[apoger]

>.. so switch Thunder Bow for Ethereal Crossbow plus Boots of Quickness ...

Might as well cast soul slay which will happen twice as often and always "hits".

I like ethereal cbows, but as a way to augment an already prepared army. I wouldn't suggest them as a main defense versus ID's. I understand the allure of stacking up items on characters as an attempt to replace mages. In practice I have found that it doesn't work very well.