Need some advice on professions

[Hagar the Horrible]

I'm a level 45 Hunter.

My professions are skinning and leatherworking.

I'm thinking of dropping LW for engineering.

Should I drop skinning? I like skinning. Running around killing critters and skinning them gives my grinding sense. (I only grind when close to leveling for max 1 hour or so, the speed loss is bearable then).

It also allows me to finance my hunter without intervention from my AH-toon.

So, what is the best profession for a Hunter? LW or Eng?

Is high end LW worth it?

Let’s say I don’t do instances (I do, but my guild isn’t really about running instances all day so it will be impossible to get my hands on end-game raidgear), is LW then viable? Or are the Solo PvE rewards better?

What of the two professions is the best moneymaker? I haven’t made much with LW atm…

Thanks for your input

H.

[Your Average WoW Player]

Engineering is AWFUL when it comes to making money. Almost all of the gizmos made by Engineering (with the exception of Guns, EZ Thro Dynamite and and Ammo) can only be used by Engineers, and an Engineer isn't going to buy something if they can make it themselves.

Engineering is also a royal pain the ass to level, some recipes will require not only metal bars, but cloth, gems, and skins.

As for your closing question, which is the better Moneymaker, both are pretty poor moneymakers until you're high end, and making the best ammo, and the best armor kit, before TBC, that was Rugged Leather Armor Kits, and Thorium Shells. I don't know what they are now, probably Knothide Leather Armor Kits and like Adamantine Shells.

Both will probably sell quite well on the AH, however, getting there is the biggest problem. As stated above, Engineering is a royal pain to level up. Now granted being a Higher level, you'd be able to buy a fair few mats, but it isn't the best payout in terms of skill points per mats, especially at Higher End.

But the choice is up to you. I can't tell you how to run your toon. My recomendation?
Keep the Leatherworking, it's much easier to level up, beasts are MUCH more common then veins, and going engineering would probably require you to pick up both Mining and Engineering from scratch. I don't recomend Skinning as your gathering skill with Engineering, unless you are prepared to pay big bucks on the AH for mats.

[dwarfenhelm]

if you drop leather working for engineering then you need to be able make things and with out the ore that wouyld be hard and very expensive in the auction house.
if your looking just to make money out of your trades skills then i would suggest drop l/w and take up mining then sell stacks of leather and ore in the auctions. when you hit 60+ take a good look at what skill your toon would benifit from ie. weapon crafter or jewel crafter and respec then

[niomosy]

If you're going to switch, I agree with the suggestion of going mining/skinning and just selling everything on AH for profit. If you plan on going Engineering, you can always set aside some ore on a mule for leveling up Engineering. Then use the profits to buy all the materials you're going to need aside from the mining mats.

Otherwise, Leatherworking hasn't been too bad for me. Quickdraw quivers and various grinding items I make sell alright on the AH. Rugged Leather Kits aren't too bad, either. You'll probably be grinding the Nightscape and Wicked stuff for a while. I was selling those at over a gold a pop. Not great but not too bad, either. It kept money coming in.

The bigger profits are in making some of the blues. Check out the various blue items you can make (I know of at least 2 at your level). They should sell decently well. The dragonscale stuff looks to be promising for myself as a Hunter.