The descriptions from the manual are about the only source of information. The numbers before it also tell quite a lot, e.g. Blade Wind (Evoc. 4) has damage 14, but 52+ effects. That means that Blade Wind shoots 52 effects(blades), every one of which deals 14 points of damage. The + after the 52 tells that more powerful Earth mages fire even more blades.
If you want to find spells that fit spesific roles, use Darryl's Grimorie:
http://www.sangster.org/dominions/grimorie.php
Good items can be divided into few groups:
- items that greatly help an already tough unit to survive, all items granting Luck, Etherealness, lots of protection, Reinvigoration (fatique lowers on its own) etc. fit this group. Pendant of Luck, Lucky Coin (shield), Faithful (sword), Ring of Regeneration, Rainbow Armor, Charcoal Shield (Fire Shield kills most around you, so they only hit you once), Hydra Skin Armor. However, Robe of Shadows is only used if you can get protection from some other source, because it grants no protection against magical attacks and takes the Body slot, disallowing armor. Lycanthropos' Amulet is good, but has some side-effects.
- weapons that drain life, because they both heal and reinvigorate their user: Wraith Sword, Blood Thorn.
- items that generate gems: Clam of Pearls, Fever Fetish, sometimes Blood Stone
- items that grant Forge Bonus: mainly Dwarven Hammer
- items that grant quickness: Boots of Quickness for mages, Jade Armor for undead and/or thugs/SCs. Thugs are weak super-combatants, e.g. a Bane Lord (Conj. 5?) with Wraith Sword, Boots of Quickness and Pendant of Luck.
- items that boost magical paths: Earth Boots (E2), Thistle Mace (N2), Treelord's Staff (N4), Moonvine Bracelet (N3S1, boost Nature but not aStral), Winged Helmet (A3), Bag of Winds (A3), Robe of the Sea (W3), Water Bracelet (W1), Flame Helmet (F3), Skull of Fire (D1F1, boosts fire), Skull Staff (D2), Skullface (D3), Ring of Sorcery (aStral 4, boost S,N,D,B), Ring of Wizardry (S5, boosts everything), Blood Thorn (B3, it's a dagger, not misc item), Brazen Vessel (B3), Armor of Twisting Thorns (B3N2, boost N and B but can't be removed), Armor of Souls (B4), Blood Stone (B3E1, boost Blood), Robe of the Magi (B4A1, boost all AND gives reinvigoration but gives Horror Mark), and Staves of Elemental Masteries (F3W3 OR E3A3, both boost all of FEWS).