I really thought I was doing something wrong with the party members. It's good to know that they are just stupid. I wish they would use "defend" every now and then.. seems like every boss battle one of them bites it, I use an (expensive) phoenix feather to bring them back, and then they run in and immediately die again.
That's another thing. I'll give them a familiar that I had a lot of luck with, and then they'll either immediately retract it or they will never use it in the first place.
You realize the "All Out Defense" move will automatically put your other two team mates into defensive, right?
I don't know about Swaine but Esther will opt to use her harp songs if the familiars you give her aren't one of her 3 compatible families, in my experience at least.
How do you find out what her compatible families are?
I'm only about 15 hours in(just got to the port town south of the Al Mammoon) and I've basically done every side-quest/farming up to this point. Is the "All Out Defense" something you have from the beginning of the game or do you gain that at some point? I've hit the square button during fights and it doesn't seem to do shit.
When you switch familiars there are 3 little sprites in the corner that correspond to a monster family. Esther's are Aves, Aquatic, and one other I can't remember - I use her starter (which is awesome), a Grimray (final evolution of a monster you can get after you first get boat), and 3rd slot is usually some other familiar I need a spot for leveling up.
I was doing that but there's almost always a Save stone before every major boss so should always be able to refill.
You get it very soon, after you get the boat.
Yeah me as well.
Maybe I should head back and complete some of the side quests from the city first before progressing. I have a good amount of them to do. plus that way I can earn some more money to purchase some food and drink for that fight.
I was at like 19 or so when I beat him and it was pretty tough, I think at your level you just may be too low. This is one of those games I don't really mind grinding because the world is so beautiful.