Can someone explain me how Zin works?

[nago]

My currently living HoHe has the potentiality to break my victory record (under 10 millions, I'm a *sloooow* player), or to die ignominiously wandering in Hells or Tomb (I've already got all 5 pan's runes).
To speed up things, I'm thinking to switch from TSO to Zin after I'll cleared Tomb, because I've read the latter is better in Hells and Zot:5.
Anyway, I've never considered seriously Zin, because his powers looks to me underpowered (at least, compared to TSO's ones). Therefore, in what way can I use Zin to clear Hells/Zot.5?

[crate]

Zin's main draws would be sanctuary and preventing mutations and hell effects.

I would just stick with TSO. Hell effects under TSO are not really that bad (often they just amount to healing you because of the heal-on-kills); for many characters TSO is better in hells than Zin.

For zot really Elyvilon is the best of the good gods but you won't really have time to rebuild piety unless you want to convert to Ely for hells (which is also not really that bad if you have enough food, but probably not worth doing) so I would just stick to TSO. Mutations in Zot:5 don't tend to mean a whole lot, and while sanctuary is good so is TSO's halo + summon A.

[nago]

Thanks for the information - so in shorter term, Zin sucks (at least, for my play stile).

For the record, I've just sticked with TSO, happily completing the game, finally beating my limit of 10 millions of score - except a dreadful moment with 1 (one!) hp left and Antaeus and 2 Ice Fiends in LOS

[giygas]

You give Zin money.
Zin gives you protection.

Zin really seems like some kind of political gangster. He's probably from Chicago.

(I think i'll make a thread about this in CYC)

[Bobbunny]

I have however that grey draconian of zin can be very fun in crypt/tomb/hell

[Dingbat]

Recite starts to become deadly (against humanoids) once you get invocations past 9 or so; it's useful for incapacitating rooms full of baddies, if you can sneak up on them for a good position. Make sure to give yourself enough space from enemies since it takes four turns to complete a sermon.