Simulacra on Steam

Get a house and add a few house upgrades so that you have multiple storage bins. I have a house in Whiterun which is one door down from the blacksmith. This makes most crafting fairly convenient. I keep alchemy materials in one bag, smithing in another, etc.

Smithing
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I carry around a mining pick and have mined up several veins. Also, I have come across two actual mines where materials were just lying around and then I hit a Dwemer ruin that was packed with metal scraps. A few back-n-forth hauls there got me a bunch of stuff to smelt. After clearing a dungeon I usually head back for the rest of the stuff that I didn’t loot on the first run through. I bring my companion along and load her up with stuff. When I get back to town I check to see what I can smelt (and sell what I can’t).

Alchemy
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I eat everything that I pick up at least once. That reveals the first effect of the ingredient. From there it has been a lot of experimentation. I make a lot of magika and health regen potions, though I have made a few magika resist pots along with a few casting buffs. After a while you will unlock/discover new recipes through the process itself. Just keep at it.

Cooking
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Cooking is fairly straight forward. Get ingredients, access cooking pot in my house, see what I can make. For the most part I make vegetable soup. This adds a several minute health regen.