Quote Originally Posted by 'puppychow',index.php?page=Thread&postID=167157#po st167157
never trust wowhead! haha JC is definitely one of the best profs for a tank, you get to stack 3 epic gems (that only JCs can use) and there are definitely +stam (+33 x3) and +defense (x20 I think) gems, which are huge when initially gearing up a tank - especially a DK, since their gear has defense issues, 60 extra defense would be huge. Also a brilliant tanking trinket only JCs can use. Plus daily quest to get dragon eyes is real money - 200g+ for 10 mins of work. So no, Jewelcrafting is imo the BEST tank profession in wotlk so far.

Mining is ok, titansteel is not worth much anymore so just flat +50 sta is nice; but then again blacksmiths get 2 extra sockets so it evens out imo (altho mining is 100x ezier to level).

I'm not a huge fan of inscription, its expensive to level up w/o a big stockpile of herbs, and while the shoulder enchants are the best in game, it only takes a few weeks/months (less after next patch) to get Sons of Hodir to exalted.

I'm leveling my DK and he's gonna be BS/JC, no question JC is the best for tanks in my mind right now. The only prof i don't have is BS so just going with that, I also think they are going to add future BS patterns that are more self-enhancing as well. Probably self-inscription stuff too, since its (imo) the weakest WOTLK profession besides engineering and alchemy.
Yeah, after looking further, the numbers are slightly off from the comment I pulled, but you're not looking at the *difference* between JC and Mining in end-game stats. Without a doubt BS is #1 for tanks just for the extra sockets, but the difference between being a JC and a Miner is really only the cost of leveling it up. (Since both JC and BS use a TON of ore, I'd rather only have to level one.. with BS being first on the list initially. If you already have another character with high JC to bring in gold, it's a waste to do it on the tank as well.)

Look at the numbers.. you can't deny that BS/Mining is an easy choice on cost of leveling and end-game stats:

Jewelcrafting instead of mining:
+41 stamina (x3) Solid Dragon's Eye (+123 stamina)
minus +24 stamina (x3) Solid Sky Sapphire (+72 stamina) that a non-JC would be using:
Total: = +51 stamina.

Mining instead of jewelcrafting:
+50 stamina (mining 450)
Total: = +50 stamina.

Since both characters will also be able to use epic boss drop gems (likely +30 stamina each) in sockets beyond the initial 3, there is no difference there.

Therefore, the tradeoff between jewelcrafting and mining is that mining is only 1 stamina worse but costs MUCH less to level (in fact, by comparison, it PAYS to level). It's not a massive difference in end-game stats. I do agree on inscription - even being a DK, the extra stamina from mining/jewelcrafting is far more valuable than the +32 dodge benefit from the inscription shoulders over Sons of Hodir shoulders.