I know a few rogues on my server are in this boat, so I figured I'd ask on these forums. Apologies if there is already a detailed 10-page post specifically on this (I couldn't find it).

So some background - I've been a sword combat rogue for basically ever, and usually can hold my own when it comes to dps (even against combat dagger rogues we have, give or take). With the xpac I am dumping engineering and need to pickup a new profession. I already have alch (with basically every recipe, so I'm not giving this up) so at first I was drawn to enchanting. +8 all stats that I can't get anywhere else and the ability to enchant my own gear and disenchant crap I find is actually pretty appealing, even if it is annoying and expensive to level up.

However then I hear all this about the blacksmithing weapons. Will Blizz make it so they really "grow" with you, and add new tiers to the blacksmith recipes as new content is added. If that is true it sounds pretty cool. If not, and these weapons will be replaced as soon as we start 25-man raids its not. Who really knows, but I think I'm willing to take that chance...

...but then I look at the swordsmith recipe. Off-hand. Why? The mace is MH, 2.7 speed and looks so hot with that top end dps. I'm really partial to swords since the spec adds more damage (don't really pvp too much and I've heard the stunning from mace-spec is oly so-so anyway). Not to mention I've been using swords for a while. Is it really worth it to drop all my reflectors and grenades and gadgets for an OH sword? And where are fist weapons btw. 5% crit is still better than every other option - if they would just put really good fist weapons in the game I think my decision would be so much easier. The mace does look good, but there arent really stats on it to go with that huge top-end damage. With haste stacking and uncapped?, this could be really a lot of dps though. If only I could get over mace spec being inferior to swords...

So that's where I am. Should I keep eng (I sometimes use reflectors, the caps, grenades, sappers...and use jumper cables, repair bots a bit for raids), take a chance on swords (maybe someday there will be some nice mh weapons added?), go with maces (I wonder if they will change this anyway since weapon expertise blows now), or go enchanting? Gah!

Any comments / thoughts are appreciated.

Try this thread:
http://forums.elitistjerks.com/viewtopic.php?id=9110

Fill out your profile, please.

To sum up the current view in the 67 page TBC Rogue thread for you:

Ebay your rogue and get some hookers. Blizzard is deleting the class from existence in Patch 2.2.

(I don't agree with this by the way, although the hookers is a good idea)

As for the blacksmithing weapons, while it might be fun to go to all that time and effort to get the badass flaming thundercats ripoff sword/mace/doodad, I would have exactly zero confidence that such a weapon wouldn't be superceded shortly thereafter by some random drop in Heroic.

Too bad the first tier of the blacksmithed weapons are better then anything in game right now. Including Karazhan drops. Tier 2 is a bit harder to get but not by much. Tier 3 are all 95dps and stats, for 1 handers that is. Word also is that as drops get better they will keep being upgraded as well, finally making blacksmithing a profession worth having.

That's not entirely accurate. First tier of the blacksmithed weapons comes in at 81 DPS? The Emerald Dagger out of Karazhan is 82, and I think it's reasonable with Black Temple still unseen that even better awaits. Not to be pedantic, but it's quite a general assumption you're making.

It's also been stated by Tigole that the Tier 3 level of specialization specific items will not be able to be crafted in game for several months. As they release new raid zones with better weapons, the next tiers of the items will become availible.

This will function the same way for Arena rewards to keep itemization through different means at an equivalent level.

But your profile says you are a level 4 priest with no server.

Why should anyone bother responding with any kind of decent advice if you have to hide behind what is the equivalent of a level one Blizzard forum alt?

This man speaks the truth.

Incorrect. The Karazhan drops are as soon as the first tier of blacksmithing recipes(and in some cases better - the sword for example from Karazhan). Not to mention the fact that there's no dagger other than Dirge - an offhand - and that can be replaced(by a better dagger I might add) with one from the Romeo and Juliet opera house encounter there.

It would have been correct to say they were the best available in beta until Karazhan opened up - now there's stuff just as good available from doing Karazhan. So the question here is this: Would you rather farm level 70 blue instances to get Primal Nether, or risk your luck at getting a weapon from a 7 day(currently) lockout zone?

This doesn't need to be its own thread. The rogue thread may be huge, but there's a TBC blacksmithing thread on the first page that is far from unwieldy. Also, you have 24 hours to fix your profile.