Here's a link to a tradeskill board where the tradeskill designer posts on a regular basis. Some decent info there. Alchemy can be used to imbue particle effects, procs, and reverse procs on weapons and armor. I think I'm gonna make a set of self procing bladeturn armor for rvr and some damage shield procs for levelling and go to town!
http://pub96.ezboard.com/fdarkageofcamelottradeskillsfrm32.showMessageRange?topicID=12.topic&start=21&stop=25