Sentinel Love, what can Bioware do to keep other players interested in our class?

[SovereignConvict]

I've played two other games that had something similar and in both cases it got quickly nerfed into near uselessness due to rabid outcries from the population.

 

Of that, I sadly have no doubt.

 

I think the allure of being a mean person that fires lightning out of your hands coupled with both the disproportionately high representation of people with low social skills in MMO communities and the fact that Sorcerers were OP when the game launched conspired to create a "Sorcs get whatever they want" power bloc in this game. It didn't help anything when the first Sorc nerf came in and a LARGE amount of players left the game in a juvenile tantrum parade. BioWare learned their lesson. "Never piss off the advanced class with the largest player population."

 

I love playing my Sage and Sorc. It's like easy mode for the game. However, when I said, "I play all the advanced classes in the game. I like them all. But currently, healing is WAY too advantageous in Warzones," that was my way of basically addressing the, "People will complain about this," factor without actually saying anything with which anyone else might have taken umbrage.

[Vodrin]

I love playing my Sage and Sorc. It's like easy mode for the game. However, when I said, "I play all the advanced classes in the game. I like them all. But currently, healing is WAY too advantageous in Warzones," that was my way of basically addressing the, "People will complain about this," factor without actually saying anything with which anyone else might have taken umbrage.

 

I think there are some better ways to deal with how strong healing is right now. I am not convinced that healing needs any nerf at all (nerfing guard slightly in some way may be more effective), but if you did increasing healing debuffs would make more sense to me.

 

As for buffing watchman/annihilation I think that reducing the ramp up time for damage is the most important thing followed at a distance by DoT cleanse protection (which I really think is only important when fighting ops).

[Ramtar]

Rename the Republic AC: Weapon Master. Sentinel in SW lore were a class just as Guardian and Consular.

 

The GCD on all abilities need to be inline with the other classes. Reducing GCD on all abilities will increase damage out and survivability.

 

Introduce Form VI: Niman at level 14. Niman should replace Shii-Cho in Focus and Combat trees. Beside Shii-Cho is basic Lightsaber Form I. This

is how Niman should be in this MMO.

 

Introduce Force Push at level 26 or spec able (1/2 points) via Focus tree. 1 Point in Force Push (4m range, 15 second CD): Deals kinetic damage, and pushes the target away from the caster. Does not stun or knock down the target. 2 points in Force Push is the same as Guardian's Force Push. Full 2 points Force Push would allow PvP 4 piece bonus to now come into play.

 

Change the PvP 4 piece bonus to include Zealous Leap which will increase Focus player's damage output.

Edited April 3, 2014 by Ramtar

[Bejarid]

Form VI: Niman

 

Niman doesn't make sense for the Sentinel. It's a relatively weak combat form (note: all Jedi that used Niman as their primary combat form died at the Geonosian Arena) focused less on actual fighting and more on controlling the opponent through non-weapon means; would have been more appropriate for Shadows instead of the silly "techniques." Jar'kai, however, would be acceptable as a Sentinel combat form - since Jar'kai is the form that actually emphasizes dual-wield combat.

 

Introduce Force Push

 

No. Game doesn't need another knockback. It's bad enough that all Consulars get one, early, and use it every bloody opportunity, which frustrates tanks and melee alike.

[Ramtar]

Niman doesn't make sense for the Sentinel. It's a relatively weak combat form (note: all Jedi that used Niman as their primary combat form died at the Geonosian Arena) focused less on actual fighting and more on controlling the opponent through non-weapon means; would have been more appropriate for Shadows instead of the silly "techniques." Jar'kai, however, would be acceptable as a Sentinel combat form - since Jar'kai is the form that actually emphasizes dual-wield combat.

 

Niman is the formal name for lightsaber Form VI or Jar'kai was designed for dual wielding and not for Shadows. None of the Jedi that died in Geonosian Arena used dual wield or double-blade lightsabers, besides that took place thousands of years into the future in the SW timeline.

Edited April 3, 2014 by Ramtar

[Bejarid]

Niman or Jar'kai was designed for dual wielding and not for Shadows.

 

Niman was not designed for dual-wielding. Quoting the article you linked:

 

"[Niman] was a hybrid martial art created by effectively combining elements of the preceding lightsaber forms into a single, generalized form. Niman balanced out between the various specializations of the other forms, covering many of the basic moves, but focusing on overall moderation. This resulted in a fighting style that lacked a significant advantage, but also lacking any serious drawbacks, and thereby not leaving adherents as exposed as some of the more aggressive or specialized forms. Overall, Niman had a fairly relaxed focus on bladework, designed as a simple, easily mastered fighting form for Jedi who preferred to devote most of their time to study and diplomacy...

 

To compensate for the relaxed focus on bladework and lack of significant specialization, Niman training regimens encouraged the inclusion of Force-based attacks in combat, such as telekinetic pulls and shoves used in sync with lightsaber strikes."

 

Pay particular attention to the bolded areas. Niman is not suitable to Sentinels; it would work for Shadows since they mix melee and telekinesis more than Sents.

 

Also, Niman is the formal name for Form VI, of which Jar'kai is typically considered a variant but distinct form. Much like Shien and Djem So, or Juyo and Vaapad, are very different but based upon the same core principles.

Edited April 3, 2014 by Bejarid

[Ramtar]

Niman was not designed for dual-wielding. Quoting the article you linked:

 

"[Niman] was a hybrid martial art created by effectively combining elements of the preceding lightsaber forms into a single, generalized form. Niman balanced out between the various specializations of the other forms, covering many of the basic moves, but focusing on overall moderation. This resulted in a fighting style that lacked a significant advantage, but also lacking any serious drawbacks, and thereby not leaving adherents as exposed as some of the more aggressive or specialized forms. Overall, Niman had a fairly relaxed focus on bladework, designed as a simple, easily mastered fighting form for Jedi who preferred to devote most of their time to study and diplomacy...

 

To compensate for the relaxed focus on bladework and lack of significant specialization, Niman training regimens encouraged the inclusion of Force-based attacks in combat, such as telekinetic pulls and shoves used in sync with lightsaber strikes."

 

Pay particular attention to the bolded areas. Niman is not suitable to Sentinels; it would work for Shadows since they mix melee and telekinesis more than Sents.

 

Read the total article and watch the video.

 

In SW lore: Jedi Sentinels combine the art of combat with skillful manipulation of the Force. Jedi Sentinels are a starter class just as Jedi Guardian and Jedi Consular. That is why in my first post, this AC should be renamed: Weapon Master. For the ones that don't know: Weapon Master is a Knights of Old Republic II Prestige Class, opposite the Sith Marauder.

 

In many of the SW games: Double bladed lightsabers aren't specific to any Jedi class. Also, placing dual lightsabers hilt to hilt produce a: Double bladed lightsaber.

Edited April 3, 2014 by Ramtar

[Atlanis]

I've played two other games that had something similar and in both cases it got quickly nerfed into near uselessness due to rabid outcries from the population.

 

Yeah, I think the Sentinel will never see a significant buff because of the following 4 Reasons:

 

- Sentinels[MAINS] are the smallest Playerpopulation to be found (there are more Vanguards and Shadows, and I don´t count twinks just Mains)

 

- No Dev plays a Sentinel or Marauder, those who did are now brewing beer I think

 

- Other than Scoundrel DPS or Shadow DPS, a large amount of the playerpopulation hate us since launch, Sages, Gunslingers and all those people who are to stupid for movement aka Ranged Main Class Players in most cases.

 

- As the Devs listen to the biggest crowd, Sentinels are a minority and object of hate, we will not see any buffs.

[KarethRiker]

I don't think Sentinels are being discriminated against on purpose or that there is a vast conspiracy.

 

I also don't think Sents are in a bad place right now. I've been competitive in regs and ranked in both Combat and Focus specs.

 

However, I do think if you have a choice come 2.7 Sentinels are at a disadvantage. They are not bad and they will still be able to be very effective in a good player's hands, but the skill cap will be higher and there are certainly detriments.

 

In PVP being in melee range is very tough. A good team will focus you first in 2.7 to get you off their healer and they don't have to worry about you being in melee range anymore now that Smash has been nerfed to the ground. Although you can root, there are many root escapes and the plethora of pushes, KBs, stuns, and mezzes mean you can be shut down long enough for the opposing team to get your health down. Our awesome DCDs help alot, but it becomes very tough against a group of ranged due to Sniper cover, Enduring Bastion recovery, and root protection.

 

In PVE they are again very effective with effective specs for all situations, but again there are some significant disadvantages with current encounter design. Self-cleanses put ranged at a huge advantage in Nefra NiM and give healers extra time to top off in Council. Self-cleanse/purge is also extremely useful in Draxus NiM with grenades going out everywhere. Grapple and short-range interrupts also make Draxus NiM more difficult and present challenges on DPS uptime in Brontes as well. Most specs also lack strong AOE cleave damage with sustained DPS which makes some fights tougher. Combine this with the series of nerfs we have had to our utility (no stacking inspiration/depressed buff, guarded by the force healing nerf, Watchman self-heal nerf) and it is easy to see why many raids no longer bring Sentinels. Again, I'm not saying we're not viable and our DPS is extremely strong, but it is certainly easier to bring an Assault Commando or Gunslinger now then to bring a sentinel in current operations content.

[Bejarid]

In SW lore:...

 

Not really lore, so much as certain games' mechanics. In real lore, there are no Guardian, no Consualrs, Sentinels, Shadows, whatever-the-hell-else; there are only Jedi, divided by rank as Padawans, Knights, and Masters. So arguing anything along the lines you're attempting to use is pretty pointless.

 

Also, to further quote the article you chose to link, "While Form VI was largely adapted from [an] earlier fighting style, several noted Jedi considered the pure root of Form VI to be Form III: Soresu" - a defensive form, which does not fit thematically for what the game mechanics dictate as a strictly offensive class. Niman simply does not work for Sentinels.

[JagoPulastra]

Well, actually ...

 

Guardians, Sentinels, and Consulars are canon, very much so. They exist outside of just the KOTOR Series (and their relevant Tabletop RP Sourcebooks), and are even featured in The Jedi Path (decent read, pick it up if you don't already have it and are a fan).

 

That said, I'm very much in agreement with Ramtar's original point: "Sentinel" is not the appropriate name for this class. In fact, sadly, a "true" Sentinel doesn't really fit the idea of TOR. The Guardian is the Combat Specialist, wielding all manners of weapons from lightsabers, vibroswords, even blasters and starfighters (in canon, that is, not the game) to dispatch the enemies of The Order and The Republic. Conversely, the Consular shies from direct combat and instead tries to solve issues through diplomacy, logic, reason, and The Force.

 

The Sentinel, in canon, is The Jack: they do everything. They fight, they philosophize, they slice computers, fix droids, pilot ships, deal with the criminal underworld, talk politics with Senators: their skill-set is diverse, and that is their strength. Sadly, there is no real way to reflect that idea in TOR (outside of the Class Story, perhaps). The only way I could think of it would be if "Jedi Sentinel" was its very own Class, featured its own ACs, and had access to Heal, Tank, and DPS trees to reflect the idea that they can do, literally, just about anything, just not as well as the people who specialized (a Sentinel would find it difficult to outfight a Guardian, or outForce Consular).

 

Interestingly enough, Jedi Shadow would have been a Sentinel AC if it were its own class, as Shadows were Sentinels (mostly).

 

 

But I digress.

 

 

Sentinel was my first Class. To give an idea of roughly how much I have played this game, however, I've owned it for technically about a year now and JUST finished the Knight Storyline (I leveled a Sniper to 44 and a Scoundrel to 29 inbetween playing my Sent, but still). My experience with PvP ... isn't. It's mostly in getting ganked on Tatooine or Hoth (*********** HOTH!) due to initially starting in an RP-PVP server because I noticed the population size was not as big as others. I have not moved from the Server mostly because before it wasn't possible to do so (last I remember), and now mostly due to laziness.

 

Due to said Ganking, I have managed to develop an irrational hatred of Assassins (and Shadows, as I've dealt with enough of them doing the same to my Sniper, again on Hoth, because Hoth is just Norse for Frozen Hell). I've never played the Class so I have little to no knowledge of their abilities, trees, what they can do, etc. As I do not PVP regularly (if ever), it has never really concerned me due to my casual affiliation with the game.

 

But seriously. **** Assassins. Camping my quest areas, CCing my companion and then stunning me and proceeding to just make Khem beat me in the face while I try to adjust to what's going on while I'm a late Level-20-something still trying to figure out if this Focus Tree is worth still putting points into because gee-golly it was the first thing I started leveling so I might as well stick to it. Since then I've come to enjoy the Focus Tree quite a bit, after literal days of trying to figure out how to use it to its greatest effectiveness against various enemies. Did I mention this was my first MMO ever?

 

I can see why a lot of people play Assassins/Shadows for mechanical reasons. As a Sentinel, it was a frustrating learning curve (especially when not expecting to be attacked by a player whilst zooming around on my speeder) in adapting to being attacked, realizing what I needed to do, and then executing my plan to survive. Winning was never my goal, my goal was always just survival so I didn't have to respawn. Again.

 

By the time I reached Voss, I believe I was good and ready. Voss was my first Victory over another player in open-world PVP. It was the first time I realized the strength of things like Pacify, Guarded By The Force, how to properly use my Centering for what I needed in that moment, be it defense or burst damage, and how to properly time and execute my snares/roots so I could do what my Spec is famous for.

 

Only took 40+ levels to get it all together into one package, but hey, it was fun when finally executed.

 

I left the game for quite awhile after that (computer issues), and am now back with a solid gaming rig, only to see that major changes have happened to the Sentinel. The 5-minute debuff on our Inspiration, the healing penalty on Guarded By The Force, and I see other classes showing glee that we're being limited in our overall offensive and defensive power.

 

Funnily enough, I also notice other classes also getting people cackling at them for the nerfs that they are suffering (Scoundrels losing their ability to avoid being leapt to while in Cover comes to mind). It almost made me think that a large group of the player community doesn't care about balance, but instead wants their class to be Das Uber Winner forever. Hence why it charms me when I hear fellow Sents (and Snipers and Scoundrels) espousing the idea that numerical balance (game mechanics) and the ability of someone to play/not play their class well are two totally different things.

 

When I was constantly being killed on Tat and Hoth, I had no idea what I was doing as a Sentinel. I survived on luck and the barest idea of what my rotation should be (learning as a Sent made playing a Sniper stupidly easy, though, go figure). To the people that killed me, I hope they realized it was due to my poor playing and not a superiority of their class or an inferiority of mine (except it's not inferior, Sents are, like, the best). Unfortunately, I can also see how those kinds of encounters can build a certain attitude towards a class.

 

I hate Assassins/Shadows. I despise them. Will I play one? Eventually, yes, I plan to play at least every AC. But my experience colored my opinion of them. The people that ask for buffs to their class, or nerfs to others, most likely also had their experiences colored by their encounters with them, rather than basing it on whether or not they were a good player, and whether their opponent was also a good player or not. I assure you, if more people saw my abysmal performance as a Sent and thought that was the norm, we'd be buffed to the point of killing Shield Spec Vanguards in 3 cooldowns.

 

 

This was a very long and winding ramble, and probably noncontributing to the discussion at hand seeing as my experiences don't really let me comment on things like endgame PVP or PVE. But ultimately, going back to the OP's main discussion, I was interested in the Sentinel from the Get-Go. The flash and pizzazz drew me in, the idea of being a whirlwind of a Jedi Knight, mobile and fierce in the way I strike down my enemies, it made the suffering through levels where I felt weak and powerless worth it when I came into my own towards the endgame.

 

Is it a difficult class? Yes, and I supposedly play the easiest Spec out there. The learning curve hurt, but there was a real sense of accomplishment in finally getting the hang of my priorities, my cooldowns. There was nothing like that for my Sniper, it felt very Point-And-Click-Until-It-Dies (again, though, I am not at endgame there so there may be some major changes I did not see coming).

 

The draw of the Sentinel, for me at least, was the style, the complexity, and ultimately the satisfaction of learning how to make a Melee DPSer shine. Does it need some tweaks? The entire game needs some tweaks from everything I see, read, and experience. It's a work in progress, and probably always will be. I feel that there are some slight boosts and benefits the Sentinels out there could use to further emphasize the Class as a minor support/cruise missile that players should learn and know when and where to direct it to do the most damage, but I'll leave the major ideas to the folks who know a thing or two about what they're actually talking about.

 

Shine On, You Crazy Jar'kai Saberists.

[Ramtar]

Not really lore, so much as certain games' mechanics. In real lore, there are no Guardian, no Consualrs, Sentinels, Shadows, whatever-the-hell-else; there are only Jedi, divided by rank as Padawans, Knights, and Masters. So arguing anything along the lines you're attempting to use is pretty pointless.

 

Also, to further quote the article you chose to link, "While Form VI was largely adapted from [an] earlier fighting style, several noted Jedi considered the pure root of Form VI to be Form III: Soresu" - a defensive form, which does not fit thematically for what the game mechanics dictate as a strictly offensive class. Niman simply does not work for Sentinels.

 

Than you need to research Jedi classes in Star Wars.

 

Focus is the most defensive tree, and Niman is the most defensive lightsaber form. You have your opinion concerning "Niman simply does not work", and my opinion is that Niman does work for Weapon Masters .

Edited April 4, 2014 by Ramtar

[Bejarid]

Niman is the most defensive lightsaber form.

 

No, that's Soresu. And, yes, it's true that Focus is a more defensive tree, but it is still very much an offensive powerhouse (hence the incoming PvP nerfs). Niman simply doesn't work as an offensive form for the purposes of weapon-based combat. It was designed and honed specifically to allow use of things other than the weapon - such as Force-based attacks, diplomacy, etc.

 

Frankly, if you want to start monkeying with the stances, Ataru would be better off getting tweaked to replace Shii-cho for the Focus tree (since Ataru is an acrobatic form, and Focus is all about leaping around), and Combat's current Ataru should be renamed to Jar'kai after the truest dual-wield form.

[Ramtar]

No, that's Soresu. And, yes, it's true that Focus is a more defensive tree, but it is still very much an offensive powerhouse (hence the incoming PvP nerfs). Niman simply doesn't work as an offensive form for the purposes of weapon-based combat. It was designed and honed specifically to allow use of things other than the weapon - such as Force-based attacks, diplomacy, etc.

 

Frankly, if you want to start monkeying with the stances, Ataru would be better off getting tweaked to replace Shii-cho for the Focus tree (since Ataru is an acrobatic form, and Focus is all about leaping around), and Combat's current Ataru should be renamed to Jar'kai after the truest dual-wield form.

 

Defination of dual is something that has to do with two or two parts.

 

Focus is more about using the Force along with melee skills, again you need to research Star Wars. Because, Force and Zealous Leaps are Force abilities.

 

How can we, as a class, get others interested in this class when someone that plays it knows very little of it's history?

Edited April 4, 2014 by Ramtar

[Bejarid]

Defination of dual is something that has to do with two or two parts.

 

You are just seriously stretching to try and gimmick your misplaced desire into working, when it simply doesn't. Niman practically eschews weapon related combat in favor of other avenues, and the Sentinel as presented in THIS game, even if nowhere else, is all about weapon-related combat. Niman does not fit.

[Ramtar]

You are just seriously stretching to try and gimmick your misplaced desire into working, when it simply doesn't. Niman practically eschews weapon related combat in favor of other avenues, and the Sentinel as presented in THIS game, even if nowhere else, is all about weapon-related combat. Niman does not fit.

 

Why am I stretching when obviously you know nothing about the history of this class.

 

Shall I bring you up to speed: Sentinel is a class just as Guardian and Consular. SW Canon backs it up.

 

Jedi Weapon Master is the prestige class that is opposite Sith Marauder. KotOR II, which BW oversaw, backs that up. The timeline of this MMO takes place after the ending of KotOR II. Sith Assassin and Jedi Watchman (Shadow in this game) are prestige class , more likely found, under Sentinel. Because, Sentinels used camouflage.

 

Niman is the formal name for Lightsaber Form VI. During this time frame there were only 7 Lightsaber forms.

Edited April 4, 2014 by Ramtar

[Bejarid]

Shall I bring you up to speed:

 

All of which is completely irrelevant since this game actually follows...none of that. I may have missed some things the last few years, but I know enough to see quite clearly that you're stretching due to a very misplaced understanding of Niman.

 

KotOR II, which BW oversaw

 

Shall I bring you up to speed? BW had nothing to do with KoTOR2, they pawned it off on Obsidian.

 

Regardless, further "discussion" is pointless. I've tried to offer more valid alternatives, and you stubbornly refuse to budge. Niman simply does not fit a class completely based around their weapons.

Edited April 4, 2014 by Bejarid

[Ramtar]

All of which is completely irrelevant since this game actually follows...none of that. I may have missed some things the last few years, but I know enough to see quite clearly that you're stretching due to a very misplaced understanding of Niman.

 

Shall I bring you up to speed? BW had nothing to do with KoTOR2, they pawned it off on Obsidian.

 

Regardless, further "discussion" is pointless. I've tried to offer more valid alternatives, and you stubbornly refuse to budge. Niman simply does not fit a class completely based around their weapons.

 

BW still oversaw the game design. Much as Lucas Arts over saw SWG with SOE. How do you think: Sith Assassin or Sith Marauder names got included in this MMO?

 

Again, Niman is the formal name for Lightsaber Form VI; just as Ataru is the formal name for Lightsaber Form IV and Juyo is the formal name for Lightsaber Form: VII. Funny how, you don't understand that Form VI is the primary fighting style of Jedi who dual-wield lightsabers. Guess, you want to change SW Canon?

 

As you have noted Jai'kai was originally a style of swordplay that utilized dual blades. Jai'kia does becomes Form X in SW EU, but during this MMO time frame only 7 lightsaber forms were known.

Edited April 4, 2014 by Ramtar

[Bejarid]

How do you think: Sith Assassin or Sith Marauder names got included in this MMO?

 

That source material and nomenclature would have been available to any company that developed ToR, even if they had nothing to do with KoTOR2. In fact, I'm staring at my KoTOR2 discs right now and LA's emblem is on it, along with Obsidian's, but BW's logo is conspicuously absent - which is because they had nothing to do with that game.

 

 

Form VI is the primary fighting style of Jedi who dual-wield lightsabers

 

No, it isn't. Niman was developed away from dual-weapon combat, despite retaining the name for an archaic combat style that did rely on two weapons. Both Jar'kai and Niman developed at the exact same historical time, but Niman became more prevalently accepted and then developed away from two-weapon combat, while Jar'kai retained the distinction for two-weapon mastery even if never formally adopted for study.

[Ramtar]

No, it isn't. Niman was developed away from dual-weapon combat, despite retaining the name for an archaic combat style that did rely on two weapons. Both Jar'kai and Niman developed at the exact same historical time, but Niman became more prevalently accepted and then developed away from two-weapon combat, while Jar'kai retained the distinction for two-weapon mastery even if never formally adopted for study.

 

Niman is the stepping stone to the dual lightsaber form, known as Jar'Kai. No one who has successfully mastered Jar'Kai has done so without first mastering Niman.

[Bejarid]

Niman is the stepping stone to the dual lightsaber form, known as Jar'Kai. No one who has successfully mastered Jar'Kai has done so without first mastering Niman.

 

Says who? You? Where is there any shred of proof to that claim? Certainly not in either article on Wookieepedia, which is, of course, a limited resource by its very nature. In fact, there's evidence against your claim.

[JagoPulastra]

Or, you know, what does it matter? The Sentinel as it is in game is a dual-wielder, regardless of Form. Hell, they could have called it Makashi and it would make little to no difference as our class features demand that we wield two lightsabers at all times. Any lightsaber form was more than capable of incorporating a different style of saber; you could be a defensive Soresu duelist using a saberstaff, or an aggressive Djem So fighter that used a training saber or underpowered blade to mitigate excessive damage.

 

I go back to pointing out that "Weapon Master" would have been a more appropriate title for this AC than "Sentinel", which could have lead to some interesting options (the AC getting to use all three forms of saber style featured in game: single, dual-wield, and the saberstaff).

 

As it stands, however, Jar'kai was a sub-variant of Niman that grew to be able to be adapted to any style. Niman itself is a style that emphasizes flexibility and the capability to adapt to changing circumstances. Niman in and of itself does not fit any of the trees in the game, as there is no "Adapt" tree. There are no abilities that let you completely change your role and style mid-combat, which would be the "proper" representation of a Niman-form; it can do everything, just not as well as the dedicated styles such as Soresu for Defense.

[Bejarid]

Niman in and of itself does not fit any of the trees in the game, as there is no "Adapt" tree.

 

Which has actually been my point all along - the form does not fit this class. Shadows, as I've already said, would have better claim to Niman than Sentinels.

[JagoPulastra]

Which is a shame, to me, honestly; how awesome would it be to have a tree (or an AC in general) that was DESIGNED to be a Hybrid by nature? A really cool idea that I think BioWare really missed out on.

[Bejarid]

a tree (or an AC in general) that was DESIGNED to be a Hybrid by nature?

 

"Hybrid" as in able to off-tank and do competitive DPS; or hybrid in that it mixes melee and heavy use of the Force? 'Cause that latter seems to well describe Balance/Kinetic Combat Shadows, and the former is pretty universally despised by long-time MMO players since it devalues other potential class/specs when it is implemented.