| World of Warcraft characters have a number of | | | | Warcraft characters with the alchemy skill can |
| ways they can earn money inside the game. | | | | take the plants gathered and turn them into |
| Weapons and armor can get rather expensive, | | | | potions. Most often, playing a World of Warcraft |
| and almost everyone with a World of Warcraft | | | | account requires a wide variety of potions, |
| account finds they need some way to make | | | | especially those that heal. Regaining health lost in |
| money. One of the most popular ways to do so | | | | the middle of a dangerous situation can be very |
| is with a skill called herbalism. World of Warcraft | | | | important. That's not all the potions can do, |
| characters have several jobs, or professions, that | | | | however. There are potions to increase the World |
| they can choose to train in order to make | | | | of Warcraft characters speed, give them the |
| money. Cooking is one that anyone can train in, | | | | ability to breathe underwater, resist fire, and |
| as is fishing. However, with primary professions, | | | | more. |
| World of Warcraft characters can select only two | | | | Herbalists and alchemists are two professions that |
| to work with, limiting the number of people who | | | | rely on each other to a great extent. Often, |
| can do a specific skill. As players spend time in | | | | they're embodied in the same character. Many |
| their World of Warcraft account practicing their | | | | players on a World of Warcraft account would |
| professions they'll become more skilled and able | | | | see the sense in being able to gather herbs and |
| to make better and more valuable items to sell. | | | | quickly turn them into valuable potions. However, |
| Herbalism is one of the most popular choices, and | | | | the interplay between the two professions is one |
| nearly everyone with a World of Warcraft | | | | of the aspects of the game that makes having a |
| account has tried it at some point or another. It is | | | | World of Warcraft account such fun. The design |
| a primary profession, so characters can only | | | | of the game virtually requires that players interact |
| select one other profession to train, if they | | | | and be willing to trade with each other. It is |
| choose to learn herbalism. Doing so, however, | | | | entirely possible, though perhaps difficult, to have |
| gives them the ability to make many useful items. | | | | alchemist World of Warcraft characters who |
| Herbalist World of Warcraft characters learn how | | | | purchased all of their herbs on the market, then |
| to find and gather a wide variety of plants | | | | turned them to the potions they could sell. |
| scattered throughout the game world. These | | | | The existence of a functioning and capable |
| plants aren't especially valuable in and of | | | | market is one of the aspects that make the |
| themselves, but it is possible to turn many of | | | | game so intriguing, not only to players but to |
| them into potions that can greatly help other | | | | scientists studying social interactions. The millions |
| characters. | | | | of people with a World of Warcraft account offer |
| That skill, however, requires the alchemy | | | | a unique laboratory with which to study market |
| profession, a closely related one. World of | | | | behavior and other human social interactions. |