Any engineers?

[Circuit]

I read a bit about the engineering profession and some of the stuff you can make sounds pretty cool. It also sounds like it's the hardest and most involved profession in the game and could quite possibly eat up a large amount of play time. Have any of you taken engineering with any of your characters? Engineers sound like they're few and far between and the thought of making items that hardly anyone else has is neat. The downside (which is huge) is that a lot of the items can only be used by other engineers, which means you won't be making much money by doing it.

[BoX]

It's a huge money sink. I've bever taken it with any characters. It's great for pvp though.

[LogRoller]

It's only a huge money sink if you buy crap on the AH. Otherwise, it's not that bad.

[jackrabbit]

I'd disagree, Log. I never used the AH with Caliber cause I thought it was too "hardcore RPG" (I bought 1 fused wire). I made almost all of my own stuff for engineering or got it from guildies. While it isn't a money sink if you make it yourself, it's a timesink and a money waster. You can't sell 90% of the items except to other engineers who already can make it. The other stuff would never sell for what it's worth since the good stuff is worth more as parts than as an item. While you're holding on to crazy amounts of copper and bronze you could be selling it and making MUCH more money.

Arbatel is the first character I've really farmed with. She'll have caught up to Caliber -monetarily- by level 50 or sooner. Engineering and enchanting are the biggest wasting professions, I think.

Still, I can make some cool stuff. It's just typically not worth the sum of the items it requires to make it.

[Circuit]

But is it worth taking if you really don't plan on using it to make money? It seems like it would be difficult to afford everything you need for making the stuff and still be able to buy all the other necessities for the game.

[LogRoller]

I dunno. I made a bunch of those scopes, and I've been making a mint. My experience is different, probably because of the buttloads of chinese farmers and the loads of gold due to endgamers.

[Q]

I have engineering on my priest, and it's pretty fun. It's really not that bad if you take mining because you can feed yourself most of the materials. I got my engineering up to 200+ without buying a thing. The downside is that you lose out on the income from selling the materials on the AH.

JR is right though, it sucks that most engineering items you can make can only be used by other engineers.

[bridude]

I've got my engineering up 280something. It's really just for a good laugh. It isn't effective for making money or in combat.

[Circuit]

So to you who have done/are doing engineering, are you using just the money you've earned or are you funded by your alts and/or other guild members? I'd really like to try at least going through my first character with little monetary assistance. Not that I don't appreciate the bags and such. :)

[bridude]

I will probably continue with engineering to 300. I don't make any money off eng though, I make a shit load of money off mining.

If you want I'll send you some stone or whatever else you need to skill up.

EDIT: oh I misread your question.

With mining you should be able to afford engineering. If you need a jewel, leather,etc just ask.

[Q]

So to you who have done/are doing engineering, are you using just the money you've earned or are you funded by your alts and/or other guild members? I'd really like to try at least going through my first character with little monetary assistance. Not that I don't appreciate the bags and such
The majority of engineering items require materials you get from mining along with cloth drops (and some leather). So as long as you have mining and a friend who has skinning, you'll be all set. If there's anything you need that you don't have, just ask in guild chat and someone is bound to have it kicking around.

[Creole Ned]

Pretzel generally has enough leather on hand to furnish a small nation.

[Harka]

You can make me several armor kits! wheee!

[Circuit]

Hmm. So now I'm considering dropping blacksmithing with Slappyjoe and picking up engineering. I've been able to make some good stuff, but I've used more armor and weapons picked up from drops than I have from homemade gear.

Also, when does mining become a moneymaker? I've only just recently started mining tin in order combine it with copper to make bronze. Doesn't seem like copper or bronze would really sell for much.

[bridude]

You really start to make money when you get to Iron/Heavy Stone and Mithril/Solid Stone.

I put up a stack of thorium for 6 gold and it was sold before I finished putting my other items up for auction.

[Tai]

A stack of 20 copper bars sells for 1 gold. (Or in my case, 95 silver). I'm at least getting something useful out of coming into the office today!