Ways to train underleveled characters

[Wander]

So I've been trying this speed-playthrough-AAA stuff recently, and I was wondering if any of you had some tips on how to train characters that are usually hard to level or come underleveled. I'm up to Chapter 2 so far, and I've already run into some problems:

 - Dew is impossible to level up.
 - Adean's movement is too small rendering her healing miracles useless.
 - Deirdre is stupid.
 - Noish is equally ridiculous.

Usually this stuff is irrelevant to me as I simply take 70+ turns on one chapter (abuse, etc.) but it's now difficult since I'm trying to minimise my turn usage.

Recently I've found Ethlin surrendering her Light Sword to Dew and having Dew buy the Magic Ring so he can do some damage. It seems to be much more effective than trying to get people to reduce enemies to 1 HP and having Dew finish them. Dew can mostly do 13-17 damage here, so he doesn't have much trouble finishing enemies as he once did. I also had him finish off Voltz to get the Elite Ring, although I will probably give the Elite Ring to Fin afterwards.

I swapped Adean and Ethlin's staffs around so that Ethlin could get some more EXP and also heal more, since she's the one I take on skirmishes. However, this detracts from Adean's usefulness as a healer, so I'm wondering whether I should keep this up or not.

I still can't think of a way to level Deirdre effectively within one and a half chapters. Should I bother, or just have other people compensate for her loss of levels? Or perhaps I should hand her the Rescue staff?

And then there's Noish. He can't seem to pull his own weight. I've been having him pick off kills from other characters but has anyone found a better way of leveling him?

[Haken]

In order:

-Dew's greatest benefit are his phenomenal growths and equally pretentious speed. My advice would be to pit him against heavy axefighting opponents within the arena (i.e. Chapter 2 arena first opponent) or mages, where easy damage is available and he is unlikely to be hit. Once he hits around promotion or obtains the wind sword in Chapter 3 (make sure to have Ethlin with the Hikari no Tsurugi by the end of Chapter 3; it's all but essential), he'll easily cut it as a sustainable unit, if not one of the greatest.

-One particular surefire method I've had of supporting Edin would be to place her in the direction of Mackily during Chapter 2 while it's still considered an NPC castle; once teh time comes to roll around to defeat Clement and conquer teh location, the small nook of a pathway is perfect for Edin to heal several masses as well as evacuate others with the rescue/warp staves (her othe rmethod of leveling).

-Diadora's perfectly styled to be useless; you'll see why midway through Chapter 3. I counsel you to abandon her, or sell her items and donate her money to Sigurd.

-Noish is mainly a strength based knight and inferior to Alec due to his lack of pursuit. The only way to actually consider him plausible is to give the pursuit ring Arden gains during Chapter 2.

As a side note, about thinking to give Fin the Elite Ring: it's not only advantageous for later, but almost essential that he uses it to promote before Chapter 3's end.

[Neofox]

-Diadora's perfectly styled to be useless; you'll see why midway through Chapter 3. I counsel you to abandon her, or sell her items and donate her money to Sigurd.

Considering they're on a ranked run, I think it's safe to assume they've played the game before, and therefore know what happens to her. However, because it is a ranked run, the rank based on how many total levels were gained doesn't give you too much leeway, so simply not bothering with her isn't really an option...

[Haken]

Considering they're on a ranked run, I think it's safe to assume they've played the game before, and therefore know what happens to her. However, because it is a ranked run, the rank based on how many total levels were gained doesn't give you too much leeway, so simply not bothering with her isn't really an option...

I still don't see quite the point in that as forsaking a character that's with you for less than 2 chapters won't make too much of an impact over grossly underleveled characters with more availability and definitely more potential (Dew, Edin and ironically, Yuria).

Oh, and sorry Angelix, I tend to overlook such phrases as "ranked run" on occasion; I meant no general assholeness and the like.

[St. Pius X]

Deirdre is not getting to Level 30. However, you can get her a few levels with Warp or burning out that Silence Staff. She also can't use the Rescue Staff, as that can only be obtained in Ch. 4(Conversation with Aideen and Azel as lovers) or Ch. 5(Conversation of Aideen and Claude as lovers).

Aideen's range problem is rectified by Libro. Also, she will have her opportunities to heal a bit when your units are going back from Anphony. Swapping staffs probably is better for improving speed, although I never did that myself.

Dew should grab most of the money in Chapter 2; he's not going to do much in terms of fighting against those mounted units. That way he can buy stuff like the Pursuit Ring. He should borrow the Light Sword starting Chapter 3, when there are crappy Pirates for him to snipe off(along with the Leg Ring from Pisarl so he can get the Wind Sword faster and leave the Light Sword for Ethlin to pass down).
Also, in Chapter 5, the Mountain Thieves are Lvl 30, so if he has the Elite Ring while hitting them with a Magic Sword, he'll get a huge load of EXP.

Noish is going to be trained the way you've been doing. He definitely wants that Hero Sword.

Also, at the beginning of each chapter, I have the units with 40000 or more buy the Elite Ring, send them through the arena, sell off the Elite Ring, and pass it off to the next unit who could afford it, ending with the last unit being the unit I intend to hold the ring for the rest of the chapter.

[Neofox]

I still don't see quite the point in that as forsaking a character that's with you for less than 2 chapters won't make too much of an impact over grossly underleveled characters with more availability and definitely more potential (Dew, Edin and ironically, Yuria).

I don't see how training Diadora requires neglecting your other units, especially when she is capable of using staves and everyone is fully capable of using the arena at pretty much no risk (where she generally either one-shots the enemies in it with aura, or gets one-shot, herself).

[Haken]

The only reason to fully train Diadora by her own accord is via Light magic, or rather, Aura. Giving her staves is still more of a comedown when Staff only units such as Aideen could profit much more by Silence/Warp/Return's rather high exp count.

[SlippyToasterTrooper_UK]

Giving her staves is still more of a comedown when Staff only units such as Aideen could profit much more by Silence/Warp/Return's rather high exp count.

That is true but they have more time to get the EXP. There is no long term penalty in training Diadora. I managed to get through the game with enough turns to hit the A rank in speed getting Diadora to the high 20s and Lachesis was promoted in time for mid-way though chapter 3. A number of turns with Warp, Return, a dancer and possibly a spare unit is all you need...

Also, at the beginning of each chapter, I have the units with 40000 or more buy the Elite Ring, send them through the arena, sell off the Elite Ring, and pass it off to the next unit who could afford it, ending with the last unit being the unit I intend to hold the ring for the rest of the chapter.

Usually the best way to do this is do it when more people can afford the Elite ring so the last person doesn't have to buy it twice (or miss out on a bout)...

Personally I like having Ethlin as the last person which kind of screws over generation 1 in EXP but gives Leaf an easier time (though it is a bit overkill). Some runners favor Sigurd though so Celice can be promoted after clearing the arena in Chapter 7 and thus dismount becomes useful for once since unmounted Celice has better movement in the desert

As for who gets the Elite Ring first. Personally Finn is usually the one who gets the kill and doesn't need it anymore come start of chapter 3 after doing the arena bit