Character Stats:
HP (Hit Points) - Life/survivability
MP (Magic Points) - ability to execute Magic
SP (Special Points) - ability to execute Moves

STR (Strength) - See ATK
VIT (Vitality) - See DEF
WIT (Wit) - See ACT
AGI (Agility) - See MOV (increases chance to dodge physical attacks passively)

ATK (Attack value) - STR + equipment bonuses = how much dmg. is inflicted on an enemy.
DEF (Defense value) - VIT + equipment bonuses = how much dmg. inflicted by an enemy is reduced.
ACT (Action value) - WIT + equipment bonuses = IP gauge movement speed.
MOV (Move value) - AGI + equipment bonuses = character's movement distance in combat.


Increasing Attributes:
Weapons (SP+1 for all weapon types)
Dagger - Max HP+1 / AGI+2
Sword - STR+1 / WIT+2
Ax - Max HP+1 / STR+2
Mace - Max HP+2 / VIT+1
Bow - Max HP+1 / STR+2
Whip - Max HP+1 / WIT+2

Magic Attributes (MP+2 for all magic attributes):
FIRE - WIT+1
WIND - AGI+1
WATER - Max HP+1
EARTH - STR+1

Combination Attributes:
LIGHTNING (Fire + Wind)
BLIZZARD (Water + Wind)
FOREST (Water + Earth)
EXPLOSION (Fire + Earth)


Action Turns & the IP Gauge:
IP gauge = Initiative Point gauge
COM = Command
ACT = Action

Combat Commands:
Combo - A quick combination attack consisting of normal attacks. Although each individual attack is not very powerful, the combination of multiple attacks may give more total damage than a critical attack.
Critical - A powerful normal attack. The time from entering the command until execution is long, so the character is susceptible to counter damage. However, critical attacks can cancel the actions of enemies.
Counter Damage - Attacking a character who has already started his attack motion can inflict greater damage than normal.

Defend:
Endure - Change a character's position to a defensive stance without changing his/her location on the combat screen. This reduces normal/magic attacks & status disorders to 1/3 their normal levels.
Evasion - Change a character's location on the combat screen. Increases chance of evading enemy attacks until next command is issued. Allows you to move to an enemy's blind spot (esp. bosses w/ limited range of motion).

Tactics:
Manual - Player enters commands at each turn.
Play Fair - Fight with normal attacks only (a weapon's magic may be used). Hotkey = Triangle button
Power Up - Use magic & items to improve the abilities of party members, and then fight.
Withdraw - Use only Evasion and Endure.
Each Own - Actions will be taken automatically depending on the personalities of the party member.
Safety - Perform recovery actions frequently in order to prevent party members from falling.
Go Wild - Use powerful Moves and/or Magic.
Meanie - Fight while making it difficult for the enemy.


Status Disorders:
Poison - character will continue to receive damage.
Plague - character will randomly suffer reductions in attributes or drowsiness, paralysis, confusion or other status disorders.
Fallen - character's HP = 0. Unable to participate in combat.
Move Block - unable to use special moves.
Magic Block - unable to use magic.
Status Disorders in Combat:
Type 1 - These affect even the next combat.
Type 2 - These affect only the current combat.
Sleep - The character is asleep and unable to perform any actions. This can be restored by being attacked by an enemy.
Confusion - Character attacks both enemy and party members.
Paralysis - Character cannot perform any actions.


Combat Icons:
(exclamation mark & question mark Icon) - Character is waiting for an action to occur soon.
(yellow diamond Icon) - Character is trying to execute a special attack on his/her next turn.
(counter Icon) - Character has suffered counter damage.
(cancel Icon) - Character's action has been canceled.
(Mov. off Icon) - Character's moves have been blocked.
(Mag. off Icon) - Character's magic has been blocked.
(2HITS! Icon) - The number of hits in consecutive attacks.
("sweating" Icon) - Character cannot attack because s/he is out of movement.