There is something wrong, in my opinion, with Blacksmithing in Cataclysm. I can't find the post, but back in the Stormherald-ages Blizzard didn't want to give Blacksmithers BoP items because they " didn't want certain proffesions to have an advantage over others "

Now as Cataclysm comes, let me evaluate how valuable some professions are, and how much of an advantage some professions are. I have listen the changes according to WotLK now, and Cataclysm in the future ( this means that stuff like current flasks beeing upgraded, non included )


* Alchemy

Epic Alchemy trinket is back and there is an upgraded version of Flask of the North.
o [Mixology]
o [Lifebound Alchemist Stone]
o [Flask of Enhancement] + 80 Strength, Agility or Intellect

* Blacksmithing

The two sockets stayed the same, but the materials are changed. (+80 stats, or 120 stamina)
o [Socker Bracer]
o [Socket Gloves]

* Enchanting

Ring enchants.
o [Enchant Ring - Agility] + 80 Agility
o [Enchant Ring - Intellect] + 80 Intellect
o [Enchant Ring - Greater Stamina] +120 Stamina
o [Enchant Ring - Strength] +80 Strength

* Engineering

Epic Engineering Helms can be socketed now with Engineering only gems. They called Cogwheel, and you can see the full list of Cogwheels here. These will allow you to customize your stats even more. Engineering helms are really good right now for the first raid tier. I don't know if they will update these with new raid tiers like once they did in the Burning Crusade expansion.


o [Grounded Plasma Shield]
o [Quickflip Deflection Plates]
o [Spinal Healing Injector]
o [Synapse Springs]
o [Tazik Shocker]
o [Z50 Mana Gulper]
o [Loot-a-Rang] - this is not really a bonus, but I think it's a really handy device for leveling with a ranged character!

* Herbalism
o [Lifeblood] - 480 haste for 20 seconds, 2 minuntes CD.

* Inscription

Shoulder enchants.
o [Felfire Inscription] 130 Intellect, 25 Haste (+80 Intellect over the normal enchants)
o [Inscription of the Earth Prince ] 195 Stamimna, 25 Dodge Dodge Rating (+120 Stamina)
o [Lionsmane Inscription ] 130 Strength, 25 Critical strike rating (+80 Strength)
o [Swiftsteel Inscription] 130 Agility, 25 Mastery (+80 Agility)

* Jewelcrafting
o There will be a new Jewelcrafter only gem called:[Chimera's Eye]. It gives +27 stats over the normal gems (or +41 stamina). You can only use 3 of these on your gear. (+81 stat, +123 stamina)

* Leatherworking
Wrist enchants currently give you 50 Dodge, Hit, Spirit and Expertise or 65 Crit and Haste.
o [Draconic Embossment - Agility] - 130 Agility
o [Draconic Embossment - Intellect] - 130 Intellect
o [Draconic Embossment - Stamina ] - 192 Stamina
o [Draconic Embossment - Strength] - 130 Strength

* Mining
-

* Skinning
-

* Tailoring
o [Darkglow Embroidery] - Restores 800 mana.
o [Lightweave Embroidery] - 580 Spell power for 15 seconds.
o [Swordguard Embroidery] - 800 Attack power for 15 seconds



My concern goes mostly to the fact that, Blizzard didn't want " certain professions to get an advantage " while clearly from this list, Engineering + Jewelcrafting gets major boosts. While Blacksmithing stays the same with 2 sockets.

Not to mention Engineering gets BoP ( remember advantage? ) Goggles + Cogwheels ( which are even better then JC diamonds )

This is not a whinepost, it's merely a post where I would like someone to clarify that " there are no professions which people have advantage from " like they said back in TBC.

Blacksmithing is so left behind, that the 2 extra sockets are overwhelmed by Jewelcrafting + Engineering. I don't see any "advantage" in taking Blacksmithing over Engineering or Jewelcrafting.

What keeps you guys from implementing something worthy to Blacksmithing? The Lionheart Executioner + Stormherald was a advantage for taking Blacksmithing. Nowadays we actually benefit nothing compared to WotLK... not even sharpening stones work...

Since Engineering has BoP gear, wouldn't it be a bit less painfull to give Blacksmithers a 1-handed / 2-handed weapon which works exactly the same as Lionheart Executioner? Upgrading it each time with rare materials gotten from higher raid-instances?

PS: And don't come up with " Yeah but you can use those sockets to upgrade expertise stats or something " because we clearly have reforging for that