I recently came back to EQ2, rolled a Wizard, and would like to get involved into crafting. While I've played EQLive, WoW, and other I've never really gotten into tradeskills that much. With that in mind, I'd like some suggestions as what other Wizards pursue from a crafting perspect and why. I was leaning toward a Sage or Alchemy but there are quite a few other crafting options and I'm not really sure of the pros and cons. I would really appreciate any feedback you all could provide.  Thanks!<div></div>

The best answer is do what sounds the best to you, so you won't get sick of doing it.  The realistic answer is, once you cap there is pretty much no market for your crafted items.  So for the most part, you're only making things ofr friends.   Everyone knows a sage, so don't waste your time to only make spells.  I suggest going with a TS that makes consumable items, as you'll always have use for them and their availability varies greatly.  I went woodworker so I can make totems, alchemist would also be good so you can make potions.  Lastly, provisioner is worth considering as most provisioners hate making stuff for other people so you end up spending a decent chunk of coin each time you need to restock.<div></div>

Rare crafted gear is really nice(esp in midlevels), hex dolls are pretty solid. (tailor)  Jewler also has some nice usable gear (also midlevels). Adornments from either one are happy.  Can't speak for other TSes but i just burned 4 plat on mastercrafted gear.<div></div>

<DIV>I'm greatly enjoying being a Provisioner, personally.  It fits the character in an RP sense, knowing how to cook, and it's low-stress with results I can always and immediately use.  Plus, what other tradeskill lets you feel good (as opposed to reluctant) about giving away samples of the things you've made?  I'll qualify that by saying I'm really just doing it for myself, though, not trying to make a profit or keep a guild well-supplied.</DIV>

<DIV>Thanks for the info...   I think I might try alchemy.  This seems like something that might be cool to try out. Anyone have any opinions? </DIV>

If alchemy is what interests you then go for it.  You'll find as your get higher in level, that the tradeskill you actually make a career in won't have much effect on you, especially if you're in a guild with a lot of people.  Rationally speaking, alchemy would be great because the things you make as an alchemist are consumable, so instead of having to depend on someone else for your potions you can make your own.<div></div>

pick something you like and make friends for the rest <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> ... or alts those work too but i dont like crafting so.... <img src="/smilies/1cfd6e2a9a2c0cf8e74b49b35e2e46c7.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

<P>It really depends what you want to get out of crafting, and how independent you want to be, I think.  </P> <P>In terms of things you'll actually use as a wizard, I'd rate them roughly in this order of amount needed (most to least):</P> <UL> <LI>Sage - makes spells</LI> <LI>Provisioner - makes food/drink</LI> <LI>Tailor - makes armour, backpacks</LI> <LI>Jeweller - makes jewellery</LI> <LI>Alchemist - makes potions</LI> <LI>Carpenter - makes strong boxes, sales crates, furniture</LI> <LI>Woodworker - makes wands, totems</LI></UL> <P>Looking at those same professions in terms of ease of levelling up, I'd rate them as follows (fastest to slowest):</P> <UL> <LI>Sage</LI> <LI>Alchemist/Jeweller</LI> <LI>Provisioner</LI> <LI>Carpenter/Tailor</LI> <LI>Woodworker</LI></UL> <P>In terms of making a profit, it's not so easy to rate them, as the market varies and different classes sell items in different ways.  Sage sales have traditionally been very slow as most people buy Adept I drops instead of getting crafted App IV's, however at the moment all the transmuters are snapping up all the Adept I's on the broker so sages are actually getting quite a bit of work at the moment - not a bad time to be a sage.  Not sure how long this will last however.  Similar story regarding the App IV's for jewellers, who make scout spell upgrades, but you may be able to sell jewellery on the side (both rare and common) for a bigger profit.  Alchemists have a steady turnover of potions and poisons but a fairly small profit margin, so the profit will come from crafting lots and lots of things.  Provisioner would be similar, you don't get rare foods so just selling lots of common foods will make your profit - reliable sales but small profit margin.  Tailor and woodworker can craft rares so will be able to sell with a larger markup on those, their common equipment items won't sell that well however.  Tailors can supplement that with backpack sales and woodworkers with totem sales at a lower profit margin.  And carpenters are an odd beast indeed, boxes sell fairly reliably for a low profit margin, but furniture tends to sell in patches - some weeks very little, other weeks everyone seems to want it.  Also, what items sell well have nothing to do with what tier they are in, so you might be in tier 5 but find that you make the most money making grey recipes in tier 2 and 3, or something similar - this has both good and bad sides.</P> <P>Overall the earlier advice to do what you enjoy is very good.  Whatever you choose, you'll be doing a lot of it, so make sure you can stand doing it.  If you plan to help out your own adventuring with your crafting, then you'll need to keep your crafting level at least equal to your wizarding level, preferably a few levels higher.  If you don't want to spend the time doing that, don't even worry about picking a class that'll help with your adventuring class - just pick something that interests you.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P>Message Edited by Didi on <SPAN class=date_text>11-28-2006</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>04:24 PM</SPAN></P><p>Message Edited by Didi on <span class=date_text>11-29-2006</span> <span class=time_text>06:26 AM</span>

id add jeweler to the things you would use as well. im a wizzy and a jeweler

Oops, good thinking, apparently I wasn't awake last night.  Added it in!  (And my wizard is actually a jeweller too - *blush*)