One tip - do not make a main male character blonde, because all the main characters are basically blonde, and the main hero needs a different hair colour.

Also, try to make sure some of the main cast still has a complete family alive - it annoys me to the ends of the earth when main characters have a mum gone, or both parents gone - ugh, people. It's lame.

Stick to random battles. It's an integral part of FF history.