No blacksmiths? :(
 

I've been gather low quality hides to help make my paladin a set of fine plate armor, but I'm wondering if I should even bother with the complete lack of blacksmiths around. I've been asking around for days and no one seems to know anyone that can make it.

Should I just try to buy medium bronze or what?

Since you don't seem to have a problem with mindless material gathering, might as well just level it up yourself.

Tradeskilling is one of those things you might as well level up if you have nothing better to do.

It'll make getting your coldain rings/shawls that much easier come Velious.

about how much money does it take to get up to that level?

I am no expert, but if going with just store bought materials- it will take you about 1-2k plat before you get to the skill high enough to make Fine Plate

200p should get you to the point of being able to make banded.

Do the fine steel recipes work? I've never seen people trying to sell it, so I'm not sure.

Fine Steel works. It's just very expensive to craft and generally not worth the cost.

Check the tradeskillers thread in the EC Tunnel forum for someone who recently posted a smithing skill of 188 and send them a pm.

This is exactly it.

For example, you could craft Fine Plate Vambraces (10AC) for 50p + cost of padding, or you could buy Azure Sleeves (12AC) for 50p, which are light and everyone can use.

There are examples of this at every slot.

the price of vanity :)