So nobody advocated for profession changes all this time?
Blacksmithing being nearly useless until max level so people just ignore it until 60? Why would the mats for level 35 green sword require level 45 mats and by the time you make it, there are better green swords available.
Leatherworking is decent, but not a big boost while leveling, no good blue that would help us. Same with tailoring.
“No changes” - sure, but if you look objectively, there were ways to improve leveling a little bit. 20 years ago developers did an excellent job but experience beats everything.
Era is supposed to be a “museum”, so that approach won’t work. The try something different is the main idea behind the Seasonal servers.
I am not aware of profession changes in SOD, but if they where to be implemented then SOD would indeed be the place.
While I agree, I think it would be unlikely they’d do much for Classic^2. It’s supposed to be a fresh classic experience going into TBC, giving them time to work on Classic+ and ideally also gather more data on how the single servers, faction balancing, dual spec, etc. impact a fresh and larger economy without any of the gamebreaking stuff of SoD.
I can see them maaaaaaaaybe implementing something like SoD’s “allow blacksmiths to take all specializations at once” in endgame to make up for it being so useless compared to the other professions.
But ultimately, they’ll keep gameplay changes here to a minimum and focus on backend things, layering, balancing, the new group finder board, etc. to iron out and perfect for Classic+. I understand the enthusiasm and share it, but a lot of the more involved changes will definitely be coming in Classic+ instead, and that’s understandable. It’s clear they’re taking a VERY careful approach, and want to ensure they’ve put in their due diligence with creating the Classic+ that will impress and appease as many people as possible, instead of doing it wrong, which could kill all momentum. For me, this is all very promising.
It’s not too bad if you’re not running regular dungeons for loot, and relying purely on world drops, quest rewards or occasional AH buys.
Getting that Dusky Leather Armor set on your Hunter or Rogue while in your 30s is a significant boost, and outclasses almost all quest rewards, and most world drops unless you’re super lucky to get that rare twink blue from a world mob.
The Nightscape set is another nice power boost when you enter your 40s, and for Hunters the Scorpid Scale armor can see you right through to level cap, and you’ll probably not get anything better unless you actively farm dungeons.
Hopefully we got some profession updates in vanilla+. SoD made some cool changes to Golden Scale mail gear, which had spell power and strength for ret paladin.
you are reading the level to use the item as the level of the item
You craft an item at level 45 that can be used by a level 35 - that makes it a valuable trade item for somebody’s alt
That’s how gathering and crafting work
There are some items that are genuinely BiS for levelling - Tailoring I know best - so Spidersilk Boots, The Dreamweave 3 piece set, Felcloth Sghoulders
But also enchanting - by taking tailoring and farming linen cloth you can get Lesser Magic Wand by around level 10 and Greater Magic Wand when you ding 13
You are probably misunderstanding the actual value of professions and also the worth of an item based on the level it can be used rather than crafted