Hey there.

I am currently trying to role-play a barbarian style character. These are some of my current 'guidelines':
(sorry, prematurely posted!)

- Only use food for replenishing health/stamina (must eat atleast once a day)
- cannot run everywhere. walk most of the time
- no waypoints
- no fast-travel (except for occasionally carriages)
- Cannot LOOT dead bodies for ANYTHING (except quest-related items)
- can only make gold through work (bounties, selling smithed items, etc.)
- only wear armor I have smithed (armor made for other people shouldn't fit me) - also only where armors that 'fit' my character aesthetically (barbarian)
- there are more rules...

The underlined point is where I need a loophole; I do want to make use of certain armors (DLC armors - both Dawnguard and [eventually] Dragonborn) that cannot be smithed. Can anyone think of any possible explanations/loopholes allowing me to do so?

Sorry if the question is a bit unclear, just looking for possible advice/input. RP advice in general would also be good

Not many ideas there

Yeah that's about right for a Barbarian.

Well, that and the occasional grunt/growl.

Sorry guys, I prematurely posted.

I've edited it now.

For the underlined part, you could say that it was smithed for you >.>

Yeah, buy it from a smith but maybe wait three days or something before you wear it. You can roleplay that you had it fitted. I create/buy most of my own equipment is well.

I have to ask, what do you do about armor that you find laying around? I would assume, in addition to not fitting you, the armor of your fallen enemies has been punctured by your blade, along with [their] entrails spilled all over it.

If it was me: I would wear only hides and/or furs, if I was playing on master I would smith them as best I can. Then I would focus on either one hand or two hand. If I was doing one hand I would block with the blade, no shields. My goal would be to look for enchanted epic weapons, and improve them if I was playing on master. No archery. Savage strike perk is a must. What kind of barbarian does not decapitate? I would rely on buying potions and making food to heal myself. I would give him a lot of health because you can only improve hides and furs so much.

Thanks for the suggestions guys!
I like your idea, that may work for me.
As far as the armor laying around is concerned; I don't even touch it, for exactly the same reasons you mentioned. I try to be as self-reliant as possible, and you have no idea how freeing it is to go through a dungeon and not stop-and-loot every single body you come across (I don't even loot gold).

Yeah, my guy (being a Nord) sticks entirely to 'nordic' style light armors (hide, fur, scaled, stormcloak officer, etc.). He also exclusively uses Two-Handed for melee (bows for hunting and occasional ranged kill)

HERE IS ANOTHER QUESTION! (I'm only just starting the character)
Regarding 'FUR' armor - it can not be crafted and I'm not sure if you can buy it (therefore; only found on enemies)

How could I fit that in, since fur armor fits my character's style perfectly?

A barbarian should have no problem looting corpses. That sounds more like a paladin to me, if he refuses to loot corpses for 'honor'.

If you're joining the Dawnguard, perhaps they'd have taken measurements and smithes a suit of armor specifically for you?

Can't help with Dragonborn, as I have no clue what it'll include.