When you are forging and upgrading equipment...
1. Is the base value of the equipment you decide to create dependant on your level of smithing, or is it the same before an upgrade?
2. Upgraded values are based on your level of smithing right? So what is the best way to legitly go about making your gear stronger?
(No rude comments please, just straight answers. Spelling and punctuation is appreciated.)
1. Smithing doesn't affect the quality of the items made at the forge. So long as your smithing was high enough to get the perk to allow you to make the item it was high enough.
2. Get your smithing to 100, find/buy/make 4 enchanted smithing items and wear them (Notched Pickaxe also gives a bonus, as does Ancient Knowledge perk unless you use the Unofficial Patch),find/buy/make a fortify smithing potion and drink it, make your item.