Just what the title says... I can't decide which tradeskill to pick and thought you could help me. Note: All trades will be considered except for Cooking and Bookbinding.

Are you looking for money-makers or for the more interesting trades?

Um...is there some sort of in-between trade?

Not really. There are three kinds of trades:

• Ones that make money (Herbalism, Alchemy, Enchantments)
• Ones that let you be creative (Cooking, Tailoring, Jewelry, Forging, Artisan, Bookbinding)
• Ones that do neither (Poisons)

If you want a creative one, but you'd still like to make money, Jewelry is probably the best choice. But you can really only make money there if you're trans and have a hammer, and it's still a fraction of what you'd make on one of the Big Three.

Not quite factoring in which ones give you a useful trans item either.

I'm a little biased against Jewelry in that the trans item's use is in an artifact.

Anybody in Lusternia with enough resources can get it, AND have a different trade.
That is of course if you're talking strictly funded.

I wouldn't factor in profit as a part of balancing a skillset.

The in-between type are really Jewelry and Cooking. But, you need to be trans, with the artifact.

You could do well in Jewelry if you're good, have a cartel, and put yourself out there. Enchanters who own shops are almost -always- looking for jewelers who will supply them with rings/necklaces, bracelets/etc.

Cooking is also a money maker if you do it right. Fionn kind of runs the market in Seren and Celest. He has 2 shops, one he actually owns. You -can- make a killer on constitution platters, but to actually turn a profit to earn the credits back for the spatula and transing the skill, will take a lot of time and dedication. Plus you will have to be really good at it. Fionn is good at it because he's inventive and does more than 'You taste of strawberries and they are sweet with the cream.' Reading his cooking stuff makes me hungry IRL.

Anyway, my two cents. I was an Artisan for over a year and recently switched to Enchantment. The profit I make enchanting is more useful. I actually use my trade now.

It just depends on what you want out of your tradeskill.
If you're a more rp-heavy player, then choose something that compliments your characters tastes and will accentuate their persona.

I chose Bookbinding because I knew going into the game I'd join Elo's order.

Just adding to what Prisch says, I originally chose Artisan for my character because it complemented her well. She appreciates beauty and rivals in it, but isn't actually beautiful herself, blahblah. However, OOCly I was rather unhappy with the trade. The trans skill was useless and the pantograph I only had a use for maybe a handful of times. I love to roleplay and it's a big reason to stick around, but there's also considering the mechanics of trades, over just the allure of it. Enchanting just makes more sense with my character, considering she owns and helps run a handful of shops. It's better to just cut out the middle man and take up the work herself.

Enchanting is a pretty decent RP trade as well.
It's generic enough that you could be a satanist or priestly character and use the appeal.

Whatever you do, don't try to be a Forger, unless you want to cry yourself to sleep at night. If you do, however, enjoy a good cry or two, then Forging just might be up your alley. You can make good money if you are lacking in the ethics department enough to swindle unknowing novices (that is, before you Trans and get a mallet). Otherwise, if you're good at it and don't mind falling asleep at your desk, then Forging just might be for you. It is simple enough to execute. My biggest qualm is that other trades could potentially allow you to continue gaining experience while performing your job (Poisonist, does at least), whereas with Forging you have to forsake leveling altogether in order to do your job. Ultimately, Forging is rewarding and can lead to lucrative deals (read: making large sums of money), but requires patience and that you are a warrior.

I took tailoring for one reason, Splendors and I'm sadly dissapointed.

I took up tailoring just so I'd be able to wear stuff I want and design things that I liked but didn't see, instead of walking into a shop and thinking "Let's see, I guess this coat will barely suffice, but I'd like a black one..."

But I think I'm the only one who actually factors what people are wearing IG as part of their overall appearance, rather than just stop reading their desc at "s/he is wearing a..."