Sorry for posting another thread so soon, and sorry for posting so many threads. But in my opinion, the current end-game is really not enough. I know that the devs are working on adding more content as fast as they can, and I don't take that for granted, but I have a legitimate idea that I honestly HOPE has been suggested before, because it's something I hope everyone wants and not just me.

WHY?
Currently, once you get all your 5* gear, the only thing you really have to do is to go back and make the gear again hoping for a Unique Variant, or go off searching for costume gear. But if the player is content with their gear, then there's very little for them to do. I am suggesting Weapon Tempering as both a way for players to increase their weapon's versatility and uniqueness, but also as a way for players who have their "final" weapons to tinker with them and get some more enjoyment out of the game.

WHAT?
Weapon Tempering is, as the name would suggest, modifying or altering a weapon. This can be done for any number of reasons, be it to increase damage to a particular monster type, or to add a slight chance of a status effect happening, increasing attack speed, or anything current Unique Variants can do. But also, it should be able to do things beyond that. In my dream Spiral Knights, I should be able to Temper my blade at every town or subtown to change some of its minor stats, like Damage, Knockback, Swing Speed, Damage Type (adding a second or third damage type that counts for 1/4 or 1/6 of the damage the weapon does), Chance to cause a status, etc.

Of course, it wouldn't just be POSITIVE things. Tempering is something that can't go perfectly, every time, and certain penalties could apply as well, being the direct opposite of any benefits one could get from Tempering ranging from damage decreases to attack speed decreases.

HOW?
It could easily be accomplished through an NPC placed in towns, subtowns, and certain checkpoints. Tempering should cost Energy and Crowns, as well as use up certain materials depending on what the player is trying to accomplish. To add a certain level of discovery to the Tempering system, the player would have to pick certain materials to Temper the weapon with, and give them to the NPC along with the Energy and Crowns in order to alter the weapon. The cost would not be outrageous, perhaps no more than 10 energy and 1,000 crowns, but there would have to be certain limits on it. In Haven, the player should only be able to Temper a weapon every so many minutes, and players should only be able to Temper a weapon ONCE per town/subtown.

Another limit placed is the amount, type, and strength of the benefits gained. Not only that, but the possibility of a player messing up in the process and causing negative changes to their weapons would make it a more difficult choice. The changes would not be entirely permanent. The NPC that assists in Weapon Tempering should allow the player to "reset" the weapon to its default for the same price as it would cost to Temper it. Re-Tempering a weapon would not add to the current benefits of a weapon if its benefits are maxed out, and will result in benefits turning upside down and causing a negative change to the weapon or the weapon's benefits being reset, along with the player being unable to Re-Temper their weapons immediately.

Summary
Weapon Tempering is a way for players to perform minor tweaks and changes to weapons using materials, crowns, and energy. It can allow for more powerful overall weapons, or for more situationally helpful weapons. If you see that you are going to be going into an Ice level next, you may choose to Temper your weapon in the hopes that you can add a slight Fire effect to weapons.

As I said, they are tweaks. The highest bonus a player will be able to achieve will be "slight" chances and "low" bonuses.

This isn't a necessary thing, and not many people may like the suggestion, but I want to throw it out there in the hopes that people will at least put forth the effort to build on it and give Three Rings some legitimate new ideas for the game's progress. Even if this idea turns out to be not-so-well-liked, I hope it at least inspires more and better ideas.

Please post your feedback here. I eagerly await it.