I am not exactly sure what you mean in the poll. IMO, the best protection spell at level 1 is Protection from Petrification, but it is highly situational...great for fighting basilisks, but otherwise not so useful in BG1.
I find that the level 1 protection spells aren't too useful for a pure wizard. (If you are a multiclass wizard, that is a different story, though.) Level 2 spells come relatively quickly, and their protection spells are far better with blur + mirror image...and there aren't as many good level 2 spells competing for those slots.
sleep is mine!! and minor drain so wizards can heal themselves which is amazingly useful!
I often have Xzar go all vampire on random squirrels and groundhogs. He can easily double his (pitiful) HP that way. Larloch's is so useful for low con mages. Sure, it doesn't stay useful for too long, but I love it for the rp concept of a necromancer and would pick it if I ever played a pure mage. (With my attachment to both Xzar and Edwin, that's unlikely though.)
Whilst I do love a little bit of squirrel murder, it also (bizarrely) works on inanimate objects, which is great when you're suffering from the dreaded "squirrel drought".
@Pantalion: Which objects? I have unsuccessfully tried to target the giant eagle. What objects can be targeted with Larloch's? O.o
I usually start off a bard or F/M with armor because of the duration and then upgrade to shield once I get more spell slots to burn through or an archmage robe.
This is mainly to minimise resting, I don't find 5 minutes long enough for a whole map/dungeon floor. 8 ingame hours definitely is.
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I find that the level 1 protection spells aren't too useful for a pure wizard. (If you are a multiclass wizard, that is a different story, though.) Level 2 spells come relatively quickly, and their protection spells are far better with blur + mirror image...and there aren't as many good level 2 spells competing for those slots.
This is mainly to minimise resting, I don't find 5 minutes long enough for a whole map/dungeon floor. 8 ingame hours definitely is.
You make a good point there. Especially think I think I'm going to DW on my fighter/mage.
Pretty much everything. Items on the floor, containers, and doors all count as valid targets for Laloch's. In a pinch, drop a pebble and drain that.