More Horizontal Progression please

[Nektulos-Tuor]

Lets say they have the next raid in some kind of frigid northlands. As a result, players need to gather sets of gear that provide protection against ice damage to survive the environment and its denizens. That is what horizontal progression is. Instead of raising the item level, the raid set has some kind of situational stat. There are various reasons why this is useful, such as countering power creep in a game, but the primary reason a lot of people are asking for it is that WoW didn't do so hot after it raised its level cap too many times. In addition to lowering the value of older content, It eventually became impossible to reconcile the pace of leveling required by the various zones in the world with how long it took to reach max level. Eventually, players found themselves outleveling zones merely by questing in them long before they ever finished the quests required to see how the story unfolded in each zone. Now they just let people buy their way to max level because its too broken to fix.

I remember in EQ2 the "Fatal Lifetap" Jewelry dropped. (gives a lifetap proc) and has multiple stats. So its literally good for Mages/Scouts/Tanks and it was good for pretty much everyone. Although it benefited tanks a little more then the others it was still nice. However, there were also procs that warded mages when they casted spells or casted another small nuke.

Horizontal Gear can make it where you need less gear.

Say they revamped Jewelry and made Jewelry like this.

Soul Sucking Necklace
30 Vitality, Strength, Intelligence

Fatal Lifetap:
10% Chance on any hit to deal 584 unaspected damage and heal's caster for 584.
This is good for all melee, all tanks, all mages. Sure, it might be better for tanks overall. However it can still help mages and melee too!


Life Siphoning Earring of Energy
30 Vitality, Wisdom, Intelligence

Engorged
Slowly converts 500 Life into 300 Mana every 4 seconds.
This is good for all mages and casters. Some other classes may benefit more. However all classes can use it!


Bracelet of Stone
30 Vitality, Wisdom, Strength

Stoneskin
Reduces damage taken by 5%. Slows movement speed by 15%.
This is good for all mages and casters and tanks. Some other classes may benefit more. However all classes can use it!

There is no "BEST ITEM" if made well. All items are different and some have weaknesses attached to them. They just change your "Playstyle!"

That is "NOT" Horizontal Progression. You do "NOT" have a choice but to get the new gear. Horizontal Progression is all about choice.

That is actually "Forced" Vertical Progression, because to go to there you need the new ice protection gear. There is no other gear for you then that.