I’ve been wondering about professions for a while, since it’s the only reason my wife plays WoW at all and the conclusion I’ve reached is that Blizzard has a really narrow vision about it.
Mats from previous expansions become novelties with little to no value, just like the items we can craft with them. Apart from a few cases, usually related to mounts, there is little incentive to lose time on that. I don’t understand how every single time we’re finding new, better mats to use on crafting material. Is Bismuth really a better mat than Saronite or Mythril?
In my mind the best crafting gear and other novelty items created could use a mix of mats from the new and old expansions. The crafting catalogue could be broader or even make it a sort of special crafting page like “Expert” or “Master” whatever you want to call it and you could create unique items that would take more mats and unique processes for it’s creation. It’s a shame we’re not using what already exists in the world.
Old items were already pretty useless but three or four expansions ago new characters would benefit from a potion or two, now with the fast paced leveling there is no need for it. Same with heirlooms which used to be sought after.
Blizz should really look into making professions more complex and worth spending our time with.
This would make it more interesting for crafters who enjoy this game feature.
I do agree with some of the points from that other post. But my post is about usage and the creation of items, may it be gear or mount or toys or pets or whatever, that includes all of WoW contents. Making a system that clearly has a better pathway than another is just idiotic. It reminds me a bit the talent system and how everyone is seemingly using the same talents with very few iterations so that no one is missing out on damage or important skills. That brings us no choice.
As a BS I don’t want to focus on making shields or just swords, as an alchemist I don’t want to miss out on potions because flasks are being bought for raids by everyone.
Earning the possibility to craft X or Y should not be gated as hard as it is. But instead as you progress into making these items new and more complex items would appear overtime. Not RNG off course but instead based on experience. Produced 1000 flasks ? Here’s a more complex recipe for a better iteration using mats from previous expansions (limited production per week in order not to flood AH). Make it so that I can put more mats on creations like this and get more flasks out of it.
Your gear has been used by 20 heroes (other players) and you can now make that piece using other designs.