Armorsmithing or Weaponsmithing?

[sabishii]

First off, I did search a few times and came across a few threads... However, the gist of those threads were mainly about which specialization was more profitable.

In my case, I'm not really looking for a profit. Perhaps I may change my mind at 60, but right now I'm thinking that I want to use blacksmithing simply for making equipment useful for myself and my small guild.

So which specialization is more useful? I'm a warrior, so I heard that the Arcanite Reaper could be very useful. However, it seems that now there are a bunch of better drops, so it wouldn't last too long, and it's kind of easy to get from any other weaponsmith. On the other hand there is armorsmithing, in which I'm less knowledgeable about on its usefulness.

[Leonavice]

Armorsmithing is more versatile, as what you can make, can potentially cover the head, leg, wrist, waist, chest, feet and hand slots. Whereas for Weaponsmithing, because they force you to specialize more into Axesmith, Hammersmith or Swordsmith, it's just too limiting.

[sabishii]

Cool, thanks, Leonavice.

I'm looking for a few more opinions, then I can make my own conclusions and call it a day.

[Bullvye]

I will toss in mine as a 300 armorsmith...

I am wearing items I have made right now. There are more I can make, but do not have the means to get the materals (Dark Iron). But be assured: it was costly to get there. And what blows even more is the Imperial Plate set can be made by any blacksmith.

That said, as the new instance is revealed (which requires shadow resist), I expect I will be a lot busier making Dark Rune pieces and the Dark Iron pieces I can make are really nice (the helm has the most armor of any in the game).

If you are in a raiding guild, you stand a chance of picking up the Lionheart Helm or Titanic Leggings plans, both of which will make you a mint since they are arguably the best PVP armor in the game for their respective slots.

That said, if you are alliance side, do not expect much of a market for your stuff. Other than the Whitesoul Helm, there are no paladin plans and the mail you can make is geared toward Shamans.

As far as being a weaponsmith, you do have to specialize, so you need to plan out what spec you want to be (if you a Arms warrior) and use what you have. Arcanite reapers are popular with MS and fury warriors because of the high max damage and attack power stat bonus.

There are not as many recipies for weaponsmiths as armorsmiths, but nearly everyone can use a weapon, versus only paladins and warriors being able to use plate.

-Bullvye

[bpaige]

I can weigh in on the Weaponsmith side of things. I am a hammersmith, one of the few on my server. They are very few and far between. There are some great weapons we can craft Hammer of the Titans comes to mind. But the weapons we can make are only great as fill ins, that is until you can get something else to drop be it in ZG or MC. On the flip side of that I can give you an example of how it can be profitable. Evidentally a guy had been spamming IF for like 3 hrs looking for a hammersmith to make a Volcanic hammer. One of my guildies got talking to him and had the guy whisper me. He was offering 30G plus the mats, plus the pattern for me to make this thing for him. Now I already had the pattern, but being the enterprising individual I am took him up on the offer of the pattern and 30G to craft this item for him. He even waited for like an hour while we finished our ZG run. I sold the pattern for another 15G on top of that so....there is an example of making money as a weaponsmith. Wheras an armorsmiths goods can be used into MC until a better drop comes along for FR plate or tier1 pieces.

The other part to consider is your guild, I'm in a ZG, jsut starting MC guild, we had a swordsmith and axesmith, as well as an armorsmiht, plus with me being a pally it jsut felt right to slide into the hammersmith role. Consider carefully as you can't go back and change. These are all good points to consider while making the choice.

[Bullvye]

Consider carefully as you can't go back and change. These are all good points to consider while making the choice.

Actually, we can now, but we have to abandon the profession entirely and start from the beginning.

-Bullvye

[sabishii]

Tell me if I'm correct here. From what I hear, the best weapon I can make from Weaponsmithing is the Arcanite Reaper, but I can just get the IBS which is almost as useful for me as an Arms warrior. So I guess there's not much I can use from Weaponsmithing.

[Bullvye]

Um, no. There are more weapons you can make, like the sulfuron hammer, nightfall and black fury to name a few. But as far as easily farmable materals, yes, you are correct.

-Bullvye

[Johnny]

Armorsmithing is more versatile, as what you can make, can potentially cover the head, leg, wrist, waist, chest, feet and hand slots. Whereas for Weaponsmithing, because they force you to specialize more into Axesmith, Hammersmith or Swordsmith, it's just too limiting.
However.

Though amrmor covers more parts of the body. Class wise you are only making armor for one class on the horde side (Warrior) And two on the allience side (Paladin, Warrior) Though you can make some mail armor the most sough after mail armor comes from leatherworkers.


The said truth is that blacksmithing is in fact less profitable than fishing.

Even less so if you combine fishing with cooking,

[SkipsH]

If you are on the horde side you can make some nice mail armor for shamans. So it balances out against the plate for paladins.

[Randomeyes]

300 tailor here, girlfriend's warrior is a 300 BS, Armoursmith.

The problem we both have is that at the early levels, providing you put the work into keeping the skill up, you can make yourself nice stuff to wear. If you are 5+ levels ahead of other guildmebmers then they’ll really appreciate the good stuff you can make. The problem comes at about level 45. Suddenly nothing you can make is as good as the stuff that drops and the effort needed to keep the skill level up increases hugely.

Choose a weapon specialisation, it will at leaast put you into a minority.

Good Luck.