@wc_sumpton I'm pretty sure a grand re-write of map spec is going to take too long. If we freeze the current spec and have everyone wait, it'll be painful. Perhaps the key will be instead to just accept the complexity and create alternative forms of the XML so that it's flexible and we can get the expressiveness gains that you're seeking.
I'm working on a system to upload maps to server, but that's really running into trouble with various technical debt issues and to do that properly I need to start from the beginning and clean up how we deal with maps. It won't be a quick project, but I think we can probably get in a position where supporting alternative XML forms will be easier and we can then add it in.
At that rate I'd rather we go further with simplifications and really do it right.
With that said, using technology for a base ability does seem like duct tape. With that said, I think if we want non-combat movement to be different from combat, we should build it in first class. WDYT at this point?