As we all probably know, there are an abundance of names for mages and their kin. We have sorcerers (and -esses), wizards, arcanists, mages, magus/magi, witches, thaumaturges, theurges, shamans, runesmiths, warlocks, binders, demonologists, etc.
Which name do you prefer/use in your campaigns?
And, just for the heck of it, can you add to this list?
The current list:
[spoiler=Alphabetized List] Alchemist
Arcane engineer
Arcanist
Binder
Blasphemer
Cabalist
Caster
Channeler
Conjurer
Demonologist
Diviner
Elder
Elementalist
Enchanter
Evoker
Gifted
Heretic
Illusionist
Invoker
Kuanta miner
Leyman
Magic wielder/user
Magus/magi
Mancer/mantis
Mantric (Indian)
Mentalist
Mesmer
Mindshaper
Necromancer
Oracle
Possessed
Runesmith
Scryer
Seer
Sensitive
Shaman
spámaðr (Norse male)
Summoner
Sympathists
Tainted
Thaumaturge
Theurge
Touched
Transmuter
Vala/Wala/Wicce (Norse; female only)
Vivemancer
Voidsoul
Warlock
Warlock engineer
Weaver
Witch
Witch Doctor
Wizard
Worldbender
[/spoiler]
Mancer and Sensitive are my favourite, but I don't use them. I've used, in my time... worldbenders, mindshapers, witches, magi, necromancer (and vivemancer) and sorcerer.
channelers
lesse, I've seen touched, gifted, channelers, leymen, and elementalist in my various games.
Witchdoctor and shaman are two I use for my game.
There's also the specialists:
Necromancer
Diviner, Seer
Evoker
Illusionist
Transmuter
*Enchanter*
Etc.
In my homebrew, in addition to the normal terms, 'arcane engineer' (a cross between wizard and eberron-style artificer), 'Sympathists' (interchangably with Necromancers & Beguilers), 'Kuanta Miners' (no equivalent - they manipulate the alternate universes), and 'Voidsoul' (again, no equivalent - their magic focuses on deep space) will be common.
I can't think of any other terms i've seen that haven't been covered, though/
sometimes something as simple as 'magic weilder/user" is good if you have a ladder-based class system, and wizard/sorcerer could be more specialized versions.
I forgot one. Arcanist, Diviner, and Invoker
has alchemist been mentioned? how about binder?
Ooo, I forgot those. Binder, Evoker and Channeler.
Oh yeah, i can see i have missed a good deal. Well, my only excuse is that it was late. Hope that'll do. In my campaign i'm going for thaumaturge because it has a more "scientific" feel, if you ask me (like magic was a scientific discipline, which it is in my campaign in some ways). Keep them coming. I'll try and edit the first post into an updated list, in case anyone needs the inspiration. And Realm Weaver, are your kuanta miners in any way inspired from the possibility mining in "the scar" by China Mieville?
I have Kabahlist guilds, Theurgist guilds, mentalists, there is Grettle's Thaumaturgist guild in Recum Proper...those come to mind quickly.
I always liked squishy guy behind the warrior. :)
you mean the artillery behind the meat-shields?
Quote from: LordVreegyou mean the artillery behind the meat-shields?
Depends on what level you're talking about :P
[spoiler=Alphabetized List] Alchemist
Arcanist
Arcane engineer
Binder
Cabalist
Channeler
Conjurer
Demonologist
Diviner
Elementalist
Enchanter
Evoker
Gifted
Illusionist
Invoker
Kuanta miner
Leyman
Magic wielder/user
Magus/magi
Mentalist
Mindshaper
Necromancer
Runesmith
Seer
Sensitive
Shaman
Summoner
Sympathists
Thaumaturge
Theurge
Touched
Transmuter
Vivemancer
Voidsoul
Warlock
Warlock engineer
Witch
Witch Doctor
Wizard
Worldbender
[/spoiler]
Quote from: Raelifin[spoiler=Alphabetized List] Alchemist
Arcanist
Arcane engineer
Binder
Cabalist
Channeler
Conjurer
Demonologist
Diviner
Elementalist
Enchanter
Evoker
Gifted
Illusionist
Invoker
Kuanta miner
Leyman
Magic wielder/user
Magus/magi
Mentalist
Mindshaper
Necromancer
Runesmith
Seer
Sensitive
Shaman
Summoner
Sympathists
Thaumaturge
Theurge
Touched
Transmuter
Vivemancer
Voidsoul
Warlock
Warlock engineer
Witch
Witch Doctor
Wizard
Worldbender
[/spoiler]
actually Arcane Engineer should come before Arcanist
i like wizard best
Mesmer. Caster. One possible term for magic-- although, it wouldn't fit at all in a "magic as a science" setting-- could be Unreality, and a name for mages could be built off that somehow.
Mantis (diviner) would be more correct than mancer.
Also (unrelated) Mantric (Indian).
Vala/Wala/Wicce (Norse; female only)
spámaðr (Norse male)
Since you are leaning towards the "magic as a science" approach, my suggestion would be that whatever titles you do end up using could represent academic degrees. For example a magic user with and associates level degree would be called an adept, a bachelors would be a wizard, a masters would be called a mage, and lastly a Ph.D. would be called an arcanist.
Actually, they manipulate the scientific laws by altering the "reality state" of objects and areas, so Unreality isn't a bad word for it at all in my game.
Added a few more (oracle, scryer and some others), and adopted the alphabetical list. Thanks guys :D
Two more things. Since -mancy means divination, wouldn't pyromancy mean divination through fire? Not that we have to care since many people just understand the word as "magic", anyway, but still.
And is there some kind of derivative of eldritch for a caster? Elder? hm, i should add that one no matter what...
Sorcerer/ess, witch, warlock, heretic, blasphemer, devil, demon, mage, and thaumaturge come to mind. Arcanists often find themselves on the wrong side of religion in my settings.
Quote from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DivinationWikipedia[/url] lists several other forms of divination, as well.
I see one of my favorite AD&D 2e wizard specialties hasn't made the list yet:
Geometer
There's also a lot of ____ Wizard types, like Shadow Wizards or Song Wizards.
It may also be worth checking in on:
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=682417
I prefer to use wide varieties of terms. For my own setting, I am using "Mage", "Priest", and "Sorcerer" for my three casting classes, and I hope to have different terms from different cultures (shaman, druid, cleric ... all will be priests), specialties, and focuses. Within the world, the differences between the classes are easily apparent, and the myth and legend of each classes have spread enough that even the lay people have preconceived ideas about them (all priests are benevolent, all sorcerers are destructive, all magi are indifferent ... for example). Not saying that a lay person would be able to identify a sorcerer from a mage from a priest, but at least most would think they could.
In the WCS there is no commonly associated term for those able to cast spells/weaves. Depending on race, community, and person you are talking to (and abilities/attitude displayed by the magic user in question), you could hear
* witch
* wizard
* caster
* sorcerer
* gifted
* possessed
* weaver
* weaveuser
* incarnate
* tainted
or
* magician.