Rework the alchemy system to be more like the alchemy in recent installments of the Atelier franchise (If you haven’t heard of it, don’t worry; it’s hella obscure but fun). And as a result, make most if not all tools/items entirely unable to be purchased or found from chests, or dramatically overpriced.
AKA: Oh, you want a fishing rod? Alright, go harvest several chunks of wood, some spider’s webs, and be sure to put in a bunch of flowers or random fruits and shit of the grass and ice elements, then you bring it to a cauldron, and finish as many loops as possible for bonus effects, quality increases, and extra recipes!