Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies

Does the number of enemies in regular battles scale with the size of your party? Or is it normal to encounter 2 enemies in most encounters at this point in the game(I'm around Zere, about to head to Brigadoom)?

I ask because if it's the same number of enemies it seems like it'd be easier to go alone, maybe pick up one other later, since I'd be getting the same amount of XP/Gold either way, it'll be easier to equip/level fewer characters. On the other hand if the enemy parties grow to 3-4+ with a full group I'm really wasting my time.

Hmm, so continuing that line of thought, how's solo? I just beat the boss at Brigadoom solo, even though she paralyzed me once for 3 turns(barely survived). I was level 17 but I didn't have to grind particularly hard to get it.

Only problem I see is utilizting other classes. I've been pretty keen on the Minstrel's Heal, and good weapon skills, armor selection, Deftness, etc. I think it would get pretty grindy if I was going to try investing in the class skill to carry over some of those stats to something like Priest, let alone get involved with something like Warrior as well.

I haven't been challenged much solo yet, the time I got paralyzed and a few random battles in Brigadoom where I got my defense lowered were the closest I came to wiping, but I heard the next boss is serious..