Mage Ranks

[tennyson]

Hello Everyone,

Next month, I will be running a game for my group where everyone will play a mage, each one of a different school of magic. I wanted to add some flavor to the game by naming each level appropriate to the school (up until lvl 15).

I figure the first five levels would probably be similar for each school, but then they'd individualize after that. For example, an illusionist may be:

1. Student
2. Adept
3. Neophyte
4. Practicus
5. Zealtor
6. Deceptor
7. Hidden One
etc.

I'm usually pretty good at this type of stuff, but for some reason I can't really think of any cool/appropriate names. The ranks will add a fun bit of story and I have a way to work it into the game - all that lacks are the names!

Any help/suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[amerigoV]

You could go old school 1e names. Although they do not make sense all the time (all 10th level MU are necromancers - I guess they get tired of not getting dates and go all dark side for a level)

AD&D Character Class: Magic-User

 

[Hand of Evil]

Don't go just a single level for the name, use multiple levels; like level 1-3 would be Prestidigitator, levels 4 to 7 = Conjurer, etc. This way your players are never sure about an NPC's power. This can also be explained as guild levels, it is flavor.

I have to look up my list of titles.

 

[FireLance]

What specific schools are we talking about?

One possibility would be to name the ranks after creatures linked to the school, for example:

Necromancy - undead: skeleton, zombie, ghoul, shadow, phantom, ghast, wight, wraith, mummy, spectre, ghost, vampire, lich, etc.

Enchantment - fey: pixie, sprite, sylph, dryad, nymph, faun, coure, bralani, shiere, ghaele, etc.

Transmutation - traditional lycanthrope forms and other natural creatures: rat, hawk, jackal, fox, wolf, boar, lion, tiger, bear, etc.

Evocation - magical creatures with energy attacks - magmin, ankheg, hellhound, salamander, winter wolf, chimera, behir, beholder, dragon, etc.

Illusion - creatures that hide or disguise themselves - piercer, darkmantle, doppelganger, pseudodragon, cloaker, displacer beast, trapper, lurker above, mimic, etc.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I also recomend making up your own titles.

• Hedge
• Journey
• Master Journey Mage
• Conjurer
• Master Conjurer
• Cabalist
• Wizard
• Master Wizard
• Lord Mage
• Enchanter
• Warlock

 

[steeldragons]

I concur with the suggestion to make each "title" a few levels, at least until higher up. I also concur with the fun/flavor of coming up with your own set of titles...playing with the "common"/day-to-day language of the school(s).

As a group of students in a school, I would say everyone is "created equal" as it were...until, say, your third year when, imho, one's knowledge and interest in specializing in a respective type of magic would become more focused.

Students/characters will have their own aspirations. Dream of becoming the greatest "Evoker" the world's ever seen. But once in classes, realize they have a talent for Illusion instead or find Abjuration to be a more practical choice. So, I wouldn't necessarily have them "specialize" right from the get go.

Also with the idea of a school, you have those students who are more advanced and those who are "slower" or less talented.

A student might "pass" his courses and become a 2nd year student, but still only be a 2nd level mage. Or, an "advanced" or particularly "talented" student might get to 3rd level as a mage, but still only be a 1st year student. Maybe they just study more on their own than others or have some background/training before coming to the school...They might get put in "advanced" courses or even "skip a grade"?

So going by "level" in a "school" setting might get tricky...as one can advance several levels in play during a single year in-game.

So...off the top of my head...
First Year (roughly lvl 1-3): You are an "Apprentis" (pl. "Apprenti")
Second Year (roughly lvl 2-4): You are a "Novitias" (pl. "Noviti")
Third year (roughly lvl 3-5): You are still a "Novitias" with the second honorary for your specialty. At the beginning of the third year you are required to choose (and be differentiated by your specialty/school "color" -a scarf, a cloak, a mantle of some kind, etc... as part of your uniform) So...school
Novitias Abjurai (Abjurers)
Novitias Conjurai (Conjuration)
... Divinis (Divination)
... Encharmis (Enchantment)
... Evokai (Evocation)
... Phantis (Illusion)
... Nekri (Necromancy)
... Alturai (Transmutation)

Fourth year (roughly level 5 and 6): You are elevated to "Initias" (pl. Initiati), also with your school honorarium.

After 4 years of study (and 2 focused within your chosen specialty) you "graduate" and receive the title "Magus Abjurai", 'Magus Encharmis" etc... etc...

[EDIT: my "table" didn't really stay formatted the way I intended. So, here, let's do it this way...

Abjuration specialists: Hexwall, Countermage, Spellbender
Conjuration: Nomenus, Callmage, Summoner
Divination: Senser, Knower, Farseer
Enchantment: Lightcharmer, Will Witch or Will Warlock, Mindbender
Evocation: Arcaster, Hexblast, Invokiar
Illusion: Mistmage, Phantasmer, Thoughtcaster
Necromancy: Gravecaster, Bonemage, Darkcaller
Transmutation: Shaper, Alteranist, Morphmage
/EDIT]

By 10th level you are a FULL "Wizard" and may opt to be known as such or by the full title of your school. i.e. "Wizard", "Abjurer Wizard" or just "Abjurer."...encountering an Abjuration specialist is not the same as encountering an actual "Abjurer".

Think that's all I have on this.
Have fun and happy spell schooling.
--Steel Dragons

 

[wolfpunk]

Anybody else now in the mood to run an all wizard adventure?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Anybody else now in the mood to run an all wizard adventure?

Always.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Do wizards have to "prove" they've earned a rank? (Eg a test, or demonstration of an appropriate spell of the right school?)