Starting out

[gebbly]

I'm just starting out smithing and was hoping for some basic advice.

Firstly where can I find "small pieces of ore" (I was going to make metal bits as my start in smithing)? The vendors I've tried in neriak dont seem to have them (I'll look around PoK tonight).

So I thought maybe I could make them but to make a small piece of ore has a higher trivial value then to make the metal bits, doh.

Lastly I spotted the loop between small pieces of ore and small bricks of ore. From what I can see the cheapest way to initially work on my smithing would be to use some pieces of ore to make a small brick then use the small brick to make small pieces and so on in a circle. Does this make sense or am I missing something?

[Kradlum]

I get my small pieces of ore in Shadowhaven - Smithy Firehand (33, 1306), Hardam Stonegrinder (-314, 1460), Smithy Edcar (128, 136)

I'm not sure of your plan to use the small brick->small pice_small brick loop. Haven't seen it mentioned as a route before. You only get 2 small pieces from a small brick, and need 3 small pieces to re-make a small brick, so it seems wasteful.

If you really are just starting out, then the cheapest route is to sharpen any rusty weapons that you find.

[Calabar]

Here’s a link to the best smithing guide I’ve ever read. I think you’ll find most of your questions answered by reading through this guide. http://www.crimsonsnow.org/pdfs/guides.html

I don’t remember how the guide suggests you start your smithing career, but buying sharpening stones, just a couple of copper each, and sharpening rusty weapons is a very cheap way to start. I started this way in Freeport. But if you are KOS in that city you might be better off in Shadowhaven or PoK. But the nice thing about Freeport is that you can buy an endless supply of rusty weapons from two different vendors so you don’t have to loot them off mobs.

But I feel the best advice is to read over the guide and see if that answers your questions. If not, come back and post whatever questions you may still have.

Best of luck.

[Malathos]

... and if you're looking for materials, check out the "Trade Supplies" button on the side panel of the main site. This takes you to the pages that list what can be found where for all tradeskills

[Meirril]

Personaly, I feel making metal bits (and saving them) till they trivial is the best way to start on smithing. Making tools as opposed to anything else is the easiest/cheepest rout as long as you can follow it. Making tools will require hundreds of metal bits (several hundred, but probably less than one thousand.) so it dosen't hurt having a few stacks made while you actualy can benifit from the combine.
From what I remember, you should be able to go from 0 to 120-ish in about 3 hours for less than 50pp assuming you stick to the cheeper tool combines, don't go too far above you current skill level, have an int or wis or str around 250, and have easy access to the materials and mold (and a forge), get your cha up to 105+ for selling, and sell every success your not going to use as parts of later combines.

[Morgrist]

If you can walk through the gates of Freeport and not get killed,you can hit 95 without losing a coin.

Sharpen rusty broadswords to 21.
Sharpen short swords,melt them down with a flask of water for 2x small pieces of ore,melt down 2x pieces of ore for metal bits. Make a file (mold in East Freeport,as are the rusty sellers). Make field point arrowheads to 41.
Sharpen 2H swords. Melt them down with a flask of water. Large brick + file = metal rings. Metal rings + file + smithy hammer + water = chain jointing. Trivials at 95. Half the bricks make into rings,half sell back for money.

Once you finish that,you're already ready to skill up on 2 and 3 sheet banded pieces until you hit 115.

Once you've done that,you can make racial emroidery needles at a profit (the ones using cinnamon sticks are best) unti 132. By that point,you're well on your way to ornate chain/fine plate.

We've got a level 2 warrior on Stromm with Denmother's Children. He's 184 smithing right now. He spends most of his time in Freeport's forges. :P

[Cleric Taven]

Chain Jointing

Other than using to skillup on Smithing and then reading through the various Ornate items, can these be used for some vanilla chainmail items?

EverFaithful - Lunalee

[Zeralenn]

To summarize my opinion in the guide linked above:

Personally I agree that making metal bits is one of the best ways to get up to 18, but there are in fact several ways to do it. Sharpening rusty weapons to tarnished, then converting the ore, then making whatever items make sense for those ore bits (pieces, small bricks, etc) is a good way to recycle stuff AND skill up at the same time -- usually for very little money, as mostly what you need to buy are sharpening stones and water.

For those looking for a more straightforward skillup route, just buying the small pieces and water works too. I also like the metal bits route because you will need metal bits for future projects anyway. You're gonna be making tons of them -- why not start now?

And yes, combining small pieces into small bricks does seem cost effective at first -- until you realize you fail those combinations early in smithing. A LOT. It isn't a bad way to make sheet metal if you're really strapped for cash (the method is outlined in Richeldys' Tips for the Super Cheap Smith) but until you can do it reliably you end up losing more money than you save.

...Zera

[Lorddaeth]

turn back now, trust me, don't waste your time or money on this fruitless endeavor!!!

[Lorddaeth]

unless your insane...then, welcome to the club!!