Skull of Pain

[Zechnophobe]

That's just not true. Do you have any points in transmute? You can get mana via rage even if it isn't directly, and often make up the difference. Mana source for Green dragons as well, and you don't have to wait until mid combat. My no loss Paladin/impossible game used the skull easily, since it had 2 points in transmute. It isn't like you need to drop 60 mana worth of spells each combat or anything (I guess maybe if you NEED to get those spell casting medals?)