Hello everyone! So I've done more testing and seen some more gameplay, and there's a bunch of adjustments I've ended up making for this patch. There's a few quality of life things, and a bunch of skill rebalancing. I'll summarize some key points here. You will need to start from a new save file to play this version correctly. If you want to play the old version, it's in the Betas for this game (right click on this game in the library sidebar, click Properties, click on Betas in the popup window, click on v1.001).
For quality of life, you can quit the game from the title screen, and the battle screen has been updated. Character portraits are now shown so you can tell which characters are which slightly easier. You can also mouse over the portraits in order to be able to see which status effects are on that character, along with the status tooltips. This functionality already existed to a degree, but it would only show the states/tooltips for the topmost character in the list. You can also now see Skills when using the Formation command instead of their Equipment to be able to better tell what a character can do at a glance. Many characters won't have their full skill list visible, but this should be a bit more useful, and their stats are still visible.
In terms of skill rebalancing, Union Action has been removed and Emergency Skills now have a global cooldown for a character. Union Action was just too strong of an ability. It was meant to get a character up and running quickly for harder fights, but it's too easy to abuse and outpaces all the other Emergency Skills. You also can't just throw all the buffs on a character at once now with the cooldown. Also, Franz and Helen still had skills that were used for manipulating the enemy's Tp, which were intended for making some fights require more manipulation. They weren't of any actual use, so they have been replaced with the "Bounty" skill that give a party member 50 Ep. The two of them also have 50 more Max Ep to give them a more solid ability to support the party.
For skills, most Hp cost skills are reduced in power to some degree, and many other skills buffed to make several other damage dealer's competitive. SPD buffs have been reduced, as it's a strong stat for nearly every build, and there were some silly things you could make happen with it. It also synergized a little too well with Hp/Tp Regen. I'm not saying it's totally fixed, but it should be a bit better. Unique healing skills have had their numbers brought more in line with standard healing skills, so while it seems like healing has been made weak, it's more that it's not so good that Recovery status effects are meaningless.
A few character's skills have been increased in power in regards to what they have access to in terms of equipment and what their role is meant to be. The Gunner is the biggest example of this. His skills have all been buffed significantly as he really doesn't get a good MAT weapon. Reload also no longer restores Tp, meaning that if you really specialize your equipment set bonuses into MAT you have to consider what to do about your skill costs more.
So, for the actual patch notes below:
-"Quit Game" option now available on the Title Screen.
-Battle now shows characters in columns instead of rows.
-Skills instead of equipment are visible in Formation/Switch.
-"Switch" command cooldown removed.
-Union Action removed.
-Emergency Skills prevent using them temporarily after use.
-"Overpower" now deals damage based on the user's ATK.
-"Bloodbath" ratio reduced from 500% to 200%.
-"Lay Hands" ratio reduced from 330% to 90%. Tp cost reduced from 25k to 22k.
-"Charge!" ratio increased from 375% to 450%.
-"Vow of Deceit" ratio increased from 150% to 200%.
-"Maraude" stat boost increased from +25% to +33%. Tp cost reduced from 50k to 35k.
-"Cat Nap" ratio reduced from 50% to 40%.
-"Brutality" damage formula was not working as intended; this has now been fixed.
-"Bolster" stat bonus increased from +25% to +80%. It no longer increases SPD.
-"Rite of Recovery" initial heal ratio reduced from 250% to 100%. Tp Cost reduced from 55k to 45k.
-"Simple Labor" ratio reduced from 230% to 60%.
-"Transfuse" Tp gained reduced from 35k to 30k.
-"Blood Pool" cost increased from 25% of the user's Max Hp to 30%.
-"Reversal" ratio increased from 25% to 35%.
-"Adrenaline Rush" bonus lowered from +150% to +100%.
-"Stalwart" Hp cost increased from 25% of the user's Max Hp to 33%. Tooltip edited to specify it affects the active party.
-"Sacrificial Prayer" no longer buffs SPD. Tooltip edited to specify it affects the active party.
-"Peregrination" ratio reduced from 300% to 250%.
-"Fading Confidence" bonus lowered from +75% to +50%.
-"Rapid Recovery" ratio reduced from 250% to 80%.
-"Rebuke" damage ratio increased from 130% to 150%. Healing ratio reduced from 80% to 60%.
-"Invest" cost increased from 20 to 20k.
-The Farmer's "Fallow Fields" skill has been replaced with "Bounty". Farmer's Max Ep increased from 100 to 150.
-"Reload" no longer gives Tp.
-"Both Barrels" ratio increased from 150% to 250%.
-"Six Shooter" ratio increased from 60% to 100%.
-"APDS Shot" ratio increased from 1875% to 4000%.
-"Goof Off" now affects all enemies. Debuff changed from "-50% SPD for 2 turns" to "-25% SPD for 4 turns".
-The Scribe's "Document" skill has been replaced with "Bounty". Scribe's Max Ep increased from 100 to 150.
-"Advice" SPD penalty lowered from -20% to -15%.
-"Another Round" initial heal ratio reduced from 100% to 70%.
-"Condemn" tooltip now properly mentions it bases damage off of the user's ATK. No functionality change.
-"Engorge" cost increased from 25% of the user's Max Hp to 33%.
-"Rebirth" ratio reduced from 180% to 100%.
Thank you for your patience and support, and please let me know if you have any questions/concerns!