I don't like the idea of unique weapons having better stats than carftable weapons. weapons are consumable items and the best weapons are those that are specifically designed to be a weapon with no regard for anything else. in the same vein steel is the best steel and since titanium hadn't been invented*. there is no such thing as magic meteor metal. the only exception to this is damascan steel which would be nice to see in the game.
now you might say that it would be nice to have a super sword but I like to outfit my companions with the best gear I can find and it feels annoying to know there is an arbitrary limit on the best sword there is.
therefore I would prefer to have any and all unique weapons to have equal or worse stats than the best weapons. however, they could function as a banner which when drawn can get a morale boost to your troops or instill fear in the enemy.
another point is the way of obtaining unique weapons. I do think that there should be some you get with quests. there can also be some you have to find by traveling and exploring the map as well as locating a ruin or two, some of them could just be sold by a pawnbroker who bought it from an impoverished knight a couple of years ago without knowing it was an important weapon. these symbols already have a legacy and wielding them would benefit the user in various predetermined ways. the sword of the first emperor could give you legitimacy while the axe of a famous sturgian chieftain might convince the outlying tribes to join under your banner. however, I think the player should also be able to make their own unique weapons or even bring a weapon they had to unique status by their actions. if you are a ruthless warlord who always uses the same sword to execute the captives displaying the sword on the battlefield should instill fear in your enemy. the mace you gave to a companion when you declared him governor of a city which he then ruled over with great justice could compel his soldiers to be more staunch and hold ground where many a unit should have routed. a bow you used to fell the captains of a merchant caravan could become a legend for the bandits in the forest. this way you forge your own legends.
* somehow find it funny to state that naturally occurring things are actually inventions. I know that I should say that there were no methods of extracting and using titanium in commercially viable amounts back then.
EDIT: also, in skyrim unique weapons were the best ones available as long as the player leveled himself high enough before obtaining them (something I personally found ridiculous and detrimental). the problem is that the player is the only one who is capable of improving weapons.
now you might say that it would be nice to have a super sword but I like to outfit my companions with the best gear I can find and it feels annoying to know there is an arbitrary limit on the best sword there is.
therefore I would prefer to have any and all unique weapons to have equal or worse stats than the best weapons. however, they could function as a banner which when drawn can get a morale boost to your troops or instill fear in the enemy.
another point is the way of obtaining unique weapons. I do think that there should be some you get with quests. there can also be some you have to find by traveling and exploring the map as well as locating a ruin or two, some of them could just be sold by a pawnbroker who bought it from an impoverished knight a couple of years ago without knowing it was an important weapon. these symbols already have a legacy and wielding them would benefit the user in various predetermined ways. the sword of the first emperor could give you legitimacy while the axe of a famous sturgian chieftain might convince the outlying tribes to join under your banner. however, I think the player should also be able to make their own unique weapons or even bring a weapon they had to unique status by their actions. if you are a ruthless warlord who always uses the same sword to execute the captives displaying the sword on the battlefield should instill fear in your enemy. the mace you gave to a companion when you declared him governor of a city which he then ruled over with great justice could compel his soldiers to be more staunch and hold ground where many a unit should have routed. a bow you used to fell the captains of a merchant caravan could become a legend for the bandits in the forest. this way you forge your own legends.
* somehow find it funny to state that naturally occurring things are actually inventions. I know that I should say that there were no methods of extracting and using titanium in commercially viable amounts back then.
EDIT: also, in skyrim unique weapons were the best ones available as long as the player leveled himself high enough before obtaining them (something I personally found ridiculous and detrimental). the problem is that the player is the only one who is capable of improving weapons.