Finally seen the pile of plat at the end of the tunnel

[Malathos]

The worst part about everything that follows is that it's comming from a low INT troll to what is most likely a group of high INT/WIS casters.

...actually a lvl 40 Dwarf paladin with a WIS of around 98 (but a STR of 168 )

Spent 700-1k plat skilling on mandrake roots to get tailoring high enough to not fail leather padding

Looked at that option - but the cost of mandrake roots made me wince when I had less than 100pp in the bank after my last smithing run, so I figured farming silk was the cheapest - never thought of selling them THEN buying mandrake roots ops:
I had the kiola's already made and on a vendor so the cost for them was restrospective anyway - and they weren't selling anyhow.

And before anyone else tells me to go buy some WIS gear - I know already ! The STR comes as a side effect of the current set of dwarvish armour, and it'll take a bit to boost my WIS anywhere near that. Since smithing is my main goal just now, i'll stick with that - and the imbued/enchanted plate I'll be making will help on the WIS front (when I get there )

[Jannelle Silverthorne]

Hmm. Blue to 53 spiders? Easy.

Nagafen's Lair has Lava Duct Crawlers that are technically spiders and drop silk. Blue to 60 altho going light blue by then.

Greyhopper Hide is a cheap alternative to get to 95 tailoring skill. I see them often enough while I'm vendor mining that supply shouldn't be an issue.

[Boleslav]

For that matter, just camp the hopper hides yourself. Mseru is great for LQ Hopper Hides that can be made into leather padding. You will get an equal number of Greyhopper Hides that can be combined into Hopper Hide armor in the field to get you to 95 as mentioned above. And the place is just crawling with hoppers.

Boleslav Forgehammer
Paladin of Brell in his 61st Campaign
E'ci – Sacred Destiny

[Cigarskunk]

Looked at that option - but the cost of mandrake roots made me wince when I had less than 100pp in the bank after my last smithing run, so I figured farming silk was the cheapest - never thought of selling them THEN buying mandrake roots ops:
I had the kiola's already made and on a vendor so the cost for them was restrospective anyway - and they weren't selling anyhow.

That's where another big aspect of economics which many don't understand is lost - opportunity cost - if you've got more than one choice then what do you lose by not making the other choices?