So let me start by saying I was very excited to find out you could smith in skyrim... I love smithing in games as I can relate to it in life, as I work with my hands and with metal... So it's always a since of creativity and enjoyment.

Now my first character I maxed out my smithing... I didn't quite exploit it like some have... I would go on hunting trips and smith some bracers or daggers... A few levels hear and there till it was maxed. I also had enchanting pretty high, but not maxed. Well the game seemed to be at a modderate difficulty... But a little harder then not. But I made it threw the story along with a few side quests. It was a little of getting the feeling of the game.

Now my second character I desided to do a strict stealth archer build. So I only have archery and sneaking leveling. A few other skills like lock pick and such... Anyway, this round I don't feel really any more powerful... The gameplay seems again, moderate difficulty, but maybe eaiser then not. Perhaps because I know what to look for..

So to the point, I feel that if you have a good balance of what your end character should be, then I think everything should be pretty smooth...

Let me know what you guys think!

don't spend your early level with smithing

sure you could craft ebony armor or glass armor at level 20.

but the ingredients are hard to find at that level and your combat skill probably low

i really only ever level smith when i dont have a high enough level for the next perk in my other skills

Is there any use to charcoal in the game at all?

I had to use it for a quest once ^^.

I think there is, but somehow at some points beth decided to cut it.

same with lanterns. I think they were made so you could put lights in dark dungeon or put it out if the cave too bright

I'm thinking about starting a heavy armor/smithing character where I never ever buy ingots. If you force yourself to only use the stuff you mine yourself it might slow things down a bit so you're not in full Ebony at level 14.

Yea that would work pretty well for you in terms of balancing your power. I want to say that ebony mines are usually guarded by set min-level creatures too, so it's not like you can just go mine it at level 1 successfully.

Im thinking once I max out my archery and stealth ill go ahead and hit up the other skills I want...

It's just funny though... I've never once felt a bit overpowered. So thus the topic, skills by them self aren't OPed its once you start combining skills... And I don't mean just smithing and enchanting, but it seems if any two skills went together they become very powerful. Not always game breaking but it's something that "your good at" versus you will have a major downfall if you do something you don't normally do.

Like my current character is archer/stealth. Now I always keep a companion to draw aggro, but even then with my stealth being so high enemy's can't see me shoot them when I'm right in front of them. BUT it's not over powered as I'm still spamming arrows... Now I figure once I get ready to bring up other skills... It may be a different story.

But I am enjoying every minute and dont feel the game is too easy or too hard.