Not only the highest end of the scale but also the lowest needs to be revised in terms of artefacts. In case I didn't say it earlier, in order to correct the contradictions in the artefact scale and the N/A category of artefacts I created a new Background called Wonders. Sources openly admit the disparity between artefacts as mighty as a Warstrider sharing the same artefact rating as a Grand Daiklave for example. The Wonder Background was made to counteract this. Essentially Wonders are a continuation of the scale of lesser artefacts. Simply put they represent the artefact level that would be expressed as 6-10. Since I haven't used this rule myself it's up to Storytellers to decide whether the artefact 4-5 cost for bonus points, or experience if it's used for Backgrounds, is enough or whether they require something more. The importance of Wonders is they go all the way to the top of the Artefact scale including things such as the Eye of Autochthon, the Five Metal Shrike, and other such legendary creations.
Back to the subject, at the lower end the importance of artefacts needs to be recognised. Even the lowest, level 1, artefact is an object of such power that it deserves a Background in it's own right. Even though it is the least of objects made from magical materials it exceeds the power of any similar item that could be made through conventional craft. This should go further in that the power of such objects is not measured in the same way as conventional items but intrinsically possess unusual powers that are their defining feature. A Short Daiklave or Artefact 1 martial arts weapon would easily outstrip anything made by mundane craft. Thaumaturgy is a slightly contentious issue since it involves magic without necessarily creating artefacts. The powerful items it creates (far more powerful than anything listed in the rules so far which do not give justice to the vast amounts of money and effort needed to make them) are covered by the Resources used in the construction. So people with Resources 4 and 5 could purchase master level thaumaturgical services. However in terms of power they do overlap with artefacts since thaumaturgy can be a powerful supernatural force as well.
One issue that bears consideration is whether artefacts possess powers relevant to the Background level as an intrinsic characteristic or whether such powers would increase their Background score. Personally, having a grander idea of the scope of the game, I favour the former. As such the characteristics of weapons listed in the back of the rulebook are an indication of the supernatural powers they would possess. If the latter idea was used, in combination with the idea that all artefacts possess such powers, it would cause a universal increase in their Background ratings, categorisation of artefact 4 and 5 items as Wonders, and quicker approach to the sky limit for artefacts. This would mean people would have to chose between an immediately physical powerful artefact such as a Warstrider that gave the character much greater strength, and an artefact with more mystical powers. Storytellers who favour the former approach could use it to emphasise how rare and how powerful artefacts really are. Wonders would be truly astronomical as befits their status and difficulty to create.
