Insider Trader: Your livelihood after patch 3.1
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Although patch 3.1 is still a few months from going live, it is already shaping up to be a positive force on the professions front. So far, we've been made aware of the following changes:
Two new Engineering enchants (attn: tanks and spell power users).
An engineered bind on equip blue trinket.
A +hit elixir for the level 19 twink community.
A deliciously ridiculous number of new glyphs, along with glyph changes.
New Blacksmithing bind on equip epics covering spell plate, dps plate and tanking plate, as well as a spell dagger.
New juicy, expensive enchants.
Finally, a productive use for Black Diamonds.
A new Jewelcrafting trinket.
Lots of new Leatherworking goodies.
Several Tailoring items, including a 32-slot herbing bag.
Many current recipes, including Old World and Outland ones, are being rebalanced and updated.
For details and analysis, follow me through the break. Keep in mind that these are subject to change, and that we will likely see even more developments in the future.
Engineers
Wrath introduced a new mechanic in the Engineering world: item modifications that act like enchants, but are based on zany inventions rather than dusty magic.
For better or worse, many of the enchants have been for fun, rather than as a viable choice for a raider. Engineers have been feeling left out, and that is all poised to change.
Patch 3.1 will add to your repertoire of enhancements. "Reticulated Armor Webbing" can be made to encase your tanking gloves, boosting your armor by 800. This will require 400 Engineering to use.
"Springy Arcanoweave" can be attached to a cloak, offering +11 spell power as well as a built-in parachute. While the spell power is minor, this is the only cloak modification that adds spell power to this slot. Besides, if you use the stat, then it is a great replacement for your Flexweave Underlay.
For the mid-level Engineers, or those who simply love Elder's Moonstones, you're about to learn how to make a new trinket. In fact, currently this item is a bind on equip trinket that does not require Engineering to use, so resale is a possibility.
The High-Powered Flashlight adds a chunk of hit rating as well as a permanent Moonstone-projection ability, which can come in handy in dungeons and raids, as well as providing entertainment.
Alchemy
So far, there has not been much alchemical news. Hopefully this means that something great is in the works.
We do have word of a new elixir, Elixir of Minor Accuracy, which adds 10 hit rating and can be used as low as level 15. This will probably be a big hit in the twink community, as well as a boost for tanks leveling up.
Blackmouth Oil and Fire Oil will no longer require vials, which is good, considering that Fire Oil is used in the making of the above elixir. If all goes well, there might be a renewed market for alchemical fish!
The Mercurial Stone, which was changed in patch 3.0.8 into a green-quality BoE trinket from the tool that it used to be, has cropped up in the patch notes as a documented change.
The Flask of Stoneblood will reportedly add additional health, which should brighten any tank's day.
Glyphsand Inscription
The number of new glyphs and changes to existing glyphs in this patch is staggering, and far too expansive for me to list and analyze here. Fortunately, most of the work has already been done for me!
Check out our giant list of undocumented glyph changes.
The patch notes as of the current build may reveal other developments.
Detailed guide to Druid class changes and the new glyphs.
Hunters can pore over this 3.1 glyph analysis.
The Rogue glyph analysis is not to be missed.
Matthew Rossi is all over the Warrior glyphs.
Blacksmithing
There are several new bind on equip epic items that you'll be able to craft, including a spell dagger, the Titansteel Spell Blade.
Holy Paladins might find themselves interested in the Plate Girdle of Righteousness and the Treads of Destiny.
As for DPS plate, the Battle Lord's Plate Boots and the Belt of the Titans might be up your alley. Tanks will be able to craft, or purchase, the Indestructible Plate Girdle and the Spiked Deathdealers. Those boots are so fancy, they even have faces.
Some older recipes are also being reworked. Many of the recipes from 1-300 skill will have updated stats that are more useful, and Titanium Plating will reduce the duration of disarm effects by 50% in addition to increasing block value.
Enchants
Fancy yourself a staff? So many casters are holding one-handers and off-hands these days that Blizz is adding in some enticing new spell power enchants for staves. Enchant Staff - Greater Spellpower is the most expensive, but you can pick up Enchant Staff- Spellpower for much cheaper.
A low level boot enchant, Lesser Accuracy, is also being added, which will be another source of +hit for lower levels. Several recipes in the 250-300 skill range are being updated to be more useful.
Jewelcrafting
If you ever spent much time in Black Rock or other 60s-level dungeons, you've probably learned to ignore Black Diamonds. Sure, there are a few uses for them, and they had their own hey-day, but attempts to sell them these days are usually futile. Many players don't even loot them from the corpses, they're worth so little. Even the vendors won't take them!
With patch 3.1, all of this will change. Jewelcrafters will learn a spell called Prismatic Black Diamond, which will allow them to turn one diamond into a red, yellow or blue gemstone, the quality of which is unclear, and the color of which is a mystery every time! Currently, there's no cooldown.
Because the Black Diamonds are a lower level commodity, it is possible that in the future we'll see something that will allow us to create Northrend gems, similar to the BC spell for Brilliant Glass.
In keeping with the trend of handing down +hit to lower levels seen in these patch notes, Jewelcrafters will be able to make a blue-quality, bind on equip necklace, the Amulet of Truesight, that adds +11 hit rating. This would be useable for the 29 twink bracket, as that's minimum level required to wear it.
Leatherworking
Just like the other gear-crafting professions, Leatherworking will be given new bind on equip epics to craft.
Tailoring
Emerald Bag. This is a 32-slot herbing bag that can be purchased from the Kalu'ak at revered.
Spellslinger's Slippers, for all of the spell-wielding cowboys and cowgals.
Lowbies in the 19 twink bracket may be interested in the blue, bind on equip cloak, Spidersilk Drape. This is another example of how Blizz is sending hit down to lower level classes.
Cooking
Completionists and achievement-junkies should note the change to Dig Rat Stew.
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