MMLN: I would recommend you maybe to try Trails in the Sky and Trails of Cold Steel games. Both series are pretty higly praised.
I've actually had them "on my radar" for a while now but I was thinking more of a turn based JRPG for right now.
In one of the screenshots for Trails in the Sky, there's this super dense awesome looking "gem" character upgrade type screen - do the Cold Steel games have that too? I remember I got a great response / quick rundown on the two series once when I was curious where I should start if I do play them, but I can't remember the thread it was in.