Phase 3: Profit !

MMO-Champion mentioned that changes are coming on the 4.1 PTR that will significant change the Obsidian Shuffle.  Alright, what exactly does this mean?  For those of us who have been taking advantage of high vendor prices for the uncommon gems from Obsidian, it means that the easy 9G per gem is going away.  Most place on the blogosphere seems to be taking the stance that the sky is falling.  However, I am not too sure just yet.  It will have a dramatic change on the Game of to the Auction House.  But there should still be profit, just maybe somewhere else.  Let’s take a quick look on the impacts.

Jewelcrafting – Yikes, this doesn’t look helpful

Mining – Yikes, the floor price is dropping

Engineering – Well, maybe we can find something

Blacksmithing – This has got to be good, right.

Jewelcrafters:  Form a Union Now…

This is something that was predicted a long time ago, but it was for a long time ago.  Just as Cataclysm launched many were saying that the uncommon gem prices strangely high.  I remember an episode of Call to Auction where they discussed it quite a bit.  At the time, I thought it would change in a hot fix like the Maelstrom Crystal changed that caught my Alchemy/Enchanter with worthless non-DE-able stones.  Yet, the change never came.  Now, I would like to see this a good news.  We have been looking forward to the introduction of Epic Gems.  This might be the right time for that.  Blizzard would need to nerf the uncommons gem prices if they were introducing Epic to avoid a mad rush to Jewelcrafting.  I think that Jewelcrafting will still be profitable, but the shuffle may end up more similar to the Wrath Saronite version.  It’s more work, but more goods for the Auction House as well.  I’ll reserve judgment until the change goes live, but we need to form a Union now.  I don’t want to picket the AH, but there has to be something we can do as a group.

This may induce a side effect on the Herb, Alchemy and Inscription market as Herbs are purchased to Transmute Uncommon Gems into Rare versions.  This will likely not to be too significant as the demand for Rare Gems will likely be fairly steady.

Mining:  Whiskey Tango Foxtrot…

I can’t think of a way to phrase this nicely.  Miners just got a big face full of coal dust.  Try not to get Black Lung and die.  The floor price for Ore is taking a huge hit.  Farming gold per hour will take a beating.  It is not likely to be the 92% hit that the Uncommon Gem price is taking, but it will be significant.  I guess this is one way of combatting bots.  At least, there may be some demand from Engineering and Blacksmithing.  It is likely to make Smelting a viable option as well.  It’s not all bad news, but it’s hard to say that there is a silver lining.

Engineering:  Woot!?!

This is a great thing for Engineering.  I don’t know about you, but I have been disappointed with my 525 Engineer.  I just haven’t been able to find any real profits in with the Cataclysm Engineering items.  I like the utility of my Killshades and cogwheels, but well…. it’s been tough.  Now, I need to plan and find any recipes that I don’t have yet.  I am hopeful that my Engineer Alt can finally make it into the gold making rotation.

Blacksmithing:  Woot!!!!!!!

You mean something besides buckles might generate a profit.  How can this not be good?  Mats will be down, but there is more.  The recipes require Elementium Bar which should be cheaper as well.  High level Blacksmithing will be cheaper than ever.  Combine this with the Call to Arm, Dungeon Finder change and we could see an increase in demand for plate tanking gear.  Argh, It looks like I will be spending my time getting another alt to 84.

Are you happy now?

Well, you should be.  The marketing is shifting.  This can lead to a tremendous opportunity for many of us.  I hope to be well into the black and I wish you amazing success as well.

Happy Selling!