Duck and Cover

I was always angered by the high prices for Dread Armor, good swords and a standard armor. I didn't have a shield until I was two-thirds completed with the game. But I discovered a trick, that may have been discovered by others.

In the first town, Shrouded Hills, there is a blacksmith shop near the General Store. At morning, he wakes up and opens the door. He then goes to his standard position, near the anvil.

His items are ridiculously simple to steal, and it scared me how easily retrieved his items were.

Bash his door down, or wait until he wakes up to open the door. Quickly enter his room when the door is still open, and bash open his chest of items.

Now you have a number of good items to start the game with, and share with party members, including(could be random)
Dread Armor
Leather Armor
Claymore
Good Shield

If this is a well-known trick or bug, please inform me.

I figured it out, and it works with a number of other shop owners.

Yep. I did it slightly more stealthily and had little need for heavy armor and huge weapons.