Some news about patch 3.2 hit the interwebs today, with the most important (to me, anyways) tidbit being a nerf to Jewelcrafting:
In the next major content patch we will be removing the prismatic quality of the jewelcrafter-only Dragon’s Eye gems. Like other gems, they will have to match the socket color to receive a socket bonus. When this change occurs, players with qualifying jewelcrafting skill will be provided a yet to be determined amount of Dalaran Jewelecrafter Tokens as compensation. (Source)
Sorry Jewelcrafters. Here are some tokens, though.
This nerf is fair. I hate to admit it, but it’s true. Currently, JC is head and shoulders above other professions for a couple reasons. First, you get essentially free socket bonuses as well as being able to choose what stat you want to improve. For a Death Knight, this is especially beneficial because the +33 strength from using 3 Bold Dragon’s Eyes is much better than the extra AP you would otherwise get from Enchanting or Inscription. You also get more benefit than Blacksmithing because it only gives two gem slots, which will be 32 strength and no easy socket bonuses. Basically, all of these advantages boil down to the fact that Blizzard is justified in nerfing it.
What interests me is that they will be handing out Dalaran Jewelcrafter Tokens “as compensation.” I don’t know if this has ever been done before, but I feel like it’s a mistake to do so. It makes it seem like they feel the nerf is unwarranted – Engineers aren’t getting anything for losing Nitro Boosts in arenas, for example.
Switching professions?
I won’t be dropping Jewelcrafting. It’s still very good, and hopefully they will buff Dragon’s Eyes to compensate for the existance of epic gems in the next patch. (If they don’t, JC will have lost pretty much all its usefulness.) Jewelcrafting will remain a very good way to make money, as well as giving you access to cutting and prospecting your own gems/ore.
Runeforge Gossip 