Fire Emblem is a difficult series, I don't know if you guys have heard

[Words Of Wisdom]

Oyvoyvoyv said:

I generally bring the most happy (cheerful) characters along. People like Shinon and Gatrie? I won't even bother re-recruiting them.

I'm the same way but I generally bring a couple characters I'm not using too much into each battle and have them support each other.  If the support makes the character more interesting then I'll try it.