Ember Online

Start it off by finishing the class hideouts with some specific items in there to be bought. Armor/Pots/Weapons etc etc.

Expand it into racial based hideouts. Another interesting idea would be race based items excluding banes that could be a fun new element to the game. Something along the lines of -1 from current oads for high gold cost or equal to oads with pp.

Edit note: Good pots could be purchased in both. Even some regen items or special boost items. IMO this game could use some +str/agi/int/wis pots as well.

Or even a poison type that would cause negative str/agi/int/wis when "given" to a target.

I think having items that are equal to rares or oads for a high gold cost would be a great alternative for those who put in a lot of time and dedication to the game but aren't very successful when it comes to events that are not, say, 1v1... because those tend to rely heavily on connections to succeed.

Edit: Also another PP alternative idea to throw out: PP (participation points). Those can be awarded in small amounts to people who entered events but not necessarily win them. However the items you can obtain with this can only go up to a rare in power and never a oad. This can give those who are disadvantaged a sense that they aren't completely wasting their time and more PKing fun for those who are.

I want to say I'm proud of the playerbase trying to reward diligence like this and I am for an alternative (albeit still difficult) way to obtain nice items.