The current state of enchanting is broken. Enchantment tables pale in comparison to anvils due to librarians, and anvils have exponential cost increases that limit how many enchants you can add unless they’re applied in a specific order. Many enchantments also go unused mid-game— while early on you might loot Sharpness I, everyone eventually skips to the final level. Niche enchantments are rarely chosen over their generic counterparts.
The enchantment table should feature unlockable enchantments. By reading an enchantment book (no longer level-based) with the table as a translator, you permanently unlock it. The number of unlockable books depends on surrounding bookshelves. Translating a book costs lapis and XP that scale with its power. Duplicate books can be sacrificed to raise that enchantment’s level or gain XP, giving purpose to lesser enchants. The enchantment table’s GUI shows locked enchants and their requirements. Only after both curses are unlocked can you access Mending. You could have item requirements or force the unlock of niche enchants first. Items can be enchanted directly on the table for a fixed XP/lapis cost per enchant.
The anvil should cost a flat amount each time for repairs, encouraging its use as an alternative to Mending. Its functionality should merge with the smithing table, giving better use to both.
Grindstones should remove individual enchants and return their books. Curses could be cleansed with a unique item cost (lapis, echo or amethyst shards).
Please sign in to leave a comment.
2 Comments