New MMORPG.com World of Warcraft Correspondent James Jackson pens this basic crafting guide for World of Warcraft, giving tips on some of the best ways to go about making your character the best damned tailor or jeweler or anything else thayt they can be!

Crafting is an often overlooked element of Blizzard‘s World of Warcraft. Some people feel that crafting is too much like work and that items crafted are not any better than items found or earned via battlegrounds and/or Arena PVP (Player vs Player). Though there are many items that are superior to crafted gear, not everyone wishes to play in battlegrounds for days on end for each piece of gear. Additionally, gear found throughout the world is rare andoften BoP (Bind on Pick up) and or expensive when looking at BoE (Bind on Equip) items via the auction house. Crafting your own items as you level your ‘toon’ provides an edge over those that wait for items to drop from beasts. This is helpful both in PVP and PVE (Player vs Environment). When studying the different sets of gear you will see that PVP gear, though it will help you defeat enemy players, is not so well suited for end game instances where you face a myriad of challenges.

Read it all here.

The writer of the article fails to mention that without item decay, crafting in Wow borders on useless.  Yes each craft has a few items that are worth crafting, beyond that it is an exercise in futility.

Smithing is probably the hardest skill to raise and has the least useful items.  Rather sad really, a smith should be the ultimate in the crafting trades due the genre.

There are far better MMO's to craft in, Wow's crafting is strictly an after thought.

Originally posted by Ozmodan

The writer of the article fails to mention that without item decay, crafting in Wow borders on useless.  Yes each craft has a few items that are worth crafting, beyond that it is an exercise in futility.

Smithing is probably the hardest skill to raise and has the least useful items.  Rather sad really, a smith should be the ultimate in the crafting trades due the genre.

There are far better MMO's to craft in, Wow's crafting is strictly an after thought.

Smithing has been improved a lot recently.  You can make keys to open various locks, and create items like sharpening stones which add damage to your weapons.  Might seem like such a little thing, but why go into a fight without sharpened weapons?  Why do a hard encounter without every advantage?   Suddenly these 'few items worth crafting' become very important.

EVERY craft has uses, some of them exclusive to the crafter.   For example, Enchanting while being really expensive, is the only way to get your rings enchanted, not to mention the benefits of being able to disenchant all of the unwanted items you get.   Leatherworkers can make armor augmentations and cloaks.  Tailors can make bags, spellthreads etc.

Crafting in WoW is FAR from useless.  I actually think it's one of the better designed crafting systems, in that all of the REALLY TEDIOUS and POINTLESS things that other crafting systems introduce to make them more 'deep', were removed.

There's nothing deep and involved about playing the same mind-numbing crafting mini-game over and over again times just to make a buckle which after some excruciatingly long drawn out process becomes a belt.

It completely smashes the living crap out of EQ2s and Vanguard's crafting systems, the ones I am familiar with anyway.  If there's something else that does crafting better you can be sure there's huge gaping holes elsewhere in the game.

Otherwise I'd be playing it ;p

the difference between crafting in WOW and other titles i've played - you could remove crafting from WOW all-together and it makes no difference/no one would notice (except of course those that are currently enjoying this pointless WOW activity)

Crafting ends up to alchemy, enchanting and jewel crafting.  High End Guilds are less likely to use tailoring, blacksmithing and engineering. Engineering gives you some mounts though. 

Fishing is painful at best but some fish will give you buffs through cooking.   Cooking is useful for buffs.  Mining is okay.  Herbalism useful. 

Originally posted by gatheris

the difference between crafting in WOW and other titles i've played - you could remove crafting from WOW all-together and it makes no difference/no one would notice (except of course those that are currently enjoying this pointless WOW activity)

 

Could not be more wrong. But I wont argue as ill be talking to a brick wall.

Originally posted by Recant

Originally posted by Ozmodan

The writer of the article fails to mention that without item decay, crafting in Wow borders on useless.  Yes each craft has a few items that are worth crafting, beyond that it is an exercise in futility.

Smithing is probably the hardest skill to raise and has the least useful items.  Rather sad really, a smith should be the ultimate in the crafting trades due the genre.

There are far better MMO's to craft in, Wow's crafting is strictly an after thought.

 

Smithing has been improved a lot recently.  You can make keys to open various locks, and create items like sharpening stones which add damage to your weapons.  Might seem like such a little thing, but why go into a fight without sharpened weapons?  Why do a hard encounter without every advantage?   Suddenly these 'few items worth crafting' become very important.

EVERY craft has uses, some of them exclusive to the crafter.   For example, Enchanting while being really expensive, is the only way to get your rings enchanted, not to mention the benefits of being able to disenchant all of the unwanted items you get.   Leatherworkers can make armor augmentations and cloaks.  Tailors can make bags, spellthreads etc.

Crafting in WoW is FAR from useless.  I actually think it's one of the better designed crafting systems, in that all of the REALLY TEDIOUS and POINTLESS things that other crafting systems introduce to make them more 'deep', were removed.

There's nothing deep and involved about playing the same mind-numbing crafting mini-game over and over again times just to make a buckle which after some excruciatingly long drawn out process becomes a belt.

It completely smashes the living crap out of EQ2s and Vanguard's crafting systems, the ones I am familiar with anyway.  If there's something else that does crafting better you can be sure there's huge gaping holes elsewhere in the game.

Otherwise I'd be playing it ;p

Ehmm nothing has been improved in WoW when it comes to crafting lol! Except that threw in the gem crafting.

I have been armor smith myself since release (quited game 1 and half year ago) and sharpening stones were in already, just like bags, cloaks and enchanting!

I play EverQuest 2 off and on since release and I am Armorer in this game and at least the mastercrafted armor I craft in the game is that good that I wear it the whole tier. I craft all my own gear!

Provisioner as other example in EverQuest 2 is even a very worthwhile profession as well and highly needed for the health and power regen bonusses (and the better food/drinks give you other bonusses as well).

In WoW all crafted stuff is outclassed by dungeon drops and even world drops. 

The only crafted gear that is worthwhile is the stuff no one bothers making it, as it's an awful timesink of a grind to get the rare mats needed, not to mention the recipes itself.

So people still and will prefer dropped stuff above crafted stuff.

And as Blizzard has never adressed that issue and done anything about it, crafting will always be an afterthought. As gem crafting hasn't helped all that much to make crafted gear worthwhile.

Cheers

Originally posted by coffee

Originally posted by gatheris

the difference between crafting in WOW and other titles i've played - you could remove crafting from WOW all-together and it makes no difference/no one would notice (except of course those that are currently enjoying this pointless WOW activity)

 

 

Could not be more wrong. But I wont argue as ill be talking to a brick wall.

well, i wish you would - not argue of course but please explain how i could not be more wrong

Originally posted by Ghist

Crafting ends up to alchemy, enchanting and jewel crafting.  High End Guilds are less likely to use tailoring, blacksmithing and engineering. Engineering gives you some mounts though. 

This pretty much sums it up. Crafting is not completely useless per se, but it leaves a lot to be desired when compared to MMOs such as EQ2, VG and LOTRO.

If you have this dream of being a dwarven smith hammering out suits of high quality armor for your friends and customers, then don't bother with WoW. On the other hand, if combining a couple of potions, cook up a meal or two and enchant a piece of equipment every now and then is all you aspire to do, then WoW will suit you just fine.

Should the more "hardcore" crafting systems of EQ2 and VG prove too much for you to stomach, but you want to make your own gear and not gimp yourself in the process, then try LOTRO. It's very similar to WoW and the gear you can make offers a viable alternative to looting, questing and even raiding (or so I've been told since I don't actually have a high level character in LOTRO).

Originally posted by Guillermo197

Originally posted by Recant

Originally posted by Ozmodan

The writer of the article fails to mention that without item decay, crafting in Wow borders on useless.  Yes each craft has a few items that are worth crafting, beyond that it is an exercise in futility.

Smithing is probably the hardest skill to raise and has the least useful items.  Rather sad really, a smith should be the ultimate in the crafting trades due the genre.

There are far better MMO's to craft in, Wow's crafting is strictly an after thought.

 

Smithing has been improved a lot recently.  You can make keys to open various locks, and create items like sharpening stones which add damage to your weapons.  Might seem like such a little thing, but why go into a fight without sharpened weapons?  Why do a hard encounter without every advantage?   Suddenly these 'few items worth crafting' become very important.

EVERY craft has uses, some of them exclusive to the crafter.   For example, Enchanting while being really expensive, is the only way to get your rings enchanted, not to mention the benefits of being able to disenchant all of the unwanted items you get.   Leatherworkers can make armor augmentations and cloaks.  Tailors can make bags, spellthreads etc.

Crafting in WoW is FAR from useless.  I actually think it's one of the better designed crafting systems, in that all of the REALLY TEDIOUS and POINTLESS things that other crafting systems introduce to make them more 'deep', were removed.

There's nothing deep and involved about playing the same mind-numbing crafting mini-game over and over again times just to make a buckle which after some excruciatingly long drawn out process becomes a belt.

It completely smashes the living crap out of EQ2s and Vanguard's crafting systems, the ones I am familiar with anyway.  If there's something else that does crafting better you can be sure there's huge gaping holes elsewhere in the game.

Otherwise I'd be playing it ;p

 

Ehmm nothing has been improved in WoW when it comes to crafting lol! Except that threw in the gem crafting.

I have been armor smith myself since release (quited game 1 and half year ago) and sharpening stones were in already, just like bags, cloaks and enchanting!

I play EverQuest 2 off and on since release and I am Armorer in this game and at least the mastercrafted armor I craft in the game is that good that I wear it the whole tier. I craft all my own gear!

Provisioner as other example in EverQuest 2 is even a very worthwhile profession as well and highly needed for the health and power regen bonusses (and the better food/drinks give you other bonusses as well).

In WoW all crafted stuff is outclassed by dungeon drops and even world drops. 

The only crafted gear that is worthwhile is the stuff no one bothers making it, as it's an awful timesink of a grind to get the rare mats needed, not to mention the recipes itself.

So people still and will prefer dropped stuff above crafted stuff.

And as Blizzard has never adressed that issue and done anything about it, crafting will always be an afterthought. As gem crafting hasn't helped all that much to make crafted gear worthwhile.

Cheers

Smithing was improved, check out the latest recipies on Thott... for any profession.

Why are we talking about EQ2 anyway?  Does EQ2 still have that incredibly pointless 'mini game', where you have to press the 'round corners' button when the 'sharp corners' button comes up?  Oh man, that's deep right there.

So EQ2 gives you bonuses and health/mana regen for food and drink.  Damn, why don't they have in WoW ... that would be so awesome....

And if only the Epic tailoring/smithing/leatherworking items had raid stats to take you up to at least SSC.  That would be awesome too....

OH WAIT!

You're completely wrong about WoW's crafting being useless.

Originally posted by Recant

Why are we talking about EQ2 anyway?  Does EQ2 still have that incredibly pointless 'mini game', where you have to press the 'round corners' button when the 'sharp corners' button comes up?  Oh man, that's deep right there.

And if only the Epic tailoring/smithing/leatherworking items had raid stats to take you up to at least SSC.  That would be awesome too....

OH WAIT!

You're completely wrong about WoW's crafting being useless.

EQ2 still has that "pointless" mini game. It was made even more "pointless" by taking out subcombines (no need to make hilts, blades, patterns and what not anymore) and removing any end result less than pristine (so now you either make it pristine or not at all).

Still, some people do enjoy enjoy it for what it's worth. I'd say it's a matter of personal preference. I find gathering the resources more time consuming than playing the mini game and quite relaxing after having spent hours running around like a headless chicken from resource node to resource node. Which is more pointless? They're both timesinks afterall. Having said that, I can still see why some people would consider it the height of pointless boredom, which is why I think a game like LOTRO delivers a nice compromise. At least I can go grab another cup of coffee in that game while the bar goes from left to right like it does in WoW.

As for raid stats. Uhm... sure, some of the crafted items look nice on paper, but why is it that whenever I look at the gear people are using and what is for sale at the AH, I see very few crafted items other than bags, enchants, gems and potions? My main characters in EQ2 and LOTRO use more crafted gear than looted/quested gear. The only crafted gear my main in WoW uses... take a guess... bags, gems, enchants and potions.

When I played both EQII and VG I really enjoyed the crafting. Though it was sometimes tedious and often frustrating, the idea of offering some randomness within the quality of the items really appealed to me. I think that both of those systems offer more compelling, engrossing and extensive crafting systems than WoW. Having said that....

Crafting in WoW is very important. My 70 Tankadin is a miner/enchanter and both professions have served me very well. As an enchanter I've been able to keep all my enchantable gear at max effeciency, make $$ by selling enchants (though advertising is a royal pain; they may allow enchants to be sold in AH with WotLK expansion), and as mentioned add nice enchants to rings. Four (4) of the best pre-Kara tanking items are all blacksmith created: Felsteel set + Bracers of the Green Fortress. One of the best cloaks - Cloak of Eternity - is a tailored item. The best belt in the game (Belt of the Guardian), and the best boots (Boots of the Protector) are both Blacksmith crafted. Jewelcrafters make some of the best rings (Delicate Eternium Ring) and trinkets (Dawnstone Crab) and are critical for socket stones. If you're an engineer you can make one of the best tank headgear - Tankatronic Goggles - and the Goblin Rocket Launcher and Gnomish Poltryizer trinkets. The three (3) best legging adds in the game (Nethercleft Leg Armor, Clefthide Leg Armor, and Vindicator's armor Kit) are available only through Leatherworkers who also make the best glove add, the Knothide Armor Kit. And this is just for tanks; Leatherworkers make some of the best late game mail gear for Shaman also, my next character (currently only lvl 20).

There are two things about WoW's crafting that I've always disliked, however. First of all, engineering made items are usually for engineer use only, ie. they can't be used by non-engineers. Secondly, weapon crafting is really underutilized. There are currently zero top flight weapons that can be crafted for Tanks.

I prefer the EQII approach, but crafting in WoW is important. Blizzard should, IMHO, take a harder look at its crafting and even out its importance so that there is always some top gear available through crafting to all characters.

"Crafting in WoW is very important."

Oh really?  Maybe you should try a few games where it is important to really understand what you are talking about.

How many raiders use crafted items?  How many pvpers?  Right, only the beginners.  True, some professions, like jewelcrafting and enchanting, do supply things at this level, but most do not.

As I said before unless a MMO has item decay, crafting is a nonenity, an afterthought.

I think crafting in WoW is fairly well done -- except for one thing: it seldom seemed to me to be level appropriate. By this I mean that a level 10 character should be able to craft, with a reasonable amount of effort, decent items for toons at his own level.

What happened in WoW is that the materials a crafter needs to be able to craft items he himself might find useful required mining and herbing in areas considerably higher than your character's own level. So, do I take my level 20-22 herbalist/alchemist to Arathi Highlands to get Goldthorn? Yikes. Yah, getting stomped by level 30+ critters over and over is my idea of a good time ... NOT!

The effect of this is that I found crafting in WoW to be seldom personally useful, except to make lower-level items to sell on the AH. What I ended up doing, often enough, was create a main character as a resource gatherer, leveling him or her up, and then sending those materials to alts with alchemy or blacksmithing or whatever.

This seems like poor game design. In LOTRO, if I keep up with it, my crafters can make items -- jewelry, armor, weapons, etc. -- that they can actually USE and are in many cases better than the quest reward items at that level. For crafting to be really workable, it needs to be difficult and challenging, but it needs to be designed so a given character can make truly useful items for players (including oneself) at roughly his or her own level.

LOTRO does a much better job of this than WoW, in my opinion.

WoW crafting would also be much improved if they allowed enchanters to make and sell enchant scrolls (rather than the [really stupid] system they use now of having to actually find an enchanter player and conduct a laborious enchant negotiation and trade). Engineering in WoW, also, is deeply flawed in that too many of the goods an engineer can create can only be used by other engineers. Whose dumb idea was that?

The other crafts are better handled in WoW, but still miss the mark, in my opinion, for the reasons given above.

Crafting in WoW is worthless as it is in most MMO's these days. The only exception is FFXI and now Weaponsmith in SWG. FFXI has a very nice crafting system that can be hard since you must have a buff from an NPC and make sure you face the right direction while crafting. But, more than that, you have items that are actually needed by the players. For example: cooking in FFXI is actually needed by other players, unlike 90% of all other MMO's.

SWG now has a new weaponsmith addition that allows the weaponsmith to enhance player biolinked wepons schematics. So in essense, they are once again needed. All other crafting professions in SWG is a joke since SOE refuses to reimplement decay. SWG Is still has the best crafting engine in my opinion, but it needs serious work. Soe has vowed to revamp crafting as the new updates come, but they still refuse to listen to the players suggestions.

Crafting in EQII is the worst of all crafting in my opinion. They have made it a "mini game" as someone else suggested and it is too time consuming to say the least. I live to craft in any MMO, but even I think that EQII is ridiculous when it comes to crafting.

I tried crafting in LoTRO and it seemed to be pretty good. But, I didn't get to do much of it.

Crafting in WoW is a complete joke. Other than free MMO's, it is the most dumbed down crafting system out there. Blizzard needs to add crafting complexity instead of it being too hard to gather mats for the high end crafting. The gathering of mats at the beginning stages can be fun, but the crafting itself stinks.