I'm new to WoW (just came over from FFXI) and have some questions about engineering that I hope someone will be kind enough to answer.
Basically, I've decided that I want to play as a Gnome because I love the mechanical racial mount that they receive as well as their bonus to engineering, which I want to level. I would like to some day be able to use the most unique engineering items, like the Gnomish Shrink Ray and Net-O-Matic. My first question is: does it matter what class I choose to play if I want to be able to use these high-end engineering items? It seems to me that perhaps a Mage would not even be able to equip these items, or if they can would not have much of a use for them. If I want to be an engineer, should I choose Warrior or Rogue instead? I don't want to level both Mage and Engineering only to realize that they aren't compatible in the least. I wouldn't mind leveling Warrior or Rogue instead if it meant that I would be able to use the more unique engineering items to their fullest potential.
I guess at the end of the day I just like the idea of gizmo-using Gnome (I love the eccentric characters and the silly-looking gadgets) and I want to play the class that is going to allow me to do that.
Also, if someone could tell me where to go to begin training as an Engineer and what to do to get started that would be very helpful (I was hoping for some useful stickies in this forum, but no luck).
Thanks much.