Is it common to reach points where you can't do anything, either because you have to wait or because you're not yet strong enough?

At the moment, it feels like most everything I try to do, I have to wait, or I don't have enough money, or I don't have a high enough level or enough experience. My choices seem to be grind-and-die-repeat or nurture egglings.

Is this just because I'm still in the early stages of the game? Or is this designed as the sort of game you check in on every now and then, feed your sylestias, and forget about?

This is var much a grind and die game. Gring in an easyer section and hoard elixers then try the hard part again

Grind and die sort of game, got it.

Maybe I really do need to look into those elixers more. I haven't used them hardly at all up until now. It's starting to sound like they're necessary.

They are in the lower levels and in TLG (the current end point)

I'd say the easiest way to kick yourself off is to learn how to do missions well, and have pets on them constantly. They are, I'd say, the absolute best source of Gold, Legendary lv25/50 Equips (in the Very Hard missions at least), and Healing Items in the game (and random junk equips that can be sold for more gold)

With healing items, it is reasonable to make use of them
> Potions can be used if you finish a battle with your pet injured so you can continue sooner and more easily
> Elixirs can be used in battle to keep your pets going
> Draughts can be used to revive KO'd pets at any time

They aren't strictly necessary, but they can be very helpful and can make the difference between a win or a loss.

(The Grove items won't matter to you yet- they are Grove exclusive. Can't use them anywhere other than the Grove, can only be obtained via buying from either Ethernia or the Grove Barracks)

Hmmm. Lots of missions. *goes to start new ones now*

Just remember that with Missions, the reward system works like this:
Fail = no reward
Poor = half reward, no mission satchels
Satisfactory = stated reward*, one mission satchel
Exceptional = double reward, two mission satchels

So make sure to be sending the right pets on the missions.

(* rewards excluding the satchels being the gold, EXP for the pet sent on the mission, and faction reward/reputation)

Ohhh, that is certainly a bit of useful information. I'd been sending them on whatever mission matched their level, but I suppose that won't continue to work. I didn't realize the prizes varied.
Thank you!

It's part of the reason most people end up having dedicated Mission Pets- so they can prof/equip for a single stat without thinking about battle capability/viability at all (the other main reason being that you obviously can't use a pet for your party if it's on a mission.)

Hi Keladry!

Yes, missions are quite useful! I try to have some pets that are only trained in (and have equipment that boosts) health, intelligence, strength, dexterity, and agility. If they are only trained in that one thing, they are great at missions (but terrible at battling).

For your battle party, you are level 28...have you gotten to Umbra Forest yet then? If you have, it'll make it much easier after you get your third party slot in the plaza...