Is there a lowbie path from 175?

[Greyfist]

I recently reactivated my account to check out the LDoN stuff, and my main skill character's a 21 cleric who toiled forever with banded mail back in the ancient times to reach the "max" smithing skill at 175. Now, however, 175 is paltry, and I'm looking to pick up where I left off.

Only, I have neither any real amount of cash, nor a high enough level crafter to farm any of the dangerous critters for stuff. Is there any hope for further progression, or do I have to get my cleric up past 50 and amass a pile of platinum first?

[astianax]

plat would help quite a bit, but, at least 'til 212, you're fine with lower levels. fine plate can get you to 188 before it trivials (takes leather padding and medium quality folded metal, hence the need for cash. about 20pp per sheet) and after that, the new ldon can get the rest of the way to 212 (once again, uses mq folded sheets, add in the 25pp superb padding from pok and tempers, which drop and are foraged from the ldon adventures, regardless of level)
beyond that is more money or levelling up to easily farm shadowscream

[Malathos]

As Astianax says, You could either work your way through fine plate up to 188 (although at 175 I think you're already past the single sheet stuff) or since you're level enough for LDoN and Clerics seem to be in shortage for dungeons (on VS at least) you could plough your way through the lost dungeons and collect the temper components for the LDoN armour which should take you to the low 200's.

Either way you're going to need some amount of money as both the HQ and MQ steel are expensive (not to mention the SQ pelts).
Given that the LDoN armour is newer and more desirable than plate, i'd take that option as there's a better chance of selling the end product - and for a better markup.
I've also found that there's not many people know about the new tempers yet and most LDoN'ers are happy to throw the components in my direction after our adventure's finished.

The tempers are a brewing combine which trivials not much above 100 so it shouldn't take much to get to a safe skill for doing those combines.

[Cavel]

If you get into a LDoN group that has either a Ranger or a Druid ask them to forrage for you while you are moving. The Forragers seem to be able to get more of the items to make the tempers. But as others have stated the LDoN stuff is a bit spendy... What Race are you? That may determine another Alternate skill up path.

[Greyfist]

Thank all of you for the advice, my cleric's a dark elf. Took a poke at the cultural smithing when it first came out, saw that I didn't have a fraction enough cash to give a good shot at it, and put it on the back burner.

[Malodium]

Shadowscream is basically free once you are high enough to farm the shadows in Twilight Sea. They are only lev 25 or so max (might be lower) but they lifetap for 150 so they can be very dangerous.

The other item you need, substances from owlbears and wolves in hollowshade, is very easy to get since the mobs themselves are pretty low level, maybe in the teens somewhere.

It can be pretty slow farming if you arent a high level AEer, or have a friend who is, but again, its free.

[Silound]

LDoN will be excellent Xp at your level, and before long you should be about level 40 and can easily have saved up 2k or so from adventures. You should also have a few stacks of tempers to take you to 212, so you're in good shape imo.