Just listened to the podcast, and I'm honestly a bit surprised that only Jonny was all the frustrated with the game. Although the complaints are all valid. The funny thing about the game being slow is that its predecessor on the SNES was actually pretty fast, especially when you got flying units (which, unlike in this game, let you take to the skies even if you had non-fliers in that unit. This game's restriction there caught me by surprise the first time: it makes hawkmen and griffons much less necessary).
Unlike Jonny, I like the fact that battles end, since it lets me use items and adjust my formation to compensate for the pounding I just took, although it can also lead to long chases if you're trying to completely wipe out a unit. I am glad, though, that fleeing units are slower than normal, although this also means that you'd never set your own units to automatically flee.
I would like to point out though that you CAN recruit
Vad without ever fighting him: just don't send any unit east (at all) until you've seized the northern town and thus blown the bridge. He'll sit still in one city for the rest of the fight, and join you after the battle. Also, the Chaos Frame actually affects more than just the five Zenobians, most importantly the God-like Ankiseth and the Pretty Good Biske (sounds like something off a BBQ menu...), but admittedly not knowing about the system won't cripple you: alignment and promotions are much more important. Although the special characters tend to be pretty freaking awesome...
As a sidenote, I love how Destin's far more of a character here than he was in his own game.
I cannot state enough just how much I hate cockatrices. They are so freaken overpowered. The chances of getting petrified seems to be like 75%.
Yup. But just wait until you get a bit into Chapter 4, and encounter the worst enemy in the game, the
Gorgon. If one is in the front row, every unit that is not behind another unit will get petrified unless it 1) has the (unique) Hallowed Shield (thanks Troi!), or 2) is a Golem. So cheap....
If you need an anti-cockatrice strategy, have a unit that has the Hallowed Shield equipped, and stick a Golem in there if feasible (they're not only immune, but they get strengthened when "petrified"). If you're not into Golems, take advantage of the cockatrices always being in a corner by shifting your formation so that three characters are on the opposite column as the cockatrice, with one unit in the front row and one in the back (so only one unit is vulnerable to the attack). Equip the vulnerable unit with the Hallowed Shield, if possible, and you'll be home free.
If you're fighting TWO cockatrices, space out your troops: one in each of the corners, and one in the very center. This way, only two units at most are vulnerable, and you can not lose more than one unit in one attack. If you can, equip the Hallowed Shield on someone who is in the BACK of his/her column, to take advantage of its status immunity.
Finally, do what you can to avoid having the cockatrice in the rear. If you fight a unit that has a cockatrice in the front, change your strategy and formation to take it out before you eliminate the leader, since that shifts it to the rear when the units is retreating. If it's already in the rear row, take advantage of its slow speed by shifting troops to focus on the leader, taking out the leader, and then retreating as soon as the leader is dead. That way, the enemy will retreat, which moves the cockatrice to the front...
Follow these tips, and you're unlikely to lose more than one or two units to cockatrice petrification during the entire game. The other petrifier is a different story...