Does the game require a lot of free battles to have a suitable level to progress?

It keeps taking me many tries to beat some levels. Could simply tweeking my equipment be enough?

Possible early spoiler :

The level I am currently stuck at is called Talbot's Scheme.

Jeanne : Lv 20;

Lianne :  12;

Roger : 16;

Jean : 15;

Bertrand : 14;

Marcel : 17;

Colet :14;

Gilles : 14;

Rufus : 17; and

La Hire : 16.

Thanks.

That's barely a spoiler.... I am interested in how this compared to FFT, as they are similar games aren't they

I know its not much of a spoiler, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Unfortunate I didn't got that far, as my PSP is broken so have to wait until I've got a new one when I can play further But I've also noticed that it takes several tries before I'm able to complete a level safe and sound. Some training could never hurt of course.

Sorry to hear that, Onna. Since you didn't get that far, I guess my spoiler warning was of some use at least. ;)

I can't ever recall having to grind much for the game. It wasn't anything at all like Disgaea, pretty smooth flowing. I'd suggest perhaps tweaking the equipment a little or leveling slightly... But I've always hated over leveling for SRPG's, takes the strategic aspect out of it

Sound advice, PearlJammer. Thanks. I think I'll just spend a little time doing "free battles" and tweaking my equipment. That seems like a better investment of my time than dying repeatedly.
(I won't "over level", though)

I'll try to be as general as possible.

Some leveling here and there is necessary, Especially at points when characters that you might be using in most battles leave the party for a while, or characters that you might not be using become mandatory.

The most I ever needed was to play an extra 5 levels because I had to use a character that was 10 levels behind the rest. Most of the time, the most I needed was 1 or 2 random battles, nothing like Disgaea

the key is.. you have to team up bully Tabot, tag-team him after you transformed, he shouldnt be too hard to beat.

and...stay in a group

Well, it wasn't specifically for that level. I keep going through multiple tries on many levels, so it was mostly to ask if I needed to be doing a lot of side battles to level up.

Thanks for the specific advice though, KoW. :)

Do you guys mostly stick with the same combatants in as many battles as possible, or switch it up to even them out? I do the former.