> I probably sound like a clueless newbie here, but I'm having difficulty getting past level 5 of MR. I can't get into most of level 6 yet, and when my party ventured to level 7 they quickly got so badly mangled that they couldn't make it back to Kaliti. I've resurrected them all, but I can't afford to get killed again.

I had the same problem with mostly class 10-13 characters. You need to find the treasure on level 7 fast and then get back to Kaliti. Getting to Lyesis will prove good practice for your fighters.
By the time they reach Lyesis they should all be at least level 15. Otherwise there isn't much hope of them getting out of Lyesis alive.

> A few more specific questions...
>
> What is a good combination of characters for a newbie? Currently I have one of each class, but this forum seems to imply that this is a "challenge" combination. Maybe three Assassins and three Druids? (I'm just guessing about the Assassins, but I do like the way the Druid's natural regeneration saves on Cure spells.)
>
> If I retrain my Wizard as a Druid, will she keep learning Wizard spells every time she levels up, or will she only learn Sorcerer spells to start with? What I'm wondering is... what is the fastest way to get someone who knows Resurrect? BTW, is Resurrect the elusive Wizard spell #34 that everyone's talking about?

I think you should have 3 Knights, or an Assassin and 2 Knights, and then 3 spellcasters, of which at least one knows Wizard spells and at least one knows Sorceror spells.

The fastest way to get someone to know Resurrect is for him/her to be a Wizard and be active in combat.
Am I at liberty to say whether #34 is Resurrect?

> Thanks for a good game, and I like the way the shopkeeper reacts when a bunch of dead characters come into his shop to sell equipment.

Yes, I liked that too.