If you have patience, an observing eye and a slight sense of strategy than combat isn't that difficult, but it is hard to imagine that many players will have that. It kind of feels like they are really pushing for each mode to really separate the skill differences in players.
I haven't played any easy mode yet so I have no idea about the differences and we can only speculate on tactician mode at this point.
If things remain as are I can see players seeking lots of resources for each and every fight as they are quite hard, resources meaning guides not in-game items. Especially, as you mentioned Bard, seeing a puddle of blood and a pool of water connecting in the slightest causing the whole battlefield to become an electrified floor. Battle readability does need improvement for sure.
Even in DoSEE i never really used barrels, but now it feels like I might NEED to so I can get on an even playing field with some fights, like the void/skeleton ambush, wow that is difficult and I haven't beat it yet.
