Mage Titles

[TheIT]

Jumping on the naming bandwagon....

I'm looking for suggestions for a title for mages in my fantasy WIP. The titles I've got so far are Apprentice, Journeyman, and Spellmaster (Master for short). A beginning student starts as an apprentice and becomes a journeyman after demonstrating a basic knowledge of magic. The journeyman then studies under different masters to learn their specialities. To become a master, the journeyman must perform a series of horrendously difficult spells. Success in the master trials yields access to great power. Failure yields insanity or death. Not every journeyman is willing to take the risk to become a master, so some journeymen remain at journeyman level for their entire lives. No shame is attached to not attempting the master trials, and some of the older "journeymen" are quite powerful. Also, most journeymen who are trying to become masters don't attempt the trials until middle age.

What I'm looking for is a title to call a "journeyman" who has made the decision not to become a master. His "journey" has ended, but his career in magic continues.

Thanks ahead of time for any suggestions!

[Richard]

Conjurer? Practitioner? Magician? Adept? Implies success at something, without the achievement of, say, 'sorcerer'.

[Sage]

Conjurer? Practitioner? Magician? Adept? Implies success at something, without the achievement of, say, 'sorcerer'.I like adept. You could go w/ "sage," ;) but that might imply that they are wiser than the master.

[Jewel101]

i like adept too. Enchanter would be good, so would wizard. There's artistian. I know i know! you can use learned. one guy could be like 'what are you?' and your guy could go 'I'm a Learned.'

How about it? :idea:

.....

I know.... not a good idea.

[PattiTheWicked]

An Elder?

[Pike]

Personally, I like Spellslinger. It imparts an old western feel to the fantasy genre.

[Jewel101]

or Spellcaster

[dante-x]

How about... Ascended

[loquax]

If he concentrates on one type of magic, anything with the -mancer suffix will do.

Geomancer, Chronomancer, Aquamancer, Pyromancer, Necromancer, etc.

[Rambling]

Since the apprentice-journeyman-master system implies a guild, how about 'guildsman' or 'craftsman'?

Do other professions in your world use the same system? An older journeyman-gardener, for instance, might be referred to as a 'Gardener' with only a master being referred to by title ('Master-Gardener'). The pattern then could be used throughout, including your magic users - say, 'Spellcaster' vs. 'Master-Spellcaster'.

Also, how do the different levels earn a living? Traditionally, an apprentice is paid nothing (and is possibly charged a fee), a journeyman is paid a daily wage, and a Master owns their own business. That might give you a clue as to what to call them.

Finally, you could 'bump' everyone up one -
Applicants learn the basics (in some sort of class setup?)
Apprentices study under different masters
Journeymen work without supervision
Masters train apprentices

[badducky]

I know, this may not be what you had in mind.

However, failure to ascend to full master status SHOULD carry some kind of stigma in the name, even if it doesn't in the culture. How did such a trend begin? Apprentices refusing to risk their neck in the master trials.

Why not call them "Fell", or "Outsiders", or "Ronin".
Wise wizards can be forgiving of such things, and let the Fell Mage come back into the fold. It could evolve over time as a natural part of the mage process. The wisdom gained from spending time as an outsider beyond the structure of the Master system can be seen as a way to help mages grow in maturity as well as practicality before their trials.

[MattW]

I also like the idea of "Fell" Mages.

If the system really stigmatizes journeymen who refuse to take the test, there is always an opportunity for an outsider to defy expectation, go beyond arbitrary limitations, and achieve new powers beyond the home of the Masters. Point out the flaws in the system, and how it inhibits growth and learning.

I recall there was such a character in a Dragonlance book - called them Renegades. Got more into how they were defiers of law, and became prone to evil.

[LloydBrown]

I always like titles with color rather than description.

Pennyweights. Timekeepers. The Grey Tribe. The Seiners.

In my opinion, the overuse of descriptive names--thaumaturgist, geomancer, necromancer, thisomancer, thatomancer--serves to make wizards more scientific and less wondrous. An exotic, totally unrelated name keeps the awe, or dread, or respect, or whatever is appropriate for your setting's attitude toward wizards.

[TheIT]

Thanks for the suggestions. Some good ideas, but no lightning yet.

Jewel101, I like the idea of "learned" but I'm already using that word in another capacity. In this world, some people have the natural gift of magic, so they are either "gifted" or "magic touched". Others have the potential to learn magic, so if they become mages they're referred to as "learned" because they had to learn how to use it. Natural mages tend to be more powerful than learned because the magic is part of them, but they're also more dangerous. A natural mage always needs to keep control to prevent magic from getting loose. Getting a natural mage drunk is a very bad idea.

Yes, mages are organized into a guild like other crafts but they are much more strictly controlled. A couple hundred years ago a group of mages tried taking power. The ensuing war nearly decimated society and they've been rebuilding ever since. After the war mages were shunned since the common folk saw all mages as the cause of their troubles, but their society requires magic to survive. Controls were imposed upon mages forcing them to wear specific colors and marks so they can't hide their magic. At the point my story takes place mages aren't lynched on sight anymore and the inquisition type trials into the ethical uses of magic are over, but mages aren't really welcome.

So from a common folk perspective, a Spellmaster is treated with respect and fear. Who knows if another master will spark off a new Upheaval? Thank the gods there aren't that many masters. A journeyman can set up shop to perform everyday tasks, and if our village didn't have a journeyman level mage we'd be vulnerable every time a magic storm struck. And that "journeyman" over there? We know he's safe because he doesn't have the ambition to become a master. Ambition in a mage is dangerous, you know. ;)

From a mage perspective, they're trying to rebuild magic's good image in the eyes of the people. The mage guild needs a certain number of masters, but they'd rather have lots of live "journeyman" mages than dead master aspirants. Some journeymen are not capable of succeeding in the master trials no matter how much they study. Spellmasters look upon them with sympathy, almost pity, since they can never reach the heights. Other journeymen are capable but afraid or unambitious. It's considered bad form to ask a "journeyman" why they aren't aspiring to be a master. How does the journeyman feel? Well, that's another story.

[Jewel101]

I read in another book that a mage with that position in society was call a hedge witch; that could really work for you, since the journeymen evade the master trials. In your case, Hedge Mage would work or Hedge wizard (ek!).

..or how about the Eludes? :e2brows: haha or the Quibs?

gtg sorry, no more suggestions for now

[Jewel101]

I thought of more suggestions. You could simply not give them a name. They could be simply a mage. and/or when asked, they could say 'Oh, I've Studied.' I actually like that

[DaveKuzminski]

I dare say that readers will appreciate cleverness with whatever you name them instead of trying to squeeze by without a title. It's kind of like the old bit in SF stories where you tried to claim that the alien's name was unpronounceable, so you could just call him Al or Bob. In other words, try to avoid using a cop out.

[TheIT]

In this world, names and titles are important. Magic is one of the fields where a commoner can advance based on ability rather than lineage. I can't see them not wanting a specific title.

A formal introduction will tell a great deal about the person's place in society. Everyone is given a single name at birth. Someone born into one of the Great Houses will take the house name as a surname. Someone taking oath to a Great House will add "este <GH name>" to the end of their name. Only the Lord and Lady of a GH can use the house name alone.

A master mage chooses a self surname to distinguish themselves from the political ramifications of being part of a House. Usually they choose something reminiscent of the type of magic they wield. I'm considering giving this option to the "journeymen" mages as well, but I might keep it as one of the perqs of being a Spellmaster.

The suggestion of "spellcaster" or "caster" is growing on me, but I'm concerned about the similarity to master. "Master Parle Flamestrike, may I introduce Caster Declan?" Too close?

Also, does anyone have any suggestions about how to address a commoner, or a noble whose lineage you're not certain of? "Mister" sounds out of place, but I need something better than "Hey, you."

Thanks.

[MattW]

Also, does anyone have any suggestions about how to address a commoner, or a noble whose lineage you're not certain of? "Mister" sounds out of place, but I need something better than "Hey, you."
Milord or sir is appropriate - a commoner would be humble and decline any claim to such a title, whereas anything else could offend a noble.

Also thinking of Goodman, but that led me to another possible title for mages - Goodmage? Freemage?

[Kevin Yarbrough]

What about Fellmage? It shows that they "fell' out of the progression and didn't make it to the rank of master for whatever reason.

"Master Parle Flamestrike, may I introduce Fellmage Declan?"

Sounds good to me but this is your world, and your choice.

[TheIT]

"Fellmage" is intriguing, but unfortunately the word "fell" also has negative connotations. Fell is a synonym for "inhumanly cruel" or "capable of destroying" (according to Webster's). Mages are trying to improve their image and don't want to remind people of the horrors committed by mages during the Upheavals. BTW, the evil mages who started the Upheavals were called the Darkenscalds.

[Kevin Yarbrough]

Depends on how you want to use it. As an adj. it does mean cruel, but don't use it that way. It also means to "to fall, knock down." (according to websters.) So he could have just fell out of progression or just fell out of line. Someone could also have knocked him out of line.

So, after reading what your story was about I, and this is just me, think Fellmage would fit perfectly. The people wouldn't see them as much of a threat since they are no longer persuing the rank of master and the masters are the ones the people fear the most.

[Vomaxx]

In my Federated Society of the Arcane, the ranks, from the bottom up, are: Pre-Initiate, Initiate, Minor Adept, Major Adept, Magus, and Archmage. The head of the Society is called the Presiding Magus, but this is a bureaucratic post and the holder might well be an Initiate (in terms of magical power).

[Andrew Jameson]

Question:

How does anyone know that a particular Journeyman has made the decision not to attempt Master status? Is there a formal ceremony where the Journeyman decines to begin Master trials? Or is there a slow progression from promising young Journeyman to crochety elder not-Master?

I ask because you say that names and titles are important in your world. Well, at what point is Journeyman Jameson no longer Journeyman Jameson, and instead is introduced as Caster Jameson (or whatever)? Seems like that would be a... traumatic experience, no? And an important turning point in a world where names and titles are important.

So if there isn't a ceremony or whatever, why not? And if there is a ceremony, what do the mages do in this ceremony? That would probably be your name, right there.

[Hummingbird]

I like Andrew Jameson's suggestion. :)
If not, or it sounds funny, then maybe Master Journeyman? It's long, but shows he's completed something but still a journeyman in rank.
Good luck!

[Jewel101]

i like that

[My-Immortal]

Would the mage that decides to not progress in his studies be the one to also come up with this name?

Or is it the general public? Or the mage's teacher?

And would the mage want to announce to the general public that he stopped his studies?

Is there shame involved in this decision?

Perhaps the mage would simply call himself the lesser category name...while the general public calls him a more derogatory name...?

Just some thoughts...

Good luck! :)

[loquax]

Maybe he could bee seen as "free" from the pent-up societies of the others.

Freeman.

[Kevin Yarbrough]

To add to what Loquax said, Freemage.

[MattW]

Freemage?I'll add my voice to the others (again). ;)

Freemage puts me in mind of a journeyman that has learned all he can, and is cut loose from his master to pursue whatever living he can scrape together.

And I believe that while the common people might embrace Freemages more (they are supposedly less dangerous), Freemages themselves might have resentment of the masters, or shame for their own inadequacies. Built in conflict!

As always, it's your story.

[Kevin Yarbrough]

Sorry, Matt, didn't see you posted that name already. I shall henceforth retract it.

I still think fellmage is a good name.

[TheIT]

Thanks for the suggestions and ideas.

My current thinking is to call them "Greymages". This works on several levels. Mages are supposed to wear certain colors: apprentice=white, journeyman=grey, and master=black. A Greymage is someone who does not aspire to the black. Also, grey is a color of uncertainty (and age), and to call someone a greymage implies that uncertainty of status is permanent (or they're older than their years).

Another element I can play with is the mark. Every mage has what looks like a tattoo on the back of his right hand. It's not ink, but is magically made by the mage's teacher(s). Someone with magic sense can "read" the marks to determine who this person has studied with. Every master layers a mark over the appropriate triangle. Apprentice=single triangle, journeyman=double triangles (like the alchemical symbol for extreme heat), master = triple triangles (reminiscent of a biohazard symbol). The third triangle is made by the mage himself when he becomes master. The symbols were introduced after the Upheavals to help identify who had magic. It's against the law for a mage to hide the mark without permission from the king (yes, they can wear gloves, but they have to show the mark if asked).

I hadn't thought about a ceremony proclaiming one's decision to drop off the mage path, but that's a good idea. I'd like some visible sign of a mage's status, so perhaps the ceremony changes the look of the mark. Normally the marks are open triangles, so the ceremony might fill them in or make them another color than black. A journeyman would certainly have to petition the mage guild for permission to become grey, and they'd also have to petition to change their minds to become journeymen again.

Also, I can see needing rules regarding training. A greymage would still be able to study with masters, but they'd have harsher deals regarding pay since the masters would rather devote their energy training people with more ambition.

Another problem I'm wrestling with is how to price magic. Let's say someone goes to a mage to have a spell cast. How does the mage decide what to charge?

[dante-x]

If I might say, the specifics that you are attempting to flesh out for this work almost seems reminscent of a d20 (AD & D) module.

[DaveKuzminski]

Or perhaps you could have Free Range Mages? ;)

[Jewel101]

Thanks for the suggestions and ideas.

My current thinking is to call them "Greymages". This works on several levels. Mages are supposed to wear certain colors: apprentice=white, journeyman=grey, and master=black. A Greymage is someone who does not aspire to the black. Also, grey is a color of uncertainty (and age), and to call someone a greymage implies that uncertainty of status is permanent (or they're older than their years).


maybe you should make it a darker grey, so no one would confuse them for journeymen. Darker grey would also mean they are more skilled than a simple journeyman but less that a master

[TheIT]

Or perhaps you could have Free Range Mages? ;)

As opposed to mages bred in captivity? Right now I'm trying to get the image out of my mind of Gandalf, Dumbledore, Merlin, and lots of old men with flowing white beards, pointy hats, and robes wandering around an open field searching for crystal balls.... :D

[TheIT]

Darker grey could work, or some other specific article of clothing. And yes, I do come from a gaming background, but I'm trying to make this my own world rather than a clone of a D & D universe. I think it's the engineer in me forcing me to chase down all the details.

[MattW]

Sorry, Matt, didn't see you posted that name already. I shall henceforth retract it.No worries. If the hive mind spit it out in two places, it must be pure gold.

I still think fellmage is a good name.
Me too.

[MattW]

Darker grey could work, or some other specific article of clothing. And yes, I do come from a gaming background, but I'm trying to make this my own world rather than a clone of a D & D universe. I think it's the engineer in me forcing me to chase down all the details.We engineers are an odd lot.

Colors are a good way to delineate - also helps the reader visually identify the ranks better than Assistant Gobbeltygook.

[Andrew Jameson]

Another problem I'm wrestling with is how to price magic. Let's say someone goes to a mage to have a spell cast. How does the mage decide what to charge?Well, that one's easy, in a theoretical way. Supply and demand. How common are mages in your world, what kind of magic can they do, and what kind of mundane competition do they have?

If mages are fairly rare, and they can do things like cure severe pneumonia in children that no one else can, then they could probably ask and get a year's salary for a single spell.

If mages are fairly common, then the supply is greater and the price goes down as they compete against each other.

If they have mundane competition, the price would probably be in line with that--a spell to dredge out a mill pond would cost about the same as it would cost to pay a couple drudges with a bucket to do the same.

[fallenangelwriter]

how the wizard in quesiton decides price also depends on how organized they are.


if they have a guild, the guild may set standard prices and wizards may even be forbidden to work for less.

if not, the wizard may choose the price personally, based on whatever he chooses. obvious factors would be the price of the materials involve,d if any, the time and effort involved in the task, the required skill, and, depedning on the wizard, the nature of the service and the wealth/motives of the person asking for it.

another factor would be the wizards' understanding of their place in the world. arethey alright being mercantile or do they live to serve the common people? my guess is that certian critical services, like healing, would be cheap, if, as I belive you said, the wizards are working to regain the public's goodwill.

[Kevin Yarbrough]

If they set up shop, and they are the only one in town, then I would do it that they get free room and board for services rendered. They get whatever they need from the merchants in town for free and in doing so they perform their magic as needed.

They could also barder for goods. But keep the services cheap since they are trying to get back in the publics good graces.

[badducky]

Whenever I think of magic being available for general consumption, I am reminded of the old adage "Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it".


I assume spells on an unwilling victim (love potions and other date rape drugs) would be illegal, and popular. I assume that the people who most need a little magical help are often the victims of magical interference (the poor, the dispossessed). I assume that for every good lawyer (in my mind, mages are like local lawyers), there are thirty average to bad ones.

I think a good model of what mages would do in a town can be found by combining lawyers with firemen. Not our fireman, mind you. Ancient Roman Fireman, where the house is on fire, and the fire captain offers you diminishing value (that wasn't fair market price to begin with) for your house, while his firemen wait to put out the fire, and beggars are looting. Fire companies used to be for profit services, you know.

This is the way I would see such a system. Legalized immorality in most cases, with a fat gray line that separates the good from bad.

Yup, I basically see lawyers. Pay them for their time, and for their materials on a negotiable scale.