Ill agree on one thing, the Batomys is an utterly rude and uncompromising wake up call.
And that isnt even half way through the game.
Anyway, your priorities for now should be getting the second body upgrade for the Edelweiss (doubling it movement allowance) and levelling your scouts and shocks to 10 (unlocks rifle grenades and flamethrowers, respectively). Lancers, engies and snipers wont unlock any alternate weapons, but most of them will get potentials that make them so much better at thier job.
If you unlock a uniform upgrade, get it before continuing the story.
Unfortunately theres not much you can do about your units accuracy until you unlock better weapon upgrades.
And dont neglect the story side missions, completing those unlocks potentials for all the main characters.
And although to all appearances its a turn-based tactics game, Valkyria is still a JRPG. If you dont level up your troops and equip them with the best gear that you can, youre gonna have a hard time of it.
For grinding, i reccomend the Scout Trial mission. Do a few dry runs to learn where everything is, and then try to complete it with at least a B rank so you get the special rifle. Then give that rifle to Alicia (or any scout really, but Alicia is the best) then youll be able to consistently finish that mission in 3 turns. As well as earn more of said rifles to give to your other scouts and engies.
If you really want something to lose sleep over, then start the Lancer trial mission and see what youre up against.
Protip: Easiest way to savescum a mission is to use a lancer to hit the Edelweiss' weak point.
Also keep in mind that the enemy has a habit of making seemingly impossible shots at the worst possible times. Especially enemy lancers once you get to chapter 16 or so, nothing is safe around them.
And that isnt even half way through the game.
Anyway, your priorities for now should be getting the second body upgrade for the Edelweiss (doubling it movement allowance) and levelling your scouts and shocks to 10 (unlocks rifle grenades and flamethrowers, respectively). Lancers, engies and snipers wont unlock any alternate weapons, but most of them will get potentials that make them so much better at thier job.
If you unlock a uniform upgrade, get it before continuing the story.
Unfortunately theres not much you can do about your units accuracy until you unlock better weapon upgrades.
And dont neglect the story side missions, completing those unlocks potentials for all the main characters.
And although to all appearances its a turn-based tactics game, Valkyria is still a JRPG. If you dont level up your troops and equip them with the best gear that you can, youre gonna have a hard time of it.
For grinding, i reccomend the Scout Trial mission. Do a few dry runs to learn where everything is, and then try to complete it with at least a B rank so you get the special rifle. Then give that rifle to Alicia (or any scout really, but Alicia is the best) then youll be able to consistently finish that mission in 3 turns. As well as earn more of said rifles to give to your other scouts and engies.
If you really want something to lose sleep over, then start the Lancer trial mission and see what youre up against.
Protip: Easiest way to savescum a mission is to use a lancer to hit the Edelweiss' weak point.
Also keep in mind that the enemy has a habit of making seemingly impossible shots at the worst possible times. Especially enemy lancers once you get to chapter 16 or so, nothing is safe around them.