Changelog 23rd May, 2016

[Azarael]

Sideway progression is meant to mean different procs but equal in terms of power. Different options instead of better options

Yep, and I have no problems with doing it that way. How I'd handle it is that instead of considering procs to be an upgrade, each proc or weapon effect (passive) would have advantages and disadvantages, and be used to unlock / support certain playstyles or work around meta issues. An example of the latter would be a weapon which converts damage dealt, either all damage or damage from a particular damagetype, into a different damagetype, while displaying on the weapon an aura effect which corresponds to the shifted damagetype (purple for Spirit, green for Corporeal and orange for Elemental), as a means of allowing some classes to get out from under the feet of others that share their damagetypes.

I would rather have the tactics and skill trees of balanced classes represent the majority of the game's customization, instead of shoving procs, effects, renown abilities and use items into the game, blurring the lines between classes more and more.

<Efficiency>

While I'm always a proponent of anything which increases individual skill, I think something like this would be too radical to consider for WAR.

[Jaycub]

I really like the idea of playstyle/build enabling procs as a way of horizontal progression in place of the purely stat based creep we saw on live and tons of other mmos.

I think for a lot of classes they are forced into a certain hierarchy of stat priotization (crit is king) So sets that lack those sets are worthless outside of niche things like 1v1. This is enforced by defensive game mechanics that put a huge emphasis on overcoming how strong they are so dps must go full glass and can go full glass when supported by those mechanics in a proper 6 man even if that is a loose 6 man or part of a warband etc...

The only way to break that is mods on gear like you have said or totally retooling the game. An example I could think of is like a WL axe that increases the armor debuff value but has 0 dps, or a 6pc bonus that allows the pet to guard something in exchange of a permanent %increased damage taken modifier, etc....