Originally Posted by
BetaNotus
So Beekeeping could actually be a pretty interesting crafting skill that works similar to Fletching boxes or Cheesemaking barrels (but placed in a garden). You’d need some carpentry knowledge for the hive structures, and foraging to potentially find feral bees (chance to spawn with flowers perhaps). Hives would probably require wood, metals, and some wax from candle stubs to craft. Could be a carpentry recipe. Hives placed in close proximity to each other by multiple players could potentially produce more beeswax or honey. Beeswax could be used to craft candles, increasing cold-resistance of leather (waterproofing), and used in blacksmithing recipes. Textile Creation already requires Cheesecloth for dying cloth armor, but I think beeswax could work better for dying 2 or 3 colors. (Look up Batik). The wax could also be incorporated into cheese making recipes, leatherworking, potential jewelry skills, and well, soap. Beeswax collection from hives could improve as your level at the skill increases, similar to how carded cotton is created.
I could see charged, flaming or poison-coated bees as Special Abilities for the side bar, probably sacrifice your hive to fill two or three empty bottle with bees from your hive, and apply magic.