One issue i always had with TES3 and 4 was the lack of gear for magic casters. Sure we had rings and robes, but everyone could use rings and robes. They added staffs in 4, but it wasn't gear so much as a rocket launcher in stick form. What I would like to see (though obviously they're pretty far into development, no need to remind.) would be staffs that act less like batteries for spells, and more like amplifiers, and modifiers. Such as a staff could increase all fire attacks by 20%, or all alteration spells require half casting time/magicka.
these are just pretty basic examples, with plenty of room for staffs that do just give spells, or more complex effects, but i think it would flesh out magic casting more. Input?

Agreed. I've actually suggested something along those line before in the various idea threads. I think it would work a lot better at making mage staves actually for mages.

And while we're on the subject of staves, I hope we see a greater diversity of staff graphics. It somewhat annoyed me that just about every staff in Oblivion was some variation of "tree branch I found on the ground" or "severed head on a stick". Something a bit more. . . fancy, would be nice.

I'd love that - reminds me of the offhand "focus" items that casters had in Guild Wars, which didn't outright possess an attack but gave bonuses to their energy pool or certain attributes.

Allowing us to enchant staffs with all the options of creating spells would help.

I support this idea.

perhaps staffs that add effects to spells. for example, a fire staff that adds fire damage to every spell I cast on an NPC. (not to be used with charm!)

Makes sense, and I agree with you. Woodcutting would be an awesome thing to put into V. You cut down a tree that has a special type of wood. Collect wood and take it to a mill. Have them fashion it into whatever shape you'd like for your staff (Premade designs, obviously. Higher quality wood, more expensive it is to fashion.). Once you have your stick, you can take it to a wizard and from there he can enchant it for you, but he's going to need the items needed for the enchantment so you've got to collect them. Different items/ores for different effects.

Would be cool too if you could add CQC things to your staff. Glass, iron, and ascending up the ranks for greater damage.