monk paladins
- general strategy: do they just kill people with surprise burst damage via intensify (or summon traps)? am seeing zero in terms of lag ability, which makes sense given the class.

intensify can do serious burst dmg and coupled with call lightning will land you kills.

- thoughts on non-elf races: doable, or not worth it?
They're so mana dependent I just don't see it.

- how much does wearing blessed armor help "defy"? enough to merit wearing blessed stuff over non-blessed stuff with better stats?

This is extremely underlooked with monks. I've found defy to be significant when you intentionally go out and gear for consecrated items. Max it out early in the mausoleum and it is noticeable.

necromancers and maledicting talismans
- will brandishing one of these piss off your charmies? not a talisman that does damage; just one that confers a negative affect.
-Never seen it do so.