Choosing Sides: A Guide on Gnomish and Goblin Engineering

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Tinkerwiz
3. Choosing A Side
4. Goblin Engineering
5. Gnomish Engineering
6. Switching Sides: The Easy Way

Well, I've seen a lot of people requesting "guides" on which specialization in Engineering they should go (either Goblin or Gnomish) and since recently leveling Engineering for a second time, I decided I'd fulfill that plea by creating this guide on choosing your path. Also this is my first time writing a guide, so bare with me .

Now without further ado, let's get started.

Well first, let's start with Tinkerwiz.

As his name suggests he is...well a wiz of tinkering. When you are level 30 and reach 200 Engineering you can visit this guy in Ratchet and pick either one of two quests: Goblin Engineering or Gnomish Engineering (Alliance Version). Picking a quest will not immediately set your Engineering to that specialization, but instead refer you to the proper trainer for each specialization. So you still have time after accepting the quest to change your mind.

If you accepted Goblin Engineering, head on down to Gadgetzan in Northern Tanaris. When you arrive, you'll find Nixx Sprocketspring in a small hut next to the Inn. Now when you turn in your quest, Nixx, will give you The Pledge of Secrecy. At this point you can still make a last minute decision to change your mind.

Goblin Engineering allows you to make ingenious explosives and even a Rocket Launcher. Unlike Gnomish Engineering, Goblin devices never fail catastrophically and always work, they just either harm you severely or otherwise kill you. Now, when you turn in this quest, there's no turning back. Your Engineering is intertwined with Goblin Engineering permanently and only certain means can reverse the damage done and those "means" aren't exactly easy to achieve. I'll get into that later on in the guide.

Note: Goblin Engineering may be better for Alliance trying to grind reputation with the Wintersaber Trainers as a direct teleportation to Winterspring is available exclusively to Goblin Engineers.

After that, Nixx will give you Show Your Work, which requires you to make 20 Big Iron Bombs, 20 Solid Dynamites and 5 Explosive Sheeps.

The breakdown on all the materials are:

Iron Bar x 30
Silk Cloth x 10
Wool Cloth x 20
Heavy Stone x 40
Solid Stone x 20
Bronze Bar x 20
Medium Leather x 5
Silver Bar x 2

Once you've made your bombs and exploding sheeps, it's time to turn in your quest and start really making some cool explosive devices.

Congratulations, you are now a Goblin Engineer ! Throughout the rest of your Engineering days you'll be able to make cool and dangerous gadgets like Dimensional Ripper - Area 52 and Goblin Rocket Launcher.

If you accepted Gnome Engineering (Alliance Version), take the boat to Booty Bay and go to Oglethorpe Obnoticus [Coords: 28,76]. If your Alliance, go to Tinker Town in Ironforge and talk to Tinkmaster Overspark. Turn in your quest and get the followup, The Pledge of Secrecy (Alliance Version).

Gnomish Engineering enables you to make bizzare gadgets. For instance, you can turn some one into a chicken or take control of their mind. The only drawback is Gnomish gadgets have a high chance of failure and is somewhat unreliable. Once you complete this quest, there's no turning back and your a Gnomish Engineer forever, preventing you from becoming a Goblin Engineer obviously.

Note: In 3.2, Horde will be able to obtain a Ravasaur mount by doing daily quests in the Southern Kalimdor area. Since Gnomish Engineers can teleport you directly to Gadgetzan, Horde players trying to go for the mount may want to choose Gnomish Engineering over Goblin.

Now, you'll receive Show Your Work (Alliance Version), which requires you to make 6 Mithril Tubes, 1 Accurate Scope and 2 Advanced Target Dummies.

The breakdown on all the materials are:

Iron Bar x 6
Mithril Bar x 18
Gold Bar x 1
Heavy Leather x 8
Bronze Bar x 6
Medium Leather x 2
Wool Cloth x 2
Citrine x 1
Jade x 1
Weak Flux x 1

Once you're done making your target dummies and mithril tubes, it's time to turn in your quest and begin making fantastic gizmos.

Congratulations, you are now a Gnomish Engineer ! For the rest of your Gnomish career, you'll be capable of making mind-boggling yet completely unreliable devices, like Gnomish Poultryizer and Gnomish X-Ray Specs.

So you leveled your engineering all the way and you think Gnomish Engineering is stupid, but you've already made your choice. So what do you do? Well, here's what you do.

Prior to patch 3.2 you had to relearn Engineering all over again. Well, that's not the case anymore. Instead just go to Narain Soothfancy's Hut in Northern Tanaris [Coords: 65, 18]. Then read his book, "Soothsaying for Dummies" and for a hefty 150 Gold you can unlearn your current Engineering Specialization without the consequences of losing the entire profession. You'll lose all schematics for the specialization,however, but retain all general Engineering items.

Well, that's it. I hope everyone liked this guide and found some use in it

Happy Engineering!