Paradox/Gameplay

Paradox, unlike its predecessor, is a traditional turn based JRPG created in RPG Maker. Luka is able to freely move through the game world, collecting items, buying weapons and armor, and random encounters with monsters. Luka can have up to seven companions with him at any given time but only four characters can participate in a battle at a given time. The other four remain passively on the sidelines but the party formation can be changed freely at any time outside of battle and at the start of each turn during a battle.

Health functions as it did in the first game: once a character's health has been fully depleted, that character is rendered inoperable for the remainder of the battle. However, unlike the original, party members can revive except in special cases like Predation. Luka's status has no effect to the battle's outcome, even if all his health has been depleted, you'll still win if your party has HP remaining when the enemy does not.

In addition to the return of Skill Points, mana is a new stat resource that is used to trigger skills. Unlike skill points, attacking does not restore mana, and can only be replenished through items, certain skills, or resting points.

Every character has a level, along with a job, and a race, all of which can be leveled up. The basic level increases stats, increased from normal experience points, and does not need to be managed at all. Jobs and Races grant new passive abilities and skills to use in and out of combat and every character has multiple Jobs accessible to them that can be changed from one to another without cost. Certain skills learned can only be used by certain jobs or races so if switched, they become unavailable until the character is changed back to something that can use it.

Normal and Job Experience are primarily gained through winning battles and both active and passive characters gain the same amount of EXP from a battle, regardless of whether or not they participated in it.