Attempting to explain the basic points/benefits of various primary professions to a few friends.
I’ll start with the basic gathering professions.
Ranks:

1. Apprentice
2. Journeyman (trainable at skill level 50)
3. Expert (trainable at skill level 125)
4. Artisan (trainable at skill level 200)
5. Master (trainable at skill level 275, may have to travel to Outlands/Northrend to train)

Grand Master (trainable at skill level 350, may have to travel to Northrend to train)

1. Skinning – Skin the hides off dead beasts for leather. Must having skinning knife in inventory. Passive critical strike bonus.
2. Mining – Mine ore found in the ground & smelt into bars. Must having mining pick in inventory. Passive stamina bonus.
3. Herbalism – Pick flowers & herbs. Have a heal over time similar to Gift of the Naruu.

May want to consider a combination item such as a Gnomish Army Knife, Bladed Pickaxe or a Hammer Pick to save inventory space.
Now on to the crafting professions. These are made from gathered materials. These have character levels requirements as well as skill level. For example if you have a skill level of 150 at level 19 you must still wait until level 20 before you can train for the next rank.
Ranks:

1. Apprentice (trainable at experience level 5)
2. Journeyman (trainable at skill level 50 & experience level 10)
3. Expert (trainable at skill level 125 & experience level 20)
4. Artisan (trainable at skill level 225 & experience level 35)
5. Master (trainable at skill level 300 & experience level 50, as with gathering professions may have to travel to Outlands/Northrend to train)
6. Grand Master (trainable at skill level 350 & experience level 65, as with gathering professions may have to travel to Northrend to train)

1. Alchemy – make Potions, Elixirs & Flasks from Herbs. Passive buff to receive increased effect & duration when you drink any elixir or flask you know the recipe for. Good for any class.
2. Blacksmithing – make mail/plate armor & weapons from metal bars. Can add sockets to their own bracers & Gloves for extra gem slot. Best for Paladins, Warriors & Death Knights, but I have also seen a druid who has this profession.
3. Enchanting – magically enchant items to add desired stats. Can enchant thier own rings. Disenchants gear for materials to enchant other things. Good for any class
4. Tailoring – make cloth armor & bags. Can also make a flying carpet for themselves. Does pair well with enchanting. Best for mage, priest or warlock, but I have also seen a warrior who has this profession (don’t ask, he was bored one day).
5. Engineering – create bombs, guns, ammo, scopes & useful fun gadgets from metal bars (may also need leather as well). Also has a few engineer only enchants & a heliocopter mount. Also can make motorcycles & pets for others. Good for hunters or anyone else who likes toys.
6. Leatherworking – create leather/mail armor from leather. Best for druid, hunter, rogue & shaman, have seen a DK, but that was a person who was only missing the leatherworking profession among his alts.
7. Jewelcrafting – creat rings, necklaces & cut gems for items with gem sockets. Special jewelcrafter only gems. Good for any class.
8. Inscription – create glyphs & scrolls with inks created from herbs. Special insciptionist only shoulder enchants. Good for any class.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Begining WoW (tatianamik.wordpress.com)