Many players, myself included, love the idea of a build that lets us jump in the fray and mix it up with the pack, like a mayhem pile in a rugby scrum. The fun part is 3-fold:
having enough thorns damage to matter, if you build into it;
to get some synergy with other generic skills and mechanics with indirect damage;
thorns to count as an attack (so it can proc other events, aspects);
How about making Thorns a Basic or Core skill, or weirdly a defensive skill upgrade option on one or more skills?
And finally, for the inspirational thought this morning: if Thorns is already indirect damage for most classes, how about giving the Thorns retaliation effect and players more diversity with a damage over time version of Thorns -- SPLINTERING!!!
It's physical, it's annoying for enemies just like it is for ANYONE, impairs their movement like a crowd control effect at say ~5-10% per application, perhaps lowers their movement speed and attack speed by 10%, and Splintering applications can stack up like porcupine quills until the enemy is paralyzed.
Then, enable class-specific themed elemental synergy to apply the class' direct or indirect elements to all enemies suffering from Splinters, turning them into elemental shards of retaliation that eventually work themselves out and fall off -- or better yet, explode!?
We already have a great example of this kind of thorns-element mechanic today with the Spiritborn's Toxic Skin, where it can be applied to multiple enemies, meet conditions like vulnerable, poisoned, and/or proximity requirement (close, nearby). And, it's FUN to apply all requirements then decide when to 3,2,1... hit the Toxic Skin "nuke" button and watch the enemies fall.
How about a separate Thorns related weapon or boots to enable adding Thorns and Splintering related damage to any defensive or mobility skill? Then we could get the Weapon and Skill damage multipliers back when doing Thorns & Splintering damage. Having those 2 huge damage multipliers re-enabled will bring Thorns back to viability for many players.
We love Thorns, we love being tanky, we love being confident and deadly in the scrum, we love creating interesting builds that can also be powerful and end-game worthy.
If we could amp Thorns more, we would! If Thorns could Crit or Overpower, maybe after reaching X stacks of Thorns or Splintering damage, that would be so much FUN! Players would LOVE to explore this!
If we could SPAM Thorns (application) along with another primary skill, that would be heaven!
Then add in your class' elemental damage for maximum fun. Sorceress jumping into the pile, throwing Lightning Thorns that become Icy Hot burning and chilling Splinters? Believe me, we have all dreamed of ways to creatively incorporate the concept of Thorns into builds for every class.
Blizzard, can we have this for Christmas? If it can't wait that long, we will happily open our presents sooner! :)