On an x1 realm with no shop, most of your gold comes from selling to other players. Gathering pays the bills; crafting pays more once you are set up.
Picking a pair
You get two main professions.
- Two gathering professions (Mining and Herbalism, or Mining and Skinning) are the easiest gold. You sell raw materials that crafters need, and you earn while leveling instead of after.
- A gathering profession and its crafter (Mining with Blacksmithing or Engineering, Herbalism with Alchemy) lets you keep your own materials. It costs you mats and skill-ups on the way up, and pays off at 60 when you supply yourself.
- Alchemy sells flasks and potions. Raids use them constantly, so people buy them week after week.
Take Cooking, Fishing, and First Aid on the side too. They are free to learn, and bringing your own food and bandages saves you buying them.
What sells
- Consumables for raiders: flasks, protection potions, resistance items, and food. Raiders buy these before raid nights, every week.
- Raw materials in the evening: post mats when raiders are online and shopping, not at 4am.
- Recipes and patterns: some world drops and reputation recipes sell for good gold to crafters.
Waste less gold
- Do not vendor greens that disenchanters or the auction house want. Check before you sell.
- Repair and restock before raid night, not during it.
- Specialise in a couple of goods and learn their prices, rather than listing one of everything. You will price better and undercut less.
You do not need to play the auction house like a second job. An hour of gathering a week plus selling what your raid needs covers your basic costs at 60.