I think if I were to do this, I'd start with a central "metropolis" like kingdom where all the various races congregate and that is relatively new. Pretty much an experiment. From this central hub, have older kingdoms that cater to specific races and perhaps lean towards specific classes (A...
I've run games where the characters were the descendants of the player's previous characters, with mom & dad occasionally showing up - or even getting in on the group's adventures.
I have also played on family connections as well, good and bad. Yes, I've used the "someone in the family has...
I'd probably go route #1 - losing flexibility for the option to have more spells on hand that will be useful at any given time.
Overall, though I think I'd go with limited prep - maybe one or two flexible slots. The rest are prepared, but you don't need to specifically select multiples. You...
Power Words for the Artillerist as attack spells
Crown of Stars seems to be on all Arcane spell-users list, also seems to fit in with attacks modes for the Artillerist and Armorer (think the floating drones of Mister Fantastic from the recent Superman movie)
Regenerate for the Armorer &...
6th
Contingency
Create Homunculus
Drawmij's Instant Summons
Globe of Invulnerability
Investiture of Flame
Investiture of Ice
Investiture of Stone
Investiture of Wind
Magic Jar
Primordial Ward
Scatter
Tenser's Transformation
Word of Recall
7th
Create Magen
Crown of Stars
Etherealness
Fire Storm...
Idea for several gargoyle variants:
Vampiric gargoyle - life-draining touch, additional powers when it's blood-draining blood hits (augmenting its humours), can become a bat or mist
Weregoyle - a humanoid cursed to become a rampaging gargoyle on the night of a full moon; can infect others with...
Rather than a full class redo, what about a subclass for the Artificer that grants full spellcasting. As you stated, 6th-9th being doled out akin to Warlocks - being locked into magic items.