I cannot find them. I have collected the whole getup - twice, except for the boots. I'm level 40 now, and it seems as if I should have ran into a pair by now. Even the random mercenary that walks around claiming that they are checking out a local problem - those folks are wearing full ebony armor sets now. Except for the boots.

Is there a way I can try to increase my chances of finding some? I'm just OCD with armor sets. I have to have the whole set or my life feels so incomplete.

If I'm not mistaken the

will often sell ebony gear if your level isn't high enough for him to sell daedric.

In general, Solstheim (in my experience) has higher level loot than mainland Skyrim. Try hitting up a few dungeons there.

My new character is close to level 41 and I remember buying a pair of ebony boots from a mainland blacksmith, 2-3 levels earlier.

People buy them?! I've either made them or looted them. Level 40 might be high enough but its very random it sounds like you're just unlucky. Keep checking blacksmiths and maybe general stores regularly its faster than looking for loot.

This sounds strange they're always wearing a full set of ebony for me. Were they barefoot?! Its possible a mod has altered leveled lists or possibly armour sets in such a way they don't spawn.

I don't think I've ever bought a weapon or armour...
Sold thousands of them - that fellow digging in Solsteim is taking my money faster than I can spend it I suppose. Figure this is going to go badly for both of us. Probably worse for him...

Why not? Who said you have to get all the smithing perks, or put them in high priority over anything else?

I make more than enough gold to pay for whatever I need (from training courses to fully furnished houses) so, paying for a pair of boots (or even a complete armor set) is nothing, don't you think?

Yeah, my main character is no smith, if I could get her follower to smith stuff, then maybe, but as it is, she'll be using Order My Items to order a full set of glass armour, delivery fee and all.

Nope, not barefoot. They have iron banded boots. LOL I actually killed one just to see what they were because I couldn't tell by looking at them. I releoaded afterwords because I'm playing a good character. As far as mods, I have body meshes, textures, hair and a mod that allows followers to ride horses. That's it. Doesn't mean that's not the cause though. I have no idea what these people tap into when they make the mods.

I have a theory, although it may just be coincidence. I was thinking that for every set of armor, the game creates one piece that's harder to find. It may be random or may depend on some vodoo variables within the particular play through. This has happened to me three times now. Way back when I was happy with steel plate, I could NEVER find the helmet. I just recently ran across one and didn't even bother picking it up. My follower is set up in full glass right now, and has been since level 30 or so. Just a couple of days ago, I stumbled across the glass gauntlets. (Level 40) She's been wearing ebony gauntlets since level 30. Now I'm experiencing the same thing with boots with the ebony armor. Go figure.

I'll keep running around Solsteim and see what I find. I've spent some time there today and found some new things, but still no ebony boots. I've got some additional plans for later tonight.

Both loot and merchandise availability is leveled to be on a par with the PC's current level. For example, when you first start out, all you find is iron and leather stuff. About level 10-15, elven and dwarven stuff starts to appear. The Ebony smithing perk costs 80 Smithing to acquire = 80% of max. Vanilla Skyrim was set to have a Level 50 cap; 80% of that = Level 40. So I wouldn't expect ebony gear until about @ Level 35-40, except where items are scripted. If you do the civil war quest line, as you get promoted, Tullius starts to give you Ebony and Daedric weapons, even if you are only a level 20 or so.

Thanks. Yeah, I've found that the loot is SORTA leveled with the character, but not very often in my experience. I think this has a lot to do with whether you loot, open a chest, or open a locked chest - and then how difficult the lock is makes a play too. I tend to find things most often that are a few drops below what I've been wearing/using for some time. I still find leather armor, hide armor, and steel weapons most often. I'm starting to see nordic carved on occassion now, such as in bandit lairs when I get bored and feel like taking out some criminals, but I had that armor a long time ago.

If you look at the children in towns, you'll notice they all wear ebony boots. You're just too slow in the looting! (just kidding)

(Reminds me of Freeside in Fallout: NV where kids run out to grab the rat you shoot in the streets.)

Er, isn't vanilla Skyrim's level cap 81?

I literally just now found a pair of ebony boots in a chest just after I've entered the Soul Cairn. I'm level 31.

My bad. I was thinking of Fallout New Vegas vanilla. There the cap was 20, until at the end with Broken Steel it was raised to 30, plus 5 for each of the other DLCs. Vanilla Skyrim is indeed 81. But with the 1.9 Patch, it was made unlimited.

Man - I did that a long time ago! LOL I wasn't even close to anything ebony then. I must be doing something wrong.

If you can craft ebony theres a cave or mine in north Riften thats loaded with ebony ore , there was like 4-5 veins inside and 3 ingots on the crates outside to the right , I was in early 40's level, its definitely in that area right outside a small settlement.

There are ebony mines in

Eastmarch -- Gloombound Mine (in Narzulbur Orc Stronghold)

Rift -- Redbelly Mine (Shor's Stone)

Whiterun Hold -- on top of Throat of the World

Solstheim -- Raven Rock Mine