Thank you both Steve and bigdamnhero for the replies.
Steve - I will be sure to look a those options. I have heard of Naked Advantages, but I should really do some reading up on them (as a brief aside, I recently figured out variable power pools (i think) and I kinda geeked out about it cause they seem like a lot of fun).
bigdamnhero - to answer some of the points you made:
We are currently playing a champions game. The main books we have been using are the core rule books volume 1 and 2 (i guess this is kind of a given ), the champions book, champions powers book, and martial arts book. All 6th edition.
If you have ever read Jim Butcher's Furies of Calderon series my player is trying to make powers like those displayed in the books. This power is from the metal portion of Mr. Butcher's magic system. In the books people who work with metal in a "magic" sense can manipulate metal and armor themselves with it. They can also improve any weapon they are holding, which also increases their ability with said weapon. It is that last one that my player is looking to emulate. He wants to grab a sword use the power and make it so that the sword grants him some minor combat bonuses but also does more damage and armor cutting power.
I think ultimately it would be flat every time. So let's say his character's name is Joe. When Joe is holding a sword and using this power he hits more often, hits harder, and penetrates more armor with it than if Bob comes along and uses the same sword.
We are doing a champions campaign with 400 point characters.
Thanks again to the pair of you for the help. Hopefully what I can churn out (with your help) can sync up with the vision my player has.
PS - Thanks for the welcome. I am also really glad you read my name right. A lot of people read it as Now Here Man, so it is always refreshing when people get it right.