World of Warcraft was meant to have viable levelling gear from professions way back in 2004, but the designers on raids and dungeons 'cheated a little bit'

Back in 2004, Blizzard's designers had intended for professions in World of Warcraft to provide viable leveling gear, with a structured system outlining the power levels. However, as principal Kris Zierhut recalled in a recent Polygon interview, a few designers "cheated a little bit" by subtly boosting their gear's power beyond the intended limits.

While Eric Dodds, the crafting designer, always followed the rules, other team members made unauthorized adjustments, much to the amusement of those with hindsight. Despite this, the developers are confident that the balance has been restored, with numerous powerful blue items crafted for players, including blacksmiths and leatherworkers, that can compete with questing and dungeon gear.