Its been a while since I played the game, but since I'm going through FFXIII-2, I'm still in the same general area...as the paradigm thing is still a feature.

I'm not sure how other people played, but I took great lengths to use the entire squad. I had two teams of three...and really had it divided up as to their general roles and responsibilities.

For example...I'd have a commando, reaver, and reaver/medic character on each team. This was their primary responsibility. (note: that third character had to be quite a general player, although their medic role was just a bit more "primary" It wasn't until I was really able, that I chose the secondary roles for the other players.

The commando was definately the sentinal. You need the high HP to survive the focus of the attacks. Then having the reaver also doing the Sabatoge (sp?) role worked. I'd eventually have the Reaver/Medic character also work the Synergist role as well.

Let me see if I can do this for memory....

Lightning: Commando/Reaver
Snow: Commando/Sentinal
Shaz: Reaver/Sabatore
Hope: Medic/Synergist/Reaver
Fang: Commando/Sabatore
Vanielle: Medic/Reaver/Synergist

Ultimately, if you want to get into the stuff that is rather far afield...the hunt things and such....having multiple roles for each character is a must. There were some battles where I switched and used every one of paradigm groups I had available.

~Jeordam