Did Lug already do some of this? I'm too lazy to check. Paragraphs with a '**' before it is the implementation method.
- Remove all the 2* alchemers except for Prismatech, and make all the 3* ones require the 2* Prismatech. This is to make it more like the Brandish in terms of getting UVs. Do the same thing for Haze Bombs and Shard Bombs, using the 2* Haze Bomb and 2* Shard Bomb as the bases for each crafting line. (Exception is Static Capacitor, which stays as boss item.)
** Change all existing 2* items to their particular replacement. If a player has a single recipe for the removed weapons, it should get replaced with the replacement's recipe. If a player has more than one recipe of which would get replaced, for each lost recipe they get sent either a 1k crown refund. Or maybe some other refund? For example, if I had a Splinter Bomb recipe and a Shard Bomb recipe, the Splinter Bomb recipe would go away and I would get sent 1k crowns.
- If 1. isn't possible, then remove the Brandish. Make a 2* Shadow Brandish, 2* Fire Brandish, and a 2* Freeze Brandish. The Cautery sword would get upgraded from the Shadow Brandish, and Shockburst would get upgraded from either the Freeze or Fire Brandish, whichever is more fitting.
** Brandishes may all get changed to 2* Fire Brandishes...or everyone with a normal Brandish could trade it in for any Brandish of their choice, and keep all the heat and UVs on the new one. (Though this may not be possible.)
- Chaos should get Shield Charge Time Increase: High per piece. This makes it take longer for your shield to recharge. By how much, I'm not sure.
- Plate should get Shield CTR: Low per piece.
- Volcanic Plate which gives Shield CTR Med per piece.
- Ironmight get Bash Power Increase (BPI): Med per piece. This increases the stun, damage, and knockback of the shield bash.
- Ancient Plate should get BPI: Low and Shield CTR: Low per piece.
- Jelly gear (including shield) should each give Sprite Focus Increase: Low per piece. (Reduces Sprite skill cooldown by 5% or something for each stage.)
- Royal Jelly should get SFI: Med per piece. (For a whooping 30% cooldown decrease with a whole set.)
- Ice Queens should get Sprite Damage Increase (SDI): Med per piece. The increase would be equivalent to that of other damage increases.
Complaints? Recommendations?
If we remove the 2* brandish and replace it with elemental variants, then you overlap with the Edge lines. And how do you get from Prismatech to Shadowtech? Or Shard Bomb to Dark Matter Bomb?
Better idea for the brandish: Remove the Fireburst Brandish, Shockburst Brandish, Iceburst Brandish, Nightblade, and Cautery Sword. Make the Brandish 3*, extend the Edge lines to 3* to match their respective armors, and make Edges branch from the proto sword. Also, add a Freezing Edge. And an ember gun. And make the corresponding guns and bombs stem from the proto stuff. Same for the armor.
...That got off topic...