Smithing and Upgrades.

Smithing and Upgrades

	Upgrades increase a weapon's base damage and an armor's armor rating. They are relative to the Smithing skill, which makes upgrades stronger and adds more perks to upgraded items. Upgrades on weapons and armor do NOT change the base damage or armor rating, and instead only provide a static boost that stacks with other skill bonuses. Upgrades are slightly stronger than enchantments in terms of damage. Upgrades do not add weight to the weapons or armor. The smithing skill makes the upgrade bonus double in armor, while it has varying bonuses depending on the weapon. Apprentice smithing allows upgraded weapons to ignore 5% of armor rating, making them better on heavily armored enemies, as well as comparatively better with the armor ignore ability of enchantments. Adept smithing makes upgraded armor weigh 10% less, allowing for slightly faster movement. Expert smithing makes upgraded weapons weigh less, allowing them to cost slightly less stamina when power attacking. Master smithing makes it possible to equip both an upgrade and an enchantment to a weapon or armor, but for half the effectiveness of each. This makes every upgrade with this weapon add a 5% bonus (because the base smithing skill is needed to do this), and an enchantments like Absorb Health would only absorb 5 health rather than the normal 10.

Upgrade Bonus: Without the smithing skill, the upgrade bonus is static at 5%. With the smithing skill for armor, the bonus is static at 10%. The weapon bonus with the smithing skill depends on the weapon, as it will add a 6 base damage bonus to the weapon. For higher damaging weapons, the base damage bonus increase with the smithing skill is only a 1 point difference. While it may seem inefficient, a higher leveled smithing skill still adds other bonuses to the upgraded weapon besides the small damage increase.

Removal of the Fortify Smithing Enchantment: Fortify Smithing is not an enchantment on armor. This is just for simplicity's sake. Potions of Fortify Smithing can be purchased, and effect both upgrades on armor and weapons, but not to the same degree as potions for the specific weapon or armor, like Fortify One Handed or Fortify Heavy Armor potions for example.