Sorry, I wasn't clear on my initial post because I was writing it in a hurry.
This is a more elaborate explanation on my view on hybrid:
1. By hybrid, I mean true physical/magical hybrid with stats spread between 2 primary attributes. (i.e. shadowblade, battlemage, wayfarer)
This was how some of the most powerful builds are made in DOS1
Such as this dual wield wizard build:
http://www.tihie.com/divinity-original-sin-ee/2-power-build-dual-wielding-grenade-wizardIn the example DOS1 hybrid build, points were spread across THREE attributes (str/dex/int). This worked because attribute points are RARE. Instead of getting a lot of innate attribute points, you got most of them from equipment. And it was easy to hit the soft attribute cap, after which certain skills stopped scaling.
This no longer happens in DOS2, because everyone's got so many innate attribute points that pure builds scale way too much faster than hybrids.
2. Yes, hybrids are supposed to be weaker than pure class in terms of damage, but have more versatility as a trade off.
However, the armor system makes the life of hybrids much harder.
In DOS1, you can make a battlemage. The battle starts off with the hybrid throwing long range spells at the enemy. Since there's not armor system, even though the magical damage is weak, it still HURTS the enemy, with a decent percentage of landing the CC. You feel like the hybrid is contributing to the fight.
In DOS2, you can also make a battlemage. The battle starts off with using long range spells. Surprise! Blocked by armor! No chance of CC, only a tiny potion of the armor is destroyed, which the enemy is gonna regenerate next term. It feels like a waste of turn.
3. Hybrids can work, with a full team of support
I once made a battlemage using the preset skills. It works, because I have 2 teammates blasting through magical armors, then the battlemage charge in and stun the enemies with armor down. Afterward, the battlemage melee attacks, taking down a small percentage of physical armor while my magical teammates are killing the same dude with fire. Now the battlemage feels useless.
In a sense, hybrid works in the full team with good support. However, he is very dependent on his teammates, and cannot stand on his own.
I've been able to solo everything (No companions) in tactical mode as a hybrid so far with careful planning and prep my build is as hybrid as it gets (1 point in everything, high memory with as many skills as possible). .
It's good to know that hybrids, even solo, can beat the game.
The problem is, though, that for a casual player who doesn't calculate for everything. It FEELS bad to have a hybrid. Maybe this is my problem. I don't like having a character who relies so much on other teammates to burst down armor before he can contribute.
It just feels bad to see your pure ranger/ pure mage destroying everything from afar, while your battlemage struggles to land the CC and gets beaten to death.
