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Dennis Posted - 26 Apr 2012 : 02:15:40

...uses magic?

The scope is the entire genre of fantasy, not just FR. And I mean the ‘common’ practitioners of magic only, not their lowly counterpart like hedge wizard, nor the more powerful one like Archmage/Archwizard/High Wizard, and not priests, either---though theurge is acceptable.
30   L A T E S T    R E P L I E S    (Newest First)
Dennis Posted - 08 Dec 2012 : 08:04:49
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

A friend of mine had a brief phase where he tried feminizing a lot of words unnecessarily... Using words like sorceress and tigress as inspiration, he came up with words like warrioress and rangeress. I had to subject him to much merciless mockery before he finally dropped that trend!
I know one feminist who's fond of creating totally new words, instead of just adding a suffix to denote the female counterpart. For example, instead of your friend's 'warrioress,' she uses 'havehdrah,' if I remember it correctly.
Dennis Posted - 08 Dec 2012 : 08:00:40
quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal

quote:
Originally posted by Dennis

quote:
Originally posted by MrHedgehog

The rest of the terms refer to a type of magic-user.
Not really. It depends what setting we're talking about. This poll is not just exclusive to D&D. What I don't like about magic-user is that it's too simple, unflattering, and crude. Would you rather call a swordsman a sword-user?

Well if the fighter was a woman, I would think sword-user better then swordsman *G*
Maybe. Though in the all the books I've read, AFAICR, sword-user was never used. Instead, female characters who are good with the sword are simply referred to as fighter or warrior. I have not encountered swordswoman either.
Old Man Harpell Posted - 07 Dec 2012 : 22:03:33
Mage (magi, magus). Generic arcane spell-user.

I just can't use wizard so much any more, because:

1) Wizard versus sorcerer. Yes, artificial distinction brought about by D&D, but it still sticks in my brain. So either term as a generic classification doesn't work for me any more.

2) After seeing Ralph Bakshi's Wizards however many times, I get that image of Avatar stuck in my memory, and it just won't go away.

3) Tolkien. Wizards are Maiar, wizards are Istari, wizards are something no mortal can ever be. A mage, sure, but a wizard? Nah.

- OMH
Wooly Rupert Posted - 07 Dec 2012 : 19:30:03
quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal

quote:
Originally posted by Dennis

quote:
Originally posted by MrHedgehog

The rest of the terms refer to a type of magic-user.
Not really. It depends what setting we're talking about. This poll is not just exclusive to D&D. What I don't like about magic-user is that it's too simple, unflattering, and crude. Would you rather call a swordsman a sword-user?



Well if the fighter was a woman, I would think sword-user better then swordsman *G*

A grand title/label that covers all types of magic use likely is hard, because of all the sub-types already used.

Maybe Enchanter though not all magic uses chants.



A friend of mine had a brief phase where he tried feminizing a lot of words unnecessarily... Using words like sorceress and tigress as inspiration, he came up with words like warrioress and rangeress. I had to subject him to much merciless mockery before he finally dropped that trend!
Entromancer Posted - 07 Dec 2012 : 18:18:23
To my mind, the term "magician" conjurs up Randall Flagg/Walter O'Dim. Someone who maybe is/maybe isn't supernaturally gifted.
Kentinal Posted - 07 Dec 2012 : 11:44:49
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis

quote:
Originally posted by MrHedgehog

The rest of the terms refer to a type of magic-user.
Not really. It depends what setting we're talking about. This poll is not just exclusive to D&D. What I don't like about magic-user is that it's too simple, unflattering, and crude. Would you rather call a swordsman a sword-user?



Well if the fighter was a woman, I would think sword-user better then swordsman *G*

A grand title/label that covers all types of magic use likely is hard, because of all the sub-types already used.

Maybe Enchanter though not all magic uses chants.
Dennis Posted - 07 Dec 2012 : 07:32:32
quote:
Originally posted by Chosen of Asmodeus

One I'm not a particular fan of is magician; to me, a magician is someone who fakes it.
We're kind of on the same boat here. Even after immersing myself in Feist's novels for years [which, for those familiar with them, often use "magician" and "sorcerer" interchangeably, and "warlock" in later books], I could hardly dissociate the word "magician" from its RW usage.
Dennis Posted - 07 Dec 2012 : 07:26:40
quote:
Originally posted by MrHedgehog

The rest of the terms refer to a type of magic-user.
Not really. It depends what setting we're talking about. This poll is not just exclusive to D&D. What I don't like about magic-user is that it's too simple, unflattering, and crude. Would you rather call a swordsman a sword-user?
MrHedgehog Posted - 07 Dec 2012 : 04:13:43
Magic-user. The rest of the terms refer to a type of magic-user.
Entromancer Posted - 07 Dec 2012 : 00:39:38
In my brew:


Warlocks: Draw their energy from the blood of victim who were dealt a brutal, messy death.

Witch: Draw their energy from the blood of a specific animal that died a brutal, messy death. They are able to reanimate the chosen animal as a familiar and receptacle of their magic. The animals used are those with a close link to the Borderlands between the physical plane and the extraplanar reaches.

Shaman: Draw their magic from the spirits of the dead that remain anchored to the physical plane. This puts them at odds with priests, preachers etc. etc. whose duties are the discharge of the spirit to the other plane in the interest of maintaining magical equilibrium.

Sorcerer: Enters into a covenant with an extraplanar being. There aren't many sorcerers because they generally have a short life span. The majority "die" by failing to outwit the being they bargained with for their power. As a result, they are dragged bodily to that being's elemental domain.

Mage: General magic user who creates spell shards from chemical and powder-based components via inorganic and organic chemistry.

Battle-Mage: A fighter who augments their armor/weaponry with spell shards. Their blades/armor are extremely expensive; they have to be able to support the magic released from the spell shards during combat. Thus Battle-Mages are typically found among the upper class of society.
Kentinal Posted - 06 Dec 2012 : 22:40:28
I looked back over the thread, I still say magic - user appears to be the best to describe those that use any form of magic, BD&D only had arcane casting Magic Users, however the question was one term to cover a far larger body of works that have spell casting ability i.e. not just D&D spell casters.

The only other term that would include most of all systems and novels would appear to be Witch, however something like 50 percent of people appear to believe Witches are female and Witch Doctors are males, or course there is that abused term Warlock out there that a sit com popularized in the mid 20th Century (_BeWitched_ )as the belief is the proper term for a male witch.
Chosen of Asmodeus Posted - 06 Dec 2012 : 21:56:25
I enjoy there being multiple terms, some interchangeable, other's specific, others more slang or slur. One I'm not a particular fan of is magician; to me, a magician is someone who fakes it.
Kyrel Posted - 06 Dec 2012 : 21:45:17
Across all types of fantasy I'll go for "Arcanist", but with "Mage" an increadibly close 2nd.
Dennis Posted - 06 Dec 2012 : 03:19:23

The third one is close, MT.

----

On topic: No one wants Bender? I think it sounds cool, though their powers are very limited. Vurdmeister is a good one, too. It inspires awe/fear/respect. And it doesn't necessarily have to be associated with evil practitioners of magic.

quote:
Originally posted by Dennis

Yes. Though I would have voted for Magician, if not for the fact that it's been often used to refer to RW tricksters/illusionists; and I can hardly shake off the association from my mind.
Can I change my vote to Arcanist? I think it rings with magic and mystery, compared to just plain wizard/magician.
Markustay Posted - 29 Apr 2012 : 21:38:59
MiB?

Illuminati?

Professional Torturer?

Is your other name 'little Nicky'?

One of my ex's friends has the darkest job you can imagine - she gives enemas in a nursing home. Thats DARK, baby.
Dennis Posted - 29 Apr 2012 : 04:25:25
quote:
Originally posted by sfdragon

DArk MAgician??????


We're talking real life here.

Anyway, I'm giving clues no more. Because seriously, no one outside the organization could know that I exist. Besides, I'm not going to continue to derail my own thread. So let's get back on topic, shall we?
Dalor Darden Posted - 29 Apr 2012 : 04:21:42
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis

Not even close. My job's far, far darker than that...



sfdragon Posted - 29 Apr 2012 : 04:04:39
DArk MAgician??????
Dennis Posted - 29 Apr 2012 : 03:56:15
quote:
Originally posted by sfdragon

quote:
Originally posted by Dennis

quote:
Originally posted by Malcolm

So, re. this:

"If you knew what I do for a living, you'd likely say she'd be lucky to escape alive."

Huh? Dennis, you posted you were a writer. Do you, um, write on the hides of live tigers or lions, or some such?


I used to teach, and have been writing for..awhile. But what I earn from writing constitutes only 0.00000001% of my bank accounts. I've recently taken over my dad's 'organization,' which, to put it mildly, deals with the darker aspects of life.

would this by chance be?
Mortician
funeral parlor worker
coroner
or undertaker?

I'm soory for disrailling... but I couldnt resit asking


Not even close. My job's far, far darker than that...
The Sage Posted - 29 Apr 2012 : 02:39:28
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay

@Sage - Skald wouldn't work?
Not really, since Skald already has a well-defined -- an alternate -- definition in my campaigns.
quote:
For a more Finnish spin, try väinämö (which Väinämöinen is derived from). It means 'minstril'
Consequently, väinämö is actually reserved for my Counter-Earth campaign adventures.
sfdragon Posted - 29 Apr 2012 : 02:29:05
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis

quote:
Originally posted by Malcolm

So, re. this:

"If you knew what I do for a living, you'd likely say she'd be lucky to escape alive."

Huh? Dennis, you posted you were a writer. Do you, um, write on the hides of live tigers or lions, or some such?


I used to teach, and have been writing for..awhile. But what I earn from writing constitutes only 0.00000001% of my bank accounts. I've recently taken over my dad's 'organization,' which, to put it mildly, deals with the darker aspects of life.

would this by chance be?
Mortician
funeral parlor worker
coroner
or undertaker?


I'm soory for disrailling... but I couldnt resit asking
Dennis Posted - 29 Apr 2012 : 02:21:10
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage

quote:
Originally posted by Dalor Darden

quote:
Originally posted by The Sage

quote:
Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis

Well, of the ones listed, I tend to use either wizard or sorcerer, depending on the type of magic. In my own setting, however, I also use the terms witch, mage, spellsinger (for bard-types, mostly, althouth my own HB world has a strong bent toward song-magic), or spellcaster. So I voted other, as it really depends, for me.

Which does remind me... I really need to settle on a term for my own specialised music-mages in the Realms and other settings. Super-heroic bards just doesn't work for me.



I had this problem for a while too Sage, I love Music as part of "Good Magic" because I got spoiled in my Christian Youth and by Tolkien on thinking Music should have a critical component in Magic and Creation.

I messed around for a while with terms like "Song Crafters" and "Song Scions" but finally settled on "Amhrán Amhránaí" which just means "The Song" Singers in Irish.

In my Forgotten Realms (and in my World of Aerk), that is what they are often called...because the term Bard just doesn't fit for what I'm often after in the "Druidic" feeling I got from AD&D.

Hmmm. I like the Irish option, since it ties in somewhat with my own ideas on a Welsh-derivative term I've been tinkering with. They only problem with that, is it can be hard for some folk to pronounce at the gaming table.


You might want to consider rhapsodomancer---a bard adept at predicting the future.
Dennis Posted - 29 Apr 2012 : 02:15:13
quote:
Originally posted by Malcolm

So, re. this:

"If you knew what I do for a living, you'd likely say she'd be lucky to escape alive."

Huh? Dennis, you posted you were a writer. Do you, um, write on the hides of live tigers or lions, or some such?


I used to teach, and have been writing for..awhile. But what I earn from writing constitutes only 0.00000001% of my bank accounts. I've recently taken over my dad's 'organization,' which, to put it mildly, deals with the darker aspects of life.
Dennis Posted - 29 Apr 2012 : 02:06:42
quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478

quote:
Originally posted by Dennis


Nope. Other than she and I are not close, I don't particularly like the term druid myself. (Isn't it obvious? It's not even on the list!)


Terry Brooks' Druids were always more wizardly/sagely to me, even though they to technically look after the land.


Druids are often 'primitive' in their thinking and use of magic; not to mention 'farmer-ish.'
Markustay Posted - 29 Apr 2012 : 01:48:57
@Sage - Skald wouldn't work?

For a more Finnish spin, try väinämö (which Väinämöinen is derived from). It means 'minstril'

In my world, the term 'Enchanter' is used, which means 'to chant' (in my setting - not sure of its RW source). Either way, it works - one of the definitions is "One that delights or fascinates.".

I also go with a very music-based cosmology/mythos/creation (even though I personally have ZERO musical talent). The 'Voice of God', Primal Music (Seekers of the Song, Metatext, 'Music of the Spheres', Sublime Chord, etc... its all inter-related. It was the first language - the pure thoughts of god. Every other language that came after is a corruption of that (talking about D&D here still, lest anyone thinks I'm going religious).

In scientific terms, This music would be Dark Energy... talk about a bad name. It is the sound of creation itself, and is ever-expanding.

Speaking the language in reverse is blasphemous, and is sometimes called The Dark Speech, or the 'black tongue'. Ordinary mortals can be driven insane by its use, it is used by the Defilers of Athas, and it was the power behind the Ritual of Desecration performed by Kevin Landwaster in The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever.

I like those scenes in City of Angels where the angels all go to the beach at sunrise and sunset, to "listen to the music". Very powerful stuff.

Anyhow, just some more of my homebrew musings I've been working with in my setting.
BARDOBARBAROS Posted - 28 Apr 2012 : 20:43:29
Mage or wizard
Dalor Darden Posted - 28 Apr 2012 : 06:46:15
quote:
Originally posted by Ayrik

Isn't the bard class already set apart? Many musicians and minstrels, composers, singers, poets, orators, and dancers can earn a living through entertainment and performance. But a true bard (in D&D) works magic into and through these things, his talents are multifaceted, and to top it off he's also a moderately sturdy adventuring class welcome in any party of heroes. Simply being a member of the bard class is already remarkable, and experience levels can measure relative merits and accomplishments between bards ... why the need for another elite designator?



In my game it has more to do with REPLACING Bard. Fighters can be called: Swashbuckler, Myrmidon and etc. depending on where they come from. In my games, a Fighter just doesn't introduce himself as a "Fighter from Village X"...but instead might say "I'm a Myrmidon from Chessenta"...and so too Bards.
Ayrik Posted - 28 Apr 2012 : 05:05:32
Isn't the bard class already set apart? Many musicians and minstrels, composers, singers, poets, orators, and dancers can earn a living through entertainment and performance. But a true bard (in D&D) works magic into and through these things, his talents are multifaceted, and to top it off he's also a moderately sturdy adventuring class welcome in any party of heroes. Simply being a member of the bard class is already remarkable, and experience levels can measure relative merits and accomplishments between bards ... why the need for another elite designator?
The Sage Posted - 28 Apr 2012 : 04:35:42
quote:
Originally posted by Dalor Darden

quote:
Originally posted by The Sage

quote:
Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis

Well, of the ones listed, I tend to use either wizard or sorcerer, depending on the type of magic. In my own setting, however, I also use the terms witch, mage, spellsinger (for bard-types, mostly, althouth my own HB world has a strong bent toward song-magic), or spellcaster. So I voted other, as it really depends, for me.

Which does remind me... I really need to settle on a term for my own specialised music-mages in the Realms and other settings. Super-heroic bards just doesn't work for me.



I had this problem for a while too Sage, I love Music as part of "Good Magic" because I got spoiled in my Christian Youth and by Tolkien on thinking Music should have a critical component in Magic and Creation.

I messed around for a while with terms like "Song Crafters" and "Song Scions" but finally settled on "Amhrán Amhránaí" which just means "The Song" Singers in Irish.

In my Forgotten Realms (and in my World of Aerk), that is what they are often called...because the term Bard just doesn't fit for what I'm often after in the "Druidic" feeling I got from AD&D.

Hmmm. I like the Irish option, since it ties in somewhat with my own ideas on a Welsh-derivative term I've been tinkering with. They only problem with that, is it can be hard for some folk to pronounce at the gaming table.
Dalor Darden Posted - 28 Apr 2012 : 02:47:00
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage

quote:
Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis

Well, of the ones listed, I tend to use either wizard or sorcerer, depending on the type of magic. In my own setting, however, I also use the terms witch, mage, spellsinger (for bard-types, mostly, althouth my own HB world has a strong bent toward song-magic), or spellcaster. So I voted other, as it really depends, for me.

Which does remind me... I really need to settle on a term for my own specialised music-mages in the Realms and other settings. Super-heroic bards just doesn't work for me.



I had this problem for a while too Sage, I love Music as part of "Good Magic" because I got spoiled in my Christian Youth and by Tolkien on thinking Music should have a critical component in Magic and Creation.

I messed around for a while with terms like "Song Crafters" and "Song Scions" but finally settled on "Amhrán Amhránaí" which just means "The Song" Singers in Irish.

In my Forgotten Realms (and in my World of Aerk), that is what they are often called...because the term Bard just doesn't fit for what I'm often after in the "Druidic" feeling I got from AD&D.

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