That sounds very unlikely! I doubt Larian would do such design instead of just adjust damage of skills etc.
Still - for tactician solo- ranger or melee?
Ranger
Lonewolf
Stealth
Get some Ini to always go first.
Bonus point if you're an undead. Use act dead after Stealth is over to stall and then proceed to retreat on the next turn so you can return to the fight later with full skill roster again and just repeat the same strat.
Learn animation cancel to get 2-3 hits of your xbow in before the fight begins.
