An idea, probably not original. Since we are having so much trouble finding decent resources why not add some more types of metals / alloys / crystals, erc. that are not based off of iron or bronze. As I see it the problem right now is that all the good weapons are Steel of one flavor or another. Why not make some materials that are just as good or even better than steel and have nothing to do with Iron? Here are some ideas.
1. Probably easy but lame - Make more minerals that can be used to make iron.
2. Cooler but probably more difficult - Reproduce the Iron to Steel process but use another fairly common base material instead of Iron. Use increasingly rare other resources to combine it until it is somewhere close to Red Steel. It could have different properties, however, so it isn't totally redundant.
3. Really Cool but probably really hard - Create some Magic / Fantasy / Steampunk based materials that use a combination of minerals, gems, woods, animal products, etc. along with alchemy and different forging techniques to make some really unique and different materials. For instance:
* Mithril, Dureum, Dwarfeum, Unobtanium, Flubber, whatever.
* Gem items such as a Crystal axe or Diamond Helm. Use a gem base material such as actual gems, glass, quartzite and obsidian and change it with Alchemy or add materials to it combined with magma or something until it is a material suitable for high end weapons and armor.
* Blood / Chaos Items - Create a spiffy item using one of the above methods then take it to the War Altar with a unit of something’s blood and it gives you that Item highly enhanced as a Blood or Chaos Item. The amount of the enhancement could be based on the type / rarity of the blood. Cat blood vs Giant or Dragon blood for instance.
* Gadget based items - Once again make a spiffy item then take it to the Mechanic who turns your Ruby Sword into a Ruby Chain sword of doom.
Not really sure if any of this is even possible but it would be neat to see even more variety in the Game.