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Honestly, the only reason I'm still playing is to attempt to build the perfect bishop.
Not an expert on how the math works, but here are a few observations.
Regardless of race, all bishops start with relatively low hit points, and limited access to armor. Its wise to invest some early points in vitality [I do 2 per level for at least the first 5 levels], as the starting stats in pie, int, dex and sen will more than carry you that far.
Very important to know what weapons you'll want to weild in the endgame, and aquire something of the same class as early as possible. There are no skill points to spare for weapons, so the sooner they start swinging them,the better. Slings are really the only ranged attack weapons for casters, and there are at least 2 in the lower monestary area.
I also do most of the lower monestary before facing the crabs on the beach or in the gazebo: with a couple of levels under a bishop's belt, he will do far better against these critters that seem to enjoy whacking your second row characters.
Am personally a little dubious about assigning other attribute points: with a recent hobbit bishop, he got his level 7 spells for both wizardry and psionics at the same time, despite having 100 int and very low sen. I have noticed that with 2 [nearly] identical bishops casting the same spell at the same power level,the one with higher power cast will almost invariably do more damage. Since maxing sen only gets you 'Eagle Eye', honestly don't think its worth investing many points in it. Since I like the iron will and reflextion skills, I also work on piety and dexterity, even for a bishop not using much from the divinity or alchemy realm.
I assign a bishop 2 'primary' books that each receive 3 skill points per level, and generally split the remaining 3 points between the other 2 books. While pumping realm skills early will develope a bishop faster, he'll be less effective by midgame. I no longer invest ANY points in the realms: practice, even if you don't 'train' per se, will keep those rising on their own. Ditto power cast, etc: if there isn't anywhere else useful to put skill points, fine, but until all the schools have passed 75, doesn't seem worthwhile. Adding a point or two to the secondary schools will give access to many worthwhile spells that would otherwise be unavailable. Casting a psi spell with a div/alch bishop [random example] when you know the combat is going to be pretty minor is also a great way of increasing the secondary schools. If you don't follow such a strategy from pretty early on, your odds of getting the level 7 spells in all 4 schools is very low, unless you are playing with less than 4 characters.
Cast as many spells as possible, even if that means napping a bit in the first part of the game. Once they have buffs like enchanted blade available, try and keep them running all the time, even if the mana cost is a little hard to take. Be aware of what spells come from which realms, and use spells from your 'weak' realms when the situation allows.
It really is worth it to save some spell picks: since most level 4 and lower spells are available for sale, saving a few picks to use at the level 7 breakthrough is worthwhile. It makes your bishop a little less effective in early going, but gives them great power in later stages of the game when the enemies are tough and travel in VERY large groups. Awfully sad to waste a pick on a spell that you could have learned for a tiny price or found for free just a little later.
Make sure one bishop puts a point or 2 in alchemy every round, and train by mixing potions. Bishops need money for books, and a bish that can make good potions is a walking ATM: can easily generate enough cash to keep himself and all other characters outfitted with the latest and greatest.
Personally, I no longer dual class bishops: in the hobbit party, one bishop spent her first 4 levels as a rogue [for locks and traps], and she really never caught up with her counterpart.
Oru
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