Is it possible to make a new crafting branch right now? I mean having a tool that doesn't exists and is created via xml that is used to craft materials based on a skill that again doesn't exists now. I've tried but I can't make a new tool that works the in-game crafting menu, but perhaps something could be done with skills/spells to make it work like that.
short answer no. What you can do is make custom recipes that use one of the currently availible crafting tools/skills.
Could you make a new stat, and make the custom recipes require that stat, instead of one of the existing crafting stats?
Even with a no answer, great attempt at a roundabout solution, Wisp. I got all exciterated for nearly 2 seconds!