So I've tried out an elf transmuter and have ranked to about level 15. Seems that I get killed pretty much every time I start a fight (thus far mostly against orcs, warriors, necromancers, etc). Barely even have a chance to flee...so I'm wondering- am i doing something wrong? Is there a particular spell (or sequence) that I need to be focusing on at the early to mid ranks to have a chance at not dying in a couple of quick rounds...or am I best to just run away fast until I get more powerful spells? I know elves are fragile...but are they THAT fragile?

So far it doesn't seem like I am well suited to PK at all, but I'm also not entirely clear on what all my spells actually do to their targets (like what happens when mental jolt echoes). Any tips would be helpful:

Is it best to start a fight with metabolic slowing? biolumenescence? mental jolt? Or something else?

Any race/class to target or avoid entirely at the early to mid ranks?

Thanks for any tips on strategy for a learning noob.