zoroaster100
First Post
In a world where arcane magic users are persecuted for using nondivine magic, I think the most evocative term for arcane casters would be "WITCH! BURN THE WITCH!"
What do you call arcane magic users?
- Thread starter 3d6
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JRRNeiklot
First Post
Magic users.
Thunderfoot
Hero
As a rogue I usually call them "targets"... 
mhacdebhandia
Explorer
It really depends on the context.
I always disliked the older D&Dism "magic user", even when I first encountered it at the age of ten or so, because it felt awkward and pedestrian. "Mage" works pretty well, though again I've always felt its use as a term of address was clumsy and far too common in D&D-related fiction.
"Wizard" and "sorcerer" strike me as fairly reasonable in-character terms for those aware of the difference between learned and innate casters; by contrast, "arcanist" strikes me as inappropriate except for those who appreciate the distinction between divine and arcane magic on a level slightly more elevated than "the guy on his knees and nature-girl over there pray to gods for their spells, and these other people don't".
For instance, I wouldn't necessarily assume that anyone other than sages (and members of the classes in question) understands that wizards, sorcerers, bards, assassins, hexblades, beguilers, dread necromancers, warmages, et cetera all make use of arcane magic. There may be no identifiable similarity between their spellcasting abilities from the layman's point of view.
(On that same note, since the association between clerics and druids would be on the basis of "these guys are religious", divine minds and ardents might get lumped into that same category because of their devotion, and other psions might be thought of as similar to wizards and sorcerers - at least by laymen.)
"Magician" is too gauche for my tastes. It seems to me that the collective term would default to "mages", as long as we don't have any calling-you-by-your-category instances of "Come here, mage!" and "Not yet, warrior, I'm busy!"
I always disliked the older D&Dism "magic user", even when I first encountered it at the age of ten or so, because it felt awkward and pedestrian. "Mage" works pretty well, though again I've always felt its use as a term of address was clumsy and far too common in D&D-related fiction.
"Wizard" and "sorcerer" strike me as fairly reasonable in-character terms for those aware of the difference between learned and innate casters; by contrast, "arcanist" strikes me as inappropriate except for those who appreciate the distinction between divine and arcane magic on a level slightly more elevated than "the guy on his knees and nature-girl over there pray to gods for their spells, and these other people don't".
For instance, I wouldn't necessarily assume that anyone other than sages (and members of the classes in question) understands that wizards, sorcerers, bards, assassins, hexblades, beguilers, dread necromancers, warmages, et cetera all make use of arcane magic. There may be no identifiable similarity between their spellcasting abilities from the layman's point of view.
(On that same note, since the association between clerics and druids would be on the basis of "these guys are religious", divine minds and ardents might get lumped into that same category because of their devotion, and other psions might be thought of as similar to wizards and sorcerers - at least by laymen.)
"Magician" is too gauche for my tastes. It seems to me that the collective term would default to "mages", as long as we don't have any calling-you-by-your-category instances of "Come here, mage!" and "Not yet, warrior, I'm busy!"
I use "mage" to refer to dedicated arcane casters. Those are generally the ones with a class spell list goes up to level 9. Lower-powered arcane casters-- like bards, assassins, and hexblades-- I call "arcanists."
On the divine side, I borrow the 2E term "priest" to talk about full progression casters. I haven't yet come up with a simple collective term to talk about weaker divine casters.
I sometimes say "magic user" when I mean any creature who can use any supernatural ability, spell-like ability, or spell. Fortunately none of my other players were around during 1E, so they don't know enough to be confused by the term.
In-game, the distinction between these terms is rather fine, and is restricted to knowledgeable characters. Uneducated NPCs would make a snap judgement by appearance and actions. If the caster displays the holy symbol and trappings of a friendly religion, they call him a "priest;" if he shows the symbol of an unfriendly religion, he's a "cultist;" otherwise, they call him a "mage."
On the divine side, I borrow the 2E term "priest" to talk about full progression casters. I haven't yet come up with a simple collective term to talk about weaker divine casters.
I sometimes say "magic user" when I mean any creature who can use any supernatural ability, spell-like ability, or spell. Fortunately none of my other players were around during 1E, so they don't know enough to be confused by the term.
In-game, the distinction between these terms is rather fine, and is restricted to knowledgeable characters. Uneducated NPCs would make a snap judgement by appearance and actions. If the caster displays the holy symbol and trappings of a friendly religion, they call him a "priest;" if he shows the symbol of an unfriendly religion, he's a "cultist;" otherwise, they call him a "mage."
Sorcerer is the general term for a spell caster, as magic (or at least the casting of spells) is usualy refered to as "Sorcery"
Mage describes arcane users, while Magi is used to describe divine users.
Magister is a term of respect, usualy reserved for an experienced mage or the leader of a cabal. Magnus refers to a true master of the Sorcerous Arts.
Cleric often refers to a militant user of divine magic, while priest describes one who is devoted entierly to divine magic. Mystic is a term used to describe lone divine magic users not associated with any orginized religion.
Warlock is often used to describe a practiconer of the dark arts, with daemonologist and necromancer being more specific terms.
Mage describes arcane users, while Magi is used to describe divine users.
Magister is a term of respect, usualy reserved for an experienced mage or the leader of a cabal. Magnus refers to a true master of the Sorcerous Arts.
Cleric often refers to a militant user of divine magic, while priest describes one who is devoted entierly to divine magic. Mystic is a term used to describe lone divine magic users not associated with any orginized religion.
Warlock is often used to describe a practiconer of the dark arts, with daemonologist and necromancer being more specific terms.
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