10 provinces for the manticore? That was unlucky. At indy 5 it can normally clean the map as long as you avoid lizard shamen (curse). The only other things that will stop it (from indys) is lucky hits causing afflictions or lucky spell casts that beat the magic check.
Astral magic is great but air and earth also have great spells for combatants. Don't underestimate invulnerability, mist form & mirror image. Water is great for quickness and breath of winter. Fire provides fire shield.
There are lots of interesting ways to go about it.
[ November 03, 2003, 20:53: Message edited by: apoger ]