WoW BHA - "Tips" for Leveling Crafting Professions
Crafting Professions can be a pain, money sink and/or frustrating to level.
If you find yourself saying "I can barely afford my skill upgrades every two levels." If you find yourself buying standard materials off the Auction House for inflated prices, there are ways to get help.
Tailoring - Bags are money! Most guilds don't load up their toons with 16 slot bags like we do. Take advantage of this and sell bags on the Auction House. Regardless of people's levels, everyone needs these and every time an alt is created you have a new market. (10 - 16 slot bags sell well)
Level Smart - Check wowwiki for links to free leveling guides. Only use materials on things that you can use yourself, give a guildie for immediate use, makes you money (AH with a sale) or that will give you a skill level (yellow/orange). Enchanting the same shield that cost you 10 silver multiple times is not only okay, but often the fastest way to skill points.
Craft + Enchanting - If you make it, you can usually break it via DE for Enchanting materials. Don't be afraid to use this combination. (For example: Tailoring Arcanoweave Bracers, then DE for a Large Prismatic Shard is a lot cheaper than buying the Shard on the AH or trying to buy items on the AH and hoping to DE for a shard.)
Advertise - Ask if people have alts that are in the level you are crafting things. Let people know what types of things can help you skill up. If someone asks for a specific enchant and it can give you a skill, mention that when you say you can help them.
Use your professions together - If you craft a set of bracers, add an enchant to it that makes sense.
Look at your Guild - You usually craft about 5 below your level. Don't be afraid to help lower level people of the same profession. It helps them level to keep their gear topped off. It makes their Leatherworking easier as well. Leatherworkers look of leveling Rogues, Druids & Hunters. Tailors look for Mages, Priests & Warlocks. Blacksmiths look for Hunters, Shaman, Warriors & Paladins for armor, then look at everyone for weapons. Engineers - there are a lot of people in the guild who fish, you can be our friend. Potions - everyone needs them and few will say no to a health or mana potion. A Druid Leatherworker would probably love to get that helm you just learned how to make.
Remember your Guild is GWJ - If you need specific types of material, mention it in Guild Chat. Don't be a pain about it, but if you ask if people have extra N once while you are online, you'll find presents in your mailbox. People with alts are usually drowning in cloth and wishing they had somewhere useful to put it. Others have gone before you and often alts level with 2 gathering professions. Need leather, ore or herbs? Let people know what you are having trouble finding, most likely someone has it stashed in the bank somewhere.
Gathering can be sexy - If you aren't sure which crafting profession you want, take a gathering profession that would support it and bank the materials you collect. These will come in handy later when you do choose a crafting profession. Until you hit Level 70, you most likely won't be able to maximize the usage of what you are crafting. Many times it can be easier to level the majority of a crafting profession all at once, rather than crafting as you go.
I'll throw in a couple of notes I've found useful:
* Don't be wedded to any guide you find. I've relied heavily on a consolidated set of links on the European forums, but there are sometimes better ways. You might get lucky with a world drop (saved my enchanter a bunch of mats). If you have bonuses, there may be better ways (e.g. a Draenei JC) than what is proposed. Sometimes the guides haven't been updated with mat changes or just flat out don't take the best overall path all the time. Spend a little time reviewing the guide against the list of possible recipes on wowhead or something similar to see if you might find a slightly better path.
* I'll second RedJen's comment on a quick ask in guild chat. Looking at the guild list can be helpful sometimes too, as lots of folks put their professions in their comments. Especially for cross-profession needs (say an enchanter looking for rods or a JC looking for a mercurial stone), ask in guild chat or post here, as someone will likely be more than happy to make it for you, saving you having to buy it on the AH. You might have to help with mats, but then again you might not. We have a generous guild.
* Paying attention to when recipes go yellow and green is key, but one thing I didn't realize at first is that the first 5 yellow points are practically guaranteed. It's often a good way to avoid using some higher level mats too quickly, especially as you approach 300 and 350 (points where it starts to get more expensive to level most professions). If the next recipe is rather expensive, though, you might be best sticking with a yellow one for a bit, even if it might take 7 or 8 uses to get 5 points. Sometimes I've even alternated back and forth a bit, and saved on some more expensive mats.
BHA: Kamyndra - 70 Prot Warrior, Tyraan - 63 Enhance Shaman, Rahodius - 51 Priest
Yes, I third this suggestion. Don't just ask for mats in guild chat (though ask for those too!), but ask for anything you need that can be crafted by a different profession. I've made more enchanting rods for non-guildies than guildies.
And I don't even charge non-guildies; you bring your mats, I'll just do it for free if you catch me while I'm in the forge. 
Guildies, if I have the mats, I'll make whatever you need and mail it or give it to you. If I don't have the mats, I'll help you get them if I can (especially if it's ore; I'll go mining for you!).
I picked up crafting not just for myself, but because I enjoy making things that people can use. It's been ages since anyone needed any weapons or armor I can craft, I'd love to be able to make some goodies (and I have some nice recipes for a variety of level ranges) that guildmates can use.
I never thought about asking for mats in guild chat. After doing a few stints in raiding guilds where the attitude was "farm it yourself that is what everyone else does!" this is a refreshing attitude change.
GWJ BHA chars- Maxoxo 42 Gnome Affliction Warlock
AoC chars- Deathwhisper - Rikofu Barbarian / Maxoxo Tempest of Set | Wiccana - Maxoxor Necromancer
A Rule when asking for mats in Guild Chat:
- NO SPAM! - Spam will be grounds for a private chat with Reap or another Guild Officer.
A few suggestions on asking for mats in Guild Chat:
- Refrain from asking for Gold. You will probably be told to go kill something.
- Be nice, rude people get ignored and privately spoken to by at least one Guild Officer.
- Be thankful when people give you things. They don't have to give you anything. Doing so is something that sets GWJ apart.
- If people are sending you materials, let them know when you no longer need them.
- Don't ask for something more than once in a night. If anyone asks you to clarify or if you need something in Guild Chat, then answer in Guild Chat.
- Often there are people asking if anyone needs X items. You can ask a Guild Officer if you want suggestions on people who may need certain things.
- If you are looking for something specific and don't want to ask in Guild Chat, send me (Lunazul/Lunarel) mail in game. I keep a running list of things people are trying to find.
GWJ Alliance on Blackhand
Lunazul - Rouge & GWJ Paparazzo
Merdee - Hunter
Lunarel - Druid
As One of the guild Leather workers i am glad to help out if you need something ..i will offer a suggestion as well adding to Lunas list
- If you know someone has a recipie or pattern you are intrested in you can always whisper them or send an In game mail as long as you are polite about it ..I.E no spam giving a chance to respond this can work well
_ also if you decide t send maits in the mail to someone please send a letter along stating what you want made and who i am sending it back to
Yea though I have walked through the valley of the shadow of death I shall fear no evil because it will kill the clothies first
Terase - lvl 70 balance druid
Elorin - lvl 62 frost mage
Teriine - early 30s marksmen hunter
Terrion - early 20's warri
Yeah, even though I'm fully aware (and appreciative!) of the generosity of the guild, I still have a very, very hard time asking for and receiving things from others. I guess it's a remnant of growing up in a poor but proud family and having the ethic of "earn what you want" drilled into me early and often, you know? That said, there is nothing I like more that sharing what I have earned with others and it is always my pleasure to help people out with anything they may need that I can easily provide (which is currently leathers and nether cloth
) so I will almost never turn down a polite request that I can fulfill.
XBL/PSN: zeroKFE | BHA: zeroKFE | Halo Stats
Luna's suggestions are awesome. I do tend to ignore people when they spam for things in guild chat.
It also helps to be specific when asking for mats in particular. "Send me all your thorium ore!" isn't as helpful as "I'm working on my last X points in smithing to reach fel iron crafting. Anyone who can, please send me thorium ore to help me get over the hump, about Y bars/ore should get me there" that way we know a target to aim for, and it's obvious how beneficial the ore will be to you. 
The last ~five ranks of smithing were awful, and I didn't even have a flying mount yet to help farm the mats, so I asked every couple of days with an update on my progress so people knew that their donations were getting me there.
One idea, when you have things on that running list that I can supply with my gathering/crafting professions (mining & hammersmithing, both maxxed on skill and with most of the utility recipes) let me know and I'll keep an eye out for getting those things when I can.
Spam? That's a beatin'.
And remember, the Japanese aren't commercially whaling. They're conducting "research". Like "researching how delicious this whale is". - Paleocon
Boy, now I'm worried. I've been sitting at 357 for a bit now trying to find Fel Iron for the next pattern in the progression, although I have to admit I've been more focused on gearing up for raiding and levelling my other miner.
Back to the main topic, I should have made a note about how to best ask, thanks Luna. I've also been like zero and have felt guilty asking too much, but when I've mentioned what I need and why (such as looking for the last bit of mats to hit 300 JC a little while ago, or to make Fireguard), folks have been very generous (and thanks!).
BHA: Kamyndra - 70 Prot Warrior, Tyraan - 63 Enhance Shaman, Rahodius - 51 Priest
Aye, my back can attest to the beatins, which are given out far too regularly. He carries his beatin weapon with him to the office. I can't imagine how he'd be if he was the boss of the office too.
Tundra= Grinders (main), Doyal (alt), Grynderz (alt), also work with Shanker/Reap.
One of my guildies had this macroed for when people asked him for gold:
"I've hidden gold on mobs all over the world of warcraft. If you go out and kill them, you'll be able to get it!"
"A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools." - Douglas Adams
Ditto here. I've pondered making a similar macro, but never got around to it
wordsmythe wrote:
Podunk on Jessica Alba wrote:
I am stuck on 365 enchanting and don't know what recipe would be best to "burn" and get to 375. I thought there was a link to a sight that showed me this kind of thing. Does anyone know where to find such information. Please and thanks.
WOW: GWJ Alliance on Blackhand (BHA)
I know of this list of profession leveling guides. Not sure if they are the best available, but the enchanting one should do the trick for you.
It suggests:
XBL/PSN: zeroKFE | BHA: zeroKFE | Halo Stats
I'm not in a GWJ guild, but my advice is this:
1. You're probably better off just taking up two gathering professions, making a ton of gold, and buying whatever you need. Crafting usually costs more to level than it brings in. A lot more.
2. If you just HAVE to level a crafting profession to get some sexy BOP crafted item, gather your own mats. Or, do it after you're level 70, you have your epic flyer, and money's not really an issue. Leveling a crafting profession before level 70 is a waste of time.
I can't tell you the number of times I've had to practically give away items I made while leveling Engineering. At the same time, I've gotten great bargains on crafted armor items because some poor blacksmith made 10 sets of Felsteel Gloves to ding a few points and had to dump them on the market at 50% of cost.
http://www.sportsdigs.com/
*shrugs*
I enjoyed levelling smithing while I played my way to 70.
Fun trumps efficiency for me.
I initially made the horrible decision to be a tailor and enchanter on the same toon. Two, very expensive, and very limited in utility and fun skills. It is hard to make cash enchanting without whoring yourself off, and you really need to get tailoring high level, making large bags, to take advantage. Also, as a Warlock, I found that the higher and higher level the tailoring got, most gear was for priests and mages more.
On a whim, I abandoned both, at level 66. I sold all the crap. I learned mining and engineering. The high level trick grenades(Frost) and The Goblin Rocket Launcher are fantastic, and sapper charges really help in a PVP realm sort of like a death grenade in an FPS. It took me about a weekend to grind up the skills of mining and engineering, maybe 20ish hours.
I am a firm believer that it is easier to just be a gatherer(mining, herbalism, skinning) from 1-70(80 now), just to get as much cash as possible. Later on, especially with 25 daily quests, it is much easier to grind crafting.
I found that crafting really changed when you got to Outland. In the time and effort that it takes to grind up to the epics, you could have been in the arena, or instances. The huge step up in quest rewards in Outlands really made me drop the tailoring as well. It seems that Blizzard is trying to get more specialized items, not sets of gear, as crafting these days.
Also, as a predominantly solo artist, I found little value in crafting things just for me. And the guild I ran in was not very cohesive in sharing. Few people crafted, most folks had a f*ck you attitude and just gathered for money. And the higher you get, the more and more you need specialized materials from other skills(especially smiths and alchemists).
In summation, crafting is over rated, and the time/money spent towards higher level crafting, often could be better spent doing other things.
I so very much disagree with you here.
I leveled tailoring enchanting on my lock. I now sit with t5 equivalent gear, and around 1700 spell damage buffed from gear and enchants. Grinding the levels was easy.
Unfortunately, if I slash my wrist with my lightsaber it cauterizes instantly. - PurEvil on emo Star Wars plots.
I've had a fairly straightforward time with my priest levelling those, although I have to admit I was funneling extra greens and cloth from two other toons as I levelled them. Winds up leaving me in a weird state though, as I have a lvl 39 toon who's at 288 tailoring and 293 enchanting, and trying to get to 50 as fast as I can...
BHA: Kamyndra - 70 Prot Warrior, Tyraan - 63 Enhance Shaman, Rahodius - 51 Priest
You misunderstand. I am not saying that crafting cannot yield very powerful results. But for the 1-60, 1-70 really. Your better focus is on quests and money. Many players put too much focus in the earlier game on getting the best gear for their level. Any awesome piece of kit you make or find in an instance will probably only last you 3-4 levels. And anything that you make or get will be completely worthless once you get to outland, and then again with Lich King.
Don't get wrapped up in that early on. Don't sweat that so much. Your time and effort is best spent questing, and the at the end doing dailies. Getting wrapped up in crafting will just distract from playing the game. You can always go back later, with a pocketful of cash to do some crafting if you want.
One thing that Blizzard needs to fix is crafting from 50-60+ level items. Anything you find in outland is immediately better than any of that high level stuff. And for something with the sole purpose of grinding you to level appropriate and high level gear, it is a lot of waste just to grind that skill.
I agree wholeheartedly. That's been my strategy from day 1, based on what I had heard about Outland. I actually levelled my enhancement shammy with the Crescent of Forlorn Sprits (a quest reward from Darkshire) all the way to 60. Just recently replaced it with a quest reward in Hellfire Peninsula, and didn't have to worry too much about it. Not really crafting, I realize, but similar concept.
I have found in some cases though that it can be easy to just let crafting skills level as you level, although the cost can become an issue, so I see your side of the argument as well. It certainly helps to have a main toon running the dailies to get the extra cash. In that case, it can be quite convenient by avoiding either the later time wasted running low level areas for mats or the extra money on the AH, as you'll probably easily see 70-80% of what you need mats-wise, although enchanting gets a bit tough.
This is something that has bugged me for a while. Why is it so hard to get from 290-300, only to have it suddenly get really easy again (at least until 325-350)? I just don't get why Blizzard didn't add a few extra easy recipes in the 280-300 range for the various crafting professions to smooth things out a bit. Sort of like what they did with cooking in 2.4.
BHA: Kamyndra - 70 Prot Warrior, Tyraan - 63 Enhance Shaman, Rahodius - 51 Priest
My suggestion on crafting is don't do it unless you care about level 70 items that are BOP.