by: Tony "RadarX" Jones

So you want to enter the exciting world of Prospecting? Not everyone is cut out for hunting down rocks, singing "I've been working on the railroad," and black lung. What do Prospectors do? A Prospector goes out into the world, digs up metal and processes it for crafting use. Yup, it's just that simple folks.

In order to begin Prospecting you'll have to pick a vocation that supports this skill. At this time that is Armsmen, Armourer, Explorer and Tinkerer. Speak with any Master Apprentice in the major cities to switch. Before you begin Prospecting it's a good idea to upgrade your tools. You are given a basic tool that slows you down so find a brass one on a vendor at first opportunity.

Gathering

Gathering your materials will require a little more effort than something like farming. When you train for prospecting you will receive a skill allowing you to see ore spots on your minimap when activated. Even nodes off the map will be denoted by an arrow so you know which way to head. These nodes are all over the place but some will require a certain level of skill to prepare the metal. As an apprentice you'll be making Bronze and Copper. The starter areas are a great place to begin looking for the lower level metal. Also keep in mind you'll be gathering in hostile environments so be prepared for combat at any time.

Make sure you have the proper tool with you but when you find an ore just click to begin harvesting.

I found a nice Tin node around Thorin's Gate and you can't see it but I'm singing the railroad song Casey Jones. Woke up this mornin' round 4 o'clock.... *ahem* Anyway...

The Deposits you can find are the following:

• Ancient Iron
• Barrow Iron
• Copper
• Dwarf Iron
• Gold
• Iron
• Misty Mountain Silver
• Platinum
• Rich Iron
• Silver
• Tin

Crafting

Now that you've filled your bags up with rocks and metal it's time to actually make something useful out of it. Head back to any town and find yourself a forge to get busy on. Many towns have forges you can work at but rest assured cities like Bree, Thorin's Gate, etc... all are well equipped. The nice thing about prospecting is there are no additional materials required. Bring up your Crafting Interface and you'll see a list of recipes. Select what you are able to make based on the materials you have and you are all set to start smelting.

Skilling Up

Each time you create something as a prospector you earn points of experience
which will allow you to advance out of the lowly apprentice world. Some recipes
require higher skills so if you want to make the good stuff, you have to get
crafting! How many points you'll get is listed in the recipe and each recipe has a chance for critical success providing you more material. Unlike other MMO's you won't be selling your finalized
product back even for cost so carry it to the auction house if you want to
recoup your money. Otherwise stow it away for use in the products you are making to advance your other crafting professions and save yourself time later.

Crafting Ranks

• Apprentice


• Journeyman


• Expert


• Artisan


• Master

I hope you found the Ten Ton Hammer guide to Prospecting useful. If you see
anything we've missed or something that needs to be added please href="mailto:[email protected]">email me, you'll get full
credit.