In late 2010 the 3rd expansion, Cataclysm, to World of Warcraft was released. It caused devastation to the entire world, leaving huge scars through old zones, and creating new zones and adventures for players. In the Cataclysm the World of Warcraft economy is still driven by rare trade goods like Embersilk, Pyrite, Twilight Jasmine and Savage Leather. Players spend hours farming these items just to sell them and make a profit.
Most players no longer enjoy farming in these zones though. Even though they are easy to get to, Mt. Hyjal, Vashj'ir and Twilight Highlands are mostly ghost-towns. However, farmers remain, flying above the landscape looking carefully for herbs, mineral nodes, beasts, elementals and humanoids to kill.
Farming in Cataclysm
Farming in Cataclysm isn't much different than farming in the other expansion continents and worlds. The big difference, I would say, is the way that the new zones are laid out. Instead of having a new continent like in Mists of Pandaria or Wrath of the Lich King there are several new zones scattered throughout the area. Including Uldum which is found on the south tip of Kalimdor, or Twilight Highlands, found in northern Eastern Kingdoms. These zones are accessible to just about anyone, although low level characters will be killed on sight.
If you're level 80 or higher you have the opportunity to utilize the resources found in these zones to strengthen the gold in your bank account. Skinners will gather Savage Leather, Herbalists will gather Twilight Jasmine and miners will farm Pyrite, Obsidium and Elementium Ores.
Farming Embersilk Cloth
Farming Embersilk is among the more profitable ways to make gold in Cataclysm. It involves tracking down and killing humanoids between level 80 and 85. They drop Embersilk and you sell it on the auction house.
In order to farm Embersilk Cloth effectively you need to be a level 400 tailor and have Northrend Cloth Scavenging, which can be found at any Tailoring trainer once you're level 325. As long as you have this skill and you're level 400 you will also find more Embersilk from humanoids in the new Cataclysm zones.
To improve your harvest, you can also use Potion of Treasure Find which will increase the chance you find goodies from the monsters you farm. If you're an alchemist you can make this yourself or if you have some extra gold you can buy this off the auction house.
There are three really great places to farm Embersilk. The first is in Deepholme at Verok's Stand. The little trogs drop tons of Embersilk and found all over this area. The second place to find it is in Tol'Barad in the Restless Front (south west part of the zone). You'll find Restless Heroes who drop Embersilk like no tomorrow. You will have to defend yourself from PvP encounters though.
The third place to farm Embersilk is in Twilight Highlands from the Glopgut Ogres. This is found in the north west part of the zone to the right of Vermillio's Redoubt on the minimap.
Embersilk sells really fast during the Cataclysm expansion but in Mists of Pandaria it sells much slower. Check the prices on your auction house before you farm too much of this stuff.