The Holy Avenger sword is very much a part of a Paladin's schtick. It is supposed to be a rare item. I have seen many paladins with holy avengers in my time.
What if the Paladin were to gain the ability to enchant a mastework sword through faith. At first level, it would simply be a masterwork sword, then it could gain pluses as the paladin levels.
Paladins used to quest for a mount. Perhaps they could choose whether to quest for a mount, or to enhance their swords.
The d20SRD wrote:
Holy Avenger
This +2 cold iron longsword becomes a +5 holy cold iron longsword in the hands of a paladin.
It provides spell resistance of 5 + the paladin’s level to the wielder and anyone adjacent to her. It also enables the wielder to use greater dispel magic (once per round as a standard action) at the class level of the paladin. (Only the area dispel is possible, not the targeted dispel or counterspell versions of greater dispel magic.)
Strong abjuration; CL 18th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, holy aura, creator must be good; Price 120,630 gp; Cost 60,630 gp + 4,800 XP.
All very well and good. Now what if this becomes an ability that opens up over time. The paladin quests, and gets a +2 iron longsword. After a few levels, it becomes +3, then +4, then finally, +5 at high levels.
Dispel magic could be similarly scaled. Starting with 1/day dispel magic, SR 1, then increasing to the full Greater dispel at will, SR 5 plus level, at a sufficiently high level.
I know I have not tried to plot it out. Mechanics are not my strong suite. I like the idea of enhancing a weapon as part of a legacy. I think a player would far rather make a weapon great, than buy it in downtime.
It allows the paladin a specialised, role-appropriate progression that has a unique character. What do others think?