I have no problem with having enchantments, in terms of game-play, work by putting a spell effect on a weapon or armor. However, when I do this I don't feel like I'm making anything significant, just another boring enchanted sword with 20 fire damage on hit. Enchantments need to feel cool, so that once I max the enchantment skill I'm really making legendary creations, weapons that will stay with me forever and not be replaced when I find something just slightly stronger (The Diablo effect)

What I want is for enchantment of a weapon or armor to actually somehow modify the armor visually, not by just adding a shiny magic look, but by warping the metal, adding runes, etc., especially in a way that I can customize.


Here's an example. I think that adding enchantments should be a process of placing the appropriate runes where you want, and the material would naturally change as a result. Low-power enchantments would make minor changes to the weapon, maybe placing a single rune and not bending the metal at all), while higher-level enchantments would warp the steel of a sword, add spikes to my gloves, etc.

Here's something I envision.

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/2346/weaponenchantments.png

{EDIT}
I just saw this thread: http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1291091-all-bow-before-my-crafted-weapon/

and it gave me another idea. when you get to level 100, the weapons you enchant should include really epic effects, like having thunder boom when you score a critical hit with a sword, or having arrows leave a trail of ice behind them as they fly.

There's a Mod for that...

Or will be once the creation kit is released.

But I do like you idea as it has merit. I love it when a weapon is visually unique, especially after enchanting it. Or maybe unique spell effects as you mentioned, such as the trail of ice (or fire or arcing electricity).

Oh god... I just had a thought. Twin axes enchanted with Electricity, sparks arcing between them as you hold them out dual wielding.