Anyone know how to max smithing skill in first few days of game time?

[Levgre]

Why would you want to max out smithing and nothing else? Essentially that would raise your level, and the level of your enemies. So when you go out to kill something you end up getting slaughtered as you've got zero combat skills.

 

Smithing increases your combat rate at a faster rate than any combat skills.

 

+70% or so armor and +~70% weapon damage? Even more if you end up crafting higher tier equipment that you otherwise couldn't buy? Yeah can't get that with 50 weapon skill and 50 armor skill.

Edited December 4, 2011 by Levgre

[khbazur]

Maxing smithing to 80 or 100 early will get you the ebony/deadric/dragon crafting skills but you will be unable to craft anything because ebony ingots don't appear in vendor loots until mid 20s level.

[zyg0tic]

I've just started a new game and I have managed to get to 80+ smithing following loosely what I described above. Ive done a bit of combat and didnt do much wood chopping.

 

I have been focusing almost exclusively on smithing, yet am already level 18 and still havent maxed it (almost to 90 though). Ive lost count of the number of ingots it took me but must be at least 250 - I recorded it so I can check for sure.

 

The only combat Ive done is Bleak Barrow Falls, the first dragon, and other enemies here and there. The only non-combat skills Ive been gaining are speech and alchemy. I havent done very much alchemy at all, just made the potions that are good to sell.

 

• To begin with I collected and sold all loot and things I found around the place. This gave me a decent sum to buy ingots and leather.
  
• I trained my skill up past 30, and then I bought some dwarven ingots and made a Dwarven Bow and improved it.
  
• Went to Bleak Fall Barrows, completed it with archery, sneak and the traps in there. I also looted and sold everything from there in two trips.
  
• Went to Whiterun, killed first dragon, looted dead whiterun guards. Sold all the stuff I had looted including dragon scales and bones.
  
• Alternated between Whiterun and Riverwood, buying up all the ingots of every vendor who sold them.
  
• Waited for vendors to respawn their stock a few times by resting at inn for 2 days.
  
• Supplemented cost of smithing with alchemy. But loot was probably a bigger earner.
  

 

If you are the forgetful type I would recommend the Warrior Stone... In case you forget to change it back from Thief or Mage before a big bulk iron dagger making session.

 

@khbazur True. But you can mine it before then :)

Edited December 4, 2011 by zyg0tic

[NephilimNexus]

Actually, it's pretty easy. There is a cave/bandit hideout just north-west Whiterun city (not saying which one, spoilers) that is fairly low-level, bandits only, and easy to breeze through. Inside you'll find a spell tome for "Transmutation" (alteration). Every time you cast it, a unit of iron ore becomes silver ore, or silver becomes gold. So cast it twice and you turn a lump of iron ore into gold ore.

 

As you may have noticed, you can find iron ore deposits all over the map & in great abundance. Or if you're feeling lazy, you can get it from any blacksmith merchant for less than 10gp each.

 

So you just stock up on iron ore, transmute it into gold, and then smith it all into gold necklaces & gold rings. Since blacksmithing is mostly based on the retail value of what you're crafting, this will level your smithing skill up very, very fast. You'll also get stinking rich in the process.

Edited December 4, 2011 by NephilimNexus

[zyg0tic]

OK it worked. I just maxed smithing at level 21. I have full set of ebony armor, daedric mace and ebony bow. My spare perk points I've put into combat skills (heavy armor, one hand, archery, block).

 

For this method to work for others, I think they also need to be making potions to give the extra income thats needed. So find out how to make the potions that sell for the most gold.

 

AND I STRESS - for this to work effectively you must put points into speech perks otherwise the gold requirement is too much. Finding a % better price or + speechcraft item is also very good. The blessing of Dibella increases speechcraft by 10. My character has earned 16000 gold in their short life.

 

@NephilimNexus Oh wow. If thats true then yeah it would be the best legit way to get gold.

 

UPDATE: If there is enough demand for it I can make a tutorial video since I recorded all my gameplay.

Edited December 4, 2011 by zyg0tic