WoW Cataclysm: Profession Change Overview

I’ll
admit it; I’m kind of a slacker when it comes to my
professions. Sure I maxed them all out, and got most of the
“hot” recipes but for the most part they tend to be
severely neglected. (I wonder if there is a protective service
department for neglected professions?) However despite my less than
stellar profession past I can’t help like many others, being
excited for the profession changes that are in store for players in
Cataclysm.



We here at Ten Ton Hammer have been lucky enough to experience the
changes and excitement surrounding the profession changes firsthand and
will now pass them combined with other information gained from Blizzard
releases on to you. So without further adieu here are the changes to
professions that you can currently look forward to in Cataclysm:

size="3">Basics

size="3">The level cap for all professions has been
increased by 75 skill points, taking the cap from 450 to 525. size="3">No more will we be Grand Masters, a new
title of Illustrious (means notably or brilliantly outstanding because
of dignity, achievements, or actions) has been added. style="margin: 10px; float: right; width: 200px;">
size="3">Multiple skill gains are no longer the stuff
dreams are made of. Players will now be rewarded with a possible chance
at extra skill points for making better quality items. No more will
disgusted players who have broke the bank consider bashing their heads
against their keyboards trying to get those last few skill points with
purple or blue items. size="3">Archaeology has been added as a new
secondary profession. Players will be able to obtain artifacts all over
the world that have been unearthed in the Cataclysm. Artifacts will go
in a special journal instead of a players bags and will unlock many
rewards such as mounts, pets, armor, and even weapons. 
Archaeology will fill in various plot holes in the game and unlock
never before seen lore. size="3">The Reforging ability has been added for
Leatherworkers, Tailors, Blacksmiths,  Engineers, and
Jewelcrafters to allow these professions to modify the magical effects
of an item. Using this skill players can take gear and customize their
gear to best fit their current role and skills. size="3">General profession trainers have been added
to many newbie zones to allow new players to get a feel for what
professions are available to them. 

Alchemy

New Alchemist’s
Stone (Lifeblood Alchemist Stone) with enough stamina to kill a small
horse is available. Two new transmutes:
Transmute: Pyrium Bar, which will be used in Blacksmithing much like
the metals in Wraith, and Transmute: Krovalian Gold which opens up
trade with Engineers for Alchemists. All potions and elixirs now
use the same basic vial type. Flasks still use the more expensive vial. Despite these new additions
the Alchemy of Cataclysm is much like the Alchemy of Wraith because if
it ain’t broke, why fix it?

Blacksmithing

Specializations in the
profession (Weaponsmith, Armorsmith) have been removed and all recipes
are available to every Blacksmith. Many of low level green
items in this profession contain random stats. Yay for Intellect mixed
with Agility. Blacksmiths can create their
own starter sets of PvP gear, which Blizzard has stated will be
upgraded each season. style="margin: 10px; float: right; width: 200px;">
Players will be surprised to
find that the starter level Blacksmithing gear is comparable to the
gear being currently dropped in
Icecrown Citadel. These items will
probably be in high demand once the expansion is released. Blacksmiths are now able to
use the Reforging ability

Enchanting

Tons of new Cataclysm
enchants available. Material component costs for
most recipes are more manageable for the average player. High end
recipes will still require and arm and a leg plus your favorite mount
to make. Many new enchants will be
based solely upon various procs.

Jewelcrafting

Gem colors have remained the
same despite previous claims that several would be changing. Perhaps
sometime in the future? New Jewelcrafting recipes
have random properties allowing for superior and epic versions to be
created occasionally. Jewelcrafters are now able
to use the Reforging ability.

Engineering

Engineers will now be able
to access Jewelcrafter-like bonuses from Hydraulics and Cogwheels. Engineers will also have the
ability to use many Engineer-only enhancements such as the Tazik
Shocker (attaches a Tazik Shocker to gloves allowing a skilled engineer
to deal damage to an enemy at long range). Despite the many changes to
Engineering it still appears to be more of a goofy profession, clearly
(in my opinion) outclassed by almost all other professions. Engineers are now able to
use the Reforging ability.

Leatherworking

Specializations in the
profession have been removed and all recipes are available to every
Leatherworker. Many low level
green items in this profession contain random stats. Leatherworkers are now able
to use the Reforging ability. Leatherworkers will be able
to create their own set of PvP gear. Many new Leatherworking
recipes available.

Mining

Obsidian is the new common
mineral that will be found while mining in Cataclysm. Obsidian can
contain gems as well as Volatile Fire and Shadow. Elementium is the new
uncommon mineral that miners will find in Cataclysm. Elementium can
contain gems as well as Volatile Fire, Earth, or Water. Elementium Ore and Bars have
been renamed to Elementium Ignot and Hardened Elementium Bar. Pyrite can also be found
while mining, however it is very rare.

Herbalism

NO new Lotus equivalent can
be found in Cataclysm. And the angels themselves rejoiced. When herbing players have a
chance of getting Volatile Life from all Cataclysm herbs.

Skinning

Savage Leather is the new
leather of Cataclysm and can be gathered from creatures found in the
new zones. Pristine Hide is much like
the Artic Fur and is rather rare. This rare hide can be found of
creatures in the new zones, or by converting Heavy Savage Leather.

First Aid

Three new bandages are
available: Embersilk Bandage, Heavy Embersilk Bandage, and Dense
Embersilk Bandage. Heavy Frostweave Bandages
are green in the Tradeskill window, and therefore will not be a good
skilling up option. Using First Aid on a player
places a heal over time effect on them that can be broken with damage.

Cooking and Fishing

New Cooking recipes
available including a recipe to create a Fishing Lure. New Fish
and other new items are available to be caught in the waters of
Azeroth. style="margin: 10px; float: right; width: 200px;">
Many more Cooking recipes
require fish as an ingredient, perhaps as an attempt to get more
players to take up the less than popular Fishing. New daily quests available,
some of which even reward a skill point along with the standard bag of
goodies.

This brings us to the end of our Cataclysm profession preview. Please
keep in mind that all information listed above is from the beta and
Blizzard news releases. As such this information is subject to change
at any time. Join us on our forums to share your thoughts on these
changes!