Professions
Introduction
Professions can be learned right off the bat
Navigate to Manage > Professions
Fishing -allows you to gather fishes to craft or sell. Cooking -allows you to craft food which restores health or mana. Herbalism -allows you to gather herbs to craft or sell. Alchemy -allows you to craft potions which raise your attributes temporarily.
Every time you gather a resource or craft something you have a chance of leveling your profession. You need a certain level to gather or craft higher-level items.
Items that have a level marginally below your profession level will be less likely to give you extra levels, so you must craft and gather higher leveled items to do so.
Professions
Fishing
To fish, you simply left click on a body of water if you’re close enough. You have to keep moving around the map as the fish spawn randomly.
As you can see, there are quite a number of "junk" fish you can only sell for money. That is not to say making money is bad.
Cooking
To cook, you need a fish or meat and spices. You buy most spices from an npc called Chef Rake. He is located by East exit of the castle of Hallengard. But there are 3 spices you have to get elsewhere. Mustard Seed and Black Panther Spice are purchased from an Npc in Fertile Lands, while Potent Spices are purchased in Frozen Wastes. They are very expensive.
Each food has its own cooldown timer, which means that you can simultaneously consume different foods to recover your health and mana. The more variety of consumables you possess (recipe and non-recipes items included) the more health and mana you can potentially recover during and outside of battle.
Herbalism
To gather herbs, you must click on it when close enough. Herbs that do not craft anything I have marked red. They can "slip" from your hands so it can take multiple attempts.
Alchemy
To create potions, you need the right amount of herbs and vials you buy from an npc called Jim “Herb” Allesandro. He is located east of the npcs that sell gear and south of Chef Rake. They are cheaper to make than food by a wide margin and lasts 10 minutes. The same potion type cannot be stacked (e.g. Minor and Fair Strength cannot be stacked) and used again until the previous one wears out.
The only items that require a recipe are Improved Stamina and Heightened Agility
Minor Potions require a small vial Fair Potions require a smooth vial Improved Potions require a crystal vial Heightened Potions require a sacred vial
End
Now that you know the logistics of professions, I wish you the best of luck. Your profession will level up as you traverse to each new area. There is no shame in going back to previous areas to grind the herbs/fish/animals either. It can take a while to obtain the mats needed to craft your items so take your time and endure the grind.