Trade Skills are now "Professions"

[Lissa]

Here's what I posted on the thread Blizzard created:

I believe this is going the wrong way. It is taking away one of the fun aspects of the game. One of the things that is actually attracting people to WoW is the fact that the trade system is so open ended and by doing this, Blizzard is closing off that system.

If Blizzard does feel this is the way they want to go, then I suggest the following to modify the skills that will be taken up as some of the listed professions aren't really professions unless you decide to add more aspects to them. As such, I disagree with the placement of skills by Blizzard.

What I would do is the following:

Allow 2 Professions, allow 1 gathering skills, and 1 secondary abilities.

Here is the way I would break these down.

Profession: Alchemy, Blacksmithing, Enchanting, Engineering, Leatherworking, Tailoring

Gathering skills: Fishing, Herbalism, Mining, Skinning

Secondary skills: Cooking and First Aid

This still gives 4 potential crafts that a player can follow, but it doesn't limit players as much as the plan Blizzard has right now. By doing this, someone can choose to follow both Blacksmithing and Engineering since both skills dovetail so nicely, it also allows said player to be able to supply themselves if they wish to follow those skills by taking Mining as their gathering skill. Then they can choose whether cooking or first aid is more important to them as a secondary skill.

Blizzard's method, as it stands, means that you will see either Blacksmith/Miner, Engineer/Miner, Skinner/Leather worker, Alchemist/Herb gather, or some other combination. This takes away from fun for the player being forced to have just a gathering skill and their main trade skill.

By my method, the player has the ability to grab two trade skills that would dovetail with one gathering skills, so you could see something like a Leather working, Enchanting, skinner that cooks. You might also see a Tailor that mines and does engineering things on the side.

Once again, I believe the route being take leads to less fun and less interest and I think it will hurt WoW in the end, not help it as it is laid out by Blizzard.

It's slightly more limiting in that you only have 4 trade skills, but it seems silly to me that everyone can be a fisher, medic (first aid), and cook whie only allowing 2 other skills.