Your Vocation Dictates Your Battle Style
When you start the game, shortly after the first major scene, you will have to choose a Vocation. These are basically the classes in Dark Arisen. You have Fighter, Strider, and Mage. While you are free to do whatever the heck you want in battle, each particular Vocation makes certain spots easier to control, and provides different means of success.
Wanna be a Mage? Be sure to stay far back and let your party handle a lot of the heavy lifting. You should never be standing right next to an enemy unless you have the ability to blind them or slow them down. Use your elemental buffs to give your party members the edge, and keep everyone alive with copious amounts of healing spells.
Striders are your Rogues, great at quickly striking for lots of damage, but also super useful for long range attacks. Since they play both the ranged and up-close sides of battle, they aren’t particularly well armored. Be sneaky, don’t charge into a group, and don’t be afraid to run. You’re just as dangerous 20 yards away as you are in someone’s face.
Fighters are your Tanks/Warriors. Strong, not too fast, but also not easy to put down. Their shields are the party’s shields. Man the front-lines and keep all eyes on you. Do not be afraid to call for help from your Mage; that individual’s job is to keep you buffed and alive.
As long as you know your place, you will be able to keep deaths down to a minimum.