Expanding The Smithing Table: More than just Netherite

The smithing table is only used to upgrade diamond to netherite. Netherite is a strong material that is capable of resisting lava and has knock back resistance. But what if more materials were possible that could give different effects. And not all of them need to go on diamond, there could be materials to upgrade iron or gold armour and weapons to bring the smithing table more early game uses.

Armour alternatives for netherite would also be great and allow the user to decide what they are looking for in their armour. There could be a material that would provide a small speed boost at the price of increased knockback and another that would increase damage at the price of reduced defence. The possibilities are endless and it would provide more variety than the current endgame which is protection V netherite armour. Weapons also suffer from the same downfalls with the current simplicity. 

New weapons could do less damage than netherite in exchange for unique effects that could be applicable in different ways, a sword light and fast it can cut arrows out of the air or a sword capable of poisioning anything it touches. To balance these effects certain enchants could be blocked such as being unable to use fire aspect on a poison sword or sweeping edge on a fast one. Other tools should also have potential benefits such as axes could have incredible knockback or more damage to an oponents durability. Pickaxes with ore specialisations that would grant fortune for the specific ore.