First off let's discuss field attacks versus melee attacks (close-up battle): which to choose? Here are the pros and cons. Pros for field attacks:

• Melee attacks mean that the enemy gets a chance to fight back, whereas field attacks give you a free shot.
• Field attacks can hit more than one enemy unit at once (sometimes you can get up to five or six units in one move), and always hit every enemy in the unit. (This is a BIG deal.)
• Field attacks can effect the terrain it hits as well (see Terrain).
• All characters get the same amount of EXP by using field attacks, whereas using melee attacks some characters may get no EXP at all (for example, if they defend but aren't hit by an attack).

And here's the pros for melee attacks.

Some characters have no field attacks at all, and can only use melee attacks. As well, the Defense and Critical specials for Heavy Armors and Knights can only be taken advantage of in melee attacks.

• Every character can do their own move, so you're not constrained to a single effect or elemental.
• Melee attacks generally do more damage than field ones (i.e. if you have 3 Wizards, having them each use Flame Gaze in battle will do more damage than having them all use it as a field attack).
• You get double the PR (money) and usually more items as well when you beat enemies in melee attacks.
• Dragons have a chance of coming in and damaging the enemy without a chance of being hit back in melee attacks.
• Every character can attack normally without using up MP/SP by using melee attacks, whereas field attacks almost always cost MP/SP.

As you can see, it depends on the situation. Wizards/Priests/Summoners are generally better using field attacks because of their horrible defense and the chances of hitting multiple targets. The other physical characters (including Lancers) are generally better off using melee attacks, unless they're low on HP. Assassins can be equally useful in both (although they're not all that useful in either, to tell the truth). Ditto for Cross Knights, really. If an enemy is near death, it's always better to go in and use melee attacks to get better items and money.

Inside battle, use techniques sparingly; if you have a non-elemental weapon, try to use them only when delivering a killing blow against an enemy (items dropped by enemies are ALWAYS better when they're defeated with an elemental). Wizards, Priests, Lancers, and Assassins can use techniques more often, and later in the game when you can afford lots of Magic Gins, go ahead and use them a lot. 8-) NEVER use items in a melee battle. Attack items are more or less useless except as dragon food, and healing items should instead be used in the Party sub-menu before battle.

Dragon AI: I'll usually tell you in each battle in the walkthrough what to put your dragons on. Early in the game, you should generally keep them on "Come" because they won't have very big healing powers yet and they can get overpowered by strong enemies. (If you're up against weak ones, of course, put 'em on Go.) Later in the game, though, they start healing themselves, so putting them on "Go" may be more useful. If you see your dragons end up killing everyone before you, put them on "Wait" so you can get there first and get more experience. 8-)

Make sure NOT to let a dragon die! If a dragon dies, you lose all your special effects, including your techniques, field attacks, and the Critical/Defense/Sprinter special effects. If you see it's overpowered or getting low on HP, put it back on "Come". Do the same if you see *yourself* getting overpowered. Don't overabuse Come and Wait, though... if you have to squeeze all your characters through a narrow space and don't have many Light Armors, it might be better to put your dragons on Go! just so they don't get in the way. 8-)

Getting close to the enemy: You might notice that enemies don't move unless you're within a certain distance from them. Use this to your advantage by either a) letting your dragons on Go! attack them without worrying about them coming close to you; and/or b) letting your slower units catch up with your faster ones, and taking them all in at once.

Using terrain: You can use Terrain to your advantage during battle, but generally it's tough to do that; instead, you have to spend most of your time trying to avoid the ill effects of it. ^^; You can use bridges and such to let enemies drown or die, but I recommend against doing so, because you lose out on all the EXP, money, and items from that enemy if you do! Check out the Terrain section for more info, and especially see what I wrote about bridges and structures.

From early on, bosses drop excellent items - sometimes. If a boss is low on HP, first save your game before fighting him. If he doesn't drop an item you like, try restarting from your save and use another elemental or use a different combination of attacks to get a different item. You'll nearly always get something particularly useful if you're lucky enough and patient enough. 8-)