbalism.
Salem Jul 25th 2009 8:58PM
This also can bring up player housing. Not to mention a new form of way to make an Amish Paradise.