In this long-form (48 min) video I discuss the Power Word: Gold 2011 year end review as well as look forward to what 2012 may bring for PW:G and the World of Warcraft gold-making community at large.

How did 2011 treat you and what do you look forward to in 2012? Let us know in the comments below (or even better create your own 2011 year end review video and post a link).

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After adding another new gold-making blog to The World Of Warcraft Gold Blog Directory (as well as updating the activity levels on the directory) I had to stop and take a bit of time to write a little about the tremendous blossoming of gold-making blogs we've seen over this last year.

There has never been a better time to be a player looking for information on how to make gold in World of Warcraft. Frankly I'm often overwhelmed by the amount of new information coming out of gold-making blogs (both old and new) on a daily basis. Keeping up with my RSS reader often feels like trying to take a drink out of a fire hose.

Read on after the jump for a few of my thoughts about where gold-making blogging has been and where it's going.

Today's guest post was written by Keelhaul (@DEazeroth). If you're interested in writing a guest post for Power Word: Gold please contact us at powerwordgold@gmail.com.

So I did a little perusing of the Shields category, and this is what I came up with.  First off, a summary for the TLDR audience:

The market for BoE Shields for transmogrification is going to be slim.  Find my recommended top 5 BoE Shields to target/craft for resale for transmogrification after the jump.

I just wanted to make a quick post to let everyone know that my 250K gold Hall of Fame interview was posted over at WarcraftEcon today.

Here is a short excerpt.

Q: How did you learn to do it? Anyone or resource you would like to thank?

A: The Undermine Journal’s “frontpage” (before they shut down the first time) that listed a large number of gold-making blogs was the first place I found out there was even such a thing as a “gold blog”. I started off (like many people) by reading the blogroll at Just My Two Copper. From there I found Alto’s Goldish Advice, Cold’s Gold Factory and Nerf Faids. I’d have to say my early experiences were most influenced by those three blogs. When I decided to start blogging about gold-making I was thrown into a whole new world of gold-making ideas and (much like the Borg) have tried to “assimilate” as many gold-making tips as I can. Not every strategy is a fit for my own personal gold-making style but I’m fascinated by how others are making their gold.

I would like to thank all those in the gold-making community who share their time and effort writing gold-making blogs. I’d also like to thank all those who read my own blog and offer encouragement and share their own gold-making wisdom with me.

If you're interested in my thoughts on reaching 250K gold head over and read "Hall of Fame – 250K Gold Club: “fluxdada” aka Power Word: Gold" at WarcraftEcon.

I enjoyed doing the interview. It really helped me reflect back on the last 6 months of gold-making. Thanks again to all of our readers and fellow gold-making bloggers. You all are the reason I do what I do.

I'm on blogging break until late August however if you write a blog post (or have a WarcraftEcon interview published) about one of your own gold-making milestones please let me know (email powerwordgold@gmail.com) and I'll work on getting it added to the Community Gold-Making Milestones here at Power Word: Gold.

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Picking up a piece off of Khalior's Tentacular Junkpile (See "Not a Patch Speculation Post (But it's as boring)") I wanted to talk about what I'll be doing in the last few days until Patch 4.2 drops (assuming it comes on June 28, 2011).

Get a peek into my preparation after the jump.

Lately a common mantra has been permeating the gold-making community. “Stockpile pyrite ore. Prospect after the patch. Get rich.”

That seems to be where many players thoughts begin and end on the subject. It's understandable. That method seems quite obvious and logical. I don't believe it's that simple.

I don't believe Pyrite Ore is how epic gems will initially come into the game. I believe Blizzard will make epic gems scarce by  intially placing them behind 24-hour cooldowns.

In this article I will explain where I believe gems will from and what I am doing to prepare.

(This infographic is completely made-up.)

"Maelstrom Crystals are now available for purchase with Honor or Justice Points from the associated commodities vendors." (Wowhead Blog - "PTR Patch 4.1 Notes Updated (3/22)")

Rather then writing a full post about the possible crash of the Maelstrom Crystal market I'm going to do a "Link Roundup".

Here are some relevant links and snippets of what the gold making community is saying about the news. As more discussion happens I'll update this post.

Formula: Runed Arcanite Rod

"Gold-Making Classics" is a column dedicated to celebrating methods that have been making auctioneers gold for years. These are tried and true tips and tricks that work time after time.

On this lazy Saturday night as I sit here cutting and vendoring an obscene amount of Zephyrite I have to wonder. Is the Obsiduim shuffle still worth it?

With ore prices dropping to rock bottom on many servers (many believe because of an increase of botting activity) you'd think the shuffle would be more profitable than ever (although my sore gem-cutting fingers may disagree with you). Is it still worth the time to do 'the shuffle'?

I'm sorry. I can't let you do that.

Sorry for the slightly misleading title. I did make 5k gold in Netherstorm in one week except that it was 4 years ago. This is my entry into Cold's Gold Blogging Carnival for March 2011 entitled "What Was Your Defining Moment?".

Gather around children because Old Grandpa Flux is going to tell you a story about making gold back in the day. Back in a time when flying mounts were slower than ground mounts.

Back in a time when we fed our pets Roasted Clefthoof and the Track Treasure was actually useful! Pull up a seat and settle in as we take a trip down memory lane.

There once was a Death Knight who wanted to get the most our of her professions. She had leveled so fast she hadn't taken the time to level professions. Now she had time and was going to correct that.

When the day came to finally choose her professions. A skinner was something she was born to do so that was her first choice. As for her second she read all the best theorycrafting and decided that the best DPS increase possible was Leatherworking. Wait. Leatherworking?

This didn't make logical sense. She wore plate. She smashed things with big swords and hammers. Why in the world would she choose Leatherworking?

The answer might surprise you. What might surprise you even more is the series of events that would lead to me losing 18,000 gold because of Leatherworking.