LogFAQs > #971759323

Both my playthrough so far used a chapter 16 character, so I never tackle any of the paralogues until after 16, which definitely results in an easier time.
Of course that means the Erika one is being done at the expected level, and of course that's by far the hardest one.

The Marth one could be hard...if even a single one of those items was even a little worth getting, but since they aren't you just ignore the entire left side of the map.