He's not lying. You can actually go on YouTube to find several strategies on how to beat Umbra as the first thing you do when you walk out of the sewers. I did it too.

If you choose not to smith Daedric Armor, you'll find that it's extremely rare. It didn't fit with my role-playing so I didn't smith it (cuz my fighter wouldn't wear that evil stuff). But after hours of exploration at high levels 45+ I only found a few bits and pieces here and there... no full suits. It was soooo easy to find a full set of Daedric in Oblivion versus Morrowind or Skyrim.

Even if you never go to an alchemist, Daedra Hearts are easy to get.

Just do the Mehrunes Razor Daedric Quest and you can have an unending supply of Daedra Hearts (and some really good loot on top of it...).

And Daedric Armor/Weapons are rare and hard to get. I can guarantee (almost) that once you reach a level and Smithing Skill where you can make Daedric equipment, that you are most likely the only person in Skyrim churning it out. When was the last time you remember seeing a vendor stocking Daedric Equipment that you didn't sell to him in the first place?

Plus the time it takes to get to the 100 in Smithing to be able to rip out Daedric equipment is no small amount of time adventuring, even if you're spamming the forge to get to 100 it still takes quite some time and effort. You have to resupply with leather, leather strips, and Iron ingots at sometime and the vendors only sell so much.

It's not as easy to get the best stuff in Skyrim as the OP states. It was infinitely easier to get it in Morrowind (as so many people have already mentioned), all you had to do was commit a small couple acts of larceny and "poof" full set of Glass.

Naw, it's actually pretty challenging and time-consuming to get the best stuff in Skyrim. And since 1.5 dropped, they retooled how the leveling of the Smithing Skill works, so it takes much longer to get to 100 if you're just churning out Leather Bracers and Iron Daggers. You have to make Leather Armor (the "cuirass" part) to keep the grinding on the same scale as before 1.5.

It is not that big of a deal to me either way. It just seems kinda wierd you can buy daedra hearts in an alchemy shop.

BTW I have not done the daedra quest you mentioned (I have only done three or four daedra quests), and I have never gotten my smithing level anywhere near 100 with any of my seven characters. I like taking things slow. I have not noticed much difference in how fast Smithing levels with 1.5, probably because when my characters smith things, it is either to make something to wear or to make something to sell from materials they have found, so I am always making the highest value stuff I can.

Well, after completing the Razor Quest, if you wait the required time, the Shrine repopulates with Dremora. An effectively inexhaustible supply of Daedra Hearts. If nothing else, creating and selling the Daedric stuff you make is enough to fund a career in grinding Smithing. lol

I have a character that may do this someday. My only Imperial. I am taking all the speech perks with him and roleplaying him as a "leader" who will take perks that help him influence people and make his followers stronger. So Smithing, Alchemy and Enchant, primarily to outfit his followers. Speech and Restoration to influence people and heal his followers. Still debating on Illusion, since I want him to influence people through charm and personality, not magically controlling their mind. And, no perks in any direct combat skills, so no perks in one hand, two hand, block, archery, destruction, conjuration, heavy armor or light armor. And obviously no perks in sneak or pickpocket.

Naw. You don't use Illusion on your friends, you use it on your enemies.

You and your friends just sit back and laugh at your enemies as they deal with a "Frenzy" spell.

There you go! Plus the courage spells seem like they could just get my followers killed. There is wisdom in knowing when to retreat, especially if you are a non-essential NPC.

What are you talking about? I could easily get a full set of glass at level one in Morrowind.

Go to Ghost Gate, steal it all. Like a boss

I used to do this all the time.

If you choose not to smith Daedric Armor, you'll find that it's extremely rare. It didn't fit with my role-playing so I didn't smith it (cuz my fighter wouldn't wear that evil stuff). But after hours of exploration at high levels 45+ I only found a few bits and pieces here and there... no full suits. It was soooo easy to find a full set of Daedric in Oblivion versus Morrowind or Skyrim.

Same here. I've been looking for a full set of orc armor and so far have only found a pair of enchanted orc boots. Theres also tons of other armor types i have yet to encounter with my level 18 character which is great. Dont know how people would want it to be any rarer.

You can always level smithing but not put any perks into it so you can improve your gear but not....not do whatever it is that everyone is complaining about. Isnt it something along the lines of "I just made awesome gear... i fail at Skyrim! WHAT HAVE I DONE????" or something?

It still takes alot of time to craft good armor not to mention to get enchants you want. And alchemy is not really that easy to skill up unless you cheat... Gathering mats on your own is pain.

Even if you never go to an alchemist, Daedra Hearts are easy to get.

Just do the Mehrunes Razor Daedric Quest and you can have an unending supply of Daedra Hearts (and some really good loot on top of it...).

Don't you just miss how in Morrowind it was very difficult to get a full set of good armour?

It was so much more rewarding when you did get good gear