You know, I'm not really sure. I saw it happen on one of my old gameplays. My saves folder was like 64 gigs so I deleted it and started fresh and I took this chance to go take a screenshot of it. Couldn't get senor baldy to give Balgruuf the sword. Maybe the patch bugged it like it did lip synching? I dunno. Someone else in the thread mentioned the same happening, though.

Eorland's reputation is based solely on the fact that he has the Skyforge! (Listen to the Smith in Windhelm)

It would make a difference as to which had the actual skill. Eorlund Greymane for all of his talk about having steel to forge, couldn't forge steel if Skyrim's fate depended on it, he doesn't have the perk. The in-game smiths, in vanilla, do not improve gear. In fact, they are only specialized merchants.

That smith in windhelm can't fake a steel sword.

Given that in the game there is nothing to distinguish their abilities, or even to demonstrate them (all they do is repeat animation files), there's no real answer to this. On the other hand, Eorlund comes from a family tradition of blacksmithing, and the simulated time in which Skyrim takes place would suggest all the skill, experience, and secret knowledge his fathers acquired were consequently passed on to him. Adrianne, by contrast, is the daughter of a steward, a noble man perhaps, but there is nothing she gained from him. Going a step further, even if she did find a blacksmith to apprentice her at a young age and her father consented, it would still put her decades behind Eorlund. And, as a final blow, she demonstrates readily that she concerns herself, and some might say interferes, in matters at court. In other words, her "dedication" to the craft, is still somewhat diluted, and it's highly unlikely she will ever rise to a level comparable to Eorlund.

This.

In what is that a criteria? I know lots of people who think that Avatar is the greatest film ever...

My favourite merchants are the Khajiit caravans.

The one with the blue cat people, which (knowing human history) get nuked from orbit within the following year.

Or the Air-Karate thing (the last airbender)?

Also -> Khajiit: "take a look" = 1000x better than GODs BE PRAISED

Until she can forge Skyforge Steel, she will always be second best. I put her slightly below Eorlund.

Balimund is better actually... Expert level trainer, that's makes him on par with Eorlund. Adrianne isn't even able to train anyone.

Edit: I had forgotten about that; consequently I changed my vote into "below average".

I'm not sure how I'd really rate her. To me, she's just a merchant and I'm not really caring about most of the stuff she makes.

What's really telling, though, is the Drunken Huntsman always has more of the leveled arrows than she does, and it makes me wonder how this is possible. Want Ebony arrows? The DH usually has a minimum of 30 at a time while I can only get 9 or 11 (always these two numbers) from Adrianne's um... "skill".

As an archer, I'm less inclined to see what "steel" she has than I am of the arrows she can make.

Shes above avarage, keeps ingots in her stock well and has decent weapons and armor. May not be skill wise but she has a damn convenient blacksmithy near that gate.

I think Eorlund is some kind of "Dinosaur".

He has all the skill but he kind of refuse to innovate his "legendary" steel.

Old design that can't compete with "better" materials.

Steel ... nothing else....potential wasted.

Nordic Carved Armor (also a product from Skyrim/Nords) is far superior.

Even Glover Mallory(in my opinion) is a "better" blacksmith. He may not have the skill, but he use his brain and tries to improve designs and learn something new.

Euroland is a master trainer, not an expert one. only the Dawnguard smith is equal to that (and he could care less about smithing)

That [censored] never has what I want damn hussy.

I usually go to Avenicci more since she is right by the door. Lore wise she is probably a fair bit worse of a smith, but Euorland does have the Skyforge so yeah.

Awful, I'm the best blacksmith in Whiterun let alone Mereth.

She is the second best smith in Skyrim.

The guy in Windhelm claims he is the best . . .

1. Skyforge steel, you try making that without the skyforge Windhelm smtih

2. At least Avenicci does not send you into a random dungeon for her favor

3. why didn't you hire the companions?

Other than the unique items the Sky Forge can make, she's the best IMO. Mainly because there are basically two smiths right there together so double the inventory AND they are right outside my house so I can run right over there after being Well Rested AND she has all the smithing items right there in one spot. Several other smiths are missing a smelter, or table or something, she's got it all.

There are so many ways I can answer this question Sir. Being into Adrianne in oh so many ways.

I will go with option (f) for the time being, then maybe later option (p) depending on how this thread goes.

If I were a novice looking for a mentor for my smithing. Someone from whom to learn.

I would be looking at someone approachable, pleasant and knowledgeable who is not going to compete with me nor castigate me for making mistakes.

That would be Adrianne Avenicci. As she demonstrated during the....

Now attempt to apply that same criteria to Eorlund Gray-mane. As your potential mentor or tutor.

It doesn't work. He goes off at my character like a flipping bottle of pop just for looking at his blinking Skyforge.

Adrianne Avenicci has the finest set of bellows in all of Skyrim.

That was option (p) by the way Sir.

(clears throat)

AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!

Having to choose between one of the more attractive and hardworking Cyrods in Skyrim and a cool old man who gives no f***s about your bull**** is quite difficult.