edw3rdwood
Grandmaster
I GM'd blacksmith in a few weeks, playing casually while also juggling 3-4 other characters, using only ingots I mined myself. It's not that hard (make short spears from like 50-95, then plate gorgets to GM and always smelt after to get ingots back).
The orc cave is the only dungeon in the game with a forge, meaning the only place you can get the 50% skill gain bonus for blacksmith. Lots of people do it. Wear a mask of orcish kin (so orcs won't attack you) and walk all the way to the end somewhere, or just do what I did and find a rune library with a rune called "Orc Caves" or "Orc Forges". ALWAYS put on an orc mask before entering, or you'll be attacked on sight.
I only used the cave from 85+ skill when I first found out about it. Use hiding if you have it, as reds run through there a lot and will take you out. You can hide once, then craft through 1000 ingots, smelt all back down, etc etc without becoming unhidden.
Now carp. THERE'S a craft skill that's actually hard to raise.
The orc cave is the only dungeon in the game with a forge, meaning the only place you can get the 50% skill gain bonus for blacksmith. Lots of people do it. Wear a mask of orcish kin (so orcs won't attack you) and walk all the way to the end somewhere, or just do what I did and find a rune library with a rune called "Orc Caves" or "Orc Forges". ALWAYS put on an orc mask before entering, or you'll be attacked on sight.
I only used the cave from 85+ skill when I first found out about it. Use hiding if you have it, as reds run through there a lot and will take you out. You can hide once, then craft through 1000 ingots, smelt all back down, etc etc without becoming unhidden.
Now carp. THERE'S a craft skill that's actually hard to raise.