Re: More things to forge
 

Another thought on forging:

How about making items cheaper if you have more than the needed paths and forgeable but substantially more expensive if you're one short on the needed path(s)?

Re: More things to forge
 

I have severe difficulty managing spells that cost gems to cast. So here's some items to replace the gem requirements for spells. The idea here is that a mage with one of these items gets some number of virtual gems each battle, and can use them like regular gems but the virtual gems that don't get used up during the battle go away.
Construction 2:
Fire Focus: F4: 2 virtual fire gems per battle
Earth Focus: E4: 2 virtual earth gems per battle
Air Focus: A4: 2 virtual air gems per battle
Water Focus: W4: 2 virtual water gems per battle
Construction 4:
Astral Focus: F4: 2 virtual astral gems per battle
Death Focus: D4: 2 virtual death gems per battle
Nature Focus: N4: 2 virtual nature gems per battle
Soul Focus: B4: 2 virtual blood slaves per battle
Construction 6:
Grand Fire Focus: F6: 8 virtual fire gems per battle, +1F
Grand Earth Focus: E6: 8 virtual earth gems per battle, +1E
Grand Air Focus: A6: 8 virtual air gems per battle, +1A
Grand Water Focus: W6: 8 virtual water gems per battle, +1W
Grand Astral Focus: F6: 8 virtual astral gems per battle, +1S
Grand Death Focus: D6: 8 virtual death gems per battle, +1D
Grand Nature Focus: N6: 8 virtual nature gems per battle, +1N
Grand Soul Focus: B6: 8 virtual blood slaves per battle, +1B
...and modify the existing rings of sorcery and wizardry to provide one virtual gem for each path they boost.

National items would of course be a good idea.

A crown of telepathy to grant a mind blast attack in combat and inquisitor status out of combat. Astral 3, construction 6.

A Gossamer Cloak, to grant glamour and stealth +0, or +20 to an existing stealth. Air 4, construction 4.

Re: More things to forge
 

Sorry, it's Air, not Earth. Wall Shaker: gives a siege bonus and casts Panic.