Self Party:
The game itself is turn-based, and as such it allows each player to have a party of four. These members can be obtained a variety of methods - whether it's through quests, getting to a certain level and asking them, hiring them with in-game money, or slipping me some dough.
Why four you ask? The way I set up the interface allows for four little windows at the top of the screen. Pretty sweet decision-making process, I know.
Formation
The battle maps are limited to the size of your screen - which is actually fairly large, especially with only four of the people being yours to control. The initial formation of your members can be controlled from your home menu as evidenced in this screenshot:
(You get a little preview of the outside of your character's starter farm there as well.)
The formation of your character's is important because some of your enemies may have the ability to attack over large distances. As such, you may want your healers or mages guarded by tanks or as much distance as possible, in case you don't get those first few turns.
Player Parties
This is a system that's barely thought about, much less to a point where I could have screenshots for you. So, no glittery evidence of what I've completed for this section. Rather, here's where I need your opinions.
The way I figure it there are two options to partying with players.
1) The maps are built so that three full parties can be fit vertically with lots of space to spare so it's not unnatural. So, three people could party with each other and simply be placed with their owner's formations on the map. Easy enough.
2) A master party could be formed. Essentially you'd party with other players, each person gets to pick a maximum of two or three of their own characters to contribute to the party, and the party leader would control the formation for everyone. This would allow larger party sizes, but restrict individual party member control. It's also asking for logout bugs.
SO, watcha think? I'm currently leaning towards option #1, but in the end it's up to what the players would like to see.