Monday Money Making: Spider’s Silk

There is an incredible list of materials out there which one can farm to generate income.  While I don’t usually advise farming because I think there’s faster ways to make money, one thing that will always do well for you is Spider’s Silk.  Prior to Cataclysm, it was an item with a moderate value for its level and availability.  Since Cataclysm, the availability has decreased, while the demand for it has not.

As well, there’s hardly anyone farming it.  I would hazard most people get it accidentally.  There are three zones where mobs will drop the silk though I’ve found Wetlands to yield the best results (luck may vary).  Just West/Northwest of Slabchisel’s Survey, or immediately left when you’re come out of the tunnel, is where you’ll find Leech Stalkers.  Spider’s Silk seems to drop from them at a one in four or five rate.

So the next question is what to do with it, right?  Well, you could just put it up on the Auction House as is.  On my servers I see it bouncing regularly between 10g and 30g a piece.  Not a bad return at all for a little bit of work in a lower level.  However, if you have a tailor (or access to one) you can really profit.  It takes 4 Spider’s Silk plus some Bolts of Silk and Medium Leather to make Spidersilk Boots.  These are the “best in slot” boots for caster twinks at level 19 (and non-twinks will get another 10 levels out of them easily).  I put up pairs of these one at a time for 120g-170g each and only about 15% of the time does a pair not sell.  That’s clearly just a case of timing, because the other occasions they are gone like lightning.  Doesn’t matter if it’s Horde or Alliance either, and the fact that it’s a recipe tailors receive from their trainers seems to be irrelevant as most don’t bother making them.

Like other suggested materials, you’ll also want to keep an eye on Spider’s Silk on the Auction House as quite often it will pop up with people not knowing how profitable it can be.  Quite often I can get it for one gold or less, but somewhere around 5g a piece is where I tend to purchase the most.  Your situation will be different I’m sure, but in no time you’ll determine where the margins are on this little gem and if you’re a tailor you’ll be laughing as you count the income.

Professional Bank Toons

Money Never Sleeps, Pal

Recently over at WoW Ladies, someone asked what professions their bank alt should have.  Amidst gold making efforts and several bank toons I can honestly say it never occurred to me until that moment. 

The Day Has Arrived

Cataclysm Here We Come!

At 12AM PST the new expansion officially launched. Now we know what Blizzard meant by Stamina was going to be key this go around, am I right? Worgens and Goblins are popping up all over and the elitists out for Server or World first could care less what effect their goal has on you and your ventures.

I set out a few goals this time last week and as I reflect on them, I do so with mixed results. I simply could not get Liouxpold to Honored with the Winterspring Trainers. I don’t know if others decided this is what they wanted to do before returning to endgame, but Winterspring was covered in level 80’s on both sides whenever I logged in on Lioux. I managed to get another thousand rep or each pair of quests once each time I tried. I think Blizzard reduced the number of Winterfall Shamans in the area as well, so the sniping was at a premium.

Neither Liouxpold or Elcombe got to 400 on their professions. In Elcombe’s defense, he can’t. As he’s only 51, he caps at 375. The happy news is that I did get him that far.

My newest Tailor, Egwydorian (Dwarf Shaman), made her way into Wool as I had hoped and I also got her to level 20. I’ll talk more about that tomorrow.

The hardest goal to meet, that I succeeded on, was getting Siori Exalted with Cenarion Expedition. First off, I went against my own views when it comes to achievements.   As I’m not Azeroth’s greatest Rogue by any stretch, and quite often had infant in hand, I stuck to running regular Steamvaults for rep rather than the Coilfang Heroics.  I also knocked off quests in Blade’s Edge.  But a good chunk of my rep came from Coilfang Armaments.  Some I got in Steamvaults, but the rest came from the Auction House at 8-14g a piece.  I think I bought over 150 of them.  The end result is Siori is Exalted with the Expedition and despite popular thought it was not to get the Hippogryph (though I cringe at wanting that for Liouxpold).  You see, The Shattering changed a number of things, including stats on a number of things.  Take for example, Enchant Cloak – Stealth.  The new +8 Agility and +8 Dodge is twink heaven, and I appreciate the tip from Mageshadow (now content manager for JMTC) about the change and how to obtain it.

So out of six goals, I did complete four.  Liouxpold was the toon to get the short end of the stick unfortunately.  It also got me thinking about setting in-game goals each week and Tuesdays work rather well.  So, what’s the plan for this week then?

• Well, I realize Liouxpold is very close to Revered with the Thorium Brotherhood and has enough rep items in his bag that I should have done that quite some time ago.  I’m going to refrain from any Wintersping goals, because further content today has my attention even more divided.
• I’ll be rolling my Worgen Warrior, Horrux.  I will probably wait to play him because the start zone is ridiculous.
• Getting Tumunzahar his Flight Master’s License and then getting his Mining maxed.
• Getting Siori’s Enchanting as far as I can before she needs to level.
• Starting my One Life To Live challenge.
• Leveling Egwydorian’s Tailoring to 150 and getting her Archaelogy to the same.

So, another half dozen goals in the works.  I’m sure some weeks I will have more and others will see me have less.  I just imagine little things will pop up that will grab my attention in the early Cataclysm days (including the new Guild UI, and what Claws of Nature will be focusing on).

Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ve stopped experiencing Cataclysm long enough.

Engineers Are Still Special

You Still Have To Choose A Side

One of the things I looked forward to most in Cataclysm was the remove of Specialization training for my Professions.  I specifically skipped choosing Armorsmith or Weaponsmith on my Death Knight because I knew it wasn’t going to matter for very long (though it did in turn make for a long or expensive climb through skill points).  Now, I have access to all Blacksmithing recipes.  Same goes for Tailoring and Leatherworking.  Not for Engineering.

Engineering is already a misunderstood profession.  For starters, it’s a tonne of fun.  My Shaman went Goblin, and it’s been a hoot.  But, fun factor aside, people don’t take Engineering because they think it’s expensive and that it yields little in return because most of the stuff you make you have to be an Engineer to use.  Whether that’s entirely true or not is for another day, because only having access to half the recipes for the profession doesn’t help entice players. 

Now, Engineers aren’t the only ones who were left out in the cold on this decision.  Alchemists also must still choose between Potion Master and Transmute Master.  So while the gear making Tailors, Blacksmiths, and Leatherworkers can make whatever they want for whomever they want, Engineers and Alchemists are still stuck with one path or the other (or subsequently paying to switch).

I’ve found no explanation for why this is.  To be honest, I doubt I’d find one that satisfies me either.  It should be all or nothing.  Then again, weren’t orange recipes supposed to grant three points instead of one?  Why are my Scribes the only ones who have this happen?