Blacksmithing & Crafting seem underwhelming

[Fray]

I guess it's mostly just Blacksmithing that I'm finding very little use for actually, but maybe I'm just missing something.

I'm able to boost my smithing to over 5 (just in case that's an issue) and while I can craft say, a sword that does pretty good damage, I can't make one that has other affixes to make it comparable to almost any rare weapon of an equivalent level. For example; I can craft a 2H sword that does let's say 225 average damage and has +2 str on it while I can find or buy a magic or rare that does 190 avg but has +1 str / 2H skill / Con / 40 vit / elemental damage.

The same seems to be the case with crafting armour; I can craft armour that has a high armour rating on it but at best, it rolls with one stat such as speed or luck.

So all I'm ending-up using my smithing for is to repair equipment and sharpen weapons for either using them or to boost the vendor price on the junk I find. So I'm left to ask; am I missing something here? Does getting access to tenebrium make a huge difference or does blacksmithing continue to be rather lackluster?

The Crafting skill however, actually seems to be useful since adding elemental properties to equipment, crafting arrows, potions, and food (even though I'd wager not many people use food), as well as creating skill books and scrolls are all based on the Crafting skill.

[Arteas Naur]

You can bassically craft weapon of your choice and enchant it with element you want to (Madora in my party ended game with white Sickle enchanted with Tenebrium- didnt found better 2h weapon). Be aware that 1 str can give you more dmg than +1 2h skill.

[Zara]

Crafting is good for the arrows, and elements and such, but aside from sharpening weapons, I agree that Blacksmithing appears pretty useless, though I haven't gotten around to trying ot craft any Tenebrium stuff

[Arteas Naur]

You cannot craft Tenebrium stuff :( You can only apply in on your items if you have 5 crafting for bonus dmg

[Sylpharion]

Each level in Blacksmith also improves the damage bonus on enhancing weapons on the Whetstone Wheel as well. That includes Legendary items but it's really not that significant to be worth maxing Blacksmith. Unless it's a spare henchman and you're trying to min-max.

Maybe when future mods are implemented it could be useful.

[Zara]

If I can't craft Tenebrium stuff, what is the point of being able to get Tenebrium ore from the mine? (I assume you add Tenebrium "element" via Void Essence)

[Qiox]

Messaggio originale di Zara:

If I can't craft Tenebrium stuff, what is the point of being able to get Tenebrium ore from the mine?

You add it to an existing item.

[ITD johnny]

You can use crafting and blacksmith for:
Increase element reduction with essences and rubies (useful and important)
Craft skill books (useful and important)
Craft arrows (useful and important)
Enchant weapons (somewhat useful)
Craft potions
Craft items (for selling)
Smith items (for selling)

[Fray]

Messaggio originale di Beautiful:

You can use crafting and blacksmith for:
Increase element reduction with essences and rubies (useful and important)
Craft skill books (useful and important)
Craft arrows (useful and important)
Enchant weapons (somewhat useful)
Craft potions
Craft items (for selling)
Smith items (for selling)

I covered that in my op;

Resistances & elemental damage on weapons is covered by "crafting"
Skill books and scrolls = crafting
Arrows = crafting
Potions = crafting

So that seems to leave Blacksmithing to just create weapons with slightly higher damage but lower / no ability increases and armour also with higher armour values but little or no ability increases.

Messaggio originale di Arteas Naur:

You can bassically craft weapon of your choice and enchant it with element you want to (Madora in my party ended game with white Sickle enchanted with Tenebrium- didnt found better 2h weapon). Be aware that 1 str can give you more dmg than +1 2h skill.

I'm just about to get to the Tenebrium stuff in my playthrough so I'll see how it compares very shortly. I've been very lucky with equipment for my 2H user though so there's some stiff competition in my game :)

As to the Strength bit: 1 Str = 5% damage bonus on your skills. 1 Weapon skill = 10% damage bonus. So unless I'm missing something, if you get a weapon with 1 str and 1 2h skill on it, it's better than an equivalent at 2 str (15% > 10%).

I didn't know that Blacksmithing level affected the improvement you could make when sharpening it though, so that's a perk. I just tested it and it definitely improves. Unfortunately it caps out and any points beyond a skill level of 5 appear to be wasted. Thanks though, I didn't notice it made a difference! =)

I think my point still stands though (for the time being) that since it seems that all I'm really using Blacksmithing for is to repair or sharpen my equipment rather than actually creating it. I know I had read posts about how you were going to be able to craft equipment better than you could find if you invested the points into it but I'm just not finding that to be the case...

[stretch]

You can add a tormented soul to many items for a +2 str and +2 dex bonus.
Add essences to bracers, belts and chest items for resists.
Add void essences for +1 sneak to most armour pieces.

[Phero]

Any way to add poison resistance to an item? (not poison damage mind ye, resistance) Same with Tenebrium? Any way to add Tenebrium resistance?

[Cedarstripe]

Personally I'd love to fully enchanticraft brand new items, however, none of the items that drop have any of the improvements that can be put on them via crafting. Let's say that you have a kickass chestplate that has an item level of 18. You can improve its armour rating, buff its elemental resistances with a ruby, get +1 sneak with a void essence and a couple of other buffs making it pretty much god tier.

[Mr. Bovine Joni]

Messaggio originale di Arteas Naur:

You can bassically craft weapon of your choice and enchant it with element you want to (Madora in my party ended game with white Sickle enchanted with Tenebrium- didnt found better 2h weapon). Be aware that 1 str can give you more dmg than +1 2h skill.

How do you know if 1str gives more damage than +1 2h skill, do you just look at the stat page and see which increases it more?

[Karjus]

Whats the maximum bonus via items/virtues/talents and so forth you can get for Crafting/Blacksmithing? Wondering if it is worth putting even 1 point in them at all or whether it can all be got via items. I know I could just use a Henchman for it, but would rather not.

[Kozzy]

crafting and blacksmith are actually very good, especially crafting.

[Revan]

Messaggio originale di Sylpharion:

Each level in Blacksmith also improves the damage bonus on enhancing weapons on the Whetstone Wheel as well. That includes Legendary items but it's really not that significant to be worth maxing Blacksmith. Unless it's a spare henchman and you're trying to min-max.

Maybe when future mods are implemented it could be useful.

Nope, Level 1-4 and 5 gives you only 2 different and new dmg values.