Yeah and even if you're too lazy to relocate your smelt base and do it the old fashioned way by sailing. Always take your boat through the portal on the way there.

You don't have to sail both ways.

*Edit : to the OP's question. Yes the game scales. If one person is playing then one person will need a set of armor. If 5 people are playing then 5 people will need a set.

It's actually genius.