You should be able to add more characters at the inn.
There are a few differences between the versions. I haven't played either of them, but I have watched some videos, particularly those of the NES version, and I know of a couple of differences:
1. In the NES version, you need to be level 3 to leave the starting town; that is not the case in the DOS version.
2. Locust Plagues are deadly in the NES version, to the point where I consider it to not be fair. If you are playing the NES version and you see a Locust Plague, kill it before it has a chance to attack; failure to do so is game over. Seriously, they're that bad. In the DOS version, Locust Plagues are a lot more tame, as they can only do 10 damage per action, which is manageable. In the NES version, they do 255 damage, killing whoever gets hit; and when that happens, the round restarts (I believe), and if the Locust Plague is faster than your party (very likely), it will get another turn. The result is a game over.
Whether NES is easier than DOS is a question I can't answer, but it is a good idea to know about Locust Plagues, as that particular enemy makes the game unfair when encountered; if even just one gets a chance to attack, your entire party will get wiped out.
(The NES version also, to my understanding, has a bug that can transform items into other items, which can be exploited to get you an advantage or to get key items without actually having to earn them properly.)
Edit: If the Locust Plague is in the front row at the start of the battle, running away might be a good idea, (NES version)
Post edited February 14, 2018 by dtgreene