Greatest Fantasy Wizards?

[Ryujin]

Ged/Sparrowhawk. I recently started rereading these and had forgotten what complete badasses Earthsea wizards are, and without being dysfunctional idiots the way Wizarding World wizards all seem to be.

Given that their power is only limited by whether or not they know the True Name of something or someone, they seem to be incredibly restrained in their use of that power.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Given that their power is only limited by whether or not they know the True Name of something or someone, they seem to be incredibly restrained in their use of that power.

Yep. In a lot of ways, they're a really great illustration of what a Neutral alignment looks like, without it devolving into unpleasant nihilism. They stay out of things because they're being responsible, not because they're only interested in themselves. And it helps sell how serious a situation is when they come off the bench to get involved, given that they are keenly aware of the consequences of their actions. (In contrast, the Circle of Eight are basically just techbro jerks.)

It'd be hard to model that in an RPG that wasn't built around this type of wizardry ("Bob, your wizard hasn't cast any spells for six sessions now"), but they would be really satisfying in one-on-one RPG, I bet.

 

[Tonguez]

Zoroaster - The original Magus
Harry Dresden - Even death didn't stop him.

I had considered Zoroaster/Zarathustra but consider him more Priest than Wizard - the Magi would definitely fit on a Cleric list though

 

[Ryujin]

I had considered Zoroaster/Zarathustra but consider him more Priest than Wizard - the Magi would definitely fit on a Cleric list though

I was thinking from the Warlock angle.

 

[Umbran]

Schmendrick the Magician, from The Last Unicorn.

 

[jdrakeh]

The Warlock and Wavyhill from Larry Niven's The Magic Goes Away. Both very powerful magic users, despite the world's magic being almost exhausted.

 

[Divine2021]

My childhood edgelord hero, Raistiln.

 

[Tonguez]

I wonder if Doctor Whou counts - especially with his WandSonic Screwdiver

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I wonder if Doctor Whou counts - especially with his WandSonic Screwdiver

He's definitely an arcane spellcaster in my mind.

 

[Sacrosanct]

But Gandalf is only 5th level!!