Sorry to keep you guys waiting.<br/><br/>Some thoughts:  How about we keep the experience system with one caveat: at the start of each chapter all levels are normalized.  That is, everyone gets leveled up until they're all the same, the reasoning being each character would train the others and keep them equal to each other.  So next chapter everyone starts at level 2, those who aren't already getting a level up before it begins.  This makes it so the game is equalized and no one has to be left behind if they wish to role play more than roll play, but it still rewards those who fight on the front line by leveling up - and wanting to level up as it'll level up everyone else - after earning enough experience through battle.  This level up affords an advantage in the current battle as a reward for surviving long enough in several fights, but the advantage is not carried over to the next chapter.