I may be the only one, I don't know, but it seems like Steel Ingots are so hard to come by in this game.

I've been spending some time in Markarth lately, and the Smith there has absolutely zero supply of Steel Ingots, even though I've bought maybe one from her in my time there. I've spent a few in game days there, and still, no re-stock.

And this isn't the only time it's happened. I've had times, in other play throughs, where even the smiths in Whiterun, including Grey-Mane, have no supply of Steel Ingots.

And coming across Corundum Ore to smelt my own, well that's even less common.

I find it very hard to progress the skill when I can't find the materials I need to actually utilize the skill. I find it very frustrating.

If your on the PC then u can try this...

http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=874

Hmmm, if you just wander around the tundra there's corundum in many places, seems to be one in most of the mines if not more. I find corundum in many hidden away crevices up the mountain sides all around whiterun, riverwood, falkwreath. Hope that helps!

Cheers!

Hmm maybe im not looking hard enough, but I've only found corundum ore in like one mine. I'll look out for more.

Cause it is an alloy between corundum ore and iron ore. You can always make some. But it's easier to buy from smiths than ebony, moonstone, malacite, and quicksilver at higher level.

That's strange, did 1.5 make those materials scarce?

Steel was difficult for me to find before 1.5, sometimes smiths would have 5 or so ingots if any. I haven't bought any since the patch because I already had 90 smithing on my character so I don't even check for them anymore.
I see conundrum ore veins in the weirdest places I know there is one

Yes, steel has always been fairly are. But I now tend to stay off the paths, and so I am beginning to get the idea of how many outcrops of various ores are out there. Which is a lot. That said, I played for over 400 hours before I discovered that iron and corundum make steel...

Not sure if you understood the post - what I'm saying is that finding Corundum Ore veins has been scarce, and the merchants I have tried to shop at don't have any supply of Steel Ingots.


I had problems finding supplies of steel during my first play through as well, which was well before 1.5

I never seem to have this problem. Every time I talk to Adrianne she's got at least 30 of them. Every. Time. It is rather disappointing, however, that the largest corundum mine by far is Knifepoint Ridge mine (with a record 19 veins), which can only be accessed as part of the Boethia's Calling quest. Especially considering that basically half of the mines in Skyrim are iron mines.

Ignoring the spoiler, no, you can access the mine at any time. If you then get the quest the whole area has been repopulated.

they respawn at welders places every two or three days out of the cell....

I see I should have been more specific, and that's entirely my fault. The corundum veins don't exist in the mine unless you are on or have completed Boethia's Calling. Also, as I see it, [place] being associated with [quest] could hardly be called a spoiler, but I've been wrong before.

All blacksmiths stock them, there are also plenty of corundum and iron ore veins, so you can make your own.

That's what I'm saying though, I have had more than one time where blacksmiths simply don't stock them - and I'm not just talking about buying their supply and not giving them time to restock - I can name 3 smiths for sure this has happened with, in numerous playthrus. I also believe I've seen this happen with the smith in Solitude as well.

I'll take the blame for just not searching out enough mines though. I'll fully accept that perhaps I just need to look harder.

Hmm they have always stocked them for me, at every restock, even alvor at level 2.

I dont really Smith on mass, but i usually stockpile up quite a bit over time. if your relying on the Smith to have what you want everytime, then your bound to be dissapointed sometimes.

I noticed that the blacksmiths don't always carry steel or any other ingots exactly when I need them. But on average steel is quite plentiful. It's best to plan ahead and buy them when they are available.

When I go on the left side of the smithing tree and take the advanced armor perk, I become very steel hungry. Making steel plate armor is amazing for making money and leveling up your smithing skills. You can buy all the steel and corundum ingots from the smithing shop and make steel plate armor and sell it back on the spot. Instant profit and tons of smithing XP. That's when I noticed that smiths do not always carry steel ingots.

because you don't look hard enough for them... lol