Like a lot of people, I try to play Skyrim on Master. I'd been trying out a two-handed, heavy armored healer, and reached around level 15. I'd been getting a pretty poor draw of unique enchanted items, so the going was a bit rough. I'd also put too much emphasis on Restoration in the early game, so my attack and defenses were kind of weak. I'm trudging around northeast of Whiterun with a follower (Uthgerd the Unbroken), when I happen across Shearpoint. Couldn't even remember this spot from my first playthrough, so after beating the dragon I prance merrily toward the word wall, when that Dragon Priest Krosis pops out and gives me a how's-she-goin'... The best gear I can muster was an Orcish greatsword with 10 points fire, and my armor is unenchanted steel. Dragon Priests aren't really known for uproarious laughter, but I'm pretty sure I heard that one snicker a bit.

I find the replay in this game so appealing because the sheer luck of your loot finds can dictate a lot of the ease or difficulty you have with areas. Anyway, note to self, don't go hiking in mountainous regions without getting some enchantements and smithing under my belt first...

I feel ya. I don't how many times I've been ambushed by krosis.

Lol, yeah, that was pretty much like the first time I met Him, only I decided to take cover from the Dragon in the Word Wall. Note to Self: Bad idea.

Reminds me of the first time I bumped into him (at a higher level and lower difficulty, though). First Dragon priest I encountered. Whoops.

I wanted his mask for my current character, so I took him there at level 17 or so. A pure mage with a mage follower. Had to lower the difficulty to Novice in the end (I usually play that character on Adept.)

Lol...been there done that, just the other day actually....was crushing the dragon, suddenly I died....I'm like "wth?!?" I was ready the next time

I've never used enchanted weapons I've found. Smithing is usually enough for me to create better weapons than the things I find. If that skill and enchanting disappeared, then it'd still have the good old loot-to-kill feel, but now it's craft-to-win.

At least for me.

I've seen a lot of debates on these boards about how overpowered crafting can be. Personally, I tend to avoid any of the exploits, so most of my crafting is probably close to being "level-appropriate". It's all pretty much governed by individual tastes, but on Master, I feel decently challenged at most levels, and rarely do I feel like I'm in some sort of god-mode. On Adept it would be laughable, but Master seems to have good balance for me. Honestly, one of the best things about enchanting is being able to put convenience enchantemens on , like Carry Burden or Waterbreathing

I've never used the exploit though. The crafting skills make you a god without the infinite combo.

I think there's too little enchantments that are useful. I always end up with +60 health and +37% damage when I use it. My latest 20 characters or so haven't used enchanting because of this. They manage without it just fine

funnily enough, after meeting him on my first play through, i was paranoid about approaching every dragon wall as I expected each one to have a dragon priest or something similar.

Gorbad, do you play on Master? I figured it might be too tough without enchanting, but maybe I'll give a "smithing only" character a try. Which class/race would you recommend?

Master yes. Usually argonian, orc or breton to give me a slight edge.

Damn krosis and his staff of fireballs.

When it comes to enchanted items, I don't rely on luck. I make my own luck

The only real issue i have on master is arrows and high level mages. Other than that, stuff like wolves, bog standard bandits etc all require a hit or two more.

krosis strikes again! whats his kill list now?

The thing I like about enchantments is that you can make things you might otherwise find, but they can be on weapons or armor of your choosing.

Something I forgot to mention is that I knew within 30 seconds that there was no way I was going to beat Krosis on Master. So I dropped the difficulty. But I self-imposed a penalty on myself...I can use any of his gear until I at least beat one other DP on Master.

You know, that's actually a good point. Trying to take on mages on master without resistance enchantments would be tough. Problem is, lets say you're playing as a heavy armored warrior, but the game throws you shock resistance boots that are leather. To use them, you have to step outside the path of your build. Or keep waiting for another drop that's on heavy boots.