This is why I chose the necromancer to play. Summon minions and just curse/bone-spirit/bone-spear away, usually emerging with 80% of my HP at the end of most fights. Yup, I was lazy and luxuriated in cowardi-- er, the safe comfort behind my revived monsters/skeletal mages/hireling.
By the way, the salamander (Fangskin) is lightning-enchanted and extra-fast, yes? This means: it has a double chance of hitting you, 75% resistance to lightning, moves quickly (also applies to its minions), and attacks twice as quickly as a normal monster, on top of its lightning-blast attacks. Do you have items with lightning resistance, or failing that, do you have topazs and some socketed shields?
