Very interesting topic.
I think that previous system where each weapon base stat was independently variable was not a good fit. It would be completely ok for an ARPG game, with proper grindy endgame, but Wicked seems to not strive to be such a game.
On the other hand it is a bit disappointing that ground loot is largely irrelevant. For players that know what they want during each playthrough, there is literally no reason to pick stuff up once they get the pieces they want to use. There is no ARPG incentive of randomized stats, because all base stats are the same and enchantments can be easily rerolled with fallen embers. There is no classical RPG incentive too, where items dropped in next zone are more powerful, because tiers can be upgraded easily by npcs.
All of this results in lack of interesting item progression, you just pick stuff up once on the beach and go with it to the end of the game. I think it is one of the biggest weaknesses of Wicked.
It would be a nice touch to add decent amount of randomness here and there. Like adding a different item qualities (broken, fine, polished, superior) that have different base stats and are drop only. Fine quality should be very common and polished should be a bit more rare to create a good feeling when found. Game should be balanced around having a mix of fine and polished gear, so some “players” would not complain and others would have a nice little grind for superior gear that should be decently rare. But in such case current item enchantment system should go in favor of reworked gem system to reduce what i call “multiple stacked requirements”, where first you have to find an item and then Eleanor has to graciously enchant it into a plagued item. It would be infuriating when you find already rare item, with rare superior quality and Eleanor proceeds to brick it with blue enchantment.
Can i bounce this ball? Do not play video games if you have no time for them.
Path of Exile 2 sold over 1 million copies in preorders, so i would say there is a need for such games.