A question on magic (Defensively)

I have just been playing a few weeks and have fallen in love with the
game. I have searched the different pages for information and found
quite a bit.

I am curious about defensive magic. Which spells are best and what are
the groups recomendations. I lost a fairly promising dsco in the Elven
Halls mostly because I ran out of mana. * I got overconfident and got
in over my head, no mana = dead co *
I was almost exclusively conjuration/earth/fire. The only defence I had
was stoneskin and while it helped, it was lacking. I was working of the
theory that if they are dead they can't hurt you, and it seemed to be
doing ok, but I was probably only into late mid game.


I am looking to see what general rules or favorite things you folks try
to give you some defence.

Thanks

Chris Morris wrote:
> "Rich63125" <HRICH1066.RemoveThis@YAHOO.COM> writes:
> > I am looking to see what general rules or favorite things you folks try
> > to give you some defence.
>
> Repel Missiles (Deflect Missiles if you can get it)
> Ozocubu's Armour is a bit more effective than Stoneskin

Note that Ozocubu's Armour is only usable when using Light armor
(robes, leather, hides, swamp/mottled dragon armour). Stoneskin works
regardless of what armor you're wearing (which is why it gives so much
less AC than Oz's Armour).

> Detect Creatures/Traps and Magic Mapping to pick your fights better

I'm not much of a fan of Magic Mapping except in cases where you need
to cast it a lot (Hells), and even then only if you have access to
Selective Amnesia to reclaim the spell slots afterwards. Detect Traps
is extremely good, and Detect Creatures is pretty useful too.

> Blink (Controlled Blink if you can get it) to escape

This is key. Very powerful defense for emergencies.

> Forescry is very nice if you can stand the investment in Divinations
> it needs.

Generally speaking, for a conjuror-type, Deflect Missiles +
Controlled/Blink is plenty. Forescry doesn't really add anything much
to it, but hey, if you've already got the Divination/Spellcasting to
use it, and haven't got anything better to learn...

> Mephitic Cloud and Conjure Flame are useful for running away.

Mephitic Cloud is very key early in the game when you have many
powerful spellcasters (orc/elf spellcasters).

Conjure Flame is also an excellent way to kill Hydras, since they
aren't afraid of fire (which means you can lay it down in front of them
and they'll walk right into it). It's also a great way to kill undead.

> Tomb of Doroklohe is apparently amazing but I've never got far enough
> with an Earth user to learn it.

Tomb of Doroklohe + Dig/Passwall makes you very nearly unstoppable as a
conjuror if you can cast ToD reliably.

> These are mostly Ice/Air spells (or non-elemental), so not the easiest
> for a Fire/Earth conjurer to learn.

I'd add the following defensive spells to the list:

Swiftness. For making a quick getaway in areas where you cannot
control blink (Elf 7, Snake 5, Slime 6, The Abyss, The Tomb), and has
some generic "run-away-goodness" all on its lonesome.

Insulation. Handy if you've found no sources of electrical resistance
by the time you hit the Vaults.

Haste. Faster turns = run away faster / kill things faster.

Abjuration. This spell is extremely useful when you encounter enemies
that summon other enemies that summon other enemies...

Jim