Quote Originally Posted by Wolf_Gang View Post
Or enchantment stones that increased certain attributes for your gear?
That would still be vertical progression, because stats/performance are increasing. It's the same as when you increase the item level -> Stats/Performance increase. If such a thing as horizontal progression exists, it can only refer to things that give the same overall (though not necessarily situational) performance with different stats - in other words, multiple equally good pieces with the same item level, because item level is meant to indicate just how good an item is.

And in that regard, we are indeed very lacking. Our secondaries aren't balanced and skill speed and piety aside, none of our stats even affect gameplay, only the numbers produced during gameplay. They even messed the most simple choice of hitting more often but weaker or hitting less often but harder up. So even if they 'tried' to remedy that... I'd not have high hopes that they'd be able to get it right.