Wizard, Mage, Warlock, Sorceror... what's the difference?

[lestodante]

I was thinking that many times I see different words to refer to a wizard, not just in Heroquest but also in other games or novels.
Since in Italy we only use the generic MAGO (=wizard) and Stregone (=evil wizard) I would like to ask if the following words are just different ways to describe a WIZARD or if there is any difference (for example Necromancer is a different type of figure).
I can list some of the words I have in mind now, but maybe there are more that I am missing.

Archmage
Conjurour
Enchanter
High Mage
Mage
Magicien
Magic-User
Sorcerer
Sorceror
Spellcaster
Warlock
Wizard

Also for females:
Hag
Sorceress
Witch

Anyone want to help?

[torilen]

I'll post what I "know" from playing D&D and reading and other such sources.
I might be wrong...there are varying opinions on some of them. I will say this
up front - some people feel there is not much difference in the terms at all,
and so they use them interchangeably. I have used wizard, mage, and magic
user to equal the same thing sometimes.

Archmage - Very powerful magic user, typically wizard.
Conjurour - magic user who 85% of the time uses magic to conjure things. Typically wizard, but could be others
Enchanter - As conjurer, but one who enchants things.
High Mage - As Archmage, but typically a mage, I suppose.
Mage - Typically a wizard who spends more time creating spells
Magicien - Magician? This would be one who uses more tricks than real magic
Magic-User - Any of these
Sorcerer - Their magic comes from an innate source, instead of from studying spells
Sorceror - Same as sorcerer
Spellcaster - Any of these
Warlock - A magic user whose power comes from a pact with demon or devil, typically. Might be a wizard of sorcerer.
Wizard - Magic comes from studying spells.

Also for females:
Hag - not usually used for a magic user - swamp monster
Sorceress - female sorcerer - sometimes used for female wizard
Witch - female warlock, though not always an evil pact - sometimes refers to a sorcerer who almost knows a lot about nature
-----------and natural herbs and plants and their uses

[lestodante]

Thanks Torilen, this is really interesting!!

[benvoliothefirst]

I would add to torilen's excellent write-up that if I had both high mages and arch-mages in the same universe, I would think that the high mages are one step above the low mages (apprentices/newbies) and there would only ever be ONE arch mage, being the leader of a conclave. (Think "The Ancient One" from Doctor Strange.)

English has taken a lot from other languages, often with very little changed. So you are welcome to use any of these interchangeably, but be aware that each might carry its own cultural history or remind readers of some other universe. Google each term and see if it carries the connotation you want.

[The Admiral]

That is interesting. Apart from the Necromancer who specializes in the undead, I really just considered the rest to be other names for wizards. In Heroquest I think that probably is the case.

[cornixt]

They are all pretty much just mean magic user or spell caster in general English, but different game systems might use a specific name for a magic users that specialises in a certain type of magic or uses it in a certain way.

Hag is the exception in that it will often be used to just refer to an old ugly woman without any magical connotations.

[Goblin-King]

This is not an exact science and the names have all pretty much been used interchangeably throughout time

Archmage - This is a rank. An Archmage is above the other mages in some sort of organisation eg. Mages' Guild
High Mage - - Again, this is a rank in some sort of organisation, rather than a special type of mage
Magic-User - Any of these - Literally a person who use magic
Spellcaster - Any of these - A person who is able to cast spells. It's a catch all term.

Also for females:
Hag - This can be the old ugly woman who spits in her hand and cast a curse on you
Witch - Woman who gets her powers from Satan or other demons. Woman who is skilled in nature medicine. An (typically) evil female wizard

But really... it all just depends on the setting. People can rationalize and use logic all they want, but in the end words and language doesn't always follow any particular logic.
These are all mostly words made up in ages past when people weren't super stoked about sharp definitions on stuff.
Unless you want accuracy in relation to a particular work, you can do pretty much whatever you want.

[Cael Darkhollow]

These are the traditional definitions of those terms in the fantasy game and literature genre mostly derived from Dungeons & Dragons but also some real world sources.
In the real world any spell caster title can be used largely interchangeably as synonyms but in most games they have a specific connotation. In D&D there are nine basic kinds of magic similar to the 8 different winds of magic in Warhammer fantasy.

Magic User is the over-all umbrella term used for all spell casters
Wizard also is a generic magic user term for any type of spell caster but most often is used for higher level spell casters than a simple mage. Wizard implies mastery of magical arts. Wizardry.
Mage is a nonspecialist magic user able to use many types of spell casting but can often never be quite as powerful as a specialist in any particular spell caster type such as Elementalist for example. Magic.
Hedge Mage is a self taught or low level mage with no formal training in the wizardly arts
high mage is just that, a high level spell caster
arch mage is the most powerful class of mage
Magister, magus or magistra a magic teacher, instructor or master. Magic pedagogy.
Necromancer is a spell caster that focuses on death and raising and controlling undead. The reverse of some of the spells of this type can heal living creatures instead. Necromancy.
Chronomancer is a spell caster whose spells change time or grant limited control of time. A spell casting time traveler, also able to slow or speed up the actions of themselves or others. Chronomancy.
Alchemist is a craftsman who uses physical ingredients to produce spell effects. Unusual material components combine to create magical effects or potions. Powders, ingredients, reagents, elixirs, and other concoctions can be carried and used or consumed at need. Alchemy.
Artificer use various devices or items to focus magic energies. Wands, staffs, rings, pendants, crystals, amulets, talismans etc. allow a magic-User to cause or enhance effects. Artificing.
magician is someone versed in legerdemain, slight of hand, cantrips, misdirection, parlor tricks and simple conjurations. Often a court jester or travelling fair entertainer not really powerful in spell craft of wizardly arts. May portray their magic prowess as much greater however, some are true charlatans with no magical ability whatsoever who build a career on deception others focus on entertainment using simple magics. chicanery.
Sorcerer is a spell user with innate ability that is ingrained from birth based on parentage, ancestry, some mystical event, etc.(although may not present until puberty or some other trigger) often with dramatic or powerful raw spell effects and radically different style than a learned spell caster, they feel and do magic intuitively. cannot be taught to others like other magics but a sorcerer can instruct one about their powers or teach focus or how to channel abilities to someone who also possesses the same or similar innate ability; like a jedi. Sorcery.
Illusionist is a spell caster that creates visual, audio and sometimes even temporary tangible effects to deceive the target. They are just illusions and are not "real" but appear so, and can be perceived by anyone in the area of effect, while phantasms are only perceived in the target's mind and are not visible or audible to others. Some illusions may be of permanent duration in the area of effect some last only seconds or minutes. Some mind altering or memory altering effects are in this type. Illusions/Phantasms.
Transmuter is a spell caster that uses alteration magic to change a physical substance, being or condition into something else, either temporarily or permanently. Polymorph spells, petrification, change rock to mud, the old lead into gold routine, etc. Transmutation/alteration.
Enchanter is a magic user that creates magical items or imbues items with magical force such as hold portal, wizard lock, create magical weapons, they create or bestow magic upon something or someone. Charm magic is a lesser form of enchantment.
Diviner is a magic user who uses divination and prognostication spell craft to determine future events or "read" someone or something. Palmistry (also known as chiromancy), phrenology, scrying, reading tea leaves or other objects, crystal balls, tarot cards, star signs, entrails, casting the bones, mirror magic, etc. Divination.
conjurer conjuration magic is materializing material from thin air. Create water, create air, produce objects, etc. it can also bring stuff from somewhere else. Summoner is similar type of spell user who uses magic bringing forth other-planar beings such as elementals, devils, demons, angels, deities, great old ones etc. Minor Summoning is similar but produces a magical call to native monsters or creatures in the area of effect to seek the focus or location of the spell.
Spiritualist is someone claiming to speak to or for the dead. Seances, trances, automatic writing and speaking in voices are common techniques. Conjuration.
Invoker is a magic user using invocation spells to ask for divine or infernal assistance from an extraplanar being or spirit. Often shamanistic or ancestral magic relies on invocation magic. Invocation.
Evocator is a magic user using evocation to produce magic power for effect. They shape magic to a desired effect. They tap into an unseen magical power or source to create effects such as fireballs, magical darkness, blasts of wind, lightning bolts, thunderclaps, cubes of force, magic spheres, magic platforms, magic cages, shields of force, etc. can be used to make extra dimensional portals or equipment such as a bag of holding, etc. What we traditionally think of as magic. Magic missiles, Bigby's crushing hand, etc. Evocation.
Abjurer is spell user that specializes in protection magic or abjuration. they can also banish creatures or magical effects. Abjuration.
Elementalist someone who can channel the raw forces of nature to cause natural phenomena such as storms, tidal waves, tornadoes, earthquakes, blizzards etc. to occur producing lighting bolts, rain, wind, pelting ice, snow, etc. in the area of effect. Alternatively Elemental magic spell users focus on the classic elements fire, earth, water, air or para-elemental or quasi-elemental elements derived from combinations of the classic elements(smoke, ice, lightning, ash, magma, mud, steam, etc.) and creates effects based on their properties. Elementalism.
innocent is a non-magic user that never-the-less has certain magical properties, baby's tears, mother's protection or intuition, children able to see magical beings that adults cannot, only a virgin maiden able to ride or touch a magical beast such as a unicorn or read certain glyphs, open portals, enter sacred pools etc. for instance. Pure of heart magic.
witch typically is a female spell caster that has different types of spells and learning methods than a traditional book or school learned mage often combining various aspects of several types of magic such as necromancy, nature magic, conjuration, invocation, evocation, etc. for unique effects. Male witches are known but are typically called warlocks. Witchcraft. In later editions of D&D the term warlock is now used for demon or spirit possessed magic user that derives their power from an extraplanar or otherworldly being while serving as it's host. More similar to invocation magic than traditional witches or warlocks.
Life magic uses the force of living beings or natural systems (streams, forests, oceans, etc.) to create magical effects such as healing, summoning, growing plants, altering shapes of plants or animals, summoning wildlife, etc. Druid magic is often life magic. Life Force magic. Nature magic.
Cleric/priest/paladin magic is divine spells granted to loyal religious believers or worshippers of deities, demigods, or other upper or lower planar beings of great power, often healing or protective magic but can have many other various effects overlapping other spell types. Turning undead, blessings, etc. Divine magic. Can be evil (anti-paladin, evil cleric)
Thaumaturgist magic user using procedural magic, the arcane ritual to produce magical effect. examples include spell-singers and bards, ninjas and monks, gesticulation (hand gestures), somatic combinations, dance magic, combat magic, meditation, reading scrolls, etc. Thaumaturgy.
Metamorphics magic of changing properties. Transferring properties of one thing to another. absorbing heat from something to make it cold or to make yourself warm or create fire from the gained heat, concentrating light on an object by diminishing another source of light, making something heavy by making something else light, transferring health from one creature by harming it to another, turning something into a gas by forcing other gaseous material to solidify, making something pliant or bendable by making something normally with that property rigid etc. Also powers of direct absorption or assuming the properties of materials: tapping electricity to shoot bolts, turning into sand by touching it, flowing like water by touching a liquid (or stealing its properties), becoming metal or stone by touching it, becoming fire by absorbing a source of fire.
symbol casting Geometers use writing, diagrams, geometric designs, marks, patterns, runes, symbols or glyphs to produce magical effect also called the school of magical geometry. Dwarf Runesmithing. Waystones and other magical barriers can be created by marks such as containment circles, writing only seen by moonlight etc. Some symbolic proxy items or icons such as voodoo dolls or clay figures of the gods representing mortals might be put here.
Shadow mage uses shadows or the plane of shadow or summons shadow beings for magical effects such as travel through shadows to another, create living shadows, shadow weaopons, etc.
Wild Magic users create unpredictable effects unknown even to themselves when they choose to tap in or unleash the forces around or within themselves.
mentalist/psionics using the pure power of the mind they can create magic-like effects most often affecting the minds of others like mind control but also various effects such as levitation, pyrotechnics, telekinesis, ESP, etc.
Some magic is universal allowing any spell caster to use it.
Racial magic certain types of creatures are inherently magical beings. Elf magic, fairy magic, were-magic, sphinx, unicorns, dragons etc. able to cast spells or create spell-like effects unique to their type of creature.
a hag is a monstrous magical evil being that looks like an ugly distorted old female. There are various types such as night hag, green hag, sea hag, annis hag, etc. Hags and witches are not the same thing in most fantasy games; a witch is a character class or profession or user of a particular style of magic use or at the very least a female wizard, a hag is a specific type of monster such as orc, troll, etc.
you can make feminine a few of the above titles such as enchantress, wizardress, or sorcereress by changing the suffix.

[Kurgan]

I just want to say that some of these terms are used in real world religions, but I want to set that aside, I'm only talking in terms of fantasy gaming here without implying any actual connection to anyone's beliefs even if the terms originated there.

I think HeroQuest just varies the terms for variety and adding "color" to the stories. Characters with cool powers, basically.

Other games and fantasy books use the terms differently. It seems to vary with the "world" you are using. If you want one particular view (people argue over whether it should be viewed as "canon" here) check out the HeroQuest Novel "Screaming Spectre" (and the Wizard's tales in "Fellowship of Four").

"Magic" in Heroquest seems to be anything special or out of the ordinary beyond basic "roll for damage" type weapon-based combat.

I was thinking that many times I see different words to refer to a wizard, not just in Heroquest but also in other games or novels.
Since in Italy we only use the generic MAGO (=wizard) and Stregone (=evil wizard) I would like to ask if the following words are just different ways to describe a WIZARD or if there is any difference (for example Necromancer is a different type of figure).
I can list some of the words I have in mind now, but maybe there are more that I am missing.

Archmage
Conjurour
Enchanter
High Mage
Mage
Magicien
Magic-User
Sorcerer
Sorceror
Spellcaster
Warlock
Wizard

Also for females:
Hag
Sorceress
Witch

Anyone want to help?

If you just want more terms (consult a Thesaurus):

Diviner
Charmer
Theurgist
Thaumaturg
Augurer
Magi
Fortune Teller
Soothsayer
Astrologer
Palmist
Illusionist
Seer
Medium
Clairvoyant
Hypnotist
Occultist
Mesmerist
Mystic
Sage
Wise-man/woman
Guru
Master
Magister
Elder
Trickster?

Anthropologically speaking (based on surveys of folklore and history), Witches are malevolent entities (might be human or not) that manipulate spiritual forces or spirits (ghosts, demons) and use curses and seek after food/blood/life essence/money and often have associations with demons often in animal form; whereas Wizards manipulate the forces of nature and use materials to cast their spells while seeking after knowledge/power (especially learning or stealing from other wizards or defeating them and plundering their materials).

warlock is used as a term to refer to a male witch, but it really just means a scoundrel/traitor/oath-breaker.

Alchemists were natural philosophers (pre-scientific scientists) who experimented with materials in an effort to transmute matter (most infamously and stereotypical to transform lead into gold). They were a secretive lot who used symbols to hide their secrets and many of them were charlatans but others were trying to better humanity by discovering the secrets of the universe (and many were deeply religious) while others were clearly in it for their own egos and fame. Their profession gradually evolved into what we think of as science, splitting off the philosophers and the chemists (similar to how astrology evolved into astronomy and split off the occult, religious and fortune telling aspects, also similar to how medicine became a secular affair from its highly religious, ritualistic, secretive nature in ancient times).

Anthropologically speaking, Priests are ritual specialists (most specifically sacrificial rituals), but in some games they are basically just a spell user by a different name. Clerics could be any member of the clergy (religious community member) usually who happens to be learned (a reader and scribe) but in games they often are like lower level or specialized magic users.

Sorcerer has become a generic term synonymous with Wizard. It may be related to a "poisoner" (one who is an assassin or makes tools for assassins) but positively viewed its an apothecary, who makes medicines (ancient form of a druggist or pharamacy chemist).

A Magi/Magus (related to Magician) is a wise man, like an ancient (pre-scientific) scientist, an astrologer, alchemist, philosopher, that sort of thing.

Necromancers summon/talk to the dead, they attempt to manipulate ghosts/dead souls/demons for gain or for pay.

A conjurer could be related to a magician or a witch or wizard I suppose. They could be close to fortune tellers, soothsayers, or other persons who perform divination for money (claiming to have access to occult that is secret knowledge or information from the spirit world). Their powers come from demons or gods. In games and movies they summon beings from other dimensions or teleport matter around.

A Magician could be like an illusionist, a stage magician, who performs sleight of hand for entertainment (money). Or it could be general term for anyone who uses "magic" (occult, unseen forces, spells, manipulation of the forces of nature and/or spirits).

In game terms they can be whatever you want them to be, of course.

In terms of world building I would try to establish how the powers work in your world. Set boundaries or rules. Are the powers natural? Are they supernatural? Do other beings like gods, spirits, angels, demons, ghosts, space aliens (?) exist? What about psychic powers (preternatural?). Do they use the Force? Or is it some kind of technology?

How are those who wield the power regarded? Are you born a Wizard or do you have to be trained? Are you infused with midichlorians? Were you chosen by some powerful being? Did you just find a lightsaber in a garage and now you're a Jedi?

In HeroQuest, spells are actions that have cool effects for combat or enhancing a character's abilities, typically single use affairs. The rest is background as to where they come from and why they're cool.

The various titles in Heroquest seem somewhat meaningless at this point. Wizards apparently include Morcar/Zargon ("Evil" Wizard) and (??) Mentor ("Good" wizard) and the hero called the Wizard. We know Alchemists exist but don't know much about them (other than apparently they like to sell useful potions and have benches). Mages and High Mages and Archmages exist, all of them seem to be evil if I recall correctly. Warlocks, we haven't seen any (other than the Remake which seems to say they're evil but fight for good's side) other than the "Chaos Warlock" which is really just a stand in for whatever special character the particular quest needs.

Anything else? It seems like HQ just uses different terms for spell users/magic characters for the sake of variety. But you can invent your own lore... or borrow one from some other franchise (old Warhammer fantasy is a popular choice for obvious reasons).

An example is my De-Magicified world mod. In this one the "real" Alchemist's from our earth's past got sucked through an inter-dimensional portal into the "Olde World" (loosely based on the Warhammer fantasy world of 3rd/4th edition WHF). The physics and energies of this world are slightly different from ours and so a lot of the theories of the alchemists are proven true or close to it than in our world.

So Alchemists are often human, can be male or female, and some seek after power/wealth while others work for the state, and can be good or evil.

I divide up Alchemy into specialties. You have apothecaries who specialize in potions and Alchemists proper who have expanded abilities and knowledge (and I suppose "High" Alchemists who are really good at what they do), and then you have Mentalists who specialize in mind related abilities (including influencing others) and Elementalists who specialize in manipulation of the elements especially local weather phenomena. Mystics have a fusion of combat skill and practical alchemy for the battlefield.

Elves have natural abilities (like the "psychic" stuff from pop culture) but humans can learn some of this. "Wizards" and Alchemists are the same thing in this world, they use natural abilities, manipulate the forces of nature using materials and hidden (preternatural but not supernatural) knowledge. Space aliens (equivalent to "gods" to the denizens of this world) exist but their influence is limited. Terms like magician are used for charlatans--frauds who seek after money, and respected entertainers who everybody knows are tricking you. Chaos alchemy is just a more dangerous, less ethical form of the technology and abilities that Alchemists use, and is practiced by Zargon's forces including the Orcs and Fimirs. Mutations account for Chaos Warriors, and the "undead" equivalent (chaos creatures, abominations created or modified in labs).

In my world, the good alchemists work for the Empire, the bad ones work for Zargon, and there are freelance or rogue alchemists out there who work for themselves or the highest bidder (some good, some not so good). The knowledge of the alchemists is mostly secretive, but some of it has become more public and benefited other segments of society, for instance in the medicines against plague and other common diseases (developed from alchemists who studied the bodies of skaven and trolls), and weapons used by the military (like gunpowder), as well as healing potions (including the Elixir of Life that keeps Mentor, but also Zargon, alive). And material technologies like Mithril for armor or certain potions (considered a very rare and expensive technology, mostly worked on by geniuses like Borin). Warriors can be supplied alchemicaly infused weapons (like the Spirit Blade or the legendary weapons in the Japanese game system). Clerics specialize in healing techniques. Paladins know about Holy Water and Holy Flame.



So yeah, ask, who are they, what is the source of their power(s), what are the limits or costs of that power, what is their standing or role in the world, what are their motivations, are they good/evil/etc?

[Kurgan]

Unless you want accuracy in relation to a particular work, you can do pretty much whatever you want.

Perfect summary.