Re: [Beginner] Pointers about magic usage
 

My favorite Ulmish Pretender is a Vampire Queen with 3 Water, at least 3 in Blood, and as an many in Death as you want. This gives you easy access to blood magic for forging (soul contracts with a dwarven hammer can be useful), and lets you easily summon Ice Devils, which give you great commanders to give all your great forged items to. It also gets you a pretty badass pretender once you give her the right items.

Re: [Beginner] Pointers about magic usage
 

for ulm i have played them alot for pretenders i have 2 Favorites

1-great alchemist for a rainbow mage also allows for alchemy with some death and fire (fever fetishes placed on undead commanders for) also get the alchemist stone. I also like getting 2 water and forging clams as well summoning wraith lords who produce ghosts along with a fire gems and astral pearls is very effective investment(although keep them away from combat) fun and very effective in single player

2-vampire queen i like having her with 3 earth (allows her to cast invunerability and make dwarf hammers) 2 water (quickness, breath of winter, forge clams) 3 astral(for astral shield, luck)can also dispell globel enchantments. I use the vampire queen as an independent crusher than later as a defender in your domain(never fight outside it as she is immortal) With the 5 spells listed above in her script can stomp through almost anything solo.

Re: [Beginner] Pointers about magic usage
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I think I've read somewhere on this forum that this only applies to protection gained from your armor, and not to your "base" protection. I am not 100% certain though.