Final Fantasy XII introduces a new battle system ot the series, known as the Active-Dimension Battle (ADB). ADB requires that you fight enemies in a similar fashion to Final Fantasy XI. This drastic change, just like any other change would, requires some getting used to.
Final Fantasy XII does not contain random encounters. That is, you cannot freely run around any area and expect to run into an enemy at random intervals. Instead, enemies are clearly visible on the field and must be "run into" in order to begin battle. Once battle begins, your characters whip out their weapons and enter an attacking stance.
Once a fight begins, a bar will appear next to each of your characters' names. This bar is similar in nature ot the ATB guage in that, once it is full, your character can perform an action. The system is not, however, turn-based; instead, each battle is in many ways a "free-for-all"--a fight to the death.
A line from your character to an enemy (or from an enemy to your character, or from a character to a character), is a "sight-line" of sorts. The bar can be one of four colors:
The command box is similar in nature to that of any previous game. Each command box will contain an Attack, Magicks & Technicks, Mist, Gambits, and Items option. Some of these options have further options within themselves, each of which will be discussed later.