1- Oh ok that makes sense. Since I'm so used to Radiant Dawn which getting to a max level before promoting is actually pretty hard, I made the mistake here to upgrade some characters to an advance class before hitting lvl 20. Didn't matter at all on normal, but at a higher difficulty this would have been a problem.

2- Interesting. I guess now the second seal have some purpose lol. I personally only used it once to change Lissa's class, all the other ones were resting in my convoy. Although having all the skills will require a lot of grinding, which is something I never liked in FE, but I guess it will be necessary to beat the game on lunatic.

On Hard is really recommended that you at least level the prepromoted classes to 20 before promoting them. If you promote them right from Level 10, you'll be at a serious disadvantage regarding enemy promoted classes since they always hit level 20 before promoting. It's not unusual for enemies to have up to 6 to 7 extra points in stats if you don't level to 20 before promotion.

Getting all the skills isn't even necessary on Lunatic or on any difficulty. Like I said, most skills are irrelevant (like the Rally ones, except Rally Spectrum. Even that one is rarely used) and you'll end up using a limited set of skills (2nd gen characters are more versatile on this aspect, depending on how you planned the inheritance). Grinding for the ultimate team will most likely end up only being useful for streetpass battles and some of the paid DLC, which requires you to have the best team possible.

But yeah, if you want to get most of the skills for every character, then you'll end up burning through Second Seals. The same for stats as well, since some characters take a very long time to max certain stats (For example, Vaike only has at best a 25% Mag growth on Trickster, every other class he has 10% Mag growth) and that'll mean a lot of reclassing once you hit level 20.

This game is developing into a legitimate GotY candidate for me. Just brilliant all around, so glad I bought it.

Yeah, the second seal, for this game, is more widely used for over-leveling, or for getting parents to have skills to pass on to their kids that are more advantageous.

Bow Knight with Galeforce is pretty good. 

First turn use bow, then switch to Sword for second attack (and so you can attack during enemies turn).

I have one on my 1st and 3rd save files.

Noire (+Mag, -Luck Avatar is Father, Tharja passed down Lifetaker)

Ignis/Galeforce/Bowfaire/Lifetaker/Lancebreaker

HP 80, Str 40, Mag 37, Skl 43, Spd 45, Luck 40, Def 36, Res 30

Indigo (Lon'qu is Father, Olivia passed down Galeforce)

Sol/Galeforce/Bowfaire/Armshift/Lancebreaker

HP 80, Str 41, Mag 18, Skl 48, Spd 46, Luck 46, Def 33, Res 26

The only problem that I have with Bow Knight is that awful Res and Def stats. A Sorc, Great Knight, Warrior or General that comes in attacking range of a Bow Knight will destroy it, especially if they get off an Aether, Astra, Vengeance and so on.

And it's not hard to get those units in attack range, with intelligent use of Rescue Staffs.

Might be just me, but I prefer beefier, sturdier units.

Indigo's Sol counters most damage he takes. 

Noire I have to be more careful, but with her hubby being Hero Indigo on my first file I just switch to him when the going gets rough.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but in a duel of Brave/Celica Gate's/Waste, where you go up to x4 attacks, you only do the first x2 attacks once your opponent do their x2 attacks first if they're the attacking unit correct? That basically leaves you awfully open to a 1 HP Vengeance x2 onslaught. Seriously, people don't know how overpowered this thing is. Also, it basically annuls any Sol healing strategy too, since it doesn't give you time to activate it at all.

Once the Mire selling map opens up here in EU, it's going to go straight to my Morgan, since even without the +2 stats skill, he has a 98% Vengeance activation rate (and if he gets Ignis on the same turn, that's just rude damage). 

Also, Rol's tip is one that I've been using a lot on my streepass fights against a lot of my mates. Galeforce Pair ups are absurdely OP, up to 3 attacks/movements leaves you with a ton of different strategies to employ.

Yes! Good choice! I feel similarly (though Bioshock is also very, very good), and I hope it isn't forgotten because it's a "handheld" game.

Only problem with that strategy is leaving peeps unpaired in Luantic is a bad idea.