> > I don't usually run from battles, as it won't be
> > of much use anyway. If there are 4 or more groups
> > of monsters they usually hold off my escape.

This is a misconception. Running from monsters depends on their average agility. Their total number makes no difference. You should be agile enough now that you'll be able to run successfully every time. If you fail, a second run should work. The one exception is the escorts. They aren't possible to run from.

> Red hit points is too low. Casting spells takes
> longer than swinging a sword...

This isn't true either. However, usually it works out that way, because there are more agility-boosting items for fighting classes than spellcasting classes, thus permitting knights and assassins to move before anybody else.