Huh, yeah, I tend to go for a "complete everything" game approach more than I should in the challenge modes, I guess. I've got master of magic now - my main conclusion so far is that speed is even more important in hard mode, my deaths are nearly always just "oops too slow".
EDIT: Got Master of Archery and Master of Melee done today. Ironically, Master of Melee was done more at range and Master of Archery at close quarters - for master of archery (with archer), whilst I had a decent bow my main weapon was a cutlass with 3 runestones on it with which I built my melee up (plus sunset scrolls for later levels), and for Master of Melee (with knight), I had mjolnir, only 1 runestone on it but I had both carpenter's emblem and dwarven spinner so I was chucking out six of them in all directions (also with 2 sunset scrolls for ice level and 3 for final level, and I skipped most of final level with a silver shilling). Up to date with achievements again!