I'm not sure how difficult it would be to implement, but some method of upgrading weapons would be nice. I've been using the
Sanctified Gladius that
Eryka gave me since the moment i got it. I like the Holy damage and the fact that it's one-handed so i can have a shield and maintain a Tank-like build. That said, i do feel like once you enter the Frostwood for the first time, it's effectiveness starts to drop off a bit. Maybe i'm misunderstanding how ability scores and levels modify damage and the like, but it just feels like my favoured weapon isn't being as effective as any other weapon i pick up after this point.
Having some method of pumping up the numbers a little bit so that any weapon (or at least unique weapons) can be used in the late-game would be great i think. Even if it's just something simple like giving a big load of electrum to a blacksmith and waiting a few days and getting +25% to all numbers or something.
If you want to get interesting, having one or two "upgraded" versions of each weapon could be nice, such as "Sanctified Gladius" upgrades to "Hallowed Gladius" which upgrades to "Paladin's Blade", but that would likely require WAY too much work, as it'd require multiple new names and statblocks for every unique weapon in the game, or at least the ones that would get upgrades, which would basically be just adding new weapons full stop.
Honestly i think just giving the player some method of increasing the numbers on any given weapon would be an amazing addition. , maybe they can choose which numbers increase and by how much, maybe they can't, either way works. Maybe the player can throw in a little bit of flavor text to the weapon which isn't actually referenced anywhere, but is just there for the player's immersion or amusement. But honestly, just bigger numbers so my Gladius can keep up with later game weapons would be nice.
Maybe upgrade armour too? not sure.
The Sanctified Gladius actually competes as it is with end-game weapons only recently added. Let's compare it with the Dawnsword, a fairly recently added quest, which only triggeres a good while after Winter City is done, and when you are most likely on level 6;
Sanctified Gladius has 25 Penetrating and 10 Holy damage, total 35 damage, it has 10 Spellpower, 10 Crit and 5 Armor Pen, so 25 stat points. If that Spellpower was shifted to other stats it would make it a better weapon, but as it is it serves as a great weapon for a paladin type that toss spells around as well.
The Dawnsword has 15 Penetrating and 20 Holy damage, total 35 damage, but since a lot of enemies are weak towards Holy damage, that makes it effectively a higher damage weapon, but assuming no weaknesses it's the same damage. It has 10 Accuracy and 10 Crit bonus, so total 20 stat points, 5 points less than the Sanctified Gladius, but it grants the Deflection power when equipped, an at-will power (so it blocks using either a defensive at-will stance like Shielded Stance or an offensive ability like Flamebrand or a healing ability like Heal or Lay on Hands) that lets you block ranged attacks.
Arguably I would say the Sanctified Gladius is a better weapon for many Paladin or battle priest types that mix spells with melee strikes and spells. If instead you focus mainly on melee and use little spells and don't have a lot of spellpower from Willpower or other gear, then the Dawnsword could very well be a better choice, especially considering the high Holy damage.
The Flametongue Blade is another late-game weapon, you can buy it at Khor'minos, which requires you to either beat up the very powerful Minotaur Guards, or have done the Winter City, so it's an "end game" weapon as it stands now. It deals 25 Penetrating and 10 Fire, as I mentioned there's a lot of enemies weak to holy, but there's a lot of enemies resistant to or immune to fire, including a large amount of enemies in the area you get the Flametongue, so damage numbers wise you are better off with the Sanctified Gladius. It has 5 Spellpower, 5 Spell Pen and 5 Armor pen, 15 stat points, which are IMHO weaker than the stats provided by the Sanctified Gladius. However, unlike the Sanctified Gladius, the Flametongue can be used regardless of Corruption level, so it could be an alternative for a corrupt spellblade type.
Conclusion: Sanctified Gladius is OP for when you get it, and comparable to or better than end-game weapons. Plz nerf.
(No, please don't nerf, lol, I'm just making my point.)