Attunement guides cover the reputations you MUST grind. This is about the ones that pay you back — factions whose Exalted rewards convert grind hours into permanent economic advantages.
The Aldor/Scryer choice
Beyond the shoulder enchants everyone knows, both Shattrath factions gate crafting patterns whose exclusivity IS the margin: limited supply of crafters means fat crafting fees for whoever committed early. Pick the side matching your profession's best patterns, not your friends.
The Consortium: the monthly gem stipend
The most literal payer in the game — a monthly gem bag that scales with reputation rank. Exalted's bag routinely contains cut-worthy gems; over an expansion the stipend quietly repays the entire Netherstorm grind. Every jewelcrafter should treat Consortium as mandatory.
Cenarion Expedition and Sporeggar
CE gates one of the great tank recipes plus the hydra pet lottery, while Sporeggar — the easiest Exalted in the game via Underbog runs — hands over a unique pet economy and alchemist-relevant recipes for what amounts to a weekend of mushroom diplomacy.
Keepers of Time and Lower City
Both attach to dungeons you run for badges anyway — the definition of free reputation. Their Exalted recipes and enchants are the bonus on top of farming you were already doing; never grind these deliberately, just let them accumulate.
The investment lens
- Grinds that pay recurring income (Consortium, pattern monopolies) beat grinds that pay one item.
- Reps attached to existing farm loops are free; reps needing dedicated mob grinding must clear a high bar.
- Every rep grind competes with dailies for your hours — count the opportunity cost before committing a week to a tabard-less TBC faction.
Reputation is the slowest currency in TBC — spend the hours on factions that pay dividends, and let carries or gold cover the ones that only cost.