I started a fresh new game on Hard mode. Randomizers off, because I don't think I could make it if I had them on.
Whereas my normal-mode route would go hire Nuan and then go directly for Jyla, the higher pricetag on the former (plus being in a much more difficult location to reach) and the greater strength on the latter means this isn't so viable on Hard without grinding first, and screw doing that this early on. Instead, I went for Yterre since she can be recruited without a boss fight; the Jyla battle was much more manageable with a fourth member, especially with Yterre wearing the Turquoise Mage-Ring.
This has already had an interesting effect on my playthrough; Yterre would normally be an afterthought in my playstyle, but here she was a crucial part of the earlygame. Normally I'd want to bring Jyla to Yterre's manor and recruit her with a boss fight, and have Jyla steal extra gold from her and the head maid; I knowingly sacrificed that on this playthrough just to make the earlygame more bearable.
I think my next move might be to stick my head into Alisha's House just long enough to unlock the Copy Princess and Succubus TF forms. Then head for Annie, then the Lost Wizard (and leave her at Verona's to generate cash), then see if I have enough coin for Nuan, then go back to actually recruit Alisha, and then go for Samona.
Whereas my normal-mode route would go hire Nuan and then go directly for Jyla, the higher pricetag on the former (plus being in a much more difficult location to reach) and the greater strength on the latter means this isn't so viable on Hard without grinding first, and screw doing that this early on. Instead, I went for Yterre since she can be recruited without a boss fight; the Jyla battle was much more manageable with a fourth member, especially with Yterre wearing the Turquoise Mage-Ring.
This has already had an interesting effect on my playthrough; Yterre would normally be an afterthought in my playstyle, but here she was a crucial part of the earlygame. Normally I'd want to bring Jyla to Yterre's manor and recruit her with a boss fight, and have Jyla steal extra gold from her and the head maid; I knowingly sacrificed that on this playthrough just to make the earlygame more bearable.
I think my next move might be to stick my head into Alisha's House just long enough to unlock the Copy Princess and Succubus TF forms. Then head for Annie, then the Lost Wizard (and leave her at Verona's to generate cash), then see if I have enough coin for Nuan, then go back to actually recruit Alisha, and then go for Samona.