Oh well, we all know that the DQ combat is LONG. It sometimes takes 10 freaking minutes to kill (or be killed by) a troll or demon.
And you are killed by a swinging blade on your next move.
So we invented the alternate home rules combat system for it. It is such:
When you encounter the monster, you can either try to retreat or to fight him. If you retreat, roll 1d6, if result is greater than (MONSTER LIFE) you retreat successfully to the chamber you entered from. If you choose to fight him, you lose (MONSTER LIFE) - 1d6 + 1d6 life. If you are alive, you win the fight.
Hugo the Glorios ablity is: "when you fight a monster, you lose (MONSTER LIFE) - 1d6 instead"
Tatiana's ability is "when you fight a monster, roll 1d6, if result is greater than (MONSTER LIFE), you win automatically"
Kruzbeck's ability is "MONSTER LIFE is reduced by 2 for combat calculation"