- Hybrides suck. They just don't work at the moment with how attributes apply to skills. Make a pick of the main attribute for each of your characters. I'd suggest two INT characters (to cover all schools of magic), one DEX character (preferably an archer, but could also be a Rogue), and one STR character (tankish type to make use of all the many Man-at-Arms abilities). Then attempt to max those. If you try to go in as a party of Wayfarer/Battlemage/Shadowblade/Cleric, you'll get rofl-stomped by monsters right outside the gates, while the best items and spells are either heavily penalized or unusable in your inventory.
Theres a lot of truth in this. I learned the hard way and started as Cleric and Shadowblade. Theres just too little attribute points and ability points to go around and i end up with diluted attribute distribution(neither good dmg not good defense and poor AP) and low ability levels(hell, i didnt have enough spell slots). My spells are penalized(Higher AP cost and lower % hit) and my dmg was sub par as well as my defenses weaker(bodybuilding/willpower).
I then rerolled as Archer and Wizard, so much better. I have sufficient perception for the party, my spells work normally and my dmg and defenses are excellent. I could easily utilize the combos due to having access to all spells. I also have enough points for crafting and blacksmithing. Basically the synergy in my party went through the roof.
Its quite disappointing that hybrids are pretty much penalized. I kinda like the system in Alpha/Beta, theres close to no penalty in going mass hybrid but then again i understand how imbalanced that is...