You're right, but Elder Scrolls games are designed to be about choice, not linear progression. The only way to play Skyrim sub-optimally would be to choose to never assign perk points, or choose to stop using certain buttons on your controller/keyboard.

Can someone please explain to me why using the game mechanics is considered an "exploit" or "abuse?" The Devs made a decision to allow people to smith and improve gear. The devs made the decision to allow potions to increase the smithing skill. IT IS NOT AN EXPLOIT TO DRINK THE POTION AND SMITH SOME GEAR! Equipping multiple items to one slot is an exploit, using the skills given to us in the game are not.

I leveled smithing because I think it is fun to make my own gear. I did it mostly organically, I bought a couple of iron ingots here and there, but nothing crazy. I saw a smithing potion at the local store and said "oh, this should be fun" I crafted some armor and a 1H and a 2H sword, and BAM - the game was an absolute bore. I don't consider this "power gaming" or "abusing" or "exploiting" - I call it playing the game. In my opinion (yes these are opinions) one should HAVE to have top level gear and skills to compete on master - to COMPETE on master. Now master is not even a challenge. Sure, there are the random magic users that give me some trouble, but that is about it.

Purposely having to use inferior gear to make the game enjoyable is silly, but alas, this is what I have to do for now. I worked it into the narrative - in his quest to save Skyrim, Roland became power hungry and began experimenting with ancient evils, such as enchanting amd smithing armor using the hearts of devils. Now he has redeemed himself and only uses his Blade armor and skyforge steel weapons. Game is more fun, but I miss dressing up in that full Daedric set.

edit: not worth the time.

If you can one shot a centurion master guardian or whatever it's called, the best one, that's a bit OP. Dual wielded some glass daggers with 32 one handed, double 15x(2x from gloves) for 60x base.... One shot. I am fairly sure I can one shot every basic human with 70 archery, just gotta wear my gloves/ring, maybe my helm. Bound bow is nice, or an enchanted other. Really depends if you use stealth or not... And how you engage people. (archery is sneak damage, non stealth base damage against guards and soldiers.

You need 90 Smithing to craft Daedric armor. There's no way you achieved that by smithing "here and there" and using a store bought potion.

I said I like smithing, so yes, I did it a lot. I said I only BOUGHT iron ingots here and there. Otherwise, I used only ore that I had mined myself.

Since when is leveling a skill in the game considered an exploit?

When fanbois are trying to make an argument against any claims that TES could use a balance patch...

Anyone here that wants it harder tried my mod? Not perfect without the CK, but it'll definitely make it more difficult. I was fighting frost dragons at level 20 as a pure mage, and that made it difficult.

Are you playing a Stealth character with Assassin's Blade and the Dark Brotherhood Shrouded Gloves? Because if you are, you should be oneshotting everyone. You're an Assassin.
If you're playing a sword and board Warrior I guarantee you won't be oneshotting anything short of crap bandits, wolves and skeletons that die to Unrelenting Force.
Unless you folded crazy levels of Alchemy, Enchanting and Smithing.

But I honestly just believe you're a troll.

Thing is, if the player is to have freedom in character development then the ability to become overpowered is probably unavoidable.

Every skill contributes to leveling, and difficulty is based on level.

If difficulty is calibrated to make it challenging to those with the most combat heavy perks and skill development then players with other builds will be out of luck.

But if the player is truly to be given freedom in character development and still able to succeed in the game, then characters with non-combat focused builds will have to be able to succeed meaning that pure combat focused builds will have an easy time.

People call it abuse or exploit due to the fact you can create items so hideously over the top they were obviously never balanced around.. It could have been a development oversight etc, but can you honestly say a 300 damage weapon is normal when the greatest weapon crafted by gods is not even remotely close? (25 base for the highest damage weapon) All it requires is to smith iron daggers or some other cheap item. It also requires crafting items, to allow you to craft items, to craft the items in question.
Whereas I don't mind such are in place (it adds a playstyle - I may not enjoy it, but others do), I cannot fathom why people do this, accomplish their goals (to become all powerful), then complain there is nothing around hat can swat them. The truly comical thing is if balance was added those same people would then complain about the lack of such options in the game.
I just hope the creation kit comes out soon so people can create their challenges after making such items, since not using those items is out of the question.

Never said it was. I just got from your post that you didn't try to level smithing quickly. I misunderstood.

I actually agree that it's not an exploit but I definitely think the game would make more sense if Smithing was altered. I think you shouldn't gain skill for making gear far below your skill level. That would solve the issue entirely as you wouldn't be able max smithing using iron. You'd have to invest in expensive ingots or find them, which would significantly slow down Smithing. I don't think it's an exploit. SP games can't be exploited by definition really. I just think the system wasn't well thought out as far as progression in the game world. I can't believe Bethesda actually intended people to be running around in Daedric armor before level 10, which is easily attainable.

Smithing to some degree is ok but never, ever enchant your gear or use potions to gain extra % on smithing and enchants.

The game is balanced around normal gear, at which point it gets very challenging.

I agree completely, and that is the complaint that so many people have - it was not well thought out. As well, I feel smithing should be changed. Once you reach a certain level in the skill, you should not gain any xp (or very little) for crafting low level items. I also played around with the thought of making certain gear a perk requirement in Heavy armor. Maybe make it where ebony armor automatically opens up when you hit a certain level in Heavy armor, if you don't want to use perks - same thing for weapons.

There are many solutions other than - "don't smith" or "don't wear l33t gear"

Play naked (as in no armor, gloves, boots, helmet)

Believe me, no one wants to see me naked, lol.

Its not an expoit but EVERYONE on the forum that have played and especially us that have rerolled, have warned against smithing and enchanting.
So dont come here and say you are overpowered and bored out of your mind when you should know exactly why.

Smith up to 70 max for glass or dwemer armor, weapons, and not being able to do legendary.
Have no skill in enchant and no skill in alchemy, and those 60-70 smithing is all you get.
That should be enough to make it easier but the game will be a serious challenge.

The game is ruined especially for melee users that get ebony or daedric weapons early, or even at 30-40.
Ebony is a lvl 40+ weapon and daedric I dare say is a lvl 50-60+ weapon.
People can have it at 15+ easily, and enchanted on top of it for super powerful weapons.

I played a dual wield orc that one shotted giants on Master, I know.
I rerolled. And Now Im forced to mainly play on Adept since its so challenging. Im Bosmer archer, and have 100 pickpocketing and 50 in a few skills I never use, no perks in them though.
But at 35 I have 65 in my main attack, archery.
I can tell you, that my damage is not bad but vs some mobs it outright sux. On Adept.
I dont mind. I adapt and have fun with challenges.

This game allows you to be extremly powerful or play it more core and have it challenigng.

Using only pickup gear and upgrading them a little, or maybe craft some dwemer armor or something aruond lvl 30, is not going to break the balance too much. Go above this and it will.

I used an unenchanted imperial woodbow until I was lvl 30, and using only iron arrows. I struggled, until I found a glass bow in a chest and since then, I struggled less, but still struggle.
And its amazingly entertaining.

Good luck.
My advice: Reroll and enjoy the game.

I started a new character, specifically limited my available perk choices prior to leveling my first level...turned up the difficulty to Expert.

My first match against an Blood Dragon, and was promptly bit and throw off the mountain...that was my 4th try, I decided not to mess with him until my archery was more improved, damn those pickpocket perks! lol

If you don't try and make your character as powerful as possible, you'll quickly find the game is much harder.

The above character is mostly a stealth person, so direct combat is problematic, but that was done on purpose. Needless to say, Dragons are a major issue for me, but its fun to NOT 1-shot everything I see.

Actually, I only came to the forums to see if I was the only one experiencing this issue. But I think the main thing is that the players have to really try to keep the game challenging. That is not a well designed game.

And yes, I will reroll, but I will probably wait for some mods.

Indeed. but I think a more realistic progression in Smithing is going to have to be a mod. I can't see Bethesda changing the game that drastically after release unfortunately.

I never forged anything, but had ebony armor, boots and a pair of war axes as found loot by level 31. Still haven't found the helm and gloves though, but I could have gotten a set if I wanted to murder a mercenary I met on the road that was decked out in full ebony (one of those guys who says he's going somewhere important but not going to tell you where ...).

If you like the game still, start a new character.

As mentioned above, mods will come out that will certainly make the world more "challenging" for you. If you are playing on a console...*shrug*

Yeah, I found an ebony war axe from dungeon loot at level 18 or so. At level 28 now I have full ebony, all from dungeon loot. I have smithing at about 75 or so, but I have no perks in anything except steel and arcane. I have my ebony armor and axe at exquisite, the game feels pretty balanced for me on master.

Two points:

1. If a player wants to put in 50 hours to non-stop grind their smithing and enchanting, they deserve to be a god in the game. Most people playing have real lives outside of gaming.

2. I wouldn't call this an "exploit". An exploit is usually defined as a quirk or bug in the game that was left ACCIDENTALLY unfixed. Diablo's item duplication bug was an exploit.

The problem I have with this issue is that it is actually more difficult to AVOID becoming overpowered in Skyrim, then it is to actually avoid keeping the game challenging. For example, in my game, I have deliberately decided not to wear any armor at all, as well as go without a shield. I do this simply to make the game a challenge. I shouldn't have to throw away the stuff I find in a dungeon just to make the game challenging.

There is no question that the default difficulty in Skyrim is much, much easier than it was in Oblivion or Morrowind. My 5 year old pre-school son has no problems playing on Adept - and that's a problem. A child of that age SHOULD have to lower the difficult a bit for him to get by.

Edit: I think there should be a patch that just bumps up difficulty a bit more. Adept should be Expert - as that would match past ES games a little more closely. If I'm not mistaken, this is what Torchlight did, as the game's default difficulty was far too easy when it launched.