The updates to gathering professions mean you can get to max level in starter zones (but that’s probably not intended)

You may have noticed that the introduction of patch 8.0 to World of Warcraft changed the way professions look. Rather than increase the maximum amount of points you can earn in a profession (yet again), Blizzard decided to sub-divide professions by each expansion. So, you have the usual 1-300 possible points for the Classic-era goodies, but then you’ll notice a separate point system for Burning Crusade that caps at 75. Ditto the other expansions (with an exception here and there).

But since I’m sure all you care about is me getting to the headline, I won’t bore you with non-essential details. What is essential, however, is the fact that — for some reason or another — the change to professions affected how much experience players get from gathering professions, and when that experience stops being significant. In this case, it doesn’t stop being significant! (Of course, the very existence of this post is likely to change that, but hey — why not have some fun while we can?)

The sweet deets

As it stands, gathering professions are providing players with a respectable amount of experience per node, regardless of level. Moreover, the amount of experience earned doesn’t seem to change, no matter what you’re gathering. Grey nodes, orange nodes, nodes in Pandaria, nodes in Deathknell — whatever, wherever, they all give you experience.

Granted, when I say “a respectable amount,” I’m talking somewhere in the neighborhood of 1% of a level for every two nodes (i.e., ~200 nodes to gain a whole level) — and that’s with War Mode and rested experience. On the lowest side of things, you’re looking at four or five nodes for a single percent of experience — in other words, 400-500 gathering nodes to earn an entire level. It’s a lot of gathering, to say the least. I’m sorry to say, I didn’t have the patience to test how long it takes to fly around a starter zone and gain an entire level.

Why it’s still an issue

However, even if the numbers prove it to be an inefficient method of leveling, there are still some inherent issues with it. First, it runs contrary to the idea of pushing players into level-appropriate content. How anti-climactic would it be if, the second Battle for Azeroth launches, thousands of players begin championing their faction’s cause by… gathering lots of Peacebloom? It may have worked back in the days of AQ40, but our enemies have learned since then!

Finally, it just feels wrong. I can see earning experience for non-grey herbs in level-appropriate zones. But grey herbs in whatever zone you want is just sort of… eh? I get that mindless leveling can actually be relaxing, but I think there’s a limit, and this is a bit much.

All these arguments are likely theoretical, though, since I highly doubt Blizzard actually intended for gathering professions to provide experience in this way. But hey, until Blizzard does nerf it, you can always take this small window of opportunity to have some fun.

In the meantime, you can still make the most of it

How exactly does one make the most of this sort of thing? I’m glad you asked!

1. Hit all the herb-heavy zones

Lots of people want to pretend like Warlords of Draenor never happened, but you know what’s great about it? It has an ample supply of herbs and minerals, all clustered together in your cozy garrison. Plus, Draenor in general has gear that allows faster herbing and mining, so the continent in general is a solid one to gather in.

Another great location? Freya’s room in Ulduar. There are 20+ herb nodes scattered throughout, all easily gathered in a manner of minutes.

2. Forget the faction conflict and be your own Doubleagent

Remember Doubleagent? The admirable Pandaren who chose to play by his own rules and level to the level cap without leaving the starter zone (and thus, without picking a faction)? He did it the hard way, earning less than 100 experience per node. While this fun lasts, you can earn several thousand experience per node! (Just maybe don’t rub it in his face.)

3. Level in ridiculous locations for the sake of fun screenshots

The header image above, as some of you may have seen, is my Night Elf Warrior hitting level 110 in Elywnn Forest. Off of a Copper node. While wearing cloth heirlooms. Sure, that last bit isn’t exactly related to anything else, but if you can hit max-level in literally any spot on Azeroth, why not have some fun with it?

The only thing left at this point is to ask: How long do you think it’ll be before Blizzard nerfs this?