Disclaimer: This is purely “flight of thought”. I clearly understand this won’t be implemented in GD and most probably won’t appear in a sequel, if one happens someday.
Playing Diablo and its successor clones, I always wondered why crafting system is almost nonexistent in ARPGs. The most you can get is gamble random items in exchange for certain resources, or enhance your gear once using some socket-like system. OTOH, 95% of loot is complete trash worth only selling to vendors at rock-bottom prices.
GD already has component crafting using chains of recipes. Why not take it one step further?
Idea can be split into two parts. First one is about mob drops and can be described very simply. Each mob drops only certain items specific to it. No more sewer rat dropping two-handed sledge hammer. Aetherials may drop mutated flesh. Ch’thonian obsidian constructs (don’t remember exact name) can drop Void Obsidian. Et cetera, et cetera. Of course, if some mob is an armed human, it may drop respective weapon. This will take care of kilotons of scrap loot we have ATM.
Next, equipment. Each piece of equipment is based on some blueprint and consists of several components. Sword consists of blade, handguard, handle. Rifle consists of barrel, stock, trigger device. Etc, etc. When you break item apart at blacksmith, you learn blueprint and get some of the item components.
Blueprint describes which types of components it accepts and has certain power level cap. This caps total power level of components you can use.
As a consequence of this system, grinding becomes a bit more directed and less of gamble. If you wanna sharper blade, you may decide switching its blade for a better one. You figure out the blade you need, farm for materials, make blade at blacksmith, then swap it in your sword. Want go for next tier? Pick better sword kind at shop, dismantle, try out better components.
One huge exception from this schema are uniques and legendaries. To balance them, I may suggest “Rule of Reduced Value”. Dismantling unique item won’t give you unique components, and assembling unique components won’t necessarily give you unique item.
Thoughts?