[Verjigorm]

I'm a fan of the crone. Not necessarily because she's so much better than any of her alternatives, but just because she's an old hag, cackling madly from her gingerbread house where she eats your children.

She adds excellent magical diversity despite the lack of a chest slot, but the 4 misc. slots compensate more than adequately.

She misses out on: Armor of Souls, Robe of the Sea, Armor of Twisting Thorns, and Robe of the Magi as well as Flesh Ward and the Pebble Skin Suit, but that's not terrible considering she gets TWO Misc pieces in exchange which can be of greater variety:

Bag of Winds, Crystal Coin, Brazen Vessel, Blood Stone, Skull of Fire, Water Bracelet, Moonvine Bracelet and, of course, the Rings of Sorcery and Wizardry. The only chest piece I would truly miss on her would be the Robe of the Magi, but why would I put a horror item on a crone anyway?

As for her map movement, I make her a pair of Winged Boots as soon as possible. Flying and 2 map move is well worth it even at full gem price.

The Crone is one of my favorite rainbows. Of course, one cannot beat a Master Lich for rainbow... He gets 3 misc and keeps his body slot and immortal among other things for 75 points. I would daresay he's generally a better pick than the crone, but for flavor, I just like using her. Make her immortal and I'd be all over it.

I've never used Ritual of Rebirth on her as I don't let her go into combat very frequently, she being rather frail, and me using her fairly infrequently. Keeping her on the HoF, though, does sound like a very good prospect as a mummified Crone would be a most excellent rainbow pretender. Wight mage version is also a good bet. I would put Twiceborn on her asap, too, just in case I can't get her or keep her on the HoF.