It seems to me that the uniquely-enchanter spell 'enchant weapon' (was it called that or something else like that?) which gave perm bonuses to weapons was not too useful and hard to tweak. When it is limited to +1 or +2, no one uses it, except maybe to create an extra magic weapon if they don't have one already or to give a weapon to a newbie. When 'chanters could go high (like +4) those weapons became commonplace and unbalanced the mud. Where's a middle ground that makes the spell interesting and useful to the mud, yet not unbalancing?
How about this: Expand the spell to 'Enchant item', meaning its no-longer sword specific. Moreover, make it require rareload components which determine the effect. Effects could be things such as 'plusses' (i.e. +2 hit, +10 ac, +mvs etc), protections (i.e. pfc), and minor procs (i.e. shocking grasp). These rares could be made to have standard effects with the 'enchant item' spell, like fireweed = prot.fire. Then make these combinations unknown and interact differently (i.e. fireweed works with this item but not this other one). And of course, it would also depend on the 'chanters skill at enchantment. This would mimic creating magical items in AD&D.
Picture this:
Enchanter #1: Hey I just found this broadsword with nice ansi and it looks enchantable. I've got this fireweed in my pack and I hear that can be used to make a prot.fire item. I wonder... c 'enchant' broadsword fireweed. Damn, spell didnt work and the fireweed crumbled ;(
Enchanter #2: Ooh, I just found this vial on that rareload mob and it identifies as 'oil of enchantment'. I have a fireweed in my pack that I haven't made into an earring. Hey gimmie that enchantable shield o yurs and lets see what happens. c 'enchant' shield oil fireweed. Woot, got a +15 ac shield pff!

With an unknown number of possibilities and unknown number rares (including new ones added for this spell) out there to be used, I think this would add many interesting possibilities and a new dimension to the mud.
Thoughts? Comments? Monetary donations?
Izzy