[Wids]

It would be nice if the forge let you set the level instead of using an item on the forge, it would be easier and more fluid for the creation of items and for the player.

Even if such an option were approved, I wouldn't make such item enchantments available to just anyone. Dedicated spellcasters might know how to better operate the enchantment forge (and to thus squeeze more mana juice out of it than Joe Fighter or Fred Rogue would), so the forge's operator would have to be a Wizard or a Sorcerer (to improve Arcane enchantments) or a Cleric or a Druid (to improve Divine enchantments). If you wanted a sword which casts Magic Missile at a higher Level than the standard, you would need a mid- to high-level Sorcerer or Wizard manning the enchantment forge. If you wanted a robe which casts Cure Critical Wounds at Level 15, you would need a Cleric or a Druid of Level 15 or higher.

Not only would this provide a plausible explanation for why your Fighter can't go around putting Flesh to Stone enchantments on all his equipables, it would also give the spellcasters some degree of control over whether or not they want their own roles to be crowded out by a mess of magic items.

("Hmmm...Joe Fighter's been asking me to enchant quite a few tidbits and baubles for him lately. I suspect that he might be trying to get rid of me....") *ahem* "Joe! The enchantment forge continues to malfunction for me. Perhaps it will be back in working order later." ("...but don't hold your breath, Joe. Heh heh heh....")