Correct me if I am wrong, but so far I have not come across anything in Skyrim that is superior to crafting my own weapons/armor. Was this intended? If so, it basically forces all players to fill these skill trees. This basically takes away 23 levels of skill points away from the player. In a game that is supposed to be all about flexibility & freedom it really limits what one can do. Yes you are not FORCED to use these skill trees but your basically stuck using weapons that are 1/2 as good as the ones you can create yourself.

So you say people who don't take those skill trees should get the same advantages? Think about it.

You are not forced to do anything. And honestly, I've been finding gear much better than what I can smith/enchant...because, I didn't focus on them...because I wasn't forced to.

ummmm, no

like you said you aren't forced to take them. Can you find equally good or better equipment out there? Probably. Can you get by in the game without them. Yes.

Problem solved

What this guy said. Using skill points to create better equipment is the plus side to taking those skill trees. Or you can spend those points elsewhere, better your combat skills and do with what you got. Can't have it all.

I guess I am just suprised that the weapons imbued by the gods are garbage compared to what I can create. Kind of silly/immersion breaking...

Do you mean the unmodded iron armor that you make, has a higher defense value than the same iron armor sold by merchants?

If no, then I actually have to say that you are gimping yourself, because I can always buy the same armor from merchants, and level in a skill that cannot be replicated elsewhere.

If yes, that's really cool. But it should be intended. It's like me leveling alchemy to bypass the need to use magic, because I can make most of the stuff that magic can do, without the need to level all 5 magic schools.

But the time it took for you to level your blacksmithing, other players would have leveled in their 1H or 2H skill, increasing their damage. They increase their damage through 1H skill, you increase your damage through better weapons smithed by you (but you have relatively lower 1H/2H skill). It actually balances out.

Not forced, but the gear is better than anything you will find. Also completely overpowered, especially for melee. Mages can also get 100% mana reduction for 1 or 2 schools of magic. Their damage won't come near a fully enchanted, legendary blacksmith armored warrior or rogue, using a 2h or DW though.

Edit: Add in Alchemy for poison and potions that boost damage, or whatever and it becomes even more redonkulios..

What about unique items or artifacts those things have to be better then smith/enchant improved items

Right?

Nope

Not even in the same league.. Just disenchant that epic gear, make even more epic gear with double enchantments and legendary improvment from blacksmith. GG