[Luvian]

You get more tactics slots as your characters gain levels, as well as to the right of the tactics window there's a behaviour drop down with different ones including some that are less aggressive. Personally I like how my tactics are set up and I have no problem with how my characters use their skills.

Make sure your characters aren't in hold position mode because if they are melee they will cease attacking if the target moves out of range.

You're way too early to judge the story if you're just at the origin part. That's not even considered the prologue yet. Also you really need to read the codex entires if you want to get the most of the story. Their setting is really well thought of.